Hi,

Next year I'm studying in Sophia as part of my university course (I know lucky me!). I'm currently filling in all the required documents etc but have some questions about a section of in the Certificate of Eligibility form. I have e-mailed them and looked across the internet but no luck. I imagine that some people on here have filled out the form so may be able to help.

You can view the form I'm talking about http://www.moj.go.jp/ONLINE/IMMIGRATION/16-1-18.pdf

My problem is in section 26. It says:

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26 滞在費の支弁方法等Method of support to meet the expenses while in Japan
(1)支弁方法及び月平均支弁額Method of support and an amount of support per month (average)

□ 本人負担円 Self __________ Yen

外国からの送金円 Remittance from abroad ________Yen

□ 外国からの携行円 Carrying from abroad__________ Yen
（携行者携行時期）
Who______ When_______

□ 在日経費支弁者負担円 Supporter in Japan_______ Yen

奨学金円Scholarship ______ Yen

□ その他円 Others ________ Yen

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My question is, what essentially is the difference between 'self'/'remittance from abroad' and 'carrying from abroad'

I understand that remittance from abroad' refers to money which my family/friends etc would be willing to provide for me (as it mentions who on the next page) - I also have no idea why there isn't a 'check' box next to this either????

'Self' I would assume is the amount of money I have in my own bank account - simple enough

But what does it mean by 'carrying from abroad' I assume it literally means the money I'm physically carrying on my person when I go to Japan? If this is the case would I still break it down into 'monthly' amounts. If planning to carry £1,000 then = £100 ( as I'm there for 10 months) As this would be my own money would a deduct this value from 'self'?

Also why would I have to fill out the next section if I did check 'carrying from abroad'
when it asks Relationship with the applicant (Check one of the followings when the answer to the question 26(1) is remittance from abroad, carrying from abroad or supporter in Japan)

Surely if it's my own money I'm carrying from abroad then the relationship is...'myself'

Sorry if a lot of this doesn't make sense etc. But I'm very confused over something which at first glance looked pretty simple....

Any help is much appreciated!

Looks like it's as simple as this:

Self: You will simply pay by yourself.
Remittance: You get money sent from someone/something, such as for us Swedish people who receive CSN which isn't a scholarship but it's still a monthly payment for studies.
Carrying: When someone else will physically come to Japan carrying money for you to pay with.

I see. The only problem is, I checked the sample COE that I got sent (probably should have put a link for it in the first post) and on the Carrying: The person put down 'self'

Here is a screenshot of it:



So I'm still not to sure how 'self' and 'carrying' are different.

Thanks for your quick reply though Tobberoth.

If this is being done by your university don't they have somebody you could ask?

That form has an odd layout where there are several possible options but they don't all seem to have tickyboxes.

I'm going to make a guess that the difference is that "carrying from abroad" with "who=self" means "I am going to bring 50,000yen with me and that's it", whereas the separate "self" option means "I have some separate income of X yen a month from somewhere". It does all seem a bit confusing, though.

(PS: section 29 has the fantastic phrase "administrative scrivener"...)

The difference between self and carrying could depend on the method of getting the money over maybe? Like, bringing travelers checks/cash/postal money order could be carrying, whereas having the money in a bank account that you can access from Japan could be self, or receiving some sort of income in another way without actually physically carrying the money?

I'm thinking that based solely on the word けいこう...

This part confused me as well so I put everything under self.. as I have or going to have the money on my bank account - even if my parents or some scholarship pays me some of it. Perhaps that explains why my application is still pending .
Thanks to the falling euro, the numbers should be wrong now anyway.

Honestly, It probably doesn't matter how much you put for each section as long as the total is high enough. I believe you will have to prove that these amounts can be met via copies of bank statements or pay stubs. They aren't going to chase you down if you support yourself completely with the travelers checks you bring with you. Your university should tell you how much it will cost per month to live in Tokyo. Just make sure your amounts are near those.

I studied at Sophia and really enjoyed it. I hope you signed up for the dorms!

Thanks everyone for your quick response,

pm215: Well it's all through the university I'm studying at, Sheffield, but their is only one year abroad co-ordinator and 40 students applying to 25 different universities. So for that reason we are expected to do a lot of the application process ourselves, it's also only possible to make an appointment with them on a tuesday 10-1 (if they're free) so it's pretty hard to get hold of them really....and they don't not like e-mails for some reason

I might try to find some forth years who have just come back from Japan and see if they can help.

Oh and tell me about it! I love on the example they have 'invented' a tick box.

Gotta love it.

I also like you think that the 'carrying' implies how much I'll be bringing just that one off when I arrive in Japan and don't think I'll deduct it from the 'self'

Tzadeck: Yeah I'm hoping that 'self' implies money in a bank account that I can access (planning on setting up a citibank account) where as 'carrying' is travelers checks/cash/postal money order. Like you from the kanji it does imply money physically 'carrying'.

Thorstenu: I'm tempted to do something like that to be honest but a lot of the money will be from other sources so I do really have to specify where I think.

Kerosan41: I believe the amount I was told I need is about 150,000 yen a month for the Tokyo area. Often you are asked for a bank statement to prove you have access to the money (many of my friends going to Osaka, Kanazawa etc have to) However Sophia doesn't. I also asked the guy who is currently studying there and he said he didn't need to provide any bank statement (I asked about this section of the paper but he doesn't unfortunately remember what he put down). I realise that this being the case I shouldn't really care what I put where because I'm not asked for proof but I want to make sure I fill it out right.

I've only heard good things about Sophia and can't wait to go. Well I'm sending off my housing application with this and have marked down DK house as well as Koganei Dormitory high in my preference.

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This is my current view towards everything at the moment and is what I'll be doing unless I find out otherwise;

'Self': Money in my own bank - monthly
'Remittance from abroad': (In my case) The money my parents are willing to provide (but will be in their bank account, so will give to me as and when I need it) monthly
'Carrying from abroad' - The money/postal cheques etc. that I'll have physically on my person when I arrive in Japan - one off amount.

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Who'd a thought one little question would be so confusing. :/