God knows when COVID-19 will leave this world and allow people to live in peace. Apart from creating myriads of health hazards, the pandemic has made millions of people jobless worldwide. People are suffering financially. International students are spending sleepless nights due to their uncertain future. Many countries are imposing strict visa rules, which is creating new problems for international students. For example, the USA is all set to impose a new visa rule. As per the rule, the immigration department will issue a visa with a fixed term that will stretch up to four years. International students are already discontent over the issue. As such, they are less likely to go to the USA for higher studies.
While the USA is taking such drastic steps regarding the visa, Japan – the rising sun’s land is walking on a different path. They are planning to introduce student-friendly visa rules in the financial year 2020. If the rules are introduced, many international students will be attracted to studying in Japan for sure.
Japan Is All Set to Introduce New Student-friendly Visa Rules
The Immigration Services Agency is working on bringing a fresh start-up visa for international students. The new visa will allow international students to stay in Japan for around two years after completing their graduation to set up a new business. That is something extraordinary for international students as a foreign country will allow them to set up a new business.
Japan’s new policy is the opposite of what the USA is thinking. America is planning to restrict the number of years international students can stay in the country. Earlier international students could stay there as long as they continued their higher studies. But from 2021, they will no longer be allowed to stay in the country beyond four years. And that is not all. International students from countries like Syria will be allowed to stay in the country for only two years.
Japan’s new visa policy has not yet been officially introduced. The immigration department is still working on it. Hopefully, they will officially declare it soon. At the beginning of the year, Japan announced its plans to encourage international students to work in the country after completing their graduation. So, their new visa policy is a step toward that.
In the last few years, the Ministry of Justice has withdrawn the international graduate students’ strict restrictions. At present, the Japanese government allows international students to work in any capacity or designation as long as they make more than 3 million yen or US$28,700 in a year. That does not make too much help for international students simply because graduates’ average wage is around 2.3 million yen in a year.
Two years back, in 2018, around 25,942 international students received work visas post-graduation. That was up from 22,419 in 2017. International students from Asian countries constituted for 95.3% of those opting for work visas. At present, the Japanese government allows international students to work up to 28 hours per week while continuing their studies. But, in that case, they have to apply for an extra permit along with their student visa.
International Students Are Likely to Be Happy with the New Visa
International students are facing a tough time due to the pandemic. They are getting cold treatment from everywhere. At the beginning of 2020, America introduced a new rule in the country. As per the rule, international students could no longer stay in the country if online classes were available. That put international students in a lot of trouble. They had to return home and spend a fortune on travel expenses. Racialism is another factor there.
The UK is also introducing a new immigration route and points-based visa system for international students. As such, they are quite annoyed with the whole affair.
On the other hand, Canada is coming up with a new visa, immigration, and work rules for international students. They understand that the country’s revenue will not go up without international students’ financial support. Likewise, Japan has also understood the value of international students. It is good that they are coming up with the new visa rule. Their new visa policy will attract thousands of international students to Japan. That means Japan’s revenue will increase gradually.
If more and more international students get the chance to become an entrepreneur in Japan, that will be good for Japan’s economy. Those entrepreneurs will boost the country’s economy only.
As of now, we do not know what will happen after two years. What will happen to the international students after they have turned into an entrepreneur and stayed in Japan for two years after graduation? Will they get a visa extension for a few years? Can they think about settling in Japan permanently? Will they get a chance to become a citizen of the country? Or, do they have to close their business and return to their home country after two years? Quite naturally, many people may not like to go back to their home country after devoting time and energy to a new business for two years. Plus, you have to consider the financial part as well. If international students have to leave the country after two years of financial investments, that would be a big financial loss.
It would be better if the Japanese government comes up with their full-fledged visa plan for international students. They must disclose the visa rule for the students after two years. It will help international students to make a vital decision. The decision to actualizing their entrepreneurial dreams in Japan. If they are not allowed to stay in Japan after running their business for two years, they may think twice about opening a store there. Everything depends on the decision of the Immigration Services Agencies. All eyes are on them. Let us see what rules they introduce in the country.
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