Job Discussion Forums

[Fina1]

I am going to be leaving for Japan in early March and yeserday I received an informational packet telling me that Japan is processing my COE and once I receive it I will need to get my visa from the Japanese Consulate.

The packet also included the procedures I need to take to obtain the visa once I receive my COE in the mail (4-2 weeks before departure).

One thing that stood out was that one of the requirements for the visa was that I give the consulate a passport that has been valid for at least 6 months prior to the departure date.

This surprised me, because during my interview (and on my application for employment) I told them that I did not have a passport, but I have already applied for one and should be receiving it in a few weeks.

Is the "valid for 6 months prior to departure" going to be a big issue? Mine will have been valid for only 5 months at the time of the departure (received the passport about 2 weeks after my interview).

[Deep Thirteen]

I think that the semantics or grammar might be confusing. When I think of "valid for six months prior to departure", I think that it means you should have a passport that isn't up to expire.

I'm not sure if they have a gestation period, maybe the more experienced can verify, but it doesn't seem logical that you would have to wait six months for a passport to become 'valid'. It's ready-for-use/official once the State Department issues it.

[Fina1]

[ShioriEigoKyoushi]

Text deleted

[G Cthulhu]

I think you'll find they mean valid for six months beyond your expected arrival date from *Japan*. Many (most?) countries have this rule and won't let you in if the passport is within 6 months of expiring.

[bre_anna]

I've never heard of that being a requirment, I'm sure it was just a miscommunication error. If you realy do feel uneasy about it you can always ask your employer, or the consulate just to clarify.