Job Discussion Forums

[JonnyB61]

Dear Folks
What follows is a copy of an email that I have just sent to the British Consulate General in Osaka. If, after reading it, anyone can shed any light on the questions I raise at the end then I'd be pleased to hear from you. For the entertainment of readers I will give more details of the ridiculous questions that I was asked but I'll add them tomorrow because I've really had enough of the whole thing for one day, and I'm fed up with typing. In fact, I need a drink! Cheers!

Dear Sir / Madam

I am sending this email to ask for your guidance and advice on the issue of exchanging a UK Driving Licence for a Japanese Driver�s License.

Today, Thursday 5th April 2007, I attended an appointment at the Kumamoto Driver�s License Center in order to execute the transaction mentioned above. I took a Japanese friend along as a translator and I supplied all the documents that JAF told me I would need, including bank statements from last year to show that I had lived in the United Kingdom for at least 3 months after the issue of my UK licence, (it was issued in 1980!). The officer who interviewed me refused to accept my bank statements as proof of residence claiming that someone else could have been using my ATM card while I was out of the country. He then proceeded to ask me to explain every single transaction on each statement asking questions such as:

�What�s this one?�
�It�s a supermarket purchase�
�What did you buy in the supermarket?�
�I can�t remember. Does it matter?�
� Try to remember.�
�Groceries, probably.�
�Soooooooo!�

He then went on to ask endless questions irrelevant to driving licenses or motoring matters before producing a form that he asked me to complete explaining all the stamps in my passport with destinations, dates of entry / exit into foreign countries and the reasons for my visits. I pointed out that these were immigration questions with no connection to motoring matters and that the details were my private business. He told me that if I completed the form he would accept that I had lived in the UK for at least 3 months. I couldn�t see how that information would prove what he said so I declined to give it. For refusing to supply that information he refused to issue a Japanese Driver�s License, my documents were returned and the interview was concluded after about 2 � hours.

Having briefly outlined the events, I would be grateful for your advice on the following points.

1. Am I right in my belief that Japan and the United Kingdom have a reciprocal agreement to honour each other�s driving licences? I know from the experiences of Japanese friends that it is far more straightforward for them to obtain an exchange licence in the UK.

2. Exactly what proof of residence in the UK do the DLC want to see if bank statements are not sufficient? (I asked this question but received no answer.)

3. Do the DLC have the right to demand such detailed information from my private life such as supermarket purchases and reasons for visits to other countries, in order to issue a driving licence? To me these seem to be irrelevant intrusions and I wonder if the officer concerned was following correct procedure or exceeding his authority in an over-zealous manner.


4. Under the circumstances, could you tell me if there are any procedures for appeals and / or complaints? If so, do you believe that they would be of any benefit to me and could you advise me on how to implement them?


Thank you for your attention in this matter and I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully


Jonathan G Bradshaw
[/b]

[Gordon]

Sounds similar to the questions I were asked, so am not sure why you question the idiotic nature of their probing questions. Standard procedure to me. They also asked me what percentage of drivers in Canada pass their driving test, I said 32%, I of course have no idea, but it satisfied him.
Prepare to give and answer or bluff for any and all questions. They can and will do whatever they please. You are the one who wants the license so play their game.

[canuck]

Jonathan,

When was your passport issued? Did you have your passport while you were in England? That would prove that you were there. Or you could provide information that you have insured a vehicle in the U.K.?

You should have just did your best to answer the questions, provide them with information and give them what they want. Pretty simple. Seems like you flew off the handle and wasted 2 1/2 hours. Try again another day, and make sure you don't deal with the same person.

[Chris21]

[madeira]

Proving residency... do you have Council tax bills in your name? That would be pretty conclusive, I think. Even if you were exempt from the tax, you should have some correspondence. If you were living with parents or such, maybe they could make a document declaring you were living with them and have it notarised?

You have a driver's record, right? (You may call it an abstract.) That should show the issue date.

Just some ideas.

[G Cthulhu]

[osakajojo]

Better yet, just go in there by yourself with no translator. They will probably ask you less questions if they know that you can't understand their questions.