Chasing a Long-Held Dream of North America from Malaysia: After a Self-Filed Application Was Rejected, Obtaining a Working Holiday Visa Through Shiraishi VisaJP Canada｜Client I

Immigration Consultant

Toko Gould

Born in Japan. Worked as a registered dietitian in hospitals and other facilities. Moved to Vancouver, Canada in 2001 on a Working Holiday. Later utilized her professional background to obtain a work visa, then Canadian permanent residency as a skilled worker. Studied Oil and Gas Administration at a college in Alberta, then worked at a U.S.-based oil company. Later studied accounting and transitioned into an accounting role.

Why did you decide to immigrate to Canada?

Living in North America had been my long-held dream.

What made you choose Shiraishi VisaJP Canada?

It was because the Working Holiday Visa application I had filed myself was rejected once.

What was the most memorable part of the process?

At the time of the application I was living in Malaysia, and the final step, “paying the application fee,” was a very tense experience given the 15-hour time difference with Canada. The one-time password needed for payment was valid for only 100 seconds, and between the time difference and the security restrictions that kept me from retrying too often, there were all kinds of limits. Even so, by exchanging emails quickly, we were able to coordinate and complete the payment successfully. Above all, I was overjoyed that it led to the visa I had long wished for.

How was your experience using Shiraishi VisaJP Canada’s services?

I have not a single complaint!

Future outlook and a message for those planning to travel to Canada

For me personally, the Working Holiday Visa is not meant as a starting point for first getting to know English-speaking culture, but rather as a bridge toward permanent residence, used at a stage where I already had a certain level of English ability and adaptability to living abroad.

I spent four years, since 2020, building up to this point while living in Malaysia (an English-speaking country) so that I would be ready to use the working holiday program at this timing. I imagine many people share the same aspiration. Using a working holiday visa right at the upper age limit for travel is sometimes called “girigiri-hori” (a last-chance working holiday) here, and as one of those “last-chance” users, I feel confident that I can make meaningful use of my time, with a far clearer goal and vision for my life than I had in my twenties.

I truly feel fortunate that Canada offers so many chances to pursue the world you envision regardless of age, that there are professionals with broad knowledge here to assist you in making it happen, and that our country’s passport is strong by global standards. I plan to set out into this new world with a feeling of being in very capable hands.

To everyone considering traveling to Canada, if you feel even a little hope about it, I truly hope you will take on the challenge without giving up. As someone in a similar position, I am rooting for you with all my heart.

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