Japan visa news: Two friends from Bengaluru have been left frustrated and confused after their meticulously planned trip to Japan hit an unexpected wall. Despite submitting all required documents through VFS Global — the visa outsourcing partner for Japan — the pair received their passports back without a visa, rejection stamp, or any official communication.
The planned holiday was just eight days long. “We followed all the guidelines and document requirements meticulously, but a week later our passports came back empty. No stamp, no receipt, nothing to indicate rejection, no communication whatsoever,” said one of the applicants.
No Stamp, No Letter, No Refund
The absence of any formal rejection proof is now causing a financial setback. The airline requires an official rejection letter or stamp to issue a refund for the flights. “The issue is, our flights require proof of visa rejection to get a refund. We understand that the reason won’t be disclosed, we just need confirmation of rejection,” the applicant added.
Their visa application included a signed form, 35×45 passport photo, 2 years’ ITR, 6 months of bank statements (although VFS guidelines require only 3), 3 months of salary slips, a cover letter detailing travel intent, company-issued NOC, flight tickets, and hotel booking receipts. The applicants also had sufficient funds — ₹3.1 lakh and ₹2.3 lakh respectively — to support their trip.
Seeking Clarity, Finding Silence
With no clear process to appeal or even confirm the rejection in writing, both applicants have sent emails to the Japanese Consulate and VFS, but are yet to receive a response.
“VFS Global handles only the front-end administrative tasks in the visa application process. This includes collecting application forms and documentation as per the checklist provided by the government, enrolling biometrics where applicable, and ensuring the safe return of passports post the decision-making process by the embassy or consulate. As a responsible service provider, we adhere strictly to the directives of our client governments and operate in accordance with their stipulated guidelines. Visa policies and processes are the responsibility of our client governments. VFS Global plays no role in them whatsoever,” said a VFS Global Spokesperson.
Japan consulate issues clarification
The Consulate-General of Japan in Bengaluru issued a clarification regarding its visa policies and said, “Reservations and payments for airline tickets, accommodations, transportation, etc. are not required at the time of visa application. We are not responsible for any cancellation fees incurred.”
Addressing concerns about the lack of explanation behind visa refusals, the Consulate reiterated that specific reasons for rejection are not disclosed. “We do not give you the specific reason for the rejection because if we do so, the information would eventually become known to the public. Once that happens, there is a danger that some people might misappropriate such information to get around the visa examination process and try to enter Japan for illegal purposes. It would impede the proper visa examination process in the future and have negative effects on Japanese society,” the Consulate further stated.
AloJapan.com