The administration of this blog highly recommends that interested readers click upon relevant links above in an effort to find out further pertinent information.

As Tokyo experiences this unfortunate series of events there is little doubt that the residents of Tokyo and Greater Japan, both Japanese and foreign, are in the hearts and minds of people around the globe. Hopefully the Japanese and the international community can direct their efforts to dealing with the fallout from this tragedy. The foreign service personnel as well as all of the Americans resident abroad in Japan or serving in the United States Armed Forces based in Japan are certainly in this blogger’s heart at this time.

The Embassy will be closed to the public in observance of the following United States and Japanese holidays:

New Year’s Day	Jan. 1, 2011	Saturday (Observed on Fri., Dec. 31)
Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday	Jan. 17	Monday
National Foundation Day	Feb. 11	Friday
Washington’s Birthday	Feb. 21	Monday
Vernal Equinox Day	March 21	Monday
Golden Week Holidays	April 29, May 3-5	Friday, Tuesday – Thursday
Memorial Day	May 30	Monday
Independence Day	July 4	Monday
Marine Day	July 18	Monday
Labor Day	Sept. 5	Monday
Autumn Equinox Day	Sept. 23	Friday
Columbus Day/Sports Day	Oct. 10	Monday
Veterans Day	Nov. 11	Friday
Labor Thanksgiving Day	Nov. 23	Wednesday
Thanksgiving Day	Nov.24	Thursday
Emperor’s Birthday	Dec.23	Friday
Christmas Day	Dec. 25	Sunday (Observed on Mon., Dec. 26)

Note:

The Embassy will remain open for the following three Japanese holidays in 2011:

Adult’s Day	Jan. 10	Monday
Respect for the Aged Day	Sept. 19	Monday
Culture Day	Nov. Thursday

Those wishing to view the official homepage of the US Embassy in Japan please click HERE.

Those seeking services which can only be provided by a US Mission abroad such as issuance of a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, US Passport, or additional visa pages for a US Passport are well advised to contact an American Citizen Services Section of the nearest US Mission with appropriate Consular jurisdiction. In some cases, it may be possible to set an appointment with the Post in advance over the internet. Setting an appointment in advance can greatly streamline the processing of requests as Consular Officers are often better able to anticipate one’s needs.

Those seeking non-immigrant visa benefits such as a US tourist visa (B-2), US student visa (F-1), US exchange visitor visa (J-1), or US business visa (B-1) are likely to see their visa application processed at a US Embassy or US Consulate abroad. It should be noted that non-immigrant visa applicants are scrutinized subject to section 214(b) of the United States Immigration and Nationality Act.

Those American Citizens seeking American family visa benefits for a Japanese spouse such as a CR-1 visa or IR-1 visa are generally required to process and receive approval of a United States immigration petition prior to processing a US visa application at a US Embassy or US Consulate abroad. It should be noted that for processing purposes, the K-1 visa, although a US fiance visa, is treated in much the same way as the immigrant visa categories.

Those seeking US business visa benefits such as E-2 visa benefits for certain qualified traders, L-1 visa benefits for intra-company transferees of multi-national corporations, or EB-5 visa benefits for immigrant investors are likely to be required to process, and receive approval of, an immigration petition prior to application for visa benefits at a US Embassy or US Consulate abroad.

Those denied a US visa may be able to still ultimately obtain visa benefits through use of an I-601 waiver of a finding of inadmissibility or through use of an I-212 waiver (depending on the reason for denial). However, all cases must be analyzed based upon the unique set of facts in the case in order to make a determination as to the eligibility of an applicant for any immigration waiver.

Japan currently participates in the visa waiver program. That said, those wishing to travel to the US on their Japanese passport utilizing the visa waiver program must register online via the electronic system for travel authorization (ESTA) system prior to traveling to the USA.

For related information please see: US Visa Japan.

Those unrepresented individuals with a pending visa application before a Visa Unit at an American Embassy or Consulate should check directly with the post to find out how the visa interview process works as Visa Units generally schedule appointments based upon the Post’s capacity. In many cases, non-immigrant visas and immigrant visas have a separate  interview appointment process (for purposes of US Immigration the K1 visa is often effectively treated as an immigrant visa).

The administration of this blog often post the holiday closing schedules for various US Embassies and US Consulates in Asia in an effort to provide assistance to those who may have business at a Post. The following is the holiday closing schedule for the US Embassy in Japan quoted directly from the official website of the Embassy itself:

The Embassy will be closed to the public in observance of the following United States and Japanese holidays:

* Japanese holidays are indicated with an asterisk.

Note:

The Embassy will remain open for the following three Japanese holidays in 2010: