Manila, March 21 -- Travelers applying for a Japanese visa still have the option of coursing their applications through a travel agent even after the opening of the Japanese visa application center (JVAC) on April 7.

VFS Global, the visa outsourcing firm the Japanese Embassy in Manila tapped to manage the JVAC, said applicants may either book their appointments straight to the JVAC website or through agencies affiliated with the Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) and the Philippine IATA Agents Travel Association (PIATA).

The travel agencies, it said, can submit visa applications on behalf of their clients at the JVAC in Cebu, Davao, Makati, Paranaque, and Quezon City provided they have proper authorization from the applicants...