Working Visa in Japan without degree

I'm currently living in Japan on a working holiday visa which expires in March 2011.

I'm working for a large and respected company in Japan in what I guess is the humanities sector (not English teaching). I work as an executive manager, and am at a reasonably high level. My company are very pleased with me, and are very rich. They are happy and willing to sponsor me.
The only issue is that I don't have a degree, neither do I have that much working experience (I'm only 23). Besides that though, I have an excellent educational record, and can demonstrate that I didn't get a degree simply because I didn't want to. I'm wondering how easy/difficult it will be for my company to get me a sponsored full-time working visa.

Any help or advice would be wonderful.

Many thanks in advance.

If they are rich and as keen to hire you as you write, then they probably have a good immigration lawyer than can come up with a way to get you the visa.

Details depend on the visa type, but instead of a degree, between one and ten years of experience (including related education) is usually a sufficient criteria.

For example, for a business manager visa, you need at least three years of experience (including business studies at a graduate school).

For a humanity visa, the minimum is 10 years (including education in a related field).

agree that you'll most likely need 3 years of experience.

myself having been 23 a year ago (lol) i can guess you probably overestimate your importance to the company but i also agree that if they have an immigration lawyer or if they really like you that much, an immigration lawyer will be able to get you a visa if you've been with the company for a year or two.

your academic record has nothing to do with it, neither does why you decided to leave school. immigration doesn't care about that unless you have some specific training you'd like to apply toward your application (doesn't sound like you do)

I agree that your academic record and particularly the reason that you didn't get a degree (the reason you give would be pretty hard to present in a positive way to Immigration, I would have thought!) are completely irrelevant.

It all comes down to how well an immigration lawyer presents your case for you. Unlike winterwolf though, I wouldn't be quite so optimistic as to say the lawyer will get your visa for you, I would say "might". You probably have a fairly good chance, but best to have a plan B in case you are turned down.

Well I certainly don't have three years experience, less than one year in fact. There is no real academic training that can be done for my job, except a basic business school course I suppose, but even that's pretty irrelevant. I'm basically hoping that what I'm doing is sufficiently specialised for me to be okay. The company do want me quite a lot, I'm sure of that. If it can be done, I would think they'll find a way... it's just really whether it can be done.

So academic record is irrelevant? I thought they didn't care what degree you had, just whether you had one or not, presumably so they know you're not a complete idiot (not that having one really means that). What I meant was that I can demonstrate that I'm a smart chap who can contribute something.

Another thing, do references bear much weight? I've got quite a few impressive contacts who could write character references for me. Would those be accepted?

as i thought you've probably overestimated your importance to the company big time, with less than a year of experience, no degree and no qualifications it's going to be difficult.

if you have any previous work experience with a different company but within the same general field of work/industry, you will want to find pay slips etc.

otherwise i think you're going to be out of luck.

I might just add that I knew someone (non-Japanese) who the company in Japan badly wanted to hire, and he had no degree but over five years (I forgot exactly how many) of track record in that specialized field for which the company wanted him, and it took a lot of hassle and efforts on the part of the employer to convince Immigration. So... one year of working there sounds like a difficult case (to me at least).

So academic record is irrelevant? I thought they didn't care what degree you had, just whether you had one or not, presumably so they know you're not a complete idiot (not that having one really means that).

Anything less than a bachelor's degree is irrelevant. A bachelor's degree (or higher degree) is relevant in that it fulfills the immigration requirement. The requirement has nothing to do with intelligence, rather its a way to set a minimum skill level for imported workers.

Well I certainly don't have three years experience, less than one year in fact. There is no real academic training that can be done for my job, except a basic business school course I suppose, but even that's pretty irrelevant. I'm basically hoping that what I'm doing is sufficiently specialised for me to be okay.

Unfortunately, less than a year of work experience doesn't make me very optimistic for your situation. Perhaps the lawyers will be able to pull something out. Also what is your company's situation? Do they regularly hire foreign workers or is this the first time for them. I think your chances will be higher if the company already has an established rapport with immigration.

Another thing, do references bear much weight?

I don't recall references (other than your sponsoring company) being a part of the application process.