Embassy of the United States Tokyo, Japan

2012:

• The online entry registration period for DV-2014 is over (November 5, 2012)

• International Virtual College Fair (October 17, 2012)
  
  The college fair will be held on November 13 from 12:00 am to 11:59 pm EST/5:00 GMT to 4:59 GMT. It includes online booths where more than 150 participating institutions will engage students through visuals, links, and the opportunity to chat live with school representatives during posted hours (5:00 am to 7:00 pm EST).
  
  The event includes live webcast sessions with subject matter experts and admission representatives and/or student ambassadors. They are:
  
  --Discover U.S. Higher Education (7-8 am EST)
  --International Students Share Their Experiences (8-9 am EST)
  --Graduate Admissions and Funding (9-10 am EST)
  --Undergraduate Admissions and Funding (10-11 am EST)
  --Understanding Community Colleges (11-12 am EST)
  --The U.S. Student Visa Process (12-1 pm EST)
  --Choosing a U.S. Institution (1-2 pm EST).
  
  A detailed list of participating institutions, schedules of events, and registration information is available on CollegeWeek Live (CWL) website at http://www.collegeweeklive.com/en_CA/br/EducationUSA_College_Fair.

• Taiwan participates in the Visa Waiver Program (October 10, 2012)
  
  Beginning November 1, 2012, Taiwan passport holders will be eligible to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) for business or pleasure for up to 90 days without obtaining a visa, if certain requirements are met.
  
  Taiwan VWP travelers are required to travel on a biometric Taiwan passport (called an e-passport) that was issued on or after December 29, 2008 and contains a National ID number. They then must apply and be approved for an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) before beginning travel. For more information, please visit http://www.ait.org.tw/en/vwp.html

• DV-2014 visa lottery program (September, 18, 2012)
  
  Online registration for the DV-2014 Program will begin on Tuesday, October 2, 2012 at 12:00 noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4), and conclude on Saturday, November 3, 2012 at 12:00 noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4). For details, please see the Diversity Visa Program Instructions webpage.

• Timely Submission of Required Documentation of DV-2012 (April 12, 2012)
  
  If you have been selected for further processing in the Diversity Visa (DV) program, please submit the required documents to Kentucky Consular Center (KCC) as soon as possible. Do not wait the end of the DV-2012 submission due.
  
  DV-2012 selectees may also electronically check their status through https://www.dvlottery.state.gov/ until June 30, 2012 by entering “Confirmation Number”, “Last/Family Name”, and “Year of Birth” information.
  
  The Department of State, Office of Visa Services is aware of a notable increase in fraudulent emails and letters sent to DV program applicants. Selectees will only receive e-mail communications from the KCC alerting them that a visa appointment has been scheduled after they have responded to the notification instructions on Entry Status Check. Please be informed there is no charge to download and complete the Electronic Diversity Visa application form.
  
  For details of DV-2012, please visit State Department's website and DV-2012 instructions.

• New Application Fees (April 10, 2012)


Nonimmigrant and immigrant visa application fees will change on April 13, 2012. The fees for nonimmigrant visa applications except E and K visa and Border Crossing Cards will increase, while all immigrant visa application fees will decrease. All visa applicants must pay the fee amounts in effect on the day they pay, including immigrant visa applicants who pay fees to the National Visa Center (NVC).

Fees that will decrease are not refundable - If you paid a visa fee before April 13, 2012 and that fee decreased, we cannot give you a refund.

Fees that will increase (only nonimmigrant fees) - If you paid your visa fee before April 13, 2012, you do not have to pay the difference between the new and old fee amounts as long as your visa interview is on or before July 12, 2012. Starting July 13, 2012, you will be required to pay the difference between the old and new fee amounts at the Consular cashier – no exceptions.

Review the Press Release and Visa News to learn more.

• Update of Airline Crew Application Procedures (March 28, 2012)
  
  Airline Crew applying at US Embassy Tokyo and Consulate General Osaka/Kobe are required to make an interview appointment. For appointment procedures, please visit http://www.ustraveldocs.com/jp/jp-niv-visaapply.asp.  Please come to the interview after you have made an appointment following the new application steps.
  
  Note: Please make sure to select visa type as “C1/D” when you make an Airline crew appointment.
  
  Airline Crew appointments at US Embassy Tokyo are available Tuesdays through Thursdays between 14:00 and 15:00 through the above link.

• New Visa Application Procedures (March 23, 2012)
  • In Tokyo, Please call 03-6743-9732.
  • In Osaka, Please call 06-6943-6700
  • In Naha, call 098-854-7050.
  • In the United States, call toll-free 1 646-259-0526

As of Friday, March 23, 2012, services including calling for information and envelopes for visa’ed passports will be provided at no additional cost to visa applicants.

English- and Japanese-speaking customer service agents are ready to assist you 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Japan Time (JT) Monday through Friday. The call center is closed for U.S. and Japanese holidays.

Telephone: Please contact a customer service representative using one of these telephone numbers:

Email: To reach a customer service representative via email, please write to support-japan@ustraveldocs.com.

For details on the new application procedures and services, please visit http://www.ustraveldocs.com/jp/index.html

• Change of Non-immigrant Visa Application Procedures - Updated (February 28, 2012)
• Interview Waiver Pilot Program (February 16, 2012)
  Qualified foreign visitors who were interviewed and thoroughly screened in conjunction with a prior visa application may be eligible to renew their visas without undergoing another interview. Please see here for details.
• Change of Non-immigrant Visa Application Procedures (February 2, 2012)
  

  Effective March 23, 2012, the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Japan will implement new visa application procedures. Applicants who apply for non-immigrant visas will be required to pay the application fee before they make interview appointments. The new system will be available on March 23.

  1) Applicants who have interview appointments on or before March 23 may pay the visa application fee through the following site, http://japan.usembassy.gov/e/visa/tvisa-niv-walkin2.html. Please ensure that you bring your receipt attached to the DS-160 Confirmation Page with you to your appointment. Applications without an original receipt for the visa application fee will not be accepted.

  2) Applicants who have appointments on or after March 27(Tokyo)/March 26(Osaka, Naha), need to pay the fee through the new payment site which will be available on March 23.

  3) If you schedule an appointment for April 2 or later, you will not be able to make an appointment until you have paid the fee in the new system. Please DO NOT pay the visa application fee by using the current system, prior to the new system start on March 23.

  Thank you for your patience during this transition time. We will continue to post updated information about this transition along with new information regarding new procedures for payment, appointment scheduling, and for the return of applicants’ passports. Please continue to check here frequently for updated information.

• Fee change for Diversity Visa(DV)applicants (February 2, 2012)
  

  Effective February 2, 2012, the application fee and IV security surcharge are not charged to the DV Program applicants. Paid fees before the effective date are not refundable. Please visit State Department's website for required fee information.

• Parole of Citizens of Russia into Guam and CNMI (January 27,2012)
  Beginning January 15, 2012, Russian citizens whose purpose of travel meets specific criteria are eligible to be paroled into Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) without a visa. Please see here for details.  

See also: visa news archives.