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Imseriouslylost
Joined: 09 Nov 2009
Posts: 123
Location: Tokyo
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 Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2010 6:12 pm Post subject: Still haven't recieved a COE |
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I sent my documents off to a dispatch company on December 10th of 2009. They received it and began processing it immediately. They said they would email me back once the COE is being mailed back to me.
Its January the 15th now and I haven't heard anything yet. I thought the COE was only supposed to take two or three weeks at the maximum. Does this mean there is something wrong, or what?
Also, when I receive it, how long will it take to turn into a Visa at my local Japanese embassy? I read that it was difficult to turn the COE into a Visa while being in Japan. |
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Rezz
Joined: 26 May 2009
Posts: 95
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| Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2010 6:50 pm Post subject: |
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Mine took about 4 weeks to come back from Japan I think. After leaving it and my passport with the embassy, they had it returned to me by Royal Mail Special Delivery (which I prepaid) about 2 days later.
Yours should be due any time really! |
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fluffyhamster
Joined: 13 Mar 2005
Posts: 3292
Location: UK > China > Japan > UK again
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| Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2010 8:25 pm Post subject: |
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| I thought the COE was only supposed to take two or three weeks at the maximum. |
Six to eight weeks was more the norm in my experience (and in others that I recall reading about). Certainly, two to three weeks would have been unusually fast, especially over a period including any sort of New Year break (I mean, even Japan has a New Year!). Anyway, it's what, nearing six weeks already, so as Rezz says, you should be getting it any time soon fingers crossed!
Your nearest embassy should have no problem processing the COE into a visa on the same day. I dropped mine off (in London (, England', as it informs one in Austin Powers  )) in the morning and could collect it in the afternoon after lunch.
| Quote: |
| I read that it was difficult to turn the COE into a Visa while being in Japan. |
I'm not sure if the exact same COE(-like) document is issued to those applying ("needing" to apply) from within Japan for permission to work - it would seem a slightly extraneous bit of paper in those circumstances - but I suppose that having the same piece of paper for visa issuance both outside and within Japan equally makes sense as much as not. But the real issues here are rather a) entering Japan as a tourist (entry would then by no means an absolutely guaranteed right - you might need to show sufficient funds for the proposed period of stay, provide the address at which you intend to stay etc, all could get a bit fraught) and connectedly b) actually having a job to go to i.e. being able to start work, pronto (which a COE definitely in hand from being delivered to you at a known address etc will entitle you to). Definitely don't be rushed into things and/or get too impatient!
But if the worst does come to the worst and the COE doesn't arrive relatively soon, it should be a quite simple matter for your prospective employer to chase up the COE application and tell you what's happening with it.  (There should be no reason for them to be too evasive or vague). |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2010 9:43 pm Post subject: Re: Still haven't recieved a COE |
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| Imseriouslylost wrote: |
Its January the 15th now and I haven't heard anything yet. I thought the COE was only supposed to take two or three weeks at the maximum. |
Where did you hear that lie? Average is 4-8 weeks, not including major holidays. Be patient.
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| Also, when I receive it, how long will it take to turn into a Visa at my local Japanese embassy? |
About 10-15 minutes, depending on the lines.
[/quote] I read that it was difficult to turn the COE into a Visa while being in Japan.[/quote]You are just full of false information! Who is your source? |
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Imseriouslylost
Joined: 09 Nov 2009
Posts: 123
Location: Tokyo
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| Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2010 4:41 am Post subject: Re: Still haven't recieved a COE |
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| Glenski wrote: |
| You are just full of false information! Who is your source? |
You, usually! lol.
Except maybe in this case, I read it on Gaijinpot but I can't find the original thread. Someone said something about it being possible before unofficially but not recommended these days as you'd have to come in on a tourist Visa and then change your status in country, presuming illegal behaviour (job hunting on a tourist visa) or something else.
All this conflicting information makes me confused. |
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OneJoelFifty
Joined: 06 Oct 2009
Posts: 463
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| Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2010 2:52 pm Post subject: |
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| The dispatch companies I've spoken to said that I'd have to be outside Japan when I received the COE in order to take it to a Japanese embassy and get the visa. That could be where you heard it, or why it's something that's been repeated elsewhere. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2010 10:40 pm Post subject: |
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| OneJoelFifty wrote: |
| The dispatch companies I've spoken to said that I'd have to be outside Japan when I received the COE in order to take it to a Japanese embassy and get the visa. |
They are wrong. No surprise. |
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seklarwia
Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 1546
Location: Monkey onsen, Nagano
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| Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 1:17 am Post subject: |
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| The reason that dispatchers really want you to have them done before arrival is because once you are here, some people will have very hectic schedules and very little time to get things sorted. Needing to go and get a COE processed will just add further complications to the mayhem. |
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