Clearing Japanese customs officials

[NightClover]

I am an American, planning on getting an ESL job in Japan but going there without a job. I will have up to 90 days to get a work visa.

I am worried about clearing the Japanese customs officials at the airport.

Wouldn't it look very suspicious that I am going to Japan for a 90-day vacation? What are some of the questions that they will ask me? And what should I say?

Will they look through my baggage? I heard that if they find resumes or a diploma, then there could be trouble. Is this just a rumor or do they really check baggage? Should I not bring ESL books with me?

 

[undrentide]

Customs are just for your luggage, I guess you're asking about the immigration. ;-)

I don't think you need to mention about looking for a job as you can enter Japan and stay up to 90 days as a tourist. There's no reason immigration officers get suspicious.
If you say you'll getting a job and you're currently without working visa, that would make them suspicious. (Because they might misunderstand you're going to work without a visa with working permission.)
Entering Japan as a tourist and stay for 90 days is 100% legal (as a US citizen you don't need any visa for this), so don't worry.

As for customs, as far as you're not bringing any banned/restricted items or something whose volume is far too many for personal consumption, you'll have no problem. If you have anything to declare, go to the red sign, if you don't, go to the green sign. It does not take much time, only a few minutes (or less).

 

[kusojiji]

If you put a few packs of heroin in your luggage they probably won't notice the resume and diploma.

 

[dreamer]

Absolutely no problem for the customs though I wish you luck in trying to find an ESL job...

 

[Glenski]

You're here as a 90-day tourist. Do NOT say you are coming to look for work! They will put you back on the plane home.

That's all there is. Unless you have some international criminal record that will trigger their fingerprinting monitors, you'll be ok.

Customs may or may not look through your baggage. Who can say? If they find EFL books, just say you are bringing them for a friend (Japanese or foreign). Have an address handy. To be honest, they have more important things to look for than diplomas and books.

 

[DCM_Dan]

If I remember correctly, you will have to leave the country to apply for the work permit - if you find an employer who will sponsor you. You cannot switch from a tourist visa to a work visa while remaining in Japan.
I did a similar thing a few years back, but I already had an employer lined up. Came for a couple months on a tourist visa then went to Thailand to get my working visa.

 

[Mike Cash]

Everyone is overlooking the most obvious question.

Other than a job (offer), do you have what is necessary to be eligible for a visa?

 

[Glenski]

If I remember correctly, you will have to leave the country to apply for the work permit - if you find an employer who will sponsor you. You cannot switch from a tourist visa to a work visa while remaining in Japan.

Untrue, that is old, outdated information.

Everyone is overlooking the most obvious question.

Other than a job (offer), do you have what is necessary to be eligible for a visa?

Haven't overlooked it, Mike. He just didn't ask about it. He was only concerned about getting his feet on Japanese soil.

 

[NightClover]

Thank you for the responses and the information...

I have a followup question: Has anyone heard of an American coming to Japan to look for work during the 90 period and leaving empty handed? I would imagine that it has happened, but does it happen often?

I know there are a lot of factors: the time of year, my experience, where I am willing to live in Japan, etc, etc. I hear the job market is glutted right now. I would be looking for entry level work.

(Yes, I do have my 4 year degree (BA)).

The other question I have is this: During the 90 days, if I find a place willing to sponsor me and I am waiting for my COE and the 90 days is about to run out, what should I do? Do I leave and come right back? Or do I wait for the COE to arrive and not worry about 90 day limit?

 

[Glenski]

Yes, I have heard many people who have come and gone with no work. It happens. Various reasons. You sound like a person who would not leap into things, though, so I wouldn't be too afraid if you plan things out even fairly carefully.

I believe you can stay past the tourist expiration as long as the COE is in process. Confirm with immigration. Leaving may invalidate the visa process.

 

[Udongein]

I told the officer at the airport that I was coming to look for a job on a 90 day tourist visa. No problem. Passed right through.

Just make sure you have a return ticket within that 90 day interval. I think that might be the most important thing.

 

[leblanc1]

I am in the US military getting stationed in Okinawa and will be bringing my fiance with me. Obviously she does not have any priveleges under SOFA while visiting and no, we don't intend on marrying soon.

My question is about the "exit" ticket within the 90 days. I don't want to purchase a roundtrip ticket back to the US when it would be cheaper to fly to Taiwan or another close Asian country to reset the visitor visa. Can I buy an exit ticket once in Japan or does she have to have it in-hand upon arriving?

As NightClover mentioned, we have hopes of finding her a job that offers SOFA status within the 90-180 day visit. Otherwise I have to deport my fiance it seems. Hopefully we can avoid that.

 

[Nall-ohki]

I am in the US military getting stationed in Okinawa and will be bringing my fiance with me. Obviously she does not have any priveleges under SOFA while visiting and no, we don't intend on marrying soon.
My question is about the "exit" ticket within the 90 days. I don't want to purchase a roundtrip ticket back to the US when it would be cheaper to fly to Taiwan or another close Asian country to reset the visitor visa. Can I buy an exit ticket once in Japan or does she have to have it in-hand upon arriving?
As NightClover mentioned, we have hopes of finding her a job that offers SOFA status within the 90-180 day visit. Otherwise I have to deport my fiance it seems. Hopefully we can avoid that.

They'll look at you suspiciously, possibly even deny you entry if you don't have an exit ticket on-hand (though you might be able to get away with having an open-ended ticket).

That said, most of the time in the US, round trip tickets are cheaper than one-way, for some god-forsaken reason. It might be easier just getting a round trip ticket for cheap, not taking the return trip, and then flying back when you wish.

Keep in mind, some airlines don't like you doing that, so make sure before you do it, and also remember that it would be slightly dishonest (even if it is to get around arbitrary, strict, possibly unfair regulations), and always has the chance to bite you.

 

[leblanc1]

Thanks for the input Nall.

I'm not at all interested in breaking the law, but I have yet to read any stories about what happens if you stay in Japan beyond the 90 days. Are there penalty fees involved or possibilities of prosecution?

What if somebody enters Japan on a 90 day visitor pass and doesn't leave for 2 years? What happens then?

 

[alantin]

I read of a student who overstayed one day. He was prisoned persecuted kicked out of the country and banned from re-entering for x number of years so..

I wouldn't recommend overstaying..


Edit:
I found something more here!

I think "The Alternative" would apply in you hypothetical situation..

There is also some guy who overstayed a couple of days telling his experiences on another forum in this thread.

According to that site of Nagoya International Center, if you overstay, you are looking at 5 or 10 years of ban from getting back.
Only 1 if you turn yourself in to the immigration authorities and agree to leave on the next plane!
If you are found by the police on the other hand, you're also arrested, subjected to a potential fine of up to 3 million yen and then deported.

Does anyone know if this info is up to date? I didn't see any dates on the page!

 

[leblanc1]

When you look at it that way, it almost seems acceptable to overstay as long as you come clean when you're ready to go? I'm not necessarily seeing the downside to the situation as long as you're okay with being "banned" from the country for 1 year.

Q: I have just realized that my work visa has just expired and I am now working illegally. What can I do?

A: A system, called the Departure Order System, was launched in 2004 to make it easier for illegal overstayers to leave Japan without having to face severe consequences. If an overstaying foreign national voluntarily turns themselves in to immigration authorities, wishing to return to his/her own country, the Departure Order System may allow them to depart from Japan without being detained by immigration authorities on the condition that he/she meets the following requirements.

1. The foreign national turns themselves in to immigration authorities, and wishes to depart Japan promptly.
2. He/she is staying illegally with an expired visa after legal entry.
3. He/she has never been sentenced to imprisonment (with or without labor) on a charge of larceny or other prescribed crimes after entering Japan.
4. He/she has not been deported before or has previously departed Japan under a Departure Order.
5. He/she is able to depart from Japan as soon as possible.

If an overstaying foreign national departs Japan by a Departure Order, they will not be allowed to re-enter Japan for one year.

 

[Glenski]

When you look at it that way, it almost seems acceptable to overstay as long as you come clean when you're ready to go? I'm not necessarily seeing the downside to the situation as long as you're okay with being "banned" from the country for 1 year.

And just how long do you plan to be in Okinawa? Do you imagine getting any leave during that time, because if not, she is going to be refused entry during that year, and the only way you can get together is by going to another country.

Who's to say that the ban will be for just a year? Immigration is funny about things.

Overstaying is just plain stupid.

 

[leblanc1]

I'll only be there for 2 years and my leave can be taken locally, I don't have to leave the country.

I agree, overstaying is "stupid." But why are there thousands upon thousands of overstay immigrants in the country?

I'm assuming it's because people really enjoy staying in Japan and Japan's rules aren't acceptable enough for them to follow.

 

[Glenski]

Where do you get the figure of thousands?
Do you think they get off scot-free when caught? Nope.

People overstay because they are forgetful, stupid (thinking 90 days and 3 months are the same), or just selfish.

None of these fly over well at immigration. That's why you still get a 1-year blacklisting even if you are nice about coming in on your own. Why risk that at all?

Why not just get married, even if only legally and not in some regally spendid ceremony until you're ready?

 

[alantin]

Let's say that you overstay for a while thinking that you'll give yourself in the next week.. What do you do when a cop suddenly shows up and asks for your gaijin card or the bicycle license at the street?

For some reason I really don't find this very appealing:

If a foreign national, who stays illegally (overstays) with an expired visa after legal entry, is discovered by immigration authorities, the foreign national will be detained and deported from Japan. After deportation proceedings, the foreign national will not be allowed to enter Japan for five years (10 years in certain circumstances). However, if the overstayer is discovered by the police, the overstayer will be arrested and subject to a potential fine of up to 3 million Yen and then deported.

I don't know what the "certain circumstances" are but I guess deliberately overstaying might count as such..

The Japanese bureaucracy really isn't a jolly, friendly, and understanding system so I wouldn't count on the 1 year loophole either..
As long as the Murphy's law holds true, the ten years sounds MUCH more probable!

Better to go by the book than to gamble in a game in which you can only lose.