Consulate General of Japan in New York

Their staffs are extremely unprofessional, do NOT treat visa applicants as human beings. Corresponding with them through email and phone was an unbelievably unpleasant experience. Still can't believe how rude they treat other people. Telling me that my HR was the laziest person he has ever seen? Only because he didn't sign in wet-ink? Everything is done electronically nowadays! That was just not the kind of words should come out from a consulate officer who represents Japan. Absolute disappointment!

Extremely unprofessional through emails, seems as if they do not want tourists, and were actively searching for a reason to deny.

I’ve always had a pleasant experience here. The staffs were always knowledgeable and friendly and they never rush and always take time to explain. No complaint what so ever.
They made me realize what a real good customer service is all about especially after living so many years in America with little to no decent customer service lol.

Asking for original EAD card to be sent by mail is a first.

Esp after asking for originally signed letter from employer.

Plus, these two are separated requests. How many times do you need to go to post office for a 3 days visa?

Seattle office only asks for payroll and gives 5 year multiple entry. New York office is so different.

Its impossible to get an tourism visa appointment theses days and the info on the website is SO CONFUSING! Finally I got on a hold w a representative, I told her the appointments for the next 2 months are gone and I will be traveling in the next 3-4th month.

Her appalling response - 'it is your problem not ours'

Cant believe my first point of contact of this country is a rude **s individual

Visa process and requirements on this office is a bit extra.they require a lot from GC Holders to make sure they won't overstay? Wet ink on employment letters? I thought japan was modern.most HRs don't do papers anymore.what more sign them.meanwhile my passport country has less requirements.even if you had previous used visas and didn't overstay they still treat you like you will.just doesn't make sense.book two appointments here one week apart so if they ask you to come back because of lack of documents or wrong forms submitted you already secured your spot for when you come back.just an advice.

It’s almost impossible to get a visa appointment these days. And when I finally travelled all this way to the office, they told me they didn’t accept electronic signature on the employment letter. When people working remotely these days I don’t even know how to get an inked version. And flight arrangement has to be from NY? I can’t drive to other city and fly to Japan? If you have so many detailed requirements for a simple tourism visa please be more specific on your website and don’t waste other people’s time. Thank you! I used to travel to Japan three times a year. The visa process used to be smooth. Can’t believe this is happening after pandemic.

I had a very pleasant experience here! This is the 4th visa I had to apply this year (the other ones being US, UK and Canada) and the Japan visa application was undoubtedly the smoothest experience.

Appointment at 1: 45, arrived at 1: 30 in case I have to wait-
1: 30: entered the consulate, there are a total of 2 applicants in the office and I was served immediately
1: 38: done with the whole process and left.visa officer was very friendly and patient, i can pick up my passport next Monday (today’s wednesday)

the fact that I finished the application before my scheduled appointment time is mind-blowing to me! I think they only serve 1 applicant every 10-15 minutes.

I see someone complaining about the limited appointment times but I don’t know why you’re so mad because you can always submit your application by mail? In the list of documents required it also states that the employment letter has to be signed in wet ink. If you read the list carefully and prepared everything, there wouldn’t be any issue

I went to take the proof of residency.
The Japanese lady crew was hysterical and passive aggressive.
I can't believe she works for the consulate general who is supposed to serve the public and she needs to be reminded her salary is coming from us, taxpayers.
Disappointed.
彼女一人のせいで日本のイメージが台無しになる責任は大きいのでクビにして本国へ送還してください。

Japans pretty strict about covid policies and testing especially during the pandemic. They make no exceptions which I understand since this is their literal policy. I haven’t been able to go to Japan to visit family in years even though I was booked to go in the winter of 2019. My grandma is 98 years old and recently placed in a nursing home. I was supposed to care for her the following year. Unfortunately covid happened and my relatives were able to make other arrangements for her.

I came recently for a passport application. Because the visa process seems unusually frustrating.

Five stars because it was smooth. It’s a bit of a wait even with a reservation but that applies to any embassy or for example the DMV. The lady at the counter was beyond sweet and so helpful

If you understand anything about Japanese culture you know that they’re very firm on following policy no special cases for anything (except maybe the Rich and powerful- both of which I’m not).

The NY consulate failed us after numerous guarantees that we would have our visas in time. Inefficient, and downright mean, honestly. One would think as Japan’s policies have gotten more arduous to navigate, that they would offer some sense of understanding and/or deliver on promises made to deliver visas in time. But alas they left me and my family completely empty handed, and out much of the cost of the trip based on proximity to travel date.

Friendly staff. Quick and easy.
They allowed us to go in with our daughter. Sig. In downstairs.
Parking lot between Park and Madison on 49th is super convenient.

We are having a hard time contacting the call line, my daughter is trying to schedule a visa appointment and the rep.after drilling her hung up the phone. I have been calling from Japan to make the appointment for her with no success. The DC office had better service than the NYC office.

I’ve obtained visas here twice and each time was a breeze. The phone lines are often busy, but they respond to email near-instantaneously. Both times the visa was issued less than a week after all my documents were submitted. ありがとうございます！

One star because none is not possible. I have had to deal with a Japanese consulates for visas (Student, Spouse) for about 30 years in at least 5 different countries. This consulate is the worst. And by far. They are just inhuman. I will just give 2 concrete examples.

Last year when my father in law passed away, I called to ask for a visa under exceptional circumstances (necessary because of Covid). The lady replied that this would not warrant a visa because (1) I would have to quarantine 10 days and thus "would miss the funeral" and (2) "This is not your own father". How about visiting your mother in law and be next to my wife!? !? Is that not obvious?

Last month, I wanted to apply to an emergency visa to visit my mother in law before her cancer operation. She wanted to have all of her children, their spouses and the grand children for a weekend before she went in the hospital. At 84, this is not a trivial operation and she is afraid her health will no longer permit such gathering ever again. When I called the consulate for an exceptional visa (again covid), I was met on the phone by the most condescending, rude, horrible "person" who went to give me an appointment after the date I needed to be in Japan despite clearly understanding that I needed a visa before the operation date. After I insisted, she agreed to give me an appointment for a date which would still not have worked since there would be a 5-7 days wait after submitting the paperwork and this appointment was PROVIDED I give her a doctor's note outlining the health of my mother in law. How can you be such a mean person?

I ended up flying across the world to another consulate to get my visa in time.

Foreign spouses of Japanese nationals are humans and they need to be treated as such. They deeply care about their Japanese family members and need the understanding of the Japanese consulates the world over. Officials of this consulate are not human. Ambassador Mori, please fix this consulate.

I was on hold for 8 hours I called right when they opened at 9: 30 stayed on hold all day till 4: 00 turns out they closed at 3 but did not hangup. I called many days in a row and did not get through once.

Horrible Service
Long story short, I had to call more than 3 times in order to get a appointment for my visa application. When I finally got though, the rep seems to have no patients and did not want to give me an appointment and when he did give me an appointment, he said there was only on date I can come in to hand in my forms.

*Note to those looking to schedule an appointment: just keep calling them back to back, that seems to be they only way they’re answer