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im_not_a_violentdrunk
Joined: 18 May 2012
Posts: 59
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 Posted: Wed May 30, 2012 3:22 pm Post subject: Working Holiday Visa for a British Citizen |
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Hi everyone. Has anyone successfully applied for a Working Holiday Visa in London before they have gone out to Japan? If so, could you please post here, or pm me so that I could ask you a few questions please?  |
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sideways_gun
Joined: 28 Apr 2010
Posts: 49
Location: Tokyo
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| Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2012 8:33 am Post subject: Re: Working Holiday Visa for a British Citizen |
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| im_not_a_violentdrunk wrote: |
| Hi everyone. Has anyone successfully applied for a Working Holiday Visa in London before they have gone out to Japan? If so, could you please post here, or pm me so that I could ask you a few questions please? |
I'm all yours. QUESTION ME!!! |
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im_not_a_violentdrunk
Joined: 18 May 2012
Posts: 59
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| Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2012 6:49 pm Post subject: |
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thanks for replying sideways_gun 
Here we go
The questions are based on the info the Japanese embassy gives you:
1. Valid UK passport (British Citizen)
2. One completed visa application form
3. One passport-sized photograph approx. 35mm x 45mm (taken within the last 6 months)
4. A personal history, resume or curriculum vitae typed on A4 paper
5. A proposed itinerary for the whole stay in Japan (up to 12 months), including details of prearranged employment, if any
6. A written reason for applying for a Working Holiday Visa typed on A4 paper
7. Either ￡2,500 in cleared funds (last 3 months bank statements must be shown)
Or ￡1,500 and a return or onward journey ticket or a receipt for such.
(Traveller's cheques, credit cards and overdrafts are not acceptable as evidence of sufficient funds)
(In the case of a married couple applying for two visas, the minimum amounts are ￡4,500 and ￡2,500 respectively.)
In some cases, additional documents may be required.
5.) How detailed do they expect this itinerary to be? Is it enough to say, I'll spend a month in tokyo, and hope to visit the studio ghibli exhibit etc? How much detail did you give?
6.) What sort of answer are they looking for here? I'm fascinated by Japanese culture and hope to be able to visit many shrines and places of cultural significance, and to learn more about Japanese Culture? I would like a WHV so I can find short term work if it becomes available? (how long an answer are they looking for)
7.) Can you just show a savings account with enough money in, or does it have to be in a current account?
8.) Did you have to attend an interview, what did they ask? How long did it take to schedule and how long did it last for?
I'm all yours. QUESTION ME!!!
You asked for it! Haha, seriously though, I appreciate any help that you can give me. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2012 8:58 am Post subject: |
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| im_not_a_violentdrunk wrote: |
| 7.) Can you just show a savings account with enough money in, or does it have to be in a current account? |
I'm sorry, but what is the difference? |
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sideways_gun
Joined: 28 Apr 2010
Posts: 49
Location: Tokyo
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| Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2012 9:13 am Post subject: |
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| Glenski wrote: |
| im_not_a_violentdrunk wrote: |
| 7.) Can you just show a savings account with enough money in, or does it have to be in a current account? |
I'm sorry, but what is the difference? |
I don't know about other countries but in England a savings account is attached to your current account in that you can do nothing with it but put money in or transfer the money into your current account for withdrawal. You cannot withdraw money from a savings account directly. But, yeah, there is essentially no difference, essentially, because they appear together and it's the same person's money anyway. I get why the OP would think there is a difference but there is not. |
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sideways_gun
Joined: 28 Apr 2010
Posts: 49
Location: Tokyo
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| Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2012 9:30 am Post subject: |
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| im_not_a_violentdrunk wrote: |
I'm all yours. QUESTION ME!!!
You asked for it! Haha, seriously though, I appreciate any help that you can give me. |
Okay, I'll address your queries one by one lol
| im_not_a_violentdrunk wrote: |
Here we go
The questions are based on the info the Japanese embassy gives you:
1. Valid UK passport (British Citizen)
2. One completed visa application form
3. One passport-sized photograph approx. 35mm x 45mm (taken within the last 6 months)
4. A personal history, resume or curriculum vitae typed on A4 paper
5. A proposed itinerary for the whole stay in Japan (up to 12 months), including details of prearranged employment, if any
6. A written reason for applying for a Working Holiday Visa typed on A4 paper
7. Either ￡2,500 in cleared funds (last 3 months bank statements must be shown)
Or ￡1,500 and a return or onward journey ticket or a receipt for such.
(Traveller's cheques, credit cards and overdrafts are not acceptable as evidence of sufficient funds)
(In the case of a married couple applying for two visas, the minimum amounts are ￡4,500 and ￡2,500 respectively.)
In some cases, additional documents may be required.
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| im_not_a_violentdrunk wrote: |
5.) How detailed do they expect this itinerary to be? Is it enough to say, I'll spend a month in tokyo, and hope to visit the studio ghibli exhibit etc? How much detail did you give?
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The itinerary doesn't have to be detailed. But you should break it down month by month and highlight key events that happen across the country that you "want" to see. It shows your intention to really holiday around the country. You can mention you will spend x weeks or a month in x place but, yeah, just make sure it looks like you have chosen to come to Japan to REALLY experience "everything" the country has to offer over your 12-month period. Do your research. I still have all the things I wrote.... I can email it to you if you want....
| im_not_a_violentdrunk wrote: |
6.) What sort of answer are they looking for here? I'm fascinated by Japanese culture and hope to be able to visit many shrines and places of cultural significance, and to learn more about Japanese Culture? I would like a WHV so I can find short term work if it becomes available? (how long an answer are they looking for)
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DO NOT EVER WRITE THAT YOU WANT TO WORK IN JAPAN. That is against the principle of the Working Holiday visa which only exists to grant you stay in Japan long enough to truly "experience Japanese culture". The fact you have the RIGHT to work is to allow you to work PART TIME to keep you travelling. If you mention anything about work it'll be in your itinerary and it should amount to nothing more than 1 line that you "might" find part-time work in a cafe/restaurant. Do not say bar because you're not supposed to work in a night entertainment establishment technically. Yeah, you could. But you're not supposed to so do not say that you would.
I think the 'go-to' reason is because you want to learn more about Japanese history by visiting the shrine of whoever, and the birthplace of whoever, and the hometown of whoever, and that you're planning to do a masters/undergraduate degree in Japanese history or whatever WHEN YOU RETURN (yeah, gotta give some indication that you have plans to continue your life in England after the 12months is up, even if you never return lol). Honestly, you can even just make something up so you sound like the most well-read culture buff of all time who just needs to experience THE REAL to top it all off. Just don't mention about manga or anime because you don't need to be in Japan to experience that. That'll kill your application. Talk about some experience you had in England that had prompted you to get more interest in Japan. It's also a good idea to say you have taken Japanese lessons from somewhere/someone and look forward to using it in daily life/understanding more about Japanese people's way of thinking blahblahblah. Applications are approved by the consulate so you'd better flatter the Japanese to the max.
| im_not_a_violentdrunk wrote: |
7.) Can you just show a savings account with enough money in, or does it have to be in a current account?
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As Glenski prompted, the 2 are the same. As long as it's an account in YOUR name with money that you are able to withdraw, it's fine. I moved my funds to my savings account just so the number would stand out perfectly, although I did have to show them my bank statements that indicated where the money came from (my current account). They need the bank statements. I got a cash injection from my mother so I also had my mother write a short letter stating that she gave me the money willingly and supports my desire to go to Japan on WHV because of abcdefg reasons that show my head is on right lol
| im_not_a_violentdrunk wrote: |
8.) Did you have to attend an interview, what did they ask? How long did it take to schedule and how long did it last for?
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No interview. Unless you write something odd (what is 'odd' anyway? probably something that is factually incorrect or that is a big red flag of you wanting to become the no. 1 hostess in Ginza or something lol) they will not call you in for anything. When you submit the required documents they'll give you a date to come back for the 'result' (I think it takes 2 weeks and when you return you'll probably just go to the window and be given your passport back with the visa inside) and also let you know that they'll call you if they have any queries. Standard fare..
I hope I've been helpful. Any more questions, quote me! |
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im_not_a_violentdrunk
Joined: 18 May 2012
Posts: 59
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| Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2012 11:06 am Post subject: |
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Glenski I'm sorry, but what is the difference? Sideways_gun, was spot on with his interpretation. You don't have access to a savings account with the same ease as your current account(i.e. not atm card access usually).
Do your research. I still have all the things I wrote.... I can email it to you if you want.... That's really kind of you, I'll try drawing one up on my own first, if you could e-mail me yours that would be great ([email protected]) I can then send you a copy of mine if you're curious to see what I end up with!
DO NOT EVER WRITE THAT YOU WANT TO WORK IN JAPAN Understood, I think I'll veer on the side of caution here and completely leave out the possibility of work on the application.
That bit about the interview is nice to know, I was hoping that was the case.
I hope I've been helpful.
Totally! More than helpful, thanks a lot. I'm waiting to get my passport back from the Thai Consulate (I'm doing a CELTA in Chiang Mai next month!), so I'll send it off as soon as I get it back, thanks again for getting back to me so quickly.
One last thing, I forgot to ask, I guess I just assumed that it was the case because your on these forums. Did you come over to Japan without a job on the WHV and then get sponsored once you got a job? |
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sideways_gun
Joined: 28 Apr 2010
Posts: 49
Location: Tokyo
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| Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2012 11:51 am Post subject: |
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| im_not_a_violentdrunk wrote: |
Glenski I'm sorry, but what is the difference? Sideways_gun, was spot on with his interpretation.
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I'm a girl T_T
| im_not_a_violentdrunk wrote: |
That's really kind of you, I'll try drawing one up on my own first, if you could e-mail me yours that would be great ([email protected]) I can then send you a copy of mine if you're curious to see what I end up with! |
Okay!! I'm sending the goodies to you tonight then I got my WHV at the end of 2010 so I suppose nobody will know/care if you even lift things directly lol
| im_not_a_violentdrunk wrote: |
DO NOT EVER WRITE THAT YOU WANT TO WORK IN JAPAN Understood, I think I'll veer on the side of caution here and completely leave out the possibility of work on the application. |
I think that you had better write in here and there that you might work part time in a cafe just to give the idea that you realise �2,500 probably won't last you a whole year. You could also write in at key points in your itinerary that you may also borrow money from your parents or something. It doesn't have to be realistically feasible (the japanese consulate doesn't know you personally), just practical/logical.
| im_not_a_violentdrunk wrote: |
One last thing, I forgot to ask, I guess I just assumed that it was the case because your on these forums. Did you come over to Japan without a job on the WHV and then get sponsored once you got a job? |
I had to show that I already had an AMENDABLE return ticket to Japan to get away with meeting the lower funds requirement (I came with Virgin Atlantic who wouldn't sell me a return date more than 9months into the future so had to let the consulate know that I do have the option to change my booking to remain in Japan for 12 months). Knowing when I would be in Japan, I sent out applications and said I'd be available for interview from x date. So I scheduled interviews for when I got there. And that's how I found my first job Being on a WHV, I also didn't need to work full time to "keep/obtain" my visa so didn't change to a normal working one until I wanted to change job and there was only half a year left on my visa so I needed a new one to satisfy my contract blahblahblah. As Glenski once pointed out to me, not paying 20% income tax was also a benefit of getting off the WHV. But, yeah, it's a once-in-a-lifetime visa (literally) so don't give it up too easily...... If you get to the point where you think you're definitely going to want to stay in Japan, working, for longer than the visa will allow, THEN you can start looking to get sponsored. This is much easier to do once you are already in Japan with some [relevant] work experience. Of course, my field is English teaching so I can only comment on that. For knowledge of other sectors, please ask the masses |
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im_not_a_violentdrunk
Joined: 18 May 2012
Posts: 59
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| Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2012 3:33 pm Post subject: |
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I'm a girl T_T  Sorry!
I had to show that I already had an AMENDABLE return ticket to Japan to get away with meeting the lower funds requirement (I came with Virgin Atlantic who wouldn't sell me a return date more than 9months into the future so had to let the consulate know that I do have the option to change my booking to remain in Japan for 12 months).
Ok, I got the bit about the flights and I've gotten quotes on an amendable ticket. I thought the WHV was only good for 6months though? Don't know why I'm under that impression, maybe I read it somewhere? So if I get a WHV, I only need to worry about sponsorship if I decide to stay longer than a year? I know you pretty much answer that question in the next paragraph but I just wanted to double check
Of course, my field is English teaching so I can only comment on that It's also what I hope to be doing:)
I got your email as well thanks! |
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im_not_a_violentdrunk
Joined: 18 May 2012
Posts: 59
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| Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2012 3:35 pm Post subject: |
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| One more question that I forgot! When you go in person and apply, to they give the WHV to you there on the same day? Or does it take a couple of weeks to process? Thanks |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2012 11:18 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for the clarification about savings/current account. Yes, it's different in the U.S. There, you have a savings account and/or a checking account, period.
| sideways_gun wrote: |
| The fact you have the RIGHT to work is to allow you to work PART TIME to keep you travelling. |
That may have been true in the past, but you can see from the first page of the WHV site that PT or FT work is allowed.
http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/w_holiday/index.html
The principle is that you don't do it long-term. |
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sideways_gun
Joined: 28 Apr 2010
Posts: 49
Location: Tokyo
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| Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 4:14 am Post subject: |
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| Glenski wrote: |
Thanks for the clarification about savings/current account. Yes, it's different in the U.S. There, you have a savings account and/or a checking account, period.
| sideways_gun wrote: |
| The fact you have the RIGHT to work is to allow you to work PART TIME to keep you travelling. |
That may have been true in the past, but you can see from the first page of the WHV site that PT or FT work is allowed.
http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/w_holiday/index.html
The principle is that you don't do it long-term. |
Aaaaah, I understand the distinction now! I thought it was full time work that was frowned upon! But now I see it's the duration of employment that cramps the WHV style. Wow, a late revelation lol! Thank you!! |
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sideways_gun
Joined: 28 Apr 2010
Posts: 49
Location: Tokyo
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| Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 4:59 am Post subject: |
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| im_not_a_violentdrunk wrote: |
| When you go in person and apply, to they give the WHV to you there on the same day? Or does it take a couple of weeks to process? Thanks |
They take your documents and provide you with a piece of paper giving you a date to return for the result. It will be a date 1-2 weeks into the future. It should be no longer than that but, anyway, that date is selected on the spot by the workers there so you'll at least know for sure when it will be ready.
| im_not_a_violentdrunk wrote: |
I had to show that I already had an AMENDABLE return ticket to Japan to get away with meeting the lower funds requirement (I came with Virgin Atlantic who wouldn't sell me a return date more than 9months into the future so had to let the consulate know that I do have the option to change my booking to remain in Japan for 12 months).
Ok, I got the bit about the flights and I've gotten quotes on an amendable ticket. I thought the WHV was only good for 6months though? Don't know why I'm under that impression, maybe I read it somewhere? So if I get a WHV, I only need to worry about sponsorship if I decide to stay longer than a year? |
According to http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/w_holiday/programme.html#1 the WHV for Australians, Canadians, and New Zealanders is granted for a 6-month period but is renewable for another 6 months. Citizens of the other eligible countries get the 12 months from the start, but it is non-renewable. So, if you want to stay longer than a year, you should then try to find sponsorship, and of course not just as your visa is about to expire as it CAN take up to 2months to get a WHV changed to, for example, an Instructor or Specialist in Humanities visa. And the sooner you can stop getting taced 20% of your income, the better, depending on how soon you find a job you want to continue full time that would take you over your 12 months.
| im_not_a_violentdrunk wrote: |
| I'm a girl T_T Sorry! |
Hahaha, it's alright! |
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im_not_a_violentdrunk
Joined: 18 May 2012
Posts: 59
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| Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 7:38 pm Post subject: |
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That may have been true in the past, but you can see from the first page of the WHV site that PT or FT work is allowed. That's good to know thanks, I'll tailor my letter accordingly.
It will be a date 1-2 weeks into the future. It should be no longer than that but, anyway, that date is selected on the spot by the workers there so you'll at least know for sure when it will be ready.
I may just call the Japanese embassy on wednesday (it's an extended bank holiday for the diamond jubilee) and tell them about my travel dates. I'm only going to have a short period in which I could surrender my passport as I'll need it for travelling. Thanks, I'll let you know how I get on! |
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