Survey: 72.4% of Japanese Companies Expect U.S. Visa Demand to Remain Steady or Increase

Greenfield Overseas Assistance Co., Ltd., which provides U.S. visa application support services, conducted a survey on the state of Japanese companies’ U.S. business operations and visa management. The results found that even amid concerns over policy uncertainty in the United States, 72.4% of companies expect future visa demand to either remain steady or increase. The findings highlight that Japanese companies continue to stay engaged with the U.S. market while factoring in risk. Survey summary: 72.4% expect visa demand to remain steady or increase; U.S. operations are mainly expected to stay unchanged or expand selectively; around 30% reported negative policy impacts, while a majority said there was no impact, showing divided assessments. Background: In recent years, changes in U.S. immigration, employment, and foreign policies have increased uncertainty for Japanese companies’ overseas expansion and personnel deployment. The survey was conducted to clarify how companies evaluate their U.S. operations and how they are responding in visa management. Survey overview: Respondents were corporate staff involved in U.S. visa application support; valid responses came from 352 companies; the survey was conducted online with 19 questions; it was distributed via newsletters to the company’s in-house list; the survey period was March 24 to April 7, 2026. Key findings: First, assessments of U.S. policy changes were mixed. While some companies viewed the changes as having a negative impact, many said there was no particular impact, with differences depending on industry and business model. Second, Japanese companies’ U.S. operations remain broadly stable despite policy uncertainty, with future investment plans centered on maintaining the status quo or expanding selectively. This indicates that companies are choosing continued engagement based on risk assessment rather than withdrawal. Third, regarding visa application outlooks for the next one to two years, companies answering that applications would increase or remain unchanged totaled 72.4%. The scale of expatriate and engineer dispatches also remains at a certain level, showing that visas continue to serve as a key foundation for corporate activity. Fourth, in responding to policy changes, companies see information gathering from public institutions such as embassies and USCIS, as well as the use of external experts, as important strategies. Continued expert involvement helps reduce policy risk and stabilize visa procedures. The company said the survey was conducted to visualize the on-the-ground realities of companies expanding into the U.S., based on its track record of supporting more than 37,000 U.S. visa applications cumulatively and 2,200 annually. The results point to a clear choice by Japanese companies to continue rather than withdraw. Even as policy uncertainty rises, the business necessity of the U.S. market remains unchanged for many companies. At the same time, the survey shows future challenges. Official consulate and government websites, together with information from visa service providers, ranked highly as sources of visa information. In a period of rapid policy change, accurate and timely information, along with sound decisions based on that information, can determine whether a visa application succeeds. A visa is not merely a means of moving people; it is a key factor in whether a company’s U.S. strategy can move forward. Securing that visa will likely divide future competitiveness in U.S.-related business. Greenfield Overseas Assistance Co., Ltd. was established in April 2003 and focuses on corporate U.S. visa application support. Drawing on extensive experience and expertise in U.S. visas, the company provides precise advice, reduces the burden of complex procedures, and supports clients through visa acquisition. Its headquarters are located at 1F Kudan Kaikan Terrace, 1-6-5 Kudanminami, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. The representative director is Kiwamu Watanabe, and the company’s business is U.S. visa application support.