This article is a translation of the Japanese original. Where the two differ, the Japanese version prevails. Read the Japanese original（日本語版を読む）
The school a student chooses may have a large effect on whether the student visa is renewed. The 地方出入国在留管理局 (Regional Immigration Services Bureau) places weight on whether the school is rated as an 適正校 (a school in good standing). How thoroughly the school manages attendance and grades, and how often its students have been denied a visa in the past, are important things to look at when choosing.
A guide for readers who want to know how the choice of school affects the renewal of a student visa.
To judge whether the purpose of the student visa is being achieved, the school's own management is also examined.
The student visa is a status of residence whose purpose is study in Japan. The 地方出入国在留管理局 examines whether the student is really fulfilling that purpose, and whether the school they attend is a proper 教育機関 (educational institution) at which that purpose can be achieved. A school whose past students have had good residence records, and whose management is rated well (attendance management, guidance on visa applications and so on), is classified as an 適正校. Its students tend to have simplified application procedures and smoother screening. Conversely, a school seen as having problems, such as many students overstaying, weak attendance management or frequent mistakes in visa documents, will find that its students' applications are screened very strictly.
Strict management of attendance and grades, experienced staff, a low rate of past visa denials, and a record of where graduates go.
As hints for telling schools apart, you can check graduates' comments and their records on the school's website, ask the visa staff or senior students directly at an open day, and ask specifically what support is available for international students.
Loose attendance management, weak support, cases of whole groups being denied, and tuition that is unnaturally cheap.
As hints for telling schools apart, you can look up the school's reputation on review sites and in communities of international students, compare several schools, and ask specific questions before you enrol about the visa support system and how attendance is managed.
It is a school whose past students have had good residence records and whose management is rated well. Its students tend to have simplified application procedures and smoother screening.
You can check graduates' comments and their records on the school's website, and ask the visa staff or senior students directly at an open day.
Yes. It is said that if the school as a whole is judged to have problems, you may not be granted a visa because of the school, even if you are studying seriously.
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This page is a translation of the Japanese original. Where the two differ, the Japanese version prevails.