I first had to receive my Certificate of Eligibility. This required me to send my passport to the Japanese Government's Immigration Authority along with a proposal stating who I am, why I want to go to the county, how long I intend to stay there for and when I will return to the U.S. I had to prove I had no criminal convictions and that I, or whoever supports me, makes enough money so that I will not simply be a homeless bum in Japan. The paperwork was very particular and I gave it to the study abroad office to send out to the Japanese government on September 16th.
Finally about two weeks ago I was called to the study abroad office, where I received a package. I opened it up and to my excitement saw my Certificate of Eligibility, written in a mixture of kanji, katakana and romaji in both Japanese in English.
That little certificate made me the happiest girl in the world!
A Visa is an document stating a person is authorized to enter a country. Most countries around the world require a visa for foreigners.
When I went home for Thanksgiving last Wednesday I filled out my Visa application form., or should I say, my mother filled it out. Along with my passport, Certificate of Eligibility, copy of my drivers license and 2x2 photos, I sent to application to the Japanese Consulate located in New York City (The Consulate issues the Visas).
So yesterday, just four days after I have sent out the Visa Application I get two text messages from my dad.
1. "Marissa call me asap it's important"
2."Marissa call me Japan called"
Japan called? I concluded my dad's lingo meant that the Japanese Consulate had called. I was confused and a bit alarmed so I called my dad back asap, as he wished.
According to him the Japanese Consulate called my house asking for me, and wanted me to call them back because they have "some questions for me". This statement made me a bit alarmed so I called back as quickly as I could.
After having to listen two about five minutes of voice recordings, first in Japanese, followed by the English translation, I finally got a real human on the phone.
"こんにちわ", followed by something in Japanese I did not understand. I asked if there was someone I could speak to in English and the lady responded "Yes!" as another woman got on the phone with me.
I told her my name and that I was simply returning a call, as I was asked to. The lady had a kind voice and a thick Japanese accent. She told me they had received my Visa application, and everything looked great, except for one thing, for the state, did it say CA as in California or PA as in Pennsylvania. "PA" I said. "Okay that is it, we will be sending you your Visa back on Thursday have a nice day bye bye!"
Ah, what a stupid mistake. My mom's messy handwriting lead a PA to look like a CA (should have written it myself, although my handwriting is worse). Always something. Although my mom made a good point, they had my passport, drivers license and my address written in full (with the whole name P-e-n-n-s-y-l-v-a-n-i-a spelled out). Regardless, the mistake was corrected and I should be getting my Visa (the final authorization I need) back any day now!
いいですね
マリㇱサ
No comments:
Post a Comment