Japan tourist visa processing timeline discrepancy for group applicants

Japan Visa
1

Greetings all. I am writing to inquire about a discrepancy in visa processing timelines.

I submitted my application for a Japan tourist visa at the VFS center in Jakarta last Tuesday, simultaneously with my colleague. We provided identical itineraries and flight bookings as we are traveling together.

Yesterday, she received her passport back with the approved visa. However, my application status remains under processing. It is important to note that this is my first international trip, whereas my colleague has visited Japan previously. I am concerned that my lack of travel history has caused a procedural delay.

Is it normal for applications submitted together to be processed at different speeds? Does being a first-time traveler specifically slow things down? Finally, is there anything that can be done at this stage, or should we just wait for the process to complete?

Thank you kindly.

2

DO not worry too much yet. In my experience as a guide, embassies often separate group applications to review individual profiles on their own merit. Your colleague’s previous travel history likely served as an established record, making her verification faster. Your first-time status simply means they need to look closer to verify your documents. History lives in the details. It happens often.