I’m posting this on behalf of my brother. He got accepted to uni in Japan and wants to go on a family trip (our mom, myself, and my partner). Due to work reasons, my partner and I can only travel in August. We’ll come back on Aug. 25th. My brother’s school starts mid-September. Right now, the plan is for all of us to travel in August, then my brother will go back on his own a few days before his move-in date for his student accommodation.
We’re wondering the following: can my brother apply for his student visa, have it in his passport, and enter Japan for tourism purposes (we’re from the US and don’t need to apply for a tourist visa), then return 2 weeks later as a student? Or will he have to apply for his student visa once he comes back to the US? I’m just worried he won’t receive his visa in time if he applies after we come back. I also don’t want him to potentially have issues with immigration if he has his student visa but won’t enter as a student, even if he has a return ticket.
He did call a visa hotline and they told him to contact the embassy. They said it’s up to immigration’s discretion. Does anyone have experience with this?
Thank you so much!
Edit: we know he shouldn’t enter Japan on his student visa more than a week or two before school starts due to the risk of the validity expiring before his studies. We’re asking if he can enter and leave Japan as a tourist if he has a student visa that won’t be used until two weeks after the trip as a tourist.
by levoton-tuhkimo