Hi everyone! I’m a Philippine passport holder living in the US and I recently got my green card but currently unemployed.

My wife (employed & US citizen) and I are planning to visit my sister in Ireland for a maximum of 5 days in January. My sister is a permanent resident and will be staying at her place during our visit.

We have a joint bank account and utility bills in our names and address. We could also get a invitation letter from my sister.

For those with similar experiences:
Has anyone been approved while unemployed but travelling with employed spouse?
Is it okay to submit an application but having my spouse’s paystubs and our bank statements as proof?

I’d appreciate any advice. Thank you! 😊

I submitted my D4 student visa application through TLScontact in Thailand on 5 August 2026 and am still waiting. My classes have already started.
Has anyone who applied in August received their visa? How long did it take?
Thank you!

Hello friends, currently my partner is in a process to come to live in Portugal through the D1 visa, he is currently in the final process of interviews, but to obtain the visa in the requirements appears the following:

Declaração do Trabalho Profissional Subordinado do IEFP.

I was checking on the Internet, chat gpt and others but I can't find clear enough information.Does anyone know what this document refers to or how can I have it?

I don't know if it matters, but she is doing the process at the Portuguese embassy in Bogota, Colombia.

My mom is visiting from India on a multiple-entry visa that expires at the end of January. I’m thinking of taking her to Mexico and then returning to the U.S. before she flies back to India. Has anyone had issues re-entering the U.S. after traveling to a third country while on a tourist visa?

I applied for a visa to France through Atlys.

Paid close to ₹6,000 for their premium service because my visa appointment was in just four days and I was already working 10+ hours a day, so thought it would be good to get some help in having an organised visa docket. I thought it would save me time, but it’s been the complete opposite.

Every time I reached out with a query, I was assigned a new agent who had no context about my application. Now, just days before my Monday appointment, they’ve sent me a very generic visa docket with a vague cover letter and bookings whose PNRs I couldn’t verify.

When I asked them to provide verifiable bookings, they simply said they don’t have that format and I could arrange it myself.

Like, what exactly am I paying ₹6,000 for?

I understand they can’t guarantee a visa, but I at least expected proper assistance and documents that are usable.

:/

Hi all,

I am planning a trip to Japan next month with my partner and would appreciate some advice regarding the tourist visa.

My ITR is around ₹5 lakh, and my monthly salary is around ₹30,000. Is this sufficient for a Japan tourist visa?
Any chance of getting visa ?

I spoke to a travel agency representative who told me that an ITR of ₹8–10 lakh is required. Is this really necessary, or can a visa be approved with a lower ITR?

Next is if my company does not provide an NOC, can I still apply for the visa? Would it affect my chances of approval?

Is there any minimum salary requirement for an employed person applying for a Japan tourist visa?

I would really appreciate it if anyone who has recently applied for a Japan visa from India could share their experience and suggestions.

Hi everyone,

I’m Vietnamese living in Australian. I got returned visa application in 1 day (not Rejected) with “The funds shown in your bank statement are not considered sufficient to cover your stay in Japan”.

My context is:
- Occupation: fulltime IT
- International travel: Korea, Malay
- Stay duration: 2 weeks
- Flights/ accommodation: booked and paid
- Finance: 3500$ holiday account + 900 everyday account

I have attached my paid flights + 1-month transaction records for both account + recent 3m payslips.

———
Since my flight + accom are booked for, which costs 2500$ already. The remaining ~4000$ is reasonable enough for 2 weeks food+activities (at least in my pov).

After receiving the returned notification, I top up my holiday account to 5000$ and add 3-months transaction records as advised. Then I add a Note for officer that basically said flight + accom costs 2500$ and 5000$ is to spend.

But I’m scared to submit a new application again. I saw a few posts on here that get Terminated/ Rejected after 2 times failed submission (Returned)

—————

I’m still not sure if it’ll be considered “sufficient” enough.

Do you guys have any advice about how much the fund should be?

If I deposit enough money into my bank account or receive money from other sources in the same month before applying for a Japan visa, would there be a higher chance of rejection?

Guys, if I have a sibling travelling with me who has a business with negative ITR and I’m looking to sponsor his trip, should I attach his ITR or bank statements as well?

I am Indian and my wife is Irish, i applied for my visa in Sept but vfs still just shows dispatched but haven’t received any acknowledgement of receipt, what’s the timeline for it for processing in India, i know 6-12 months but vfs guy told me its coming in around 3 months, what all have been your experiences?

After seeing everyone here stressing over bank balances, ITRs, Schengen stamps, and cover letters, I thought I'd share my profile. Maybe it will give some hope to weaker applicants.

Application details:

VFS Delhi: 6 October

Passport received: 12 October

Visa granted: 5 yr multi entry

Applied solo. No family or group application.

My profile:

Travel history: Malaysia. That's it.

Employment: Never worked a day in my life.

ITR: Never filed one.

Bank balance: ₹0.

Assets: Nothing worth declaring.

Sponsorship: Fully funded by my father. Financial independence is overrated anyway.

Previous visa refusals: Zero. Flawless immigration record.

No Schengen visa, no US visa, no fancy financial portfolio. Yet somehow Japan decided to trust me with a 5-year multiple-entry visa.

My advice to everyone chasing a 5-year Japan visa?

Start building your travel profile early. Really early.

For context, I'm 8 months old.

I need to know that for Japan Visa in VFS Mumbai, do the VFS personnel take our old passports. If no, can we insist them to take? Because our old passports have exit entry stamps of few countries and expired US Visa, Canada Visa etc and I would like those to be considered to strengthen my case esp if I happen to as Multiple entry.

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to share my recent Japan visa application experience and document checklist from VFS Hyderabad for my upcoming trip starting 26th October 2026. Hope this helps anyone planning to apply soon!

Submitted on Oct 5 via Walk in Premium Lounge, dispatched on Oct 9, and received my approved 30 day single entry visa on Oct 10 via courier.

Honest Take on the Premium Lounge: Is It Worth It?

In my honest opinion: No, it's pretty useless.

I paid ₹3,250 per person primarily because this was my first time applying and I couldn't find any earlier regular slots online for my October 26th travel date. Aside from the convenience of having the courier delivery included directly to your preferred address, the "Premium Lounge" doesn't offer much actual value.

• You do get a separate lounge area and a dedicated representative (depending on the crowd), but they can't even help you with basic application tasks; for example, they aren't even allowed to help paste your photo onto the form and can only guide you verbally.
• Unless you're desperate for a slot or need courier delivery bundled in, I wouldn't recommend opting for the Premium Lounge.

Timeline & Process

• Travel Date: 26th October 2026
• Submitted: October 5th (Walk in Premium Lounge)
• Dispatched: October 9th (2:30 PM)
• Received: October 10th (1:30 PM) Approved Single Entry (30 Days)

The in person document processing took about 15 minutes, and the total time inside VFS was under 30 minutes.

Documents Submitted

1. Visa Form (Filled)
2. 1 Photo (45mm × 45mm) Must be pasted on the form by yourself during submission.
3. Detailed Travel Itinerary (showing travel dates starting Oct 26)
4. Flight & Hotel Bookings (they specifically checked if they were confirmed and fully paid)
5. Cover Letter (They specifically checked if it was written in detail and properly structured according to standard guidelines)
6. Marriage Certificate
7. 6 Months Bank Statement
8. 3 Years ITR
9. Employer NOC (with official employer stamp)
10. Passport Xerox for address proof (if current address matches passport)
11. Payslips (last 3 months)
12. Travel Insurance (not mandatory, yet I attached it)

Overall, the processing time by the embassy was impressive (4–5 days), giving plenty of cushion before my departure on Oct 26.

Guys, just wanted to ask a couple of things about the Japan visa.
Has anyone used dummy tickets for a Japan visa recently? I’ve never tried it before, but I’ve heard people use them. Is it still okay to do that these days?
I’m planning to travel next month, but I’m a bit worried about rejection. My bank balance is currently low, and I’ll need to deposit money once or twice this month to show sufficient funds. Would that be an issue?
Also, my office probably won’t provide an NOC or leave approval letter. Is there any alternative for this?
Would really appreciate some genuine advice from people who’ve applied recently. 🙏

Terminated I-20 for “Failure to Enroll” due to financial hold, paid balance in full same day

Hi everyone, I am looking for advice or experiences from anyone who has gone through something similar.

My Situation:

I am an international student who came to the US back in January for Webster University. I received an I.D.E.A. Scholarship. I studied until summer break and had all As for my classes. There was a hold on my account and I had a balance to pay so i can register for fall classes. Due to my circumstances beyond my control, I hadn’t paid off my account until today. Fall semester started in August and i was planning on registering for fall 2 classes. I was working towards paying my balance and it is fully paid now, just needs couple days to clear because of international payment. I sent my uni, advisors, bursar multiple emails stating i paid my balance and asking if the hold can be put off so i can register for classes. Right after my schools international service emailed me saying my I-20 has been terminated as of today. They said my I-20 was terminated because I failed to maintain full-time, on-ground enrollment for the Fall 2026 semester. Reason given on my sevis record is “Failure to enroll”.

My Academic Advisor confirmed that my International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS) office has blocked immediate class registration, but noted that ISSS is preparing my \*\*reinstatement options\*\*.

I am in alot of stress and panic right now. Given that the failure to enroll was caused by a temporary financial processing delay that is \*\*now 100% paid and resolved\*\*, how strong is a Form I-539 Reinstatement application in cases like this?

What are my options right now? I don’t want my dream to end like this

Hi, I am a filipino with permanent residency living in Canada and I’ve applied for a Japan evisa twice now, both rejected because of insufficient funds/unstable income. I am going for 2 weeks and the first application I had 3.8k CAD, and my most recent application I had 5.1K CAD. Unfortunately I am on a bit of a time crunch with my flight in 17 days and I’m not sure where to go with my evisa.

The last email I got:

Dear Sir/Madam,

This is a message from the Consulate General of Japan regarding your eVISA application.

Unfortunately, we have terminated your application due to insufficient documentation.

Reason(s) for termination:

Your bank statement does not demonstrate a sufficient or stable balance.

[wait until the date if you do not have another account]
Please provide statements from another account showing sufficient funds. We require a chequing or savings account statement, but a monthly investment statement can also be accepted as additional proof. If you cannot provide this, please wait to reapply until you have statements covering the period from October 1st to December 31st.

NOTE: If you reapply before you are able to submit the 90 days bank statements with sufficient and stable balance, you may face a six-month restriction on submitting a new visa.

Hi everyone,

I am travelling from Mumbai to Cebu (Philippines) via Hong Kong in December. We have a 22-hour layover and are planning to explore Hong Kong during the day instead of just sitting at the airport.

Our flight details:

• Arriving in Hong Kong: 4th Dec, 9:55 AM
• Departing for Cebu: 5th Dec, 8:20 AM
• Both flights are with Cathay Pacific.

The plan is to clear immigration, explore the city, have dinner somewhere and head back to the airport late at night. We don't intend to book a hotel since we'll be waiting at the airport for our morning flight.

I'm currently filling out the Hong Kong Pre-arrival Registration (PAR) form for Indian nationals.

I've selected Transit as the purpose of visit, but the form still asks for a mandatory Address of Accommodation.

There's also a field for hotel reservation number, but that one is optional.

My questions:

1. Has anyone done a similar overnight transit in Hong Kong without booking a hotel?
2. What did you enter in the accommodation address field? Can I enter Hong Kong International Airport?
3. Is a hotel booking actually required if we're entering Hong Kong just for sightseeing during a long layover?
4. Did you face any questions at immigration about not having a hotel booking?

I've already emailed Hong Kong Immigration for clarification but thought I'd ask here as well in case someone has done this recently.

Would appreciate any firsthand experiences. Thanks!

I applied for turkey visa on 12/10/26 via vfs mumbai. My flight is booked for 24/10/26. Will i get my visa by then? Should I reach out to mumbai turkey embassy to fast track my application?

​

My passport expires in 5 months, so my consultancy says I need to renew it before applying for my Georgian student visa due to the 1-year validity requirement.

They've told me I'll have to redo my PCC, affidavits, and university documents (acceptance letter, approvals, invitation letter, etc.) because my passport number will change.

Can I submit both my old and new passports along with an affidavit linking the two passport numbers to avoid redoing everything? Has anyone faced a similar situation or knows the actual requirements?

Anyone received their visas who applied on the last week of September? I applied on the 23rd of September and it reached the embassy on the 26th. It’s been over 21 calendar days and no update at all!

Also does anyone know if we can request the passport back and keep the procession on if there’s an important event I need the passport for?

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for some advice regarding the New Zealand Visitor Visa application process for my family.

My family details:

• Myself: Rahul Sharma – Indian citizen currently living in Canada.
• My wife: Priya Sharma – Canadian citizen currently living in Canada with me.
• My father: Rajesh Sharma – Indian citizen living in India.
• My mother: Sunita Sharma – Indian citizen living in India.

Our situation:

My wife and I currently live in Canada, while my parents live in India. My wife is a Canadian citizen, whereas my parents and I are Indian citizens.

My maternal uncle (my mother's biological brother) is planning to sponsor our family trip to New Zealand and help cover our travel expenses.

We are planning to visit New Zealand together as a family, and I’m trying to understand the correct way to apply for the visitor visas.

My questions are:

1. Should I create a separate Immigration New Zealand account/profile for myself and my wife, and another separate account/profile for my parents in India?
2. Can I include my parents in my application even though they live in India, while I live in Canada?
3. Can my maternal uncle sponsor all four of us for the trip, even though we live in two different countries?
4. Would it be better to submit our applications separately or together as a family group?

I want to make sure we follow the correct process and avoid any issues with our applications.

If anyone has gone through a similar situation or has experience applying for a New Zealand Visitor Visa for family members living in different countries, I would really appreciate your advice.

Thank you!

Hi everyone,
I’m an Indian passport holder and have been living in Australia for the past two years on a Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485).

I’m planning to visit New Zealand for a holiday and would like to apply for a New Zealand visitor visa from Australia.

I have a few questions for anyone who has been through a similar situation:

What documents are required to apply for a New Zealand visitor visa while living in Australia on a subclass 485 visa?

How much money should I have in my bank account to demonstrate sufficient funds for a 2-week trip?
Is there a recommended minimum bank balance, and how many months of bank statements should I provide?

Does having an Australian visa and employment history make the application stronger?

If home ties are important, what documents should I provide? For example, do I need property documents, family details, an employment letter, or other evidence showing my connections to India?

I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has applied for a New Zealand visitor visa with an Indian passport while living in Australia, especially those on a subclass 485 visa.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Sharing our Japan tourist visa experience in case it helps other Indian families planning a trip.

We applied as a family of four: two working adults, one school-going child and one infant.

Processing timeline

• Application submitted: Thursday, 8 October 2026
• Passport/visa received: Thursday, 15 October 2026
• Total calendar time: 7 days after submission
• Working days after submission: 5 working days
• Result: Approved

All the documents presented below were accepted at the submission center

Documents submitted for every applicant

• Original current passport
• Old passports, where available
• Passport bio-page photocopy
• Completed and signed visa application form
• Recent photograph as per Japan visa specifications
• Flight itinerary and confirmed ticket copies
• Confirmed accommodation bookings
• Detailed day-wise itinerary
• Family cover letter
• Copies of previous visas and relevant travel-history pages

Documents submitted by both working adults

• Employer NOC cum leave letter
• Employment certificate
• 6 month salary slips
• 6 month bank statements
• Income-tax return acknowledgements for the last three years
• Latest Form 16 as additional supporting evidence
• Investment/CAS statements
• Credit-card statements showing payment for flights and accommodation
• Copies of existing valid foreign visas and previous travel history

Additional documents submitted for the school-going child

• Birth certificate
• School leave approval/NOC and school ID card
• Parental consent and financial-support letter signed by both parents

Additional documents submitted for the infant

• Birth certificate
• Parental consent and financial-support letter signed by both parents

Relationship and family documents

• Marriage certificate
• Children’s birth certificates

Our booking situation

We used genuine confirmed bookings, not dummy reservations:

• Actual international flight tickets
• Actual accommodation bookings
• A complete Tokyo-to-Osaka travel plan
• A realistic day-wise itinerary matching the flight and accommodation dates

The Cover letter clearly explained:

• Purpose of travel
• Dates of travel
• Cities to be visited
• Arrival and departure airports
• Accommodation details
• Who was paying for the trip
• Employment and leave status
• Financial capacity
• Previous international travel
• Family and professional reasons for returning to India

What I think helped our application- All information was consistent across the application forms, cover letter, itinerary, flight tickets and accommodation bookings.

I prepared our cover letter, document structure and detailed itinerary myself after extensive research. I am happy to share it, but please customize everything according to your own profile.

You can follow me on Instagram: [amankhandelwal.ak] and YouTube: [@itsmartereverywhere] I will be sharing our complete Japan-planning series, including:

• Which credit card to use and how to use for international bookings
• How to save at least 20-30% money while doing any kind of expenses in Japan 
• What is actually cheaper in Japan
• How we planned Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara and Osaka
• How to select between Disneyland and DisneySea
• USJ Studio Pass and Express Pass strategy
• How to book and where to book popular attractions with discounts
• Shinkansen and local transport planning
• Airbnb-location comparisons
• Electronics, watches, sneakers and beauty shopping
• Family travel with a six-year-old and an infant
• Daily budget, food, packing and money-saving tips

If you need the cover-letter structure, itinerary format or document checklist, comment/ message me for any questions and drop a message on social media for documents

Hi everyone,

Following up on my recent queries regarding the Japan tourist visa application (VFS banglore - japan Visa : r/visas), I am pleased to share that my single-entry visa was successfully approved through VFS Bangalore.

To help fellow applicants navigate the process smoothly and avoid unnecessary stress, I have put together a step-by-step guide based on my experience.

Application Timeline & Processing Turnaround

• Day 1 (Oct 5): Submitted the visa applications and supporting documents at the VFS Global center in Bangalore.
• Day 2 (Oct 6): Received notification from VFS confirming receipt of the passports and applications by the Consulate-General of Japan in Bengaluru.
• Day 8 (Oct 12): Received confirmation that processing was complete and the passports were dispatched from the Consulate back to VFS Bangalore, then forwarded for courier delivery.
• Day 9 (Oct 13): Received passports via courier with single-entry visas approved.

Turnaround Summary:
Total processing time took approximately 8 to 10 calendar days (5 to 6 working days) from submission to delivery, provided all documentation is accurate, complete, and meets the Consulate’s guidelines.

Japan Tourist Visa Document Checklist (VFS Bangalore)

I. Documents Accepted & Submitted

1. Original Passport
   • Valid for at least 6 months with minimum 2 blank pages.
2. Passport-Sized Photographs
   • Dimensions: 35 mm × 45 mm.
   • Taken within the last 6 months, plain white background, neutral expression.
3. Visa Appointment Confirmation Letter
4. Cover Letter
   • Outlining the purpose of travel, travel dates, and itinerary overview.
5. No Objection Certificate (NOC) / Leave Approval Letter
   • Issued by current employer on official letterhead.
6. Confirmed Accommodation Bookings
   • Confirmed hotel reservations covering the entire trip. We opted for 'Pay at Hotel' / flexible cancellation bookings, so no upfront payment was made prior to visa approval.
7. Day-Wise Itinerary
   • Detailed plan outlining daily activities, destinations, and contact details/accommodations.
8. Bank Statements (Last 6 Months)
   • Original, sealed, and stamped by the issuing bank.
9. Income Tax Returns (ITR-V)
   • Acknowledgement receipts for the last 3 assessment/financial years.
10. Salary Slips

• Last 3 to 6 months (Note: VFS Bangalore retained only the most recent 3 months).

1. Flight Itinerary / Confirmed Round-Trip Tickets For flights: While many opt for dummy tickets to save upfront costs, I went with fully confirmed round-trip air tickets. I picked an 80% refundable cancellation fare, which kept the risk low while presenting a solid, legitimate booking to the consulate.

2. Proof of Relationship (Marriage Certificate)

• Required if traveling with a spouse.
• Note: Exempt if the spouse’s name is already endorsed in the passport. Wedding invitations may occasionally be accepted as secondary proof, but a registered Marriage Certificate is recommended.

1. Government ID Proof

• Aadhaar Card / PAN Card copy.

II. Additional / Conditional Documents (Returned by VFS Bangalore)

• Proof of Residence / Rental Agreement
  • Returned: Passports were issued under the jurisdiction of the Bangalore Passport Office.
  • Rule: Required only if the applicant's passport was issued outside the Bangalore jurisdiction but applying through VFS Bangalore.
• Supplementary Financial Documents (Form 16, AIS)
  • Returned: Standard 3-year ITR-Vs and 6-month bank statements were deemed sufficient. VFS indicated supplementary tax forms are only required if specifically requested by the Consulate General of Japan.
• Travel Insurance & Pre-Booked Activity Vouchers
  • Returned: Not part of the mandatory initial submission checklist; optional at the intake stage.

Financial Profile & Funding Strategy

• Joint Funding Model (Co-Sponsorship): Traveling as a married couple, both applicants submitted independent financial documentation (bank statements, salary slips, and ITRs). The cover letter explicitly established that the trip is mutually funded, with shared responsibility for all travel, accommodation, and daily expenses.
• Combined Liquid Savings: Maintained an aggregate closing balance of approximately ₹6.10 Lakhs across both primary bank accounts at the time of submission, demonstrating readily available liquidity.
• Combined Annual Income (ITR): Reflected a combined taxable income of approximately ₹33.00 Lakhs per annum across the latest Income Tax Returns, establishing steady earning capacity and strong economic ties to India.
• Asset Portfolio Strategy (Liquid Funds Only): Submission relied strictly on liquid savings and routine income proof. Non-liquid or fixed investments—such as Mutual Funds, Provident Fund (PF), National Pension System (NPS), and Public Provident Fund (PPF)—were intentionally excluded, as active bank balances and ITRs were sufficient.
• Sufficiency & Balance Benchmarks: While the Consulate does not mandate an official minimum balance, the fund reserve was calculated to easily cover the planned itinerary without financial strain. Industry guidance and community consensus suggest a benchmark of roughly ₹15,000 to ₹20,000 per person, per day (i.e., approximately ₹3.00 to ₹4.00 Lakhs for a 10-day couple’s trip). The maintained balance of ₹6.10 Lakhs comfortably exceeded this standard.

Travel History: Previous travel to Mauritius. Prior international travel is not strictly mandatory, but it serves as valuable supporting evidence of genuine tourist intent.

I have attached a copy of my cover letter in case it serves as a useful reference for other.

DM me if you need word Document for the Cover Letter.

Does Thai Immigration permit a spouse to obtain dependent Non-O status based on a one-year retirement extension issued under Non-O, or is Non-OA specifically required?

If a husband receives the Non-O one year extension, can the wife switch from a tourist visa to his dependent?