"Go for what you want, ask questions, and take that one step forward..you'll never know until you try."
For us living in the Philippines, applying for a tourist visa for
sought after countries like the U.S. and Japan gives us jitters. But as the
saying goes, you won't get what you want if you will not go after it.
When an opportunity to visit Japan came my
way, I had to research on how to apply for a visa. I appreciate bloggers who
wrote about their experiences in applying for they helped me prepare for it. In
return, I would also want to share mine hoping it would guide those who want to
try too.
The requirements for tourist visa can be seen at the Japan Embassy website. Click here for the link
Here are the documents I have submitted:
1. Passport. Validity should be 6 months or more before the expiry date. In my case, my passport will expire on October this year, I only have until May to use it so it prompted me to just go on with my application right now.
2. Visa Application Form which can be downloaded here.
3. My latest 2X2 Visa Picture with white background pasted on my application form. Just tell the
studio that it will be for Japan visa. Sample here.
4. Birth
Certificate. NSO copy with the receipt. It should be issued at least 1 year
before the visa application. The receipt will show the date. I got mine at our local NSO for P140, released in less than an hour.
5. Photocopy
of my ITR. I submitted all 21
pages of my ITR report from my accountant with the BIR receipt.
6. Bank
Certificate. I got my BPI bank certificate in a swift, no need to wait for
another day, they will just print it out. The P100 fee was debited to my
account. That's why I love BPI, they make things easier compared to other banks
I had before. Now, I'm a BPI loyal. Anyway, I included the receipt with my bank
certificate. Based from my readings, the embassy doesn't have hard and fast
rules on how much you have in your bank account. It is believed it would
depend on your itinerary in Japan. Don't stay in Japan for 15 days when you
only have P50,000 in your bank account. Also, it would be unbelievable for you
to have P300,000 if you are just a new employee fresh from college. You know
what I'm saying...do the math. Your bank certificate will also show how
much is your Daily Average Balance, so it will not be convincing to have
P100,000 in your bank statement when your DAB is just P100. It will also show
when did you open your bank account. So the key here is, save first and
maintain a good amount in your account.
7. Daily
Itinerary. Detailed schedule plan while you are in Japan. This is only your
projected plan since most of us wouldn't dare to book for plane tickets without
visa assurance. Mine looked like this:
8. Hotel
Booking Confirmation. I got
mine from Agoda. I printed the e-booking confirmation emailed to me.
It is not required but it may help.
9. Certificate
of Employment. Depending on how fast your company acts to print out a
copy, this should help you prove you are stable in your home country. It is not
mandatory from the website list of requirements but I included it anyway.
Next step is you have to choose an
accredited agency by the Japan embassy. One can't go directly to the embassy
and apply, it would all be coursed through the agency. Here is the list of
accredited agencies posted on the website of Japan Embassy:
3. Rajah
Travel
4. Reli Tours
5. Attic
Tours
I called all the agencies to inquire and
it was Friendship tours who answered me patiently with my probe. Since I am
not from Manila, I asked if it would be okay to just let my documents be
shipped to their office and my passport back to me. They gave me the
instruction on how to do it. First, I deposited the handling fee of P1,200 plus
the P200 shipping fee of my passport for sending it back. You can
check for their bank account details on their website. I included the deposit
slip with my documents. Photocopy or take a picture of it for your file.
I sent my complete documents through LBC for P260 on March 24,Tuesday at 4:11
pm. The next morning,the 25th at 9:37, I received a text notification from LBC that it
is already out for delivery. At 2:27, my documents were received by Friendship
tours representative. I tried to call the agency to confirm if they have indeed
received it but their phone line has been busy the whole time. I tried calling
on a Thursday morning, the 26th, this time, a staff answered me saying they have received
and have already submitted my papers to the Embassy.
Now, the count down starts...the agony of
waiting drags. Officially, it takes 5 to 7 working days for the decision
to come out but some experienced as short as 2 days. While I was waiting, I
kept on rereading blogs, every time my phone beeps I would hope that it's a
good news coming from the agency, it was a crazy moment. On March 27th, Friday at 5pm, I
called the agency hoping that my passport is already with them but it wasn't.
So the torture have got to continue for the 2-day weekend. One tip, if you don't
wan't to burden yourself for a weekend torment, since the embassy is closed
during these days, complete the requirements on a Friday, if you are from the
province like me, send it through a courier on a Saturday, so that the agency
can have it on a Monday, for filling at the embassy. Hence,you have any time
within the weekday (working days) to wait for the result.
It's Monday, the 30th! I was holding myself not to
call the agency. Good thing, I got so busy closing a sale with my client, so I
forgot all about it. At 3:05 pm, I got a call from Friendship Tours
representative saying I am granted a visa. They will send it to me through a
courier and it should be with me the following day. It was processed after 3 working days. I am euphoric! Thank God for an
answered prayer. I'm grateful too, to my partner in life for pushing me to just
go for it.
As I look at my visa, it was actually issued on March 26, the same day the agency submitted it to the embassy, maybe handling it back to the agency took a while so they only had it on a Monday. That was quick!
For Japan to continue granting us the privilege to visit their country, let us show them that we are worthy of their trust. Go back home after your few days tour!
It's time to fish for a promo ticket!
Japan, mata chikaiuchini o ai shimashou! Domo arigatu. :-)
