Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles — Attraction in Los Angeles

I lost my passport in the process of mailing it back to me. I attached the returning envelop when I mailed to the embassy for Japan visa, but the usps tracking number was not in the system yet after 15 days since Japan embassy claimed they mailed back to me. I think the consulate is not taking the responsibility of properly dropping the mail to USPS, it’s completely depending on USPS. I saw the embassy staff dropped a bunch of envelops in USPS store front desk and left immediately without making sure the clerk scanned it. I think that’s one potential reason of losing my mail with such important documents. The lady who answers phone in this embassy didn’t not provide help either she claimed they were only responsible for giving visa but not responsible for mailing it back, no apologizes and no other help at all. I disagree with embassy has no responsibility of properly handling applicants’ passport and all other important documents, if the embassy takes our passport and mailing is the only way, you should be responsible to hand it to USPS properly with evidence as well. So that the responsibility boundary is clear. Just take what happened to me as an example, as long as the mail is not scanned, the USPS clerk or anyone can just toss our passport to garbage without taking any responsibility, because USPS can claim it’s not in their system while embassy can claim it’s not their responsibility to mail. Very disappointing process. The lady who answers the call from embassy told me I needed to redo everything to get a new visa, even though my passport was lost due to their mistake partially. It’s not decent to kick the balls around instead of taking more actions to ensure the envelop is properly dropped off to USPS. Please, we trust you to mail our passport to you, the last thing we would expect to see is such import document was not treated with care in the process. Lost my trust in this process. Very...

The whole process for renewing the passport was smooth sailing. And if I can point out one issue. I would say (the parking as "@TM stated"). We had an appointment at 9:30AM and we also came from San Diego. Arrived around 9:05AM, and let me tell you @TM wasn't lying about the parking price. We were there for only 40+min and it was pricy on that structure. The fact that you have to come back twice is a pain, when you're trying to go in and out. If I can suggest one thing to this building I would say, a stamp free of charge(parking validation) for coming in what you came for.... that including those nice resturants around there. However, If you get there early in the morning you have to come back at 3PM and it only works for those who ain't local to the county(LA). Meaning you can get your passport done in one day. and let me tell you this, we went back to receive our passport, got there around 2:45PM. I was not going to park down at that structure twice!! so I decided to park across the building where the parking meter's are at. I was genuinely aware about the sign reading parking 8am-3pm. I paid the fee with little amount of time we had I was skyptically running up and down just to keep a watch for our car. And on my 2nd time running down GUESS WHAT!!! TWO CARS BEHIND ME WERE TOWED!! THEREFORE, PLEASE BECAREFUL WITH THOSE PARKING ENFORCERS! THEY DONT GIVE A RATS A** THAT BUILDING NEEDS PARKING VALIDATION I got lucky i was able to move my car on time but, a second guy came and just started handing out tickets like no other. PLEASE BE AWARE MY FELLOW JAPANESE AMERICANS and for the sake of whoever goes...

Terrible, Terrible, Terrible. Most awful embassy experience ever.

If you follow their guideline to apply visa from their embassy website, I guarantee you that they will tell you insufficient documents.

I visited them yesterday, I was the first few people arrival there in the morning when office just opened, there were about 20 applications in the entire morning but ALL of us been told re-visit due to insufficient document. BTW, their attitude was like we should know it and very very very impatient!!!! When I questioned them that I followed what is list on their website, they ignore to answer me.

Anyway, they asked me for past 6 months of bank statement to prove that I have stable income to support my own trip. On their website, you will they only mention "applicant's most recent bank statement".

In addition, the interviewer fist told me I need 5 months bank statements, so I printed past 5 month, but when I return, she told me she need past 6 months.

So the entire morning, there were about 20 applications but the office is super busy because all applicants were told to go down to fedex in the lobby to print, rewrite document, re-take photo and etc. I wonder if those people working there actually reviewed their...