Advice needed for getting a Japanese Visa

[Ghost]

Hi guys, been a very long time since i last on this forum so its good to be back. Its been 4 years since i last lived in Japan and I really want to come back, only question is how? The easiest and best solution is getting a working holiday visa but the problem is I have already had one (4 years ago), I know of one person who has managed to get a second (by applying at the embassy in Scotland rather than London) and got lucky, but Im not sure of the chances of me getting that lucky. Second option is getting a work permit, I have a TEFL certificate plus 8 months teaching experience in Japan, but I have no uni degree, will this be enough for me to get a job and a work permit, years ago a degree was one of the minimum requirements to getting a visa but now it makes no mention of it on the embassy website, just says you need a certificate of eligibility. Third option and most expensive is to get a student visa by going to a Japanese language school, which are the best and cheapest ones to go for in the Tokyo/Yokohama region?

Im a british national and am 23 (24 when I start applying for a visa) if that info helps.

Thanks guys
-Matt

[FG Lurker]

Working holiday visas work on a quota system between the two countries involved. I don't think the quotas are public, but let's say 5000 per year between the UK and Japan. This means that 5000 people can go from the UK to Japan and 5000 from Japan to the UK.

Generally speaking there are a LOT more Japanese who want to go to the UK than there are Brits who want to visit Japan. The Japanese quota is usually filled extremely quickly. However it seems that the reverse is generally not the case and at the end of the year the quotas going TO Japan often haven't been met.

This means that if you meet all the other requirements (age, funds, etc) and write a letter clearly stating why you want a second visa, there is a decent chance you will get it.

You're going to need to apply a thick layer of bullshit to the letter. I suggest talking about the places you visited in Japan the last time but how you couldn't do certain things due to lack of time/money. Perhaps you've always dreamed of seeing Hokkaido in the spring time but it wasn't possible yadda yadda yadda. Maybe there are some matsuri that you would like to see but couldn't. That sort of thing.

I can't guarantee you will get the second visa, but it is going to be the easiest/cheapest way for you to get back here.

Student visas are also possible, especially if you really do want to learn to speak Japanese. You are looking at 50,000/month minimum for a school though (better schools tend to cost more), plus a pile of paperwork involving a sponsor. It is certainly possible though.

One thing to keep in mind for a student visa is that you can only start your studies in either April or October. Generally you have to start the application process quite some time in advance, at LEAST 6 months if memory serves. If you start in April you can study for up to 2 years but if you start in October you are limited to only 1.5 years.

A work visa is going to be tough going without either a fair amount of experience (5 years I think?) or a university degree.

Another option is to get married to a j-national. The downsides are rather obvious (being married) but the visa is great!

[Ghost]

[quote="FG Lurker"]Working holiday visas work on a quota system between the two countries involved. I don't think the quotas are public, but let's say 5000 per year between the UK and Japan. This means that 5000 people can go from the UK to Japan and 5000 from Japan to the UK.

Generally speaking there are a LOT more Japanese who want to go to the UK than there are Brits who want to visit Japan. The Japanese quota is usually filled extremely quickly. However it seems that the reverse is generally not the case and at the end of the year the quotas going TO Japan often haven't been met.

This means that if you meet all the other requirements (age, funds, etc) and write a letter clearly stating why you want a second visa, there is a decent chance you will get it.

You're going to need to apply a thick layer of bullshit to the letter. I suggest talking about the places you visited in Japan the last time but how you couldn't do certain things due to lack of time/money. Perhaps you've always dreamed of seeing Hokkaido in the spring time but it wasn't possible yadda yadda yadda. ]

Yeah the Japanese embassy NEVER give out all of their allocation, not even close but I dont think they would give me a second one as its in the rules that its once only. As I said the guy I know who got one just went to a different embassy and got lucky as they obviously didnt check his history. But then theres no harm in calling the embassy to ask.

I actually would like to learn japanese, I was out in Japan for a year but I hardly picked up any of the language (mostly due to the fact that I didnt like the place all too much and didnt at the time have any intentions of living there for good). If I learnt the lingo it would be a big help for me and if i plan to live in Japan permanently i would have anyway.

My gf just called an advice company and they said i need 3 years experience or a degree for a work permit, so thats out.

Marriage would be the best option but although I already have a Japanese gf I am not ready for that option yet as its too early, maybe when we have been together long enough it will become an option but i wouldnt want to marry only for a visa.

[FG Lurker]

Yeah the Japanese embassy NEVER give out all of their allocation, not even close but I dont think they would give me a second one as its in the rules that its once only. As I said the guy I know who got one just went to a different embassy and got lucky as they obviously didnt check his history. But then theres no harm in calling the embassy to ask.

I don't know if the rules for the UK are different than those in place in Canada. However in Canada it is possible to get two WHV if you have a good enough set of reasons. ("Following my gf to Japan" is not likely to work... I suggest reasons as mentioned above.) I personally have had two WHV, both issued by the J-consulate in Vancouver. Rather than calling to ask I would just go ahead and apply, but make sure you include a very good letter as to why you want a second go-round. Spend some time writing it and get it proof-read by someone who is a good writer (ie not Luke from FG).

[Ghost]

I don't know if the rules for the UK are different than those in place in Canada. However in Canada it is possible to get two WHV if you have a good enough set of reasons. ("Following my gf to Japan" is not likely to work... I suggest reasons as mentioned above.) I personally have had two WHV, both issued by the J-consulate in Vancouver. Rather than calling to ask I would just go ahead and apply, but make sure you include a very good letter as to why you want a second go-round. Spend some time writing it and get it proof-read by someone who is a good writer (ie not Luke from FG).

Well Ive just called the embassy and they have told me that the WH is just a one off, even if they havent given away their allocation its just one per person and thats it.