[Research] Recommendation Letters: Is the sealed envelope/signature across the seal actually necessary?
Hi everyone,
I'm currently collecting my Recommendation Letters for the MEXT Research Scholarship. The official template says the recommender should "place the form in the envelope, seal the envelope, and sign across the seal."
Since the initial application stage in my country (Nepal) is digital (submitting scans, which I'm pretty sure it's the same for other countries as well), I’m a bit confused about the protocol:
Is the sealed envelope mandatory? If the embassy asks for a scan first, do I just scan the letter, and then have the recommender seal it? Or can I just keep the loose leaf?
For those who have passed the document screening (assuming you did pass last year or are current MEXT scholars), did you actually have to hand over unopened, signed-across-the-flap envelopes to the embassy later?
I’ve heard people say you aren't supposed to "see" the letter, but if I have to scan it myself for the digital portal, that seems impossible. How did you guys handle this?
Trying to make sure I don't get disqualified over a technicality. Thanks!