We’ve all heard the horror stories about getting a Japan Visa: some applications have taken six months or more, other applications have been lodged multiple times to no avail, and even some applications attached to a large stack of supporting documents but still no Visa.
Every Visa denial means a six-month wait before another application can be sent. All of this can get very frustrating and disheartening, especially for people who have been looking forward to their trips very much.
So, how did I end up applying for, and getting a Japan visa, in just three days? Here is what I did:
Application
The first step was visiting the Visa section of the Japanese Embassy in the Philippines website. I downloaded and printed out the form (PDF and DOC files are both available), as well as the checklist of the required documents. The printed application form must be filled out in block letters with black ink. You can also opt to just type in your details in the downloaded form, and then print it out in one go.
Documentation
Checklist in hand, I tried to put together as many required documents as possible. I had bank certificates made, photocopied my latest Income Tax Return since I had to submit the originals, and had our company HR team make out a Certificate of Employment. I went to a professional photo studio to have pictures taken — very important since even a small error in the photo size can delay the approval of your application.
I also hunted down my old passports and very carefully stapled them to my newest one — I wanted the Japanese Consul’s office to see that I held several used Japan Visas as well as plenty of stamps from other ASEAN countries (used US, Australia, and Schengen Visas may also help). I also checked to make sure that my passport was valid for at least another six or seven months.
Submission
I went to my preferred travel agent (the Embassy has a list of accredited agencies here) early on a Monday morning to submit all my requirements; the Embassy does not accept walk-in applicants. Try to file your application on a Monday or a Tuesday, so that it gets processed by Wednesday — which is the day the Japanese Consul office stays closed, just to process and approve/deny Visa applications.
After a quick inspection of all the papers I submitted, the travel agent asked me to pay the processing fee, and then sent me on my way. Everything took less than thirty minutes, from start to finish. Early Thursday morning, I got a call from the travel agent saying that my passport — with my approved Visa attached, was ready for pick-up at their office.
The entire process took a mere three business days from application to approval — easy, right?
Please note that this is a summary of our experience in applying for a Japanese visa. Mileage may vary with each individual. For more tips, you can also read How to Get A Japanese Tourist Visa in 24 Hours, How to Get a Japan Visa in Three Days, Getting a Japan Tourist Visa: An FAQ for Filipinos, and Tips on Obtaining a Japan Tourist Visa.
JPOP Manila 
Also, it’s my first time to travel abroad if God’s willing, does it mean it would be difficult for me to get a visa? Thanks again! 🙂
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hi my my uncle lives in japan and he had married there. how can i go there to see my uncle. He also wants to see me.
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Uhm buy a plane ticket for Japan? Your question is very vague so I am unsure how to answer you.
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Yayy!!! Just spoke to my father and he is actually approved! Thanks for the input though. Reli tours wont say the result thru text and phone call.
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Congrats! Enjoy the trip 🙂
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Hi Magnetic Rose
We’re going to apply for a visa tom for the third time.. You think we have a better chance of getting the visa this time?
Thank you very much.
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Hello, magnetic rose. This information is very helpful. Thank you for sharing, 🙂
I just have a question: Do you really need to purchase a ticket? I’m worried that if my application wasn’t succesful, could I still cancel or get a refund?
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hello po! i am a filipina, a permanent residence in japan. divorced po ako sa hapon . meron po ako boyfriend na pilipino sa states at us citizen na sya. binabalak po namin na magsama at magpakasal na rin sa japan.pero kailangan nya muna pumunta sa japan as tourist. ano po ung mga requirementsa para makapunta sya ng japan as tourist?
ano po ang magandang dapat sabihin nya kapag tinanong sya kung ano ang gagawin nya sa japan at kung saan sya titira?
kapag bibili sya ng two way ticket,hanggang kelan po ang dapat nyang kunin na return date?
once makapasok na sya as tourist sa japan, madali lang po ba kami magpakasal ?
need po talaga namin ng help and idea kung ano ang dapat naming gawin.
thank you.
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Hello. First of all, I’m sorry I cannot help you as I am not a Family Court lawyer who specializes in international marriages. Thanks.
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goodday !!!
i have a question.
i am pilipina who is 3 months pregnant now. my japanese bf decided to get me as tourist visa and he wants me to deliver the baby on japan. he put in the letter that we will going to get married as soon as i am in japan.
he had the show money of 1,500,000 yen and we will passed also the ninchi of my baby that gave by the cityhall in japan. is there a possibility of my visa to get approved? i really need your opinion . thank you so much
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i been applying spouse japan visa,how many days working po sa processing?i submit my documents last march27,2012….
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hello po,kailangan ko po ng advise nyo,may boyfriend po aq na hapon,,gusto po nya aq mag bakasyon sa osaka kht 5days lang po,,my balak n po kmi mgpakasal kya lng po pinaprocess pa ung annulment ko sa una q pong asawa,dati na po nag apply ng tourist visa pero na deny po aq nung july 2011.. Gusto q lng po malaman kung pwede n po b ulit aq mag apply ng tourist visa?Saka po pwede po ba na sa ibang agency nman po aq mag apply,,dti po kc s reli tours. Ano po ba ung maganda kong gawin para po hindi na po ma deny ang visa q? kailangan ko po tlga ung advise nyo sken… Maraming salamat po… God bless…
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Hi mam,
Im planning to have a stop over in japan for 3 days on my way to new york, I currently have no work, so I cant provide an ITR, ito kc ang main problem ko sa pagkuha ng visa wala ako ITR, but I already have a US tourist visa. May chance kaya ako na ma approve sa visa? is ITR really a main requirement?
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i wana go to japan and i ialready bought my ticket..and i still need a visa,I!m staying in Fiji which is i n Namaka,so wht is all the requirements??
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Goodevening
gusto ko lang po sana malaman kung magknu po ba ang tourist visa ng japan?racy ann
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HI,im filipino married japanese brazilian in brazil,i was in japan before for 3 years as a trainee in electonics company,my husband plan to go back in japan,he had already visa,nissei po sya,we currently living now in brazil..balak ko po umuwi sa phillipines while nsa japan sya,but he want me to come back in japan,how to get visa from philippines?
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Hello. First of all, I’m sorry I cannot help you as I am not a Family Court lawyer who specializes in international marriages. Thanks.
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hi ms rose..im kim, tanong ko lang po kasi malapit na kaming magpakasal ng japanese boyfriend ko..may mga process paba kaming kailangan daanan bago kami makapagpakasal dito and after po ba naming magpakasal paano po ako makakakuha ng visa papuntang japan para doon na rin tumira kasama nya…
pls reply po..
salamat ms.rose
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Hi ms magnetic rose! Ask ko lang po kasi we’ve been to singapore and hongkong before we renewed our passport. Then after renewing our passport we went to korea. Pwede po bang isama sa application yung old passport para makita yung stamps ng ibang country? Or do you think kaya na yun ng Korean Visa? Thanks a lot! More powers! 🙂
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hi ms rose! tanong ko lang po gano ba po ang pinka matagal para makuha ang japan tourit visa? thanks po … pls answer 🙂
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gusto go malaman ang lahat ng detalye kasi gusto to kong magpacheck up sa doctor sa japan kung may possible pa akong magkaroon ng anak.maykakilala naman ako sa japan kaya lang first time kong mag aabroad wala akong alam ano ano po ba ang requirements kung patiente ka papuntang japan…saka ung friend ko may kailangan din po ba syang requirements…kaya lang wala akong malaking pera sya lang po ang tutulong sa kin para magpagamot.
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Hi! Ms Rose,
My husband and i are planning to go to Japan next summer vacation to take our kids to Tokyo Disney….. Will it be possible to submit our 2way airline tickets along with the documents requirements? Can this help us to secure tourist visa as a family? Thanks so much and Godbless!
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i read your blog many times to know more about getting a japanese visa and yesterday i went to rajah travel agency to pass the requirements,…
complete naman yung documents ko and my copy din ng plane ticket…
excited na ko sa result.. sana ma grant yung visa ko.. 🙂 hihihi
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hi ms rose.. ask ko lang po kung pwede po ba akung makapagtour kasi may asawa akung japanese but since when his come back in japan i dont have any news from him. hindi na niya ako kinuha. may friend po ako nag-asawa ng japon she want me to invite. pwede po ba syang mag-invite sa akin? may pag-asa po ba akung makapasok gamit apliyedo ng asawa kung japon? pls…..reply… thank u po.
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hi ms.rose… last wednesday rajah travel texted me, may interview daw ako sa friday and thats tomorrow (-_-;) i thought wala ng interview basta malalaman mo nalang kung approve to deny visa mo based sa documents na binigay mo… i hope positive yung magiging result ng interview ko tomorrow.. 🙂
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how was your interview?
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Hi! Ms. Rose,
Alin po ba travel agency ang pwede niyo maisuggest sa akin when applying visit visa to Japan? ok po ba services ng attic tours? thank you
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hi selle, ok naman yung interview.. nagtanong lang kung pano ko na meet yung japanese bf ko sya kasi guarantor ko.. then kung ilang months na relationship namin, anong gagawin ko sa japan.. actually unemployed ako, then wala din ako pinakita na mga papers na patunay na babalik ako ng pinas and first time ko mag travel abroad..
27days yung plan ko na stay then na grant sya (30days) nakalagay sa japan visa ko…
ang saya sobra… =^_^=
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Anu nilagay mo na reason for travel?
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Hi Magnetic Rose (sounds like a title from Katsuhiro’s trilogy “Memories”?)
I plan to go to Tokyo with some friends next year, but we won’t be taking tour packages and decided to help ourselves around (since Tokyo lang naman), probably with a volunteer tour guide. What of the invitation requirement? Is that really necessary? E paano kung group tourist naman and not visitng visa? thanks..
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hi anika. 🙂
bf ko naglagay ng reason.. “to meet me”
then nagtanong yung nag interview kung ano daw gagawin ko pag nasa work si bf. sabi ko sa bahay lang.. siguro nakatulong din na di ako marunong mag japanese.. kasi kahit 27days yung intended stay ko na grant parin sya good for 30days.. =^_^=
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Hi Rej,
Congratulations! You could get a visa. I wish I could get one as well. I have some questions for you and I hope you can answer them.
Can you tell me what documents you sent? That means coming from you and from your guarantor.
And do you know the validity of the visa? I’m planning to go there at the end of December until January (still uncertain when), so I wonder when I should apply for it. Any ideas?
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hi yuna..
eto yung mga requirements na pinasa ko sa rajah travel agency
me
birth certificate
plane ticket =roundtrip=
passport
emails
photos
love letters
guarantor
juminyo
bank certificate
invitation letter
guarantee letter
income tax certificate
family registration
daily schedule
3months lang yung validity ng visa..
so kung end of december plan mo mga november ka mag apply..
kasi ako almost 3weeks bago na approve..
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Thanks, Rejz. 🙂
As regards emails and love letters you sent, are those the real ones or scanned? I was the one who sent not him so all those letters are with him.
Also, I wonder, did you actually present those documents because they were asked by the agency or embassy or it was your own choice to verify your relationship?
Sorry to ask you a lot.. 🙂
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Thanks Ms. Rose. Your blog and responses helped a lot.
I got my visa in three days! I submitted the requirements last Tuesday and was able to pick-up from the travel agency my passport with Japan Visa by Friday.
Ms. Yuna, I think you can send the scanned ones. As for me, I printed out snapshots of our emails as proof of our relationship.
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Good job — see, three days is not impossible!
Enjoy your holiday in Japan!
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Thanks Maria. I’ll take your advice. 🙂 Congratulations and enjoy! ^_^
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ano po b ang requirements sa missionary visa? kailangan po b kumuha na ng plane ticket? “Oo nga pastor. Nasabi sa akin si sis. Maricris na gusto daw niya na makapunta ka dito para mag- pastor sa kanilang grupo. Medyo mahigpit ang mga requirements kung gusto mong maging legal ang stay mo dito as a missionary, pero kung makapag-comply ka sa requirement ay mabilis naman silang magbigay ng “Religious Visa.” Initially narito ang mga requirements: (1.) Articles of Incorporation ng inyong Church issued by SEC-3 copies (2.) Official appointment signed by your Senior Pastor (appointing you as missionary in a specific place here in Japan)-3 copies and duly notorized, (3.) Affidavit of endorsement specifying your title/position and your specific work here in Japan- 3 copies duly notorized, (4.) Affidavit of Support from your mother Church (a guarantee that your mother Church will support your financial needs in the course of your stay here in Japan- normally at least $2,500.00 per month. All these documents need to have Japanese translations to be done by a legitimate/ official translator. Please take note: Missionaries here in Japan with “Religious Visa” are not allowed to engage in any income generating work other than the official function stated in the visa.”i2 po ay sabi sa akin ng isang ka chat ko fr japan….gusto ko lng i confirm kng totoo. thanks po and God bless
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pls can anybody reply on my question? ang gusto ko pong i question ung sagot sa #3 totoo po ba ito? ung mag guguarantee sa iyo ay from outside japan hindi taga japan? at ito po bang no#1-#3 talaga ay requirements for missionary visa? thanks
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magnetic_rose pwede bang mag-apply ng tourist visa kahit nakakuha na ako noon ng long term visa?
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magnetic_rose regarding visa requirements panu po kung walang friend/relative sa japan tsaka panu po yung bank certificate and income tax return kung college student palang po ako. malabo na po bang makakuha ng visa kung ganun? thank you po :))
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HI ANY ONE CAN HELP ME WITH THIS??
IM PLANNING NA MAG VACATION IN JAPAN GOOD FOR 3MONTHS, YUNG ATE KO ASAWA NYA IS JAPANESE, SO I DUNNO IF SAAN KO SISIMULAN UNG PROCESS NG APP. FOR VISA?
BUSY DIN KASI ATE KEYA SAKIN NIA PINAPAASIKASO KUNG ANU MGA REQUIREMENTS, I HEARD NA WITHIN 3DAYS MAGKAKA VISA KANA ?? IS THIS FOR REAL?
I HAVE PASSPORT NA ALREADY,IM JUST 19 Y/O ALSO CURRENTLY EMPLOYED IN BPO COMPANY..,
AND IM PLANNING GOING TO JAPAN EMBASSY BY TOMORROW TO INQUIRE,
MINNA, HELP ME ??
JUST EMAIL ME
hatme.me.hiro@aol.com
or sent ur no. there so that i can text y’all
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1) Please refrain from typing in all-caps — on the internet, it is the equivalent of screaming into the ears of the person you are talking to.
2) All the answers to your question have been written down in the post. Please take the time to read it in its entirety before asking questions in the comments box. Thank you.
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your so BOASTFUL who do u think u are,,,?? HOLY BBBBH!!!
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LOL if you say so — however I’ve learned not to value the opinions of people who can’t grasp the basics of the English language.
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ms.rose ask ko lang po kung may malaki ung chance na makapunta ako ng japan kc ung fiance ko is taga japan ..ano kaya magandang gawin pra mkapunta ako doon..?
pde ba ako magstay doon for 6months if ever lang po?nagbibigay din po ba ng ganung tagal na vacation?thank you po ms rose answer my question please.
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mam rose ask ko lng po two tyms n po ako nkrating sa japan as visit relatives visa and two tyms nrin po ako n denied almost a yr na,,,my pag asa po kau ako m grant ng visa,,,pls give me a tips,,,,
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hello just want to ask, do you have any ideo if i can apply a tourist visa for japan and south korea in their consulate in hongkong. and im currently working in macau. i have no guarantor and i will travel alone. ill be planning to go there by year 2014.
can you please clarify this for me
i will appreciate it so much
thank you and more blessings
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hi i want to apply for japan visa on december pls i just need help. years back i apply japan visa then i get it. i went there but unfortunate i did’nt go with my itirenary becouse i left some documents home, also they called my hotel to verify the hotel say i booked but did’nt paid becouse i supposed to pay it upfront, when i reach there they gave me an entry and @ the same time they call me back. they stat interview me and @ the end they denied me entry, pls now i want to spend my holidays there on December i want to apply for the visa again actually the previous visa they did’nt spoild it they just stamp (used) and the entry stamp. pls i need help from u guys what must i do pls i have only 1 month left (thanks) i not filipino but need help
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Hello Roch!
I just want to say thank you for putting up this blog as it is super informative. There’s no other blog out there that attends to visa-related inquiries as much as this website does. You’re a lot more helpful than the people from the Japanese embassy. I like to consider you to be the diva of all globetrotters. I can only imagine how socially jam-packed your schedule is. But you still take the time to deal with each comment (good or bad).
I’ve lodged my application for my student visa yesterday. So I’m hoping that the result will come out early next week. Wish me luck! 🙂
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Hello, I am an American military member living in Japan, on SOFA, I don’t believe I can provide a proper gurantor letter, because I am not a citizen here in Japan. I am only providing an itenarary for my Filipina fiancee.
She plans to come this December using an acount bank certificate with a little over double the 100,000 PHP reccomendation, but just recently put in, she owns an empty piece of land, no property on top, she had a 1 yr. training visa for Japan and came home to the Phillipines, this Septemeber, we want only to marry on this visa, and she will then return home, so we will apply for the 15 days.
She can not apply for a current ITR in her area until, January which we are unable to wait for, but merely show the slip for attempt.
I believe upon rejection Japan requires a 6 month wait for next attempt, which I will still be here, but I don’t think we can marry around that time by circumstance.
Does this sound sufficient, how common are rejections?
She has only done 1/2 year of college around 8 years ago, so she can’t get a decent paying job, thus hasn’t one.
Does she need a background check also? She has no criminal record, but she needed one for her training visa.
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Hey Dennis — really sorry I can’t provide more info on SOFA visas as I have never applied for one.
You’re right about the rejection though — if your application was declined you’ll have to wait six more months before you can lodge another one. However, one tip I can give you is if your SOFA visa application was rejected, you can apply for a regular tourist visa instead, and you don’t have to wait six months for that.
I know this works because I once tried applying for a multiple entry business visa, and my application was rejected, so the Embassy asked me if I would like to apply for a regular single entry business visa in its place. Which I did, and that application pulled through without any trouble.
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hi mam tanong ko lang po if magkanu abutin ung tourist visa?visiting, or aynthing to see my fiance, or girl..hehe got no idea about this, narinig ko lang po..salamat
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Hallo, I’m a Filipino working here in Austria. Just like to know if I really need to have a plane ticket purchased already before applying a Japan visa. Thanks!
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No, it’s not necessary to purchase tickets beforehand. Good luck!
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Hi po! I just want to ask sa lahat ng makakabas at sa may alam about sa visa application going japan.
May chance po ba na mabigyan kami ng 3 year old baby ko ng visa to visit his japanese father? His Japanese father ang guarantor but he has no ITR … Pwede narin ba kahit bank account lang? And hindi pa kami kasal
Divorce ako sa unang Husband ko 4yrs ago na japanese din. Will that be questionable para hindi ma-approve ang visa?
Please give me some advise… I really need help! Please!
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my name is mujahid afridi and i want to go to japan for tour and my czn is living in japan nagano shi nagano so i want to visit mith my mother so plz help me my number is 03336616108 Thanks
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Hi! Ms. Rose
I got approved of Japan Visit Visa last July 26, it took me 5 days kasi wednesday ko po naisubmit sa travel agency ko mga requirements. I was granted with 90 days to visit my sister under SOFA status. August 3, 2012 po ako nagpunta dito sa Japan. Then we filed for an extension of 90 days ulit sa Japanese embassy po dito sa Japan nung October kasi hanggang November 1 na lang po ako dito, luckily on that same day na we filed for extension they granted me another 90 days. So, at present andito pa din po ako sa Japan. All in all i was granted a total of 6 months of stay here, to be exact i am allowed to stay here until January 30, 2013. My question is how long should I wait to be able to apply again for a visit visa in Japan? is there a waiting period before I can apply for a visa again? Thank you and God bless po..
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Hi! There is no waiting period if you’ve been approved with your previous application; only those who were denied need to wait six months. Thanks!
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hi, selle726, wat nem agency u nagproces ng visa? Tska ano ang nirason mo para mka extension u jan sa japan.. Tanx, i ned u rply
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Hello !i have a daughter of Japanese nationality I like to apply a long term visa I have a guarantor my friend japanese is my guarantor !the father of my daughter we are not married ..I direct apply to the Japan embassy in Manila.if the consult give me a visa ?thanks!if I have a interview within I have a complete documents ?
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Hello. First of all, I’m sorry I cannot help you as I am not a Family Court lawyer who specializes in migration. Thanks.
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Hi po Ms.Rose
May tanong lang po ako.
Medical student po ako at balak ko pong pumunta sa Japan this May. Kaya ko po gusto pumunta eh para puntahan yung special someone. Japanese citizen po siya pwede niya po akong padalhan ng invitation letter kaso ang problema, sinusuportahan po sya (financially) ng Japanese government. Hindi daw po siya pwede magbigay ng invitation letter kasi baka daw po malaman.
Meron po akong kakilala na pwede magsilbi as guarantor. Ang problema ko po eh wala akong bank certificate. Tingin nyo po ba, valid ang 2 month-old bank account at yung certificate of enrollment ko para makapasa ako at makakuha ng visa?
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In my opinion, a two-month old bank account will seem really suspicious. It’s best to just ask your guarantor-friend to help you with the proper paperwork.
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Ahhh ganun po ba, ok maraming salamat po sa advice. Hehe
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Hi ms.rose ask ko lang po kung possible na makakuha po kmi ng visa ng boyfriend q hndi pa kmi kasal and my anak na kmi gusto lng nmin magtour sa disneyland and sanrio puroland ang gurantor nmin is yung daddy nung boyfriend ko na nandto din sa philippines.
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I am so happy to read this. This is the type of manual that needs to be given and not the random misinformation that’s at the other blogs. Appreciate your sharing this.
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Hi po ulit Ms.Rose. Nakapagtanong na po ako sa inyu nung nakaraan. Hehe
Ahmm, nakita ko po dun sa site ng Japanese Embassy na kapag visa for visiting a friend eh kelangan may picture to prove relationship. Eh wala po talaga kaming picture kasi hindi kami mahilig mag picture picture dati.
Pero may nabasa po akong nag comment dito, nagtatanong na may pic daw sila nung friend nya, Pero nireplyan nyo po na hindi mahalaga yung picture. Yung documents ang mahalaga. Tatanong ko lang po sana kung pwede po akong mag apply ng visa for visiting a friend kahit na wala po kaming picture hehe.
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Hi. Just want to ask for your help/assistance po. My sister has been residing there (Japan) for almost 10years na po with her Japanese husband. I applied na po for a tourist/visit visa last October 2012 but it was denied. Since, hindi po dini-disclose yung reason bakit ganun, is it really because of the reason po ba na simple visit lang po kase? Now, they are willingto have me apply for another tourist/visit visa po but we are afraid na baka di nanaman po ma-approve. Is there any particular or should I say tips or anything po from you na pweding e-reason for me to possibly get an approved visa po? Thanks much :))
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