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Cheap Flights and IRS Delays
Jul. 17th, 2012 01:03 amLong time no update, blog.
There are a couple reasons behind that. The most important being: I am working so very hard so that my parents won't have to fund me as much my first month in Japan.
Word to the wise, kids, always have savings put back for when job opportunities arise far away. Unforeseen circumstances drained my savings right before I applied to this job, which would have left me in a really tight spot if I didn't have such amazing parents. The only thing they're asking in return is that I use some of my earnings to help fund the last few semesters of my younger sister's undergrad degree. I'm perfectly fine with that. Getting out of college debt free has put me in an amazingly good position to begin working in Japan. The only debt I have to worry about is my brand new car.
Which... I have to leave behind. I might make a few sad faces when I leave.
And on that note, we get to the important bits. The flight to Japan. I spent quite a while looking high and low for the best flight deal to save money and I finally... didn't find it. A good friend did, however, and now I'll share her amazing find with the rest of the Internet.
http://www.statravel.com
They're a booking agency that caters specifically to young adults, teachers, and students for the cheapest flights to anywhere. There may be the occasional deal that's better, but it's hard to beat the price I found for my one-way flight through them. I'd highly recommend at least giving them a look before shopping around anywhere else.
My official departure date is August 9th, 2012 and I'll be arriving in Japan on August 10th. The lovely people with the Narashino Municipal Board of Education will be picking me and my fellow ALT up at the Narita airport.
Just today I received my certificate of eligibility from the Narashino BoE along with general information about my new job and place of employment. It all looks extremely exciting, but my work prepping is far from over.
Once you get your certificate of eligibility, make certain not to waste any time sending it, your passport, and your visa application form in to your consulate/embassy's visa department. The consulate in Atlanta usually has a very quick turn around time, but there's always the chance of delays. I sent mine through the post office with next-day guaranteed delivery, a return envelope with postage and address filled out, and tracking for less than $25. You can find more information about work visa's here (or at the appropriate consulate site for your area): http://www.atlanta.us.emb-
My last vital piece of documentation that I'm concerned with is now those tax forms I mentioned in an earlier entry. I sent in my forms a few days after my fellow ALT and now he's had his forms back for a week or two now and I've been told it may be an additional two weeks before I receive mine. Just for reference, I sent my form in May 30th and likely won't get my return forms until July 30th. So be sure to get those sent in as early as possible. I cannot stress that enough when dealing with a government agency. Delays, delays, delays. They're the rule, not the exception.
As a final note, I've at last seen what my apartment will look like! I'm really excited to learn more about it, but I'll save an apartment post until I'm officially moved in and can take some pictures of my own.
Until next time! <3
There are a couple reasons behind that. The most important being: I am working so very hard so that my parents won't have to fund me as much my first month in Japan.
Word to the wise, kids, always have savings put back for when job opportunities arise far away. Unforeseen circumstances drained my savings right before I applied to this job, which would have left me in a really tight spot if I didn't have such amazing parents. The only thing they're asking in return is that I use some of my earnings to help fund the last few semesters of my younger sister's undergrad degree. I'm perfectly fine with that. Getting out of college debt free has put me in an amazingly good position to begin working in Japan. The only debt I have to worry about is my brand new car.
Which... I have to leave behind. I might make a few sad faces when I leave.
And on that note, we get to the important bits. The flight to Japan. I spent quite a while looking high and low for the best flight deal to save money and I finally... didn't find it. A good friend did, however, and now I'll share her amazing find with the rest of the Internet.
http://www.statravel.com
They're a booking agency that caters specifically to young adults, teachers, and students for the cheapest flights to anywhere. There may be the occasional deal that's better, but it's hard to beat the price I found for my one-way flight through them. I'd highly recommend at least giving them a look before shopping around anywhere else.
My official departure date is August 9th, 2012 and I'll be arriving in Japan on August 10th. The lovely people with the Narashino Municipal Board of Education will be picking me and my fellow ALT up at the Narita airport.
Just today I received my certificate of eligibility from the Narashino BoE along with general information about my new job and place of employment. It all looks extremely exciting, but my work prepping is far from over.
Once you get your certificate of eligibility, make certain not to waste any time sending it, your passport, and your visa application form in to your consulate/embassy's visa department. The consulate in Atlanta usually has a very quick turn around time, but there's always the chance of delays. I sent mine through the post office with next-day guaranteed delivery, a return envelope with postage and address filled out, and tracking for less than $25. You can find more information about work visa's here (or at the appropriate consulate site for your area): http://www.atlanta.us.emb-
My last vital piece of documentation that I'm concerned with is now those tax forms I mentioned in an earlier entry. I sent in my forms a few days after my fellow ALT and now he's had his forms back for a week or two now and I've been told it may be an additional two weeks before I receive mine. Just for reference, I sent my form in May 30th and likely won't get my return forms until July 30th. So be sure to get those sent in as early as possible. I cannot stress that enough when dealing with a government agency. Delays, delays, delays. They're the rule, not the exception.
As a final note, I've at last seen what my apartment will look like! I'm really excited to learn more about it, but I'll save an apartment post until I'm officially moved in and can take some pictures of my own.
Until next time! <3
