Getting Started

THE visa application procedure was what Mars deemed as "a marriage proposal". I spent the entire week before Christmas weekend running about to get things done in order to have the application materials arrive Japan by the given deadline of December 27, 2011.

It was through this experience of consolidating materials that I learned much in this process and the importance of having all official documents imprinted with the same name. I'm one of those few Singaporeans left with a non biometric passport and thus did not find a need to change it until its expiration in 2014. 

You see, the name in my passport and in all other official documents is the same. The difference lies in which my baptism name was not included in my passport. There wasn't a need to include then since all Singaporeans would have updated their particulars (option to include your baptism name) by the age of 30. Since I did not anticipate the move to Japan this soon, I thought it was alright to leave the name as it is in the passport.

So this called for a trip to the lawyer's to have a notary of public and then to Immigration Checkpoint Authority Singapore to have an endorsement chop in my passport stating that I'm one as the same person. And then it was back to the lawyer's to have coloured copies of my IC, my baptism certificate and pages of my passport (including past landing permit into Japan when I vacationed there in 2005 & the page with the endorsement chop) to be "verified true copies".

It would have been a lot easier for me to just change my passport. However, the organisation wanted it by that date no matter what. Since they only informed me of the details on Dec 19, it doesn't leave me with many options.

The entire visa application for a visa sponsorship consists of the following materials:

1) A letter to Japan's Immigration stating your reasons on wanting to be in Japan and how you can contribute to your prospective employer. It is crucial not to sound haughty in the letter and include "hope to be given an opportunity to experience Japan." 

This is attached with your CV. If you're currently unemployed, it is crucial to state it in your CV. Details of your past work experience is not required; just the name of your previous employer and the position you were hired will suffice.

2) A letter of commitment to your prospective employer.

3) Completed application for Certificate of Eligibility (COE).

4) Other forms your prospective employer may want you to complete.

5) Coloured copies of all identification materials.

6) 2 passport photos in colour. The following is a sample of passport photo specifications.

7) Original degree, transcripts & verification certificate from the university (this is different from having your degree & transcripts to be certified true copies, you'll need to contact your university to acquire the verification letter). 

Yes - ORIGINAL, even coloured copies are not accepted. When I was told Originals were needed, even for my CELTA certification, I was apprehensive because that meant a total of over SGD$45k worth of academic proof on the line.

Of course, you can't send these documents via normal postage, so there's good ol' DHL to the rescue.

Now I wait for the next 4-10weeks on status of the visa application. *praying very hard that all will be well* 

If you're thinking of applying for a Self-sponsored visa in Japan, the following link has a good documentation of a guy's successful application.

Self Sponsored Visa in Japan: SUCCESSFUL application

Related Posts:

Completing the Visa Application: A Recap