[Approved Case] Change from Student Visa (Vocational School) to Work Visa After Refusal | Client Voice VOL.15
Change from Student Visa to Work Visa After Refusal
Case Overview | A difficult case: Culinary vocational school graduate → trading company employment. Confirmed refusal reasons and achieved approval on reapplication
This case involves a highly difficult scenario for obtaining a work visa: after graduating from a culinary vocational school, the client sought employment at a trading company. After receiving our support, we filed an application once, but unfortunately it was refused. We then confirmed the refusal reasons with Immigration, reorganized the explanation and supporting documents, and proceeded with a reapplication. As a result, the work visa was approved about 1 month and 2 weeks after the reapplication (Client Voice VOL.15).
- Inquiry: Change from student (vocational school) to work visa (highly difficult job category / duties)
- First result: Application filed but refused
- Our support: Confirmed refusal reasons / Organized key issues / Rebuilt the explanation / Reapplied
- Outcome: Work visa approved on reapplication (about 1 month and 2 weeks after reapplication)
- Key point: In difficult cases, the quality of “confirm reasons → rebuild issues → resubmit” directly impacts the outcome
Change from Student Visa to Work Visa After Refusal
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Mr. Seung-heon Han (South Korea) |
| Request: Change from student visa to work visa after refusal |
This was a very difficult case to obtain approval: after graduating from a culinary vocational school, I was going to work for a trading company. After I requested support, an application was filed once, but unfortunately it was refused. However, after reapplying, I was able to obtain a work visa.
I graduated from Hattori Nutrition College and joined a trading company, but learned that obtaining a visa would not be easy, which is why I decided to request support from ACROSEED.
At the first consultation, I was told that the approval probability was likely around 50%, so the case was declined. However, I strongly wished to work in Japan, so I came back to consult again with the company president and proceeded to retain the office.
As expected, the result was a refusal, which was a shock. However, ACROSEED confirmed the refusal reasons at the Yokohama Immigration Bureau and then filed a reapplication. Finally, 1 month and 2 weeks after the reapplication, the approval was granted. I am sincerely grateful to ACROSEED, and I am also very grateful to the staff member who handled my case.
I will continue to work hard in Japan from now on.
Who This Case Is Helpful For
When changing from a student visa (vocational school) to a work visa, it is important that the relationship between the major and the job duties, as well as the company’s business content, hiring reasons, and the applicant’s role, are organized in a way that is clearly conveyed to Immigration. In particularly difficult cases—such as when the link between the major and the occupation is weak, or the duties are difficult to explain—even if the first application is refused, it may still be possible to obtain approval by confirming the refusal reasons with Immigration, rebuilding the key issues, and reapplying.
- Those who want to change to a work visa after graduating from a vocational school (and feel unsure about explaining the job duties)
- Those whose major and job duties are weakly related and the likelihood of approval is difficult to predict
- Those who have already applied once and were refused, and want to build a reapplication strategy starting from confirming the refusal reasons
- Those who want to work with the employer to organize hiring reasons and the role (necessity) to create a persuasive application
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Since opening our practice in 1986, we have been involved in consulting on visa applications for foreigners for nearly 40 years as an immigration lawyer.
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