Halt of U.S. visa process puts Japanese students' futures in question
The U.S. Embassy in Tokyo confirmed Wednesday that, as part of a global policy, the embassy and U.S. consulate offices in Japan have suspended scheduling new interviews for student visa applicants.
The decision, which targets applicants for all levels of education, from elementary schools to graduate schools, will not affect previously confirmed or scheduled interview appointments, the embassy spokesperson said.
The United States is the top destination for students from Japan studying overseas. Some 16,000 people from Japan were studying in the U.S. as of 2022, making up a third of all students studying abroad, according to the education ministry.
The new policy comes as the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump also prepares to heighten scrutiny of social media content posted by international applicants.
Politico first reported on the policy shift Tuesday, sending shock waves through the academic community in the U.S. and elsewhere.
Kwansei Gakuin University in Hyogo Prefecture, which has been planning to send 44 students to the U.S. by the summer through its study-abroad program, said it had received 10 inquiries as of Thursday from students and their parents. The inquiries included questions about not being able to log in to their accounts to make reservations for visa interview appointments and concerns over whether they will still be able to go to the U.S. to study.
The university has advised them to prepare what they can so they can respond promptly when the process is normalized, said Naoko Deai, section chief of the department handling the study-abroad program. Kwansei Gakuin currently has 19 students enrolled at universities in the United States.
Sophia University in Tokyo, which has been planning to send 116 students to the U.S. this autumn, said it had also received inquiries from students about not being able to arrange interviews with the embassy or finding their interview appointments have been set for after their scheduled departure date.
Sophia said that it has sent out emails to the affected students asking them to keep a close eye on updates from the embassy, and have asked partner institutions to consider support measures in response to the temporary suspension and potential delays in visa processing.
Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU) in Oita Prefecture, known for having international students make up around half of its student body, said it is trying to collect more information about the U.S. policy from various sources. It has instructed 21 students — both Japanese and non-Japanese — who plan to study in the U.S. through its programs there to gather information themselves, too.
'We have heard from students who are about to make interview appointments and are very worried about what will happen to them,' said Nao Oshima, a manager overseeing the outbound study-abroad program at APU. He expects to see more inquiries in the coming days.
'We are really shocked by the recent turn of events.'
The university has also heard from one student who was recently denied a student visa, Oshima said. While it is not the first time an APU student has been denied a visa, he worries cases like this could become more common in the future.
The percentage of student visa refusals has surged in recent years, according to U.S government statistics, hitting an all-time high of 41% in 2024, up from 15% in 2014.
'We respect the wishes of the students who have worked hard to fulfill their dream to study in the U.S., so we would like to do our best to help them realize that,' Oshima said. 'But if the visas aren't issued, or if the suspension of the process continues, we may need to advise some students to consider other destinations or reapply at another time. Some students may have to give up their plans to study abroad.'
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