Old Fart Student Denied?

[jim katta]

I just applied to a Japanese school and everything was going fine, until I told them how old I was: 35. Here in the U.S., 35 is still considered relatively young in most things, but guess not in Japan. After the person at the school found out how old I was they told me that although there is no age restriction for the pre-college visa, sometimes older applicants for this kind of visa have a hard time getting it and I should be ready to provide extra explanations to Japan immigration.

HUH??? FGs, help please. I quickly got over being offended and somewhat humiliated, and shifted into "I can't waste time on this route if I will be denied a pre-college visa anyway due to my age..." mode.

The only explanation I have for Japan immigration is that I have had a great career in America and now I want to try living and learning in Japan while I'm still relatively young, for at least a year of study. I thought as long as I had the money, no crime record, and plenty of energy, I would have no problems. Now this. ANY advice would really help, thanks.

[Charles]

So they might request confirmation you're enrolled in a real school, that shouldn't be too hard.

[Greji]

So they might request confirmation you're enrolled in a real school, that shouldn't be too hard.

Charles is right. As in the US, you need the letter of acceptance. That is the major document. Most any reputable institutions would be acceptable. You might have a bit of trouble with a letter of enrollment from Mrs. Molly Brown's Storm Door and Airlines School, but Academic Visas depend on academic acceptance and they should not give you any difficulty over a proper letter of acceptance from a qualified institution of higher learning.

I'm a bit out of date on this topic, so I do not know if the school is required to enter you in the data bank of immigrations, which is true for people going to study in the US (the fabled SEVIS), but your school should be able to advise you accordingly. If the school can accept you on your age, immigrations must also do so, unless there is some overiding factor for visa disqualification (i.e. excessive convictions for serial murders, possession of unlicensed nuclear weapons, etc.). Immigrations can be required to show cause for any rejection of a visa, so they must have citable grounds.

[GomiGirl]

They are just letting you know that you may have to provide reasons not that you are going to be denied.

The reason for this is, sadly, the number of people who have obtained a student visa and then either not attended school and worked more than the allowable hours.

Stick with it, you may be OK. I guess they are just trying to cover their butts and weed out those who are not actually serious about study.

[jim katta]

Ok, this kind of relieves me somewhat. The school I'm entering is one of the more well-known and reputable Japanese language schools in Tokyo, so I know a letter of acceptance from them would be accepted. I guess my concern now is: maybe this was the school official's way of pretending that immigration might have a problem with my age when in fact it is "the school itself" that might have a problem with my age, right? I mean, if what you guys say is true (immigration must accept you if you have an acceptance letter from a reputable school) then why would the school even show any concern about my age in regards to getting a pre-college visa from immigration?? I feel like this is one of those Japanese situations in which I'm missing the non-verbal communication that is telling me something I should be aware of, but that I'm missing.

I'm not going to lie, as many times as I've been to Japan and dealt with various odd Japan issues, this comment from the school kind of blind-sided me and suddenly has me nervous about spending my cash with them.

Does anyone know of someone in their 30s going to Japanese language school in Tokyo having a problem getting their pre-college visa and/or being accepted into the school?

To GomiGirl,
Thanks, your comment makes sense, I guess that's the non-verbal message they were sending. Still, in my original correspondence with them I listed that I had studied Japanese at several institutions here in the U.S., so I'm surprised there would be any question about my intentions to study Japanese. If the real question is: C'mon Mr. Gaijin, do you "really" want to study Japanese, or is this just a visa ploy? Then I feel I have plenty of evidence to back up a claim that I really want to study Japanese. Thanks again GomiGirl.

[GomiGirl]

If you have the cash and the will to study, these schools are happy to take you. It is not the school but indeed immigration that may cause you grief. But I would be more concerned if your passport was from China or Korea.

Make sure you have a refund policy just in case though.

[Samurai_Jerk]

I entered a Japanese language school on a pre-college visa at the age of 30. There were some Korean people studying there who were older than me. Which school are you going to?

[jim katta]

Eh, I'm reluctant to say which school (for various reasons). Suffice to say, it is without question one of the top reputable Japanese schools in Tokyo, and I didn't pick it until I already had several recommendations from battle-hardened Gaijin living in Japan.

I just sent the school a reply email re-affirming my commitment to learning at their school and expressing willingness and confidence in meeting with any JP visa overlords. Rather than cocky/overconfident, my email was laced with the blind positive speak I've learned from my japanese friends over the years, topped off with profuse thanks for the concern about my age. Hopefully this is the last I'll have to worry about this.

Since I know most Japanese jobs ask for a picture of the applicant, I'm hoping that when the school and the visa people see my picture all concerns will be settled. I'm slim, healthy and I look much younger than my age due to no smoking and clean living! (i.e. the exact opposite of my avatar)