When I was in collage I had a bud that was going to see his girl in Japan, his passport ordeal was a mess barely got it in time. So yeah I would say get it waaaay early.
Back home(west coast) I have a bud thats half Thai and has gone back to see his mom(RIP) with his dad and whatever. Always sound awesome, we had plans to go a few times but back then I was working on fires in the summer and never took the time.