KCP Response and Updates on COVID-19

Please check this page often as we will constantly be updating it to address the evolving situations brought about by the COVID-19 crisis.

🔴 KCP Fall semester update

It is too late to apply for a student visa beginning Fall semester (October entrance). However,  there is still time to apply for a student visa beginning Winter term (January) if we receive a completed application before August 24, 2022.

Students can still apply for one semester course in Fall. Our new deadline is July 29, 2022. These students would enter on a tourist visa. We expect that between now and then the Japanese government will begin to allow single person short term/tourist entry into Japan like many other developed countries including the USA are currently allowing.

In the event that the Japanese government does not change its policies and you are unable to enter Japan on a tourist visa, all monies paid will be refunded minus $50. In fact, we will not request any additional payment other than the application deposit until we are sure the borders have opened and your entry will not be compromised.

🔴 no coe? one-term program participants

As of March 20, the Japanese government has continued to restrict entry for those students with a tourist or short-term visa. If you are planning on attending KCP for one term, this would apply to you.

We are carefully monitoring the situation, and are certain Japan will restate its border treaty with the US someday, but whether it happens this year or not, we do not know.

If you are applying for one term, please keep this in mind and have a back up in place in case you are not allowed into Japan. For our summer short and summer programs, we should have greater visibility by early-mid May as to the likelihood of the Japanese borders opening for tourists . We will send out an email regarding your options and the current situation.

If you have to cancel, please read our new refund policy below.

🔴 application and registration: Payment and flights

Students who are completing our online application and registration will be receiving automated emails. Please ignore emails regarding payment or purchasing your flights. We do not expect students to have to pay anything other than their application deposit until we are confident they will be able to enter Japan.

FLIGHTS: In addition, we do not expect students to purchase their flights until they have either (1) secured a student visa and/or (2) the borders are open to students entering on a tourist or short-term visa. Students who choose to purchase a non-refundable or non-changeable ticket assume all risks. 

🔴 ONLINE COURSES

We are offering a package of online synchronous courses. Check out our online-programs page.

We understand that this is a difficult time for everyone. We need to recognize that this is affecting so many students and schools everywhere, and that this once in a lifetime pandemic will come to an end soon. Let’s keep the hope and plan for our future together.

🔴 Refunds

All students will receive a 100% refund, less a $50 application processing fee, if they are not allowed into Japan for their programs at KCP due to border restrictions brought on by COVID-19.

If the Japanese government shows no signs of lifting the entry ban in time for the students’ chosen term, we will make an announcement in advance so that students can make their decision to cancel their study abroad enrollment before the deadline.

Visit Refunds for more details.

🔴 Resources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
World Health Organization
U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Japan
Tokyo Metropolitan Government
Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

🔴 Related Blog posts

KCP Community Update on COVID-19
What We Know About the New Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)
Novel Coronavirus Situation Update

Last updated July 7, 2022.