tokyo visa processing

TOKYO/OSAKA

As of March 29, 2010, the new DS-160 Form is mandatory in Tokyo and in Osaka.

GENERAL VISA INFORMATION

The U.S. Embassy in Tokyo is located at:
1-10-5 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-8420 JAPAN.

The general telephone number is +81-3-3224-5000.
The general fax number is +81-3-3505-1862.

Telephone Inquiries

For inquiries on nonimmigrant visas and immigrant visas, the Visa Information Line provides operator assisted immigrant and non-immigrant visa information to callers in Japanese or English. The service is available between 8:00 am and 6:00 pm Monday through Friday (except on American and Japanese holidays). The number for the Visa Information Line is 00-5-31-13-1353. Please note that there is a fee of 2,129 yen charged for each call with. Please note that visa information is only available through the Visa Information Line, and callers telephoning the general telephone number of the U.S. Embassy seeking visa information will be promptly referred to the Visa Information Line.

E-mail inquiries

Alternatively, individual questions about the visa application process for nonimmigrant visas and immigrant visas may be made by e-mail through the Visa Information Service E-mail Inquiry Line. The service costs 2,129 yen per inquiry, and is payable by Visa, MasterCard and JCB. The response time to e-mail inquiries is within 3 business days. A notification e-mail of response delay will be sent if the Embassy is unable to respond to inquiry within 3 business days. E-mail inquiries are restricted to U.S. visa matters at the application stage of the process, meaning that this method of inquiry may not be used to ask questions regarding matters involving the USCIS (U.S. Immigration.) The only exceptions are emergency cases involving life or death situations, or emergency medical treatment, in which case the word "urgent" must be included in the body of the e-mail. For more information, please go to http://tokyo.usembassy.gov

APPLICATIONS FOR NONIMMIGRANT VISAS

A nonimmigrant visa is required by any individual seeking temporary admission into the United States who is not eligible to travel visa free under the Visa Waiver Program or is not exempt from the visa requirement. Nonimmigrant visas cover visits to the United States for tourism, business, work or study.

As of July 1, 2004, most applicants need an in-person interview with a U.S. consular officer when applying for a visa.

   For the following applicants, however, a personal appearance and interview are not required:

• Applicants seeking non-immigrant visas in the following classes: A-1, A-2, C-2, C-3, G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, NATO-1, NATO-2, NATO-3, NATO-4, NATO-5, or NATO-6;
• Those 13 years of age or under; and
• Those 80 years of age or older.

Individuals who are exempt from the interview requirement should apply for a visa by mail or through a travel agent.
NOTE: When applying for a nonimmigrant visa by mail, an "ExPack 500" envelope must be included so as to enable the U.S. Embassy to securely return your visaed passport to you. The "ExPack 500" can be purchased at convenience stores and post offices throughout Japan. The U.S. Embassy asks that you not fold your application form and supporting documentation.
For all other non-immigrant visa categories, a personal interview with a consular officer is required. The scheduling times for non-immigrant visa interviews are in the morning only between 8:15 am and 10:30 pm, Monday through Friday, depending on availability. Using the Non-Immigrant Visa Appointment System as discussed above, the applicant will be asked his first and last name, his telephone number, his e-mail address and the last six digits of his passport in order to schedule a nonimmigrant visa appointment interview.
The applicant should not make final travel arrangements until the nonimmigrant visa has been issued and the applicant is in possession of his visaed passport.
Applicants who arrive at the U.S. Embassy more than thirty minutes after their scheduled visa appointment interview will not be seen by a consular officer. They will be required to reschedule a new appointment for another day. Applicants should expect the visa to be processed within 2 business days. Please note that the visa processing time may be considerably longer for an applicant who has answered "Yes" to question 38 (page2) of form DS-156, indicating a past arrest or criminal conviction.
Please note that ALL E visa applicants require an in-person interview, even for a renewal of an E visa. Corporate E visa applications related to a company already holding Corporate E visa status and registered with the U.S. embassy in Tokyo take on average only one week to process.

Scheduling Appointments

STEP 1: Complete the Electronic Visa Application Form (EVAF) Online
ALL visa applicants, even children, are required to complete the online Electronic version of Form DS-156, which can be found at http://evisaforms.state.gov/, and should be completed online by filling in the applicable data fields and leaving blank only those fields not applicable to your case. Once you have completed the form online, press the Continue button, and wait until the system processes the data and transfers it to a three page DS-156 containing a special bar code on page 3. Please print the form, sign and date it.
NOTE: Do not print unprocessed online data input forms, or complete blank spaces in data input pages by hand, as unprocessed data input pages or data input pages completed by hand are not accepted. Failure to follow these instructions will considerably delay your application.

STEP 2: Make your Appointment Online
The scheduling times for nonimmigrant visa interviews at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo are in the morning only between 8:15AM and 11:15AM, Tuesday through Friday, depending on availability.

The applicant can arrange an interview appointment by using a State Department standard appointment system, which can be found at http://tokyo.usembassy.gov/e/visa/tvisa-niv-walkin2.html. The applicant will be asked barcode number located on the third page of the online DS-156 application form. Once you enter the barcode, you can find available date and time for an interview. After your selection is made, you will be asked your first and last name, passport number, Email address, and telephone number in order to schedule a nonimmigrant visa appointment interview. Please bring a copy of your Appointment Confirmation webpage to your interview in order to enter the building.

STEP 3: Pay the Visa Application Fee
All applicants except those applying for diplomatic visas and certain visitors participating in U.S. Government-sponsored programs must pay a nonrefundable application fee of US$100 per person to cover the cost of applying for a visa. The fee must be paid through a Pay-Easy ATM in Japanese yen.
To pay the visa application fee, you will need to do the following:

• Access the fee payment site;
• Type in your passport number and the Barcode number from your DS-156 (EVAF);
• Print out the generated document that contains the Financial Institution Code, Customer Number, and Confirmation Number; and
• Pay the fee at a Pay-Easy ATM.

NOTE: Your ATM Payment Number will expire 2 weeks from system issuance. If your ATM payment number expires prior to payment, you will be required to again access the fee payment site and generate a payment document which contains the Financial Institution Code and a new Customer Number and Confirmation Number.
Visa Application Fees must be paid by Pay-Easy ATM. You will not be interviewed without your Pay-Easy ATM transaction receipt showing payment of the application fee. If you are not able to show a Pay-Easy ATM transaction receipt, lost your receipt, or paid by internet banking, you will be asked to leave the Embassy/Consulate to pay the fee by Pay-Easy ATM.
Currently, the following financial institutions have Pay-Easy compatible ATMs (excluding selected branches):

• Japan Post (Yucho)
• Mizuho Bank
• Sumitomo Mitsui Bank
• Resona Bank
• Saitama Resona Bank
• Chiba Bank
• Towa Bank
• Keiyo Bank

Applicants who arrive at the U.S. Embassy more than 30 minutes after their scheduled visa appointment interview will not be seen by a consular officer. They will be required to reschedule a new appointment for another day. Applicants should expect to be at the U.S. Embassy for approximately two hours, and should expect the visa to be processed within 2 business days. Please note that the visa processing time may be considerably longer for an Applicant who has answered “Yes” to question 38 (page 2) of Form DS-156, indicating a past arrest or criminal conviction.
Please note that ALL E visa applicants require an in-person interview, even for a renewal of an E visa. Corporate E visa applications currently take approximately 6 weeks to process, and individual E visa applications related to a company already holding Corporate E visa status and registered with the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, take on average only 1 week to process.

All nonimmigrant visa applications, whether presented during an in-person interview or sent by mail, must include the following completed documentation:

• Current passport valid at least 6 months beyond the applicant’s stay in the U.S. (such six month requirement has been waived for Japanese nationals), and previous passports issued in the past 10 years.
• Online Electronic version of Form DS-156 (with a bar code on page 3).
• Photograph. A 5cm x 5cm color photo with a white background, taken within the last six months. The head (measured from the top of the hair to the bottom of the chin) should measure between 25 to 35mm with the head centered in the frame facing straight ahead. Please glue it to the DS-156.
• Pay-Easy ATM transaction receipt.
• Form DS-157 for all male applicants aged 16 to 45.
• Self-Addressed "EXPACK 500" Envelope for the visa'd passport to be returned to you by mail since nonimmigrant visas are not issued the same day as the visa interview. Please bring one self-addressed, prepaid "ExPack 500" envelope to the interview with the rest of your application. The "ExPack 500" is widely available in convenience stores and post offices throughout Japan.
• Court and/or Police Records (if applicable). Applicants with arrest or criminal records must include a copy of court and/or arrest record (including cases that ended with an acquittal or pardon), and a certified English translation, if applicable. In the event there was no trial, a detailed letter must be provided in English explaining the circumstances surrounding the arrest. Arrest or criminal records are not issued in Japan without a letter from the Embassy. At the time of   the interview, the Embassy will provide the applicant with such a letter if it determines that such a letter is needed.
• Clear Plastic Folder. All documents listed above must be submitted to the Embassy in a clear plastic folder.

ALL Non-Japanese applicants (third country nationals) must, in addition, include the following documentation:

• Valid Japanese Re-Entry Permit, which can be obtained at the Regional Immigration Bureau.
• Photocopy of both sides of the Japanese Alien Registration Card (if applicable).
• Family Members’ Passports. You must bring them with you and present them to the U.S. Consular officer even if they are not traveling with you or applying for a visa.
• Evidence of Marital Status, such as family register or marriage/divorce certificate.

ALL Applicants for Student Visas (F, M) or Exchange Visitor Visas (J) must also include:

• Form DS-158 for all applicants (including dependents) aged 16 and above.
• Form I-20 (SEVIS) for F and M student visas. Family members seeking F-2 and M-2 status must submit their own copies of Form I-20. Applicants for Optional Practical Training (OPT) must also include their original Employment Authorization card with their Form I-20.
• Form DS-2019 (SEVIS) for J exchange visitor visas. Family members seeking J-2 status must submit their own copies of Form DS-2019.
• I-901 Fee Confirmation. Proof of payment of $100 SEVIS fee must be included since it must be paid prior to visa interview.
• Proof of funds to cover all expenses. All F-1 visa applicants planning to study for more than one year must bring proof of funds to cover the first year’s expenses such as bank statements. 
• School transcripts. Applicants who studied in the U.S. in the five years immediately prior to applying for a student visa must provide transcripts of their studies in the U.S. Applicants who have not yet studied in the U.S. must provide transcripts of the three years of study in either Japan or in a foreign country other than the U.S. immediately prior to applying for a student visa.
• Science and Technology-related programs or study. Those applicants who are going to the U.S. to follow a science and technology-related course of study must bring a complete CV or resume, a complete list of publications (if applicable), a completed conference questionnaire, which can be found at: http://japan.usembassy.gov/pdfs/wwwfmantisq.pdf, and a letter of acceptance/invitation to the school or program.

ALL Applicants for Business Visas (B-1) or Tourist Visas (B-2) must also include:

• Proof of Employment or enrollment in school (if applicable).
• Conference Questionnaire: all applicants who are non-Japanese Nationals and attending a conference in the U.S. must complete a conference questionnaire, which can be found at

 http://japan.usembassy.gov/pdfs/wwwfmantisq.pdf.
Please kindly note that as with all Embassies and Consulates, local procedures and policies often change. Attorneys should confirm the continuing accuracy of the information provided herein, and update said information as and when required.
The applicant should not make final travel arrangements until the nonimmigrant visa has been issued and the applicant is in possession of his visa’d passport.

APPLICATIONS FOR IMMIGRANT VISAS

Individuals who wish to reside in the U.S. permanently require an immigrant visa. The three most common immigrant visa categories are family based (certain relatives of U.S. citizens or green card holders), employment based, and Diversity Visas for winners of the DV lottery.
Please note that because of security concerns, walk-in visitors seeking information on immigrant visas are no longer allowed. Only those with visa appointment interviews or those seeking to report a lost green card will be admitted to the Immigrant Visa Section of the U.S. Embassy.

 

AMERICAN CITIZEN SERVICES

The U.S. Embassy in Tokyo provides the following services to American citizens living in Japan:

• U.S. passport services
• Information on Driving in Japan (International and Japanese Drivers Licenses)
• Report of Birth of a baby, Baby’s first U.S. passport, and social security number
• Dual nationality issues for children born to one American and one Japanese parent
• Information on Notaries and Powers of Attorney
• Information on Adoption in Japan
• Information on procedures involving getting married or divorced in Japan
• U.S. military services
• IRS Taxpayer assistance, including current rates of exchange
• Information on obtaining visas to Japan
• Information on obtaining visas to China
• Providing service of locating vital records documents, such as Marriage Certificates, criminal record checks or police clearances, or other essential documentation from individual U.S. states (birth certificates, driver’s licenses) or from the U.S. State Department. Please note that the U.S. Embassy does not keep any record of any official documents, even if issued by the U.S. Embassy, and must apply for copies of them through the appropriate official channels.
• Judicial assistance (taking depositions in Japan, service of process, obtaining evidence, video services, visas for attorneys deposing in Japan).
• Voting abroad by absentee ballot
• Locating someone in Japan, whether an adult or child
• List of English-speaking doctors, lawyers, detectives, schools both in English and Japanese language schools categorized by prefecture
• List of English language newspapers available in Japan
• List of stenographers/court reporters, as well as interpreters and translators throughout Japan
• List of English speaking private detectives, English speaking realtors and churches providing English language services available in the Tokyo Metropolitan area

For a list of all of the services the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo provides in Japan for Americans, please visit at http://tokyo.usembassy.gov/e/acs/tacs-atoz.html