High school transcript required to obtain Malaysian student visa! Hopeless to study abroad for working adults 5 years after graduation? How to break through?

Malaysia Student Visa Requirements

After contacting several language schools, I found out that a Secondary School diploma and transcript are required to apply for a student visa in Malaysia.

After confirming with Google that Secondary School in Japan means junior high school or high school (many agents' websites refer to it as "high school"), I checked my former highscool website and found that they may be able to issue a graduation certificate, but due to the retention period, they will not be able to issue a transcript. 

I don't understand why a transcript from a university or graduate school is not good enough for a graduate degree.

I can't get my transcript?

I had no choice but to contact my homeroom teacher at the time to know what could be done. I also nervously negotiated with her to see if the school could issue my documents in English.

The school started an English Advanced Course after my graduation, and the number of native English-speaking teachers has been increasing as more students are aiming to go abroad. I have high expectations for the school!

Also contacted Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS)

I received an e-mail from the language school saying, "We don't understand the reason, but EMGS says so." 

Since I sometimes handle such inquiries in my job, I think that the language school's office could not provide any more answers, so I decided to contact EMGS at this stage. It is because that the description on the EMGS website was a little different from the way the language school had asked me to fill out the forms.

You need to provide copies of all academic records, certificates or transcripts of studies previously undertaken. For information regarding these additional requirements check the entry requirements provided by your educational institution.

https://visa.educationmalaysia.gov.my/guidelines/required-documents.html/

However, the email I received back from EMGS said, "Make sure you have all the required documents." Well, that's probably true.

On a side note, I received a reply to my EMGS inquiry late at night Japan time. At first I wondered if it was the time difference, but later I realized that the time difference between Japan and Malaysia is one hour. 

Thank you for their hard work until late.

Happy news from the high school

The next day, I received a email from my teacher, the school was able to make a special exception and issue a transcript. Moreover, she said that she could make both Japanese and English transcripts.

By the way, I had been searching around for information on language study abroad programs outside of Malaysia until I received this notice, but it seemed that private schools tended to be more flexible than public schools. It may be because some private schools follow the public schools' rules.

Anyway, I am very thankful to the teachers and office staff who issue the documents with special exceptions beyond the general retention period.

Thanks to this, the range of schools where I can study abroad has expanded tremendously! I decided to resume my research on language schools immediately.

Another solution?

Also, this may depend on the school, but since I was considering taking a Chinese course as well as English, the language school suggested that there is another way to apply for the Chinese one.

I am not sure why this would be the case even though at the same language school, but since it is a third language, unlike English, it seems that I can apply for it a certificate from a university or graduate school. I really don't understand.

Due to the unclear information, whether it is a problem with my English comprehension or whether it depends on the school, those considering this solution should be sure to inquire with the school you are interested in.

The person in charge of one of the language schools wrote in his e-mail that "I don't understand the reason for this kind of system either," but no, this is the one I don't understand the system that high school transcripts cannot be issued in 5 years.

Anyway, student visa transcript issue solved! Thank goodness!

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Keep your credit card strongest with an overseas cash advance facility! How to apply? Is there an enrollment check?

The usual way I spend money in Japan

These days, I rarely use cash in Japan. I usually use credit cards and QR code payment, partly because it is easier to manage money.

Now, when I go abroad, I felt that I don't really know how much it is worth in Japanese yen, because the currency is different.

And, although it is not the rap battle commercial by "AC" (it is very popular in Japan), it is not easy to use cash in Japanese yen, but it is even more so with unfamiliar currency.

I want to use credit cards in Malaysia

Therefore, I am thinking of using credit cards during my stay in Malaysia.

I usually use Rakuten Card (JCB) and Sumitomo Mitsui Card (VISA). The latter was made by my university when I was a university student, and is now my alumni card.

I have an Edy function on the Rakuten Card, so the Rakuten Card is my main card, but I continue to carry VISA card because it can be used as a coupon at stores around the university.

However, the main international brands of credit cards that can be used overseas are generally VISA and MasterCard. Perhaps I may choose to apply for a second Rakuten Card in the future and have a Master Card Rakuten Card, but at this point I think I will live with Sumitomo Mitsui Card (VISA).

Incidentally, as for overseas cash advances, which I will write about later, ATMs in KL seem to be able to withdraw local currency even with JCB cards.

Also, since there are many Japanese tourists, I heard that JCB can be used in tourist areas (*There is a JCB support office "JCB Plaza" in KL), so I do not think that JCB cards will be completely useless.

Turn on the "overseas cash advance function

Now, when you use your credit card to make purchases at overseas stores, the price of the item will be converted into Japanese yen, and you will pay an additional overseas processing fee. If you feel this is a waste of money, use cash or make a credit card locally.

However, in my case, I am not a young student, but a working adult woman who is also subsidized by my company. I am more afraid of getting pickpocketed by carrying around a large amount of cash than I am of paying an additional fee.

Furthermore, although there is a fee here as well, it is possible to withdraw local currency from local ATMs by using the "overseas cash advance" function of the credit card. I thought I could use this overseas cash advance function without having to do anything, but in the case of my card, I had to go through a procedure.

Credit cards have two types of limits: a "shopping limit" for making purchases and a "cash advance limit" for borrowing cash using the credit card. I did not have the cash advance limit open for either card.

Therefore, I decided to set a cash advance limit from the "Change Available Amount" page (the name should be different for each card). Although this is introduced as a convenient feature of credit cards on study abroad-related websites, to put it bluntly, it is a feature that allows you to borrow money on your credit card, so I presented my pay stubs and withholding tax slips when I applied. I don't know how likely it is, but according to the note on the application screen, they may call your workplace to confirm your enrollment.

I guess it would be fine if you have the proper withholding tax slip from last year or can request it immediately, but if you quit your job and decided to study abroad some time later, it might be possible that you have savings but cannot find proof of your income.

Credit cards now offer an overseas cash advance function.

Since I had never been delinquent on my credit card payments, I received the results of the screening process by mail within a week, and a cash advance facility was set up for me.

No phone calls to my workplace either, probably because I was able to promptly submit up-to-date income-related certificates. I was relieved because I work from home these days and it's a hassle to explain.

As I said, I don't think it's a good idea to spend too much money, but this should help me deal with any eventualities that may arise.

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Buying a new suitcase that is a decade old and too oversized! What's different about the new one? expensive?

My suitcase is super oversized

The suitcase I have used for my previous 2 international trips was a super oversized suitcase that my mother bought for me when I was in high school. She thought that big is better than small, so she thought the bigger the better anyway.

Considering that I had packed my luggage when I moved out of my parents' house to live alone, in addition to my two overseas trips, it was not without its place, but because it was much larger than the average size, it had been sitting in a closet for a long time. It is a super waste, unfortunately.

Super oversized suitcase have a drawback

I thought that this suitcase would be 100% sufficient for my luggage for this study abroad trip, but to begin with, there are many drawbacks to using this suitcase.

First of all, it is too big to carry. It is bigger than the width of my body, and it is very heavy, so when I have to change directions or carry the suitcase on stairs, it takes a lot of unnecessary effort.

Another drawback is that if I am not careful, I end up with overweight checked baggage when I board an airplane.

Since I don't have that much luggage, I can often get through an international flight just in time, but domestic travel is tough.

When I went to China, I remember having a lot of trouble packing just before the domestic flight. The suitcase itself was heavy, which was a big problem for me. 

Going to buy a new suitcase

Above is the reason why I decided to buy a new suitcase.

I found a bag shop in Aeon shopping mall I had just visited, and as I was shopping, a veteran clerk (who definitely likes to travel) took care of me, probably because it was the New Year's holiday season.

And there I learned that suitcases are evolving day by day.

I was surprised to find that the weight was much lighter than when I was in high school (about 10 years ago).

Of course, the sales talk of the shopkeepers must have been good.

I was shown several suitcases of different prices, sizes, and materials, and since I didn't want a regular black or blue one, I chose a unique purple one (the clerk has a yellow one of the same suitcase).

This good shopping brought me one step closer to studying abroad.

Advantages after the purchase

What was especially good about this purchase was that I was able to organize my super huge suitcase that was piling up in the closet.

I now have more space to store it, and it's light and small enough that I can easily move it myself.

I don't travel and use it all the time, and when I put it away, it's nice to be able to settle down without it getting in the way of its place.

Incidentally, our area seems to be one that actively recycles usable items, so this time I disposed of it using the oversize garbage collection service, but it seems that they also offer free pickup if you bring your old suitcase to the store after you buy it.

Later on, I got the impression that even if there is no information on the storefront or website, there are likely to be cases where they do so if you ask them.

I am excited to be able to organize my room and belongings for my study abroad.

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Self-introduction: Former English Hater, Studying Abroad as a Late 20s

Self-introduction

I'm in my second year of working and I'm 26 years old. I started my career later than others because I attended graduate school. I work to pursue my passion for stage plays and musicals, and I wake up early on weekends to engage in ticket battles.

Until around my college years, I was an otaku who enjoyed playing otome games that transcended distant time and space, as well as hack-and-slash games set in the Warring States period. I haven't been as much of an otaku lately, but I play YumeKuro (a smartphone game).

Also, when I was doing my teaching practicum, I felt like I should know more than just Arashi (a Japanese boy band), so I started casually following Kis-My-Ft2 and their songs.

No Overseas Experience

I used to despise English classes since middle and high school.

One of my parents was an English teacher who employed strict teaching methods (which contributed to my dislike). Although my grades were good, I didn't like studying English grammar, and I disliked being part of a group that believed "we are good at English" because we all attended the same cram school. Therefore, I chose to specialize in Japanese literature in college.

However, my perception of English changed in university, which was a turning point for me.

The university I entered had a welcoming atmosphere for international students, so even while in Japan, I had more opportunities for international exchange. I have always had a strong curiosity for learning new things through books and television, so my motivation suddenly increased for English and international interaction. English went from being a bothersome subject that I had to study to becoming a tool for communication. Moreover, with friends, even if I made mistakes in English, they wouldn't get angry, so it made me feel more at ease.

In graduate school, I participated in an international exchange program organized by the Cabinet Office of Japan. The program involved interactions with China (with interpreters mainly using Japanese, but sometimes I would use English for personal conversations), and it sparked my interest in Chinese culture and its people.

Current Job

I currently work as a staff member in a nonprofit organization, involved in the management of international exchange projects. My daily tasks are in Japanese, but I also have opportunities to exchange emails in English with people living abroad.

However, I struggle a lot when it comes to answering English phone calls or meeting English-speaking clients! This frustration became the catalyst for me to decide to study abroad, utilizing the company's support.

Goals in Malaysia

For now, my goals are to focus on improving my conversational skills and to explore various places! I don't want to confine myself to the place I stay!

I've always been the type who can happily stay indoors for days, and once I start researching something in the library or in front of my computer, I can't stop. But since I'm going abroad, I want to walk outside and explore.

I still have the energy to handle a little bit of hardship, and I plan to challenge myself to visit places and have experiences that I can only do in Malaysia.

Since the actual travel is still far ahead, I will start by documenting my preparations and research before the trip in a relaxed manner.

Thank you in advance for your support!

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