[Nyororin]

Originally Posted by Crane

I am from the U.S., and I can't get a university degree (the whole America charging incredibly high amounts for post-HS education thing...my father had tons of scholarships for basketball to go, but still couldn't because of the price) and I want to know if I would be able to get a job there. I understand I couldn't get a work permit/visa, but does that mean I can't work at all? Can I at least get a simple unskilled job, and eventually gain citizenship?

No, you cannot work. You also cannot stay legally in the country longer than 90 days. No way around it. If you cannot manage to find employment enough in the US to save up money to attend university while you are a) Within reach of family and friends and b) In a country where you understand the language - What exactly makes you think you`d be able to work enough illegally under the table in a country where you have no support and do not speak the language to support yourself entirely?

However, I wont be able to gain it through getting married to a Japanese citizen, because with what the plans currently are, I will be moving with my long-time girlfriend, who's also a U.S. citizen (well she's part of Oneida (Iroquois Tribe) Nation so I don't know if technically it's U.S., but whatever). If that whole ordeal doesn't work out between us though, I can always get married, but obviously I'd much rather have it work out ;P.

Either way, you two aren`t going to be able to stay in Japan for more than 90 days at a time and will not be able to work. And if you honestly just hope to find a random girl to marry to get a visa... *sigh*

I have very little money so I'd want to be able to spend as little as possible. I'd never be able to afford a car, so I'd need to able to walk/bike everywhere, therefor I'd prefer (or rather need) to live in a bigger city where everything is within reach. I'm willing to walk about an hour to work each day. But yeah, my problem with that is how far could I go that has affordable rent for a shared flat between 2-3 working people (I might also go with one of my friends), yet is close enough to be within good reach of a large city? I also will not be able to just go back and forth to the U.S., so I'd prefer if I could do what you (OP) did and go to South Korea, but only go there now and again instead of the states. Would that work?

As you will not be able to work at all... No. It wouldn`t. Unless you bring a ton of money with you (which you do not seem to have access to) or have someone in Japan with money willing to support you (my situation, but doesn`t apply to you) then it simply is not possible. And even if you did somehow manage to sneak around and work illegally, there is no incentive to hiring you - you don`t speak the language and you have no qualifications.

Basically my biggest concern is citizenship/jobs. I'm not worried at all about the culture or language, especially now after reading the 'testimonials' on here. Mainly I'd just like to know if I could get there, apply for permanent residency (at least eventually), and my biggest concern at the moment is if I could get a job when I go there. I don't want to have to resort to getting jobs illegally (like a select few of illegal immigrants in America have to), but I might have to if what I'm concerned about is the case.

Unless you have a 4 year degree or some amazing special talent which no one else has (very doubtful) - you cannot get a work visa. Therefore you will not be able to work. You will also not be able to stay in Japan more than 90 days on a tourist visa - this rules out receiving residency, as even if you hop back and forth to Korea every 3 months you`ll have never legally *resided* in Japan, so none of it counts toward eligibility for permanent residency.

But whatever, I'll stop rambling and let you fill me in on what goes down when you get there, and what you all have to do to get things up and running.

Read this thread; Graduate from college if you want to live in Japan.