Torippu Japan

I got my Japanese visa today -- 90 days (but single entry).

When I was inquiring on the requirements for visa application, I was told that I also need to show my bank account. When I applied for a South Korean visa, I was never required to submit that. But it was like deja vu with my experience with UK and the EU countries. It was like being brought back to those days when I feel that being a Philippine-passport holder is a curse.

So anyways, I took all the requirements to the embassy last Friday. Not much was asked, well, except when the consul asked for my old passport. And then he told me to wait for my number to be called at another counter. I waited and I thought I my number was among those called so I queued up. When it was my turn at the counter, I gave my number but the lady couldn't find my file among the files on the counter. Nandeyo! That gave me a temporary scare ne, thinking something was wrong. But it turned out I was just being baka and that my number hasn't been called yet (that's what I get for my poor Thai language skills). Anyway, the lady was nice and did not bark at me or anything and retrieved my file from the fresh batch. She handed me a claim slip and told me to return on Tuesday, today, since Monday was a holiday in BKK.

Only when I was returning to the office from the embassy did I realise my booboo. I had written 10 days when I plan to be in Tokyo for 11 days. That made me anxious throughout the weekend. So it was indeed a relief (arigato gozaimasu!) when I saw that they gave me days more than I asked for.

The whole process was sumu-su more than I expected.