U.S. Embassy & Consulates
in Japan

Important Notice for  Japanese citizens applying for student visas (F/ M), and academic J visas

Effective from December 27, 2022 until December 31, 2023, citizens of Japan applying for F, M, or academic J (secondary and university students, professors, research scholars, short-term scholars, and specialists only) visas, may apply for a visa by mail without an in-person interview. First-time and returning applicants are eligible if they meet the following requirements.

• You are a Japanese citizen and are currently in Japan.
• You are applying for an F, M, or academic J visa (includes secondary and university students, professors, research scholars, short-term scholars, and specialists).
• You have not been arrested in Japan, the United States, or any other country.
• At least one of the following is true:
  o   You have previously traveled to the United States on on the Visa Waiver Program using ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) and have never had an application for ESTA denied, OR
  o   You have previously been issued a U.S. visa of any type, and and it was issued after your 14th birthday.

For instructions on how to apply by mail, please visit https://www.ustraveldocs.com/jp/jp-niv-visarenew.asp#apply