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Archive for the 'Visa' Category

6/19/2005

Japanese government to make Aliens Carry IC Cards as ID

Taro's alien registration card
Yes, I have official Japanese government proof that I’m an ALIEN.
Above is a picture of my Japanese Alien Registration Card, hee, hee.
Every foreigner in Japan longer than 90 days has to go down to their ward office to get one. It’s a pain in the ass but the gaijin card has been a mostly harmless process until now.
The current alien registration card (Gaikokujin Toroku) contains the holder’s name, nationality, date of birth, place of birth, address, passport information, visa status, occupation and company or school. The new IC card will be tied into a new “intelligence center,” and will hold fingerprint data to compile database on foreigners.
Think “666, the mark of the Beast” and put on your tinfoil hat because it is unclear whether these will RF capable cards that can be read at long distence. I say tinfoil hat because if you were paranoid about broadcasting all your personal information, all you have to do is wrap this IC card in tinfoil to block any transmission of your data.

Japan Gov’t will require all foreigners to carry IC card IDs
….plan to require all foreigners staying in Japan for more than 90 days to carry identification cards equipped with integrated circuit chips, with all data to be kept at an “intelligence center,”
…the new system, intended to replace the current Certificate of Alien Registration that foreigners have to carry…
Under the plan, foreigners will have to carry with them at all times IC cards that contain information such as their name, nationality, address, birth date, passport number, visa status and place of employment or study. Holders will be required to report any change of address and obtain permission to change jobs.
…..Under the new policy, companies and schools where foreigners work or study will also be required to report to the authorities about when the foreigners move or change jobs, and will be subject to penalties for any falsified information….

More worrying to some gaijin in Japan, is that these new Alien Registration rules and IC cards will be require them to obtain permission to change jobs.
Sounds like slavery, doesn’t it?
Well it is.
Welcome to Japan Inc.
ALL Japanese have to follow a simliar rule because they have to obtain a “Permission to Leave the Company” certificate to quit a company. It sucks to have to grovel to ask for this even though your soon-to-be-ex-boss is more or less required to give it to you.
Actually, all foreigners must report to their ward office in 30 days any changes of address or job in the current Alien Registration system. The new IC card for Alien Registration system is simply codifying the present rules on a national database scale.

But wait there’s more fun.
There’s the new-n-improved ” Immigration BLACKLIST.”
In the past, the Immigration blacklist was just that a paper list on names and passport numbers of evil gaijin who had been caught at such evil deeds as failing to notifying their ward office of overstaying their visa one week or quiting and getting new job. Needless to say the paper blacklist was not effective. Now the national blacklist will have more effect. It’s actually been computerized for two years now and at every Japanese airport the authorities now know that I was arrested for running an illegal frog jumping contest in 1981.

The Yomiuri Shimbun, KRT Wire | 06/11/2005 | Japanese government plans to compile database on foreigners
TOKYO - The Justice Ministry…. can currently search online only text information, such as an individual’s name and nationality, and plans to upgrade the system to download images, such as people’s photos and fingerprints.
Records on individuals who in the past were deported after committing crimes also will be able to be accessed online under the new system, according to the sources, adding that those records are now available only by fax from the local immigration bureau that deported the individual….


UPDATE:

The reports are the Japan is still at “working team” on the IC card for Aliens. Therefore there gonna a lot more time and a bunch more changes before this Mark-of-the-Beast-666 IC card law goes into effect.

Kyodo via Yahoo: Japan eyes tightening control of foreign residents
The Japanese government decided Tuesday to set up a working team to consider ways of tightening its control of foreign residents as an anticrime step. The team will consider such measures as requiring long-stay foreigners in Japan to carry identification cards equipped with integrated circuit chips, government officials said. Envisaged to comprise senior officials from various ministries, the team is expected to come up with specific steps in about a year and present a bill to revise the foreign resident registration law, possibly in the regular Diet session in 2007, one official said.
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party earlier proposed that the government require all foreigners staying in Japan for more than 90 days to carry ID cards with chips recording their identity data. The LDP and the government claim the new policy is aimed at keeping track of foreigners as part of its measures to prevent terrorism and crimes. The working team will also consider easing restrictions on foreign residents such as enabling them to stay longer in Japan, the officials said.

Also read News.3Yen.com’s report: Japan landing announcement: “Please take your free IC ID cards at the airport and always carry them.”


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12/10/2004

Can I leave Japan after my visa has expired?

Q. Is it possible to leave Japan with only a visa application stamp on my US passport? I’ve decided to quit my job and go back home permanently but I’m a bit worried after reading about all these immigration horror stories.

A. Technically your visa is ‘extended’ during your application waiting time therefore leaving Japan will not be a problem especially as the new nationwide immigration ‘real-time’ computer system is now on-line.

Immigration officials at any port of entry/departure can call up any visa/personal details almost instantaneously.

If you have a valid waiting stamp in your passport they will no doubt tell you that it will become invalid the instant you leave but other than that you should be ok.

Just make it clear you understand that you will lose any visa status when you leave. If at some time in the future you intend to return you will have to apply for a new visa just like everybody else.

Posted by Steve in General, Visa | No Comments »

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12/1/2004

The ‘Spouse’ Visa

If you have married a Japanese national then you are entitled to receive ‘spouse visa to stay in Japan. Japanese immigration authorities require a copy of your spouse’s family register (Koseki touhon) with your name written in as spouse as proof of your marriage.

Such a visa gives you just about all the rights of a Japanese national except voting in elections (and that also may become possible in the future)

Generally you will first receive a one year visa which can eventually become a three year visa (you may receive a couple of one year extensions first before they will issue a three year one)

As long as you stay legitimately married to your Japanese spouse (and can provide proof that you are indeed maintaining the marriage) your stay in Japan can be infinite. The only other step after such a visa would be a ‘permanent residency’ visa which never expires even after divorce or death of your spouse.

If you do divorce from your Japanese spouse your spouse visa does not immediately become invalid. It will simply expire at the end of its term and you will have to change to another type of visa or leave the country.

(As always remember. YMMV - Your mileage may vary)


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11/30/2004

How long does it take to get a ‘permanent residency’ visa after applying?

Unknown. Could be a year, could be a month.

Despite what you may have read or heard there is no fixed time so don’t worry if you don’t hear anything after a few months.

However if your applying for permanent residency what does a few months matter, you’re not going anywhere right?

One tip though. Don’t leave the country for a holiday or business trip while you are waiting.

For further reading A Guide to Japanese Visas

(As always remember. YMMV - Your mileage may vary)

Posted by Steve in General, The law - Civil, Visa | 9 Comments »

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11/30/2004

Name that Document

Japan’s bureaucracy loves trees. So much so that they want to see as much of them as they can. For you that means when ever you have need or reason to visit those big or small grey buildings bring as much paper as possible.

In simple terms - Before applying for anything in Japan get your paperwork in order. Here a few of the most popular ones that you may need. I’ve put them in Romaji for easier reading.

Tax Certificate - Gensen choushu
Work Certificate - Zaishoku shomei
Family Register - Koseki touhon
Residence Certificate - Jyuminhyo
Letter of Guarantee - Mimotohoshousho
Gaijin register certificate - Toroku genpyo kisaijiko shomeisho

(As always remember. YMMV - Your mileage may vary)


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