Following up on the message shared on July 7th related to challenges in visa appointment availability in Japan, AFS-USA continues to work hand-in-hand with AFS-Japan to secure visa appointments for all Japanese participants as soon as possible.

Advocacy by AFS-USA, AFS-Japan, staff, volunteers, and host families has elicited a response from the US embassy’s cultural affairs section, who are working to secure appointments for AFS-Japan participants at US embassies in Tokyo and Osaka.

With the expected securing of visa appointments, some students may still experience delays in their arrival. AFS-USA and AFS-Japan remain optimistic that students will receive their visas and will be able to participate on the program.

AFS-USA staff will reach out on a case-by-case basis to AFS-USA Area Team Hosting Coordinators/Travel Representatives to coordinate arrangements and logistics related to potential delays in the coming week.

We thank you all for your continued support and efforts – and for the advocacy you have made to your representatives – as we continue to work toward securing visas (and subsequently confirming arrival dates) for our Japanese participants.

Lastly, while a few students from other countries are experiencing the usual visa-related delays we see each year, AFS has not encountered this issue in other countries. In general, where AFS students who are set to participate in the 2025-26 school year to the USA but have not previously obtained a visa interview appointment, they have been able to schedule them – greater difficulty was experienced in Japan.