Japanese Immigration Lawyers

Recently I was denied entry back into Japan after a week away in the United States. I was there for six months on two seperate tourist visas, but I did not rush to marry my girlfriend, nor was I successful in finding a company that would sponsor me (I don't have a bachelors degree--- so something as simple as teaching was out---).

Although we spoke to immigration before I left, and I spoke with them again at the airport, it seems rather arbitrary but, as I mentioned I was not allowed to enter the country, and after an appeal so that I could get more information from the embasy or anyone else (this also allowed immigration to speak to my girlfriend who backed up my story--- and in much better Japanese at that), after this I returned home unfortunately to the United States.

I haven't had any success in contacting an immigration lawyer thusfar so that I might better understand my situation.

I was told that I hadn't commited any crime--- though a person at the airlines scared my girlfriend by telling her that I would never be allowed back in Japan (though this was something that immigration told me was not in fact the case)...

Immigration warned me after I made and failed the appeal (not before I had decided to) that doing this was worse for my situation as it marked me down for future scrutiny every time I returned to Japan.

From everything that I gathered from immigration, the crime was simply trying---- They let me know that regardless of the validity of my returning to Japan in the future, say with a valid work visa, it was still in the power of immigration to arbitrarily deny my entry.

Can anyone give me any advice on this, or recomend a decent immigration lawyer? Like I've said, I want to reiterate that I was not deported, and i am not barred from returning--- but, all the advice I have been given thusfar is that an immigration lawyer (outside of speaking directly to immigration which has gotten me nowhere each time) would perhaps be my only way of figuring out exactly what my status is.

Any help is appreciated--- I wont be going back to Japan for a while, but I'd like to think that if I returned there with say, my girlfriend, that I'd be permited entry... something that immigration seemed to even cast doubt on--- trying to live in Japan without much luck has seemingly sunk any oportunity I will have to do so in the future.

thanks.

An immigration lawer is someone who knows the ins and outs of the immigration laws but doesn't actually work in immigration. My mate said he knew one, so I'll ask him and drop you a name/number/email if I can.
Dont forget a visa doesn't automatically mean you can enter the country, and immigration always has the last say.

They caught you gaming the system. What did you expect?

I feel sorry for you, I have this constant worry about the same thing here in Korea. From what I gather you aren't actually there to work... you were there for your girlfriend. Hence the reason its a 'tourist visa'.

Both times to Japan they have asked me more questions about my reasons for being in Korea, one time was immigration in Fukuoka, and the second time immigration didnt care, but my airline company (NWA) were really strict in allowing me to come back home (to Korea). I had to show them bank details, names and addresses of friends/family both in Japan and in Korea, and 20 minutes worth of other questions.

Since they haven't black listed your name, I wouldnt worry about it too much, but I do know that they like to play by the rules and arent too keen on being lenient. I was almost forced to buy a return ticket to NZ before I asked the woman to 'Please ask your supervisor if thats necessary'. But just take it with a grain of salt. Next time you will most probably have a different immigration officer. Good luck.

double post--- delete.

Mike Cash said:

They caught you gaming the system. What did you expect?

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Like I said, it's arbitrary--- you explain to one or two persons in immigraton your situation and they think you'll be fine--- another three months would have given me time to get married if I so chose--- at least.

In this case, granting me a two week tourist visa at least would have allowed me to see my girlfriend and get my things and leave the country in a more equitable way. My story was backed up by my girlfriend--- did they really think I was sneaking back in to destabalize the country---?

I suppose their country's economy is doing so great because of their draconian immigration system--- oh wait.

But that's of course not the issue, and it sounds like sour grapes. Maybe, but the fact still remains that people deserve to be treated with some form of respect, not simply as an economic factor (thanks for the money, now get out----) and surely not as refuse. This isn't 1930.

Kara_Nari said:

I was almost forced to buy a return ticket to NZ before I asked the woman to 'Please ask your supervisor if thats necessary'. But just take it with a grain of salt. Next time you will most probably have a different immigration officer. Good luck.

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Yeah. I had to upgrade a ticket from out of Japan back to the United States. I can't use that ticket in any way, and they won't refund the money (even though the ticket is for 3 months into the future)--- This was before the airline would let me back on the plane. Oddly, immigration in Japan didn't even ask if I had a return ticket.

edit: I want to point out that I'm not questioning the actions of the immigration officials in their sovreignty to make such decisions. I'm saying that by and large, Japan has a singular way of enterance for non-Japanese, and that is through marriage. Japan is simply not a country that you immigrate to--- I suppose since I should have known this, I get what I deserve--- but I think, just because immigration is possible for some people, doesn't mean that it's fair or even respectable for the majority of everyone else.

yukio_michael said:

edit: I want to point out that I'm not questioning the actions of the immigration officials in their sovreignty to make such decisions. I'm saying that by and large, Japan has a singular way of enterance for non-Japanese, and that is through marriage. Japan is simply not a country that you immigrate to--- I suppose since I should have known this, I get what I deserve--- but I think, just because immigration is possible for some people, doesn't mean that it's fair or even respectable for the majority of everyone else.

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Ooooh, can of worms

Japan like most other countries has an immigration system designed to allow in people who are going to be of use to them in society. Its no different to say the US, UK, Australia, etc. If you have something to offer then great, 9 times out of 10 they'll let you in because you are going to be a productive member of society. Really marrige is more of a backdoor thing, a way of getting around the normal immigration laws. Really, if it was that easy to get into the country every one would be doing it and things would get messy quickly (thinking like taxes and government assistance wise. In Australia its common for people from New Zealand to go to Australia on a tourist visa and stay indefinitly, then claim unemployment benefits that are better than those in New Zealand).

Tourist visa? For US citizens?

off-topic
1. In 1930, Japan was an emigrant country.
2. I really surprized to see cops and puppys during my 1 hour transit at LAX from South America. It was before the 9/11, and it seemed no way out from the transit room...

pipokun said:

Tourist visa? For US citizens?
off-topic
1. In 1930, Japan was an emigrant country.

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I'm refering to the time during Hirohito's rein that was said to be maked by an intense nationalism and xenophobia.

from Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xenophobia_in_Japan_(WWII)

...hyperbole in my previous post, but, Japan isn't exactly making progress, what with the new anti-terrorism messures (why?) that even the Japanese Bar Assoc. thinks is un-constitutional and allows Japan to easily keep people out for no reason, it's abysmal asylum record and refusal to acknowlege the complaints of asylum seakers as valid--- etc etc...

This, and other things, like the notion that Japan is the -only- safe country in the world for the Japanese (something that was told to me within the last 3 months by my gf---). etc These sorts of attitudes need to change for growth and progress for the nation to improve.

Ewok85 said:

Ooooh, can of worms
Japan like most other countries has an immigration system designed to allow in people who are going to be of use to them in society. Its no different to say the US, UK, Australia, etc.

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Actually, I've been researching the immigration policies of the countries you mention, and Japan is markedly different... in fact it's quite different to the majority of all other industrialized major nations.

In any case--- Japan say imports foreign workers to teach English, but generally speaking theres no requirement or law that says that even the work that someone is hired to do needs to be honored --so the average teaching stint is around 1-2 years, but at any time before or after the worker is subject to a sudden-death clause that relieves them of their duties.

Link also here...

There is quite a lot of foreign work going on in factories, and there is definitely a desire for foreign labour that traditional Japanese avoid--- so much so that crackdowns on immigration have effected those industries--- so the desire is there in some aspects---

But, I don't think you'll see real foreign representation in the workforce in Japan, nor sadly at the University teaching level.

At the same time that I read that immigration is increasing, that it's inevitable, I read of methods that Japan can (and will) use to stop it--- how in fact, opening itself to immigration is -not- a proposed solution to the labour/population crisis, and how general stereotypes of Japan are reinforced by the younger people of the country who should know better in order for the nation to progress as a world participant, not an isolationist island.

---Just some things, I'm not one of those people who had a ruff time in Japan and now have an axe to grind, it just effects my life, so that's why I write about it, to try to open a dialogue about it to understand it in the future.