Time to get a student visa and passport back?

[LoveryJ]

My friend is going to Japan to study for a year and is waiting for a certificate of eligibility to be able to apply for his student visa at the Japanese embassy.

Do you get the visa sorted out on the day you are at the embassy and how long does it normally take for them to send back the passport which you hand them?

Basically, what is quickest time to be able to receive all the documents necessary to be allowed in Japan once you have been to the embassy to get the student visa?

[mumknowsbest]

Hi LoveryJ. My daughter doing same as your friend. You have to apply in person at Jap embassy in London. No need to book appt but better to phone first to check opening times. The embassy retains the passport & cert of eligibility & returns them & visa by reg post (for which u pay). Her's came within a week.

Have u had any replies to your query on booking tickets when u don't have return date? Daughter has same prob.

[LoveryJ]

Thanks for the reply. Do you have to sort out the postage yourself, say like handing them a pre paid envelope or do you just have to pay for the service?

We decided to book a return flight with the return being as far advance as possible (1 year) and with it being changeable. There's normally a small fee of about 50 pounds but it works out much better than buying another ticket once you are there.

[mumknowsbest]

You pay at the embassy for postage. It is about �5. Where are u going to be studying in japan?

[mumknowsbest]

ignore previous answer (OK Mum doesn't always know best) Visa is �5 and u need a registered envelope for them to use to post your stuff back.