Himeji + freelance design

[faisdodo]

Hi! My husband just accepted a job teaching English in Himeji through the Sister Cities program. We're psyched. They haven't told us the departure date/procedure yet, but it looks like it will be in late August/early September. I'm trying to find some good resources for foreigners living in Himeji, but having a hard time sorting through Google

Comments

[cutselvage]

Hi! Some of my closest friends are on the city exchange program in Himeji (are you from Phoenix or Adelaide?)

Friends of mine who are married are doing something similar to what you are considering - she's an ALT, he's a sculptor (though he's kept his dependent visa).

I'm sure you'll have a great time - all the people in the city exchange group that I've known have been lovely.

[faisdodo]

Yep, we're from Phoenix. Thank you!

[sankakukoen]

I'm pretty sure one of the requirements for sponsoring your own visa is proof that you'll be making a certain amount of money, usually around 20man a month, and you may still need an employer (self-sponsor is a bit misleading, all the self-sponsored people I know have several part time jobs who give them the appropriate paperwork to give to immigration, just no one full-time employer who will act as their sponsor). I've heard it's not that hard or expensive to register a business in Japan- if you can do it yourself and don't have to hire a Japanese go-between (I know a guy who got his band registered as a business so he could claim tax exemptions for travel and live house fees), but depending on how much you're planning on making freelancing on your dependant visa might be easiest. Also, since graphic work is all computers, couldn't you just do your business via the internet and technically still have it based in your home country? That would bypass visa changing all together.

[thorny_rose]

Ditto on this one. And then you can work in yen or dollars.

[faisdodo]

I didn't even think about that. Perfect little loophole, I guess! Could it be problematic for any reason if I end up with any Japanese clients, you think? Except, I'd probably need a physical address in Phoenix to keep my business registered here, and I'm not sure how I would do that. Hmm.

I guess I better head to the bank and start asking some questions. :)