Since Japan has participated in the Gulf, sooner or later some wacko terrorist group from that region may decide to hit Japan in some way. It is probably prudent for them to bolster security to be on the safe side.
Ooh, they are going to use your picture and fingerprints to come get you in the middle of the night and toss you in a gulag! The government most likely has enough data on you already.
Your application will only be accepted at the Visa Application Centre if you can:
...
have your biometrics data recorded.
http://www.uknow.or.jp/be_e/visa/visas/index.htm
Visa Fees
http://www.vfs-uk-jp.com/visafees.aspx
http://www.uk.emb-japan.go.jp/en/visa/visa_fee.pdf
http://www.recordchina.co.jp/group/g12490.html
2007窶扼10ﾅ椎ｽ30窶愿ｺﾂ、窶ｹU窶伉｢窶堋ｳ窶堙ｪ窶堋ｽ窶愿ｺ窶怒窶堙栗Cﾆ恥ﾆ湛ﾆ竹ﾂーﾆ暖窶堙??督ｧﾂ出ﾂ坂?倪?堋ｵ窶堙ｦ窶堋､窶堙??堋ｵ窶堋ｽﾂ鞘?板青ｫ窶堋ｪ窶徒窶ｹﾅｾ窶堙個出窶愿ｼﾂ坂?佛?ﾃ??板敘遅ﾅｽ@窶堙嫁ｽﾃｦ窶堙ｨ窶ｰﾅｸ窶堋ｳ窶堋ｦ窶堙ｧ窶堙ｪ窶堋ｽﾂ。ﾂ鞘?板青ｫ窶堋ｪ窶愿ｺ窶怒ﾅ津ｪ窶堙??堙ｭ窶堙溪?堋ｫ窶伉ｱ窶堋ｯ窶堋ｽ窶堙??堋ｱ窶堙ｫﾂ、窶堋ｻ窶堙娯?敖ｭ窶ｰﾂｹ窶堋ｪ窶堋ｨ窶堋ｩ窶堋ｵ窶堋｢窶堋ｱ窶堙??堋ｩ窶堙ｧ窶督ｧﾂ出ﾂ坂?倪?堋ｪ窶敖ｭﾅ陳ｩ窶堋ｳ窶堙ｪ窶堋ｽﾂ。
You joke about it, but it happens from time to time in the US.
Glenski said:My question was a serious one -- what does the USA do with its biometric data? I said I didn't know. If you can point me to info that shows how and where the USA shares its data, I would be grateful. And, no, I wasn't so naive as to think Japan did this all on its own, but it is doing it in a different way and partly for different reasons that offend us.
The European Union has asked for an extension of the Oct. 26 deadline imposed by Washington (my bold text) to implement new U.S. rules on issuing biometric passports. Washington is demanding that all passports issued by Australia, Japan and EU member states after this deadline have biometric security elements for holders to enjoy visa-free U.S. visits of up to 90 days.
JUSTIFICATION (VALIDATION): Sharing of all relevant data with and among agencies involved in the visa process or other homeland security efforts is a priority for the Department and a U.S. Government goal. Signed Memoranda of Understanding are matters of record and show progress toward optimal interagency cooperation on homeland security issues.
Target: Expand data sharing with other agencies and internationally.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify today on the Administration's request for a two-year extension of the October 26, 2004 deadline for inclusion of biometric features in passports issued by countries which participate in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).....
......The entire international community will benefit from the security advantages of biometric passports as part of our collective effort to combat terrorism......the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act (EBSA)established October 26, 2004, as a deadline by which VWP countries must begin issuing their nationals only passports that incorporate biometric identifiers that comply with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards....
.....Now that we have the technical standards, all VWP countries can begin full development and deployment of their respective biometric programs. However, given the time it has taken to resolve these complex operational issues, few, if any, will be able to meet the October 26, 2004 deadline. For example, none of the larger countries – Japan, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy or Spain -- will begin issuing passports with standardized biometrics by that deadline. The United Kingdom expects to begin in late 2005, Japan to complete transition to full production by April 2006. Others may not come on-line until well into 2006. This delay is not due to a lack of good will but due to significant scientific and technical challenges that has taken us to the cutting edge of changing technologies....
....These teams are also addressing law enforcement and data sharing cooperation with the U.S. government. All visits will be completed by July 15....
....Further, to continue to tighten our security posture, DHS announced in April that beginning September 30, 2004, it will enroll all VWP travelers in US-VISIT– the program that will track the entry and exit of foreign visitors by using electronically scanned fingerprints and photographs.
One, or a handful of persons CANNOT do this on their own because the numbers are not there and they will be defeated or taken away or their homes and goods confiscated for some trumped up charges. (It has happened)Or you can do the more sensible thing and fight the unjust policy. You have already conceded defeat. The fingerprinting ordeal shows that change can happen. (Sadly,it came back.)
Share info with other countries...gasp....the horror. Stay home if you don't like the policy. As for those who are permanent residents. I do feel that you should have some leniancy.
And why did it come 23 years late? Because enough people took notice and action to delay it. It's still not in full swing yet.....since everything is being shared, staying at home will do no good. 1984 just came 23 years late.
Oh, I understand that already. Just the fact that you have electricity, use a phone, use the internet, the government already KNOWS who you are and what you're up to. I never imagine myself alone anymore ever, or that I am ever truly in a private area. It is impossible to insulate yourself anymore. Is it right or wrong, well it all depends. The funny thing too is that how many people post their picture on the internet, how do you control who is using your picture? We post so much about ourselves that we ultimately have no control ove,r that is amazes me that when you are forewarned that your fingerprints and picture will be taken we panic and freak out. We give it away freely every day!
And why did it come 23 years late? Because enough people took notice and action to delay it. It's still not in full swing yet.
Sadly, as I mentioned above, and some people seem to not care (the epitome of the typical person today, Japanese or otherwise) most people couldn't give a damn that their most basic human rights are slowly being eroded and that's what "they" are counting on. Unfortunately, these people are still in the majority.
I have to agree here that you DO have a point, but the government always had access to that information just from the records of the bills you pay or from your drivers license. But never have they made such a great effort to keep track of every single individual and what they buy or where they go or who who they are dating, or what their blood type is, etc.Goldiegirl said:It is impossible to insulate yourself anymore. Is it right or wrong, well it all depends. The funny thing too is that how many people post their picture on the internet, how do you control who is using your picture? We post so much about ourselves that we ultimately have no control ove,r that is amazes me that when you are forewarned that your fingerprints and picture will be taken we panic and freak out. We give it away freely every day!
ArmandV said:I hear you, I've railed against "Big Government" for over 30 years. The average Joe Sixpack is only concerned with what goes on his own fishbowl and is too busy or unconcerned to "storm the castle."
Just recently, I found that some Planning Commission wacko in Los Angeles city government wants to force people into using mass transit (What mass transit in L.A.?) by limiting the number of cars people who live in apartments can have. The media hasn't even covered this, I found out from the local chamber of commerce newsletter!
If Hillary becomes president (with Bill as Prince Willie), all of our data will likely end up at the Rose Law Firm or worse!
"Government big enough to give you anything you want is big enough to take away everything you have!"- Gerald R. Ford
If you aren't going to be serious, don't bother to answer, ok?Ooh, they are going to use your picture and fingerprints to come get you in the middle of the night and toss you in a gulag!
Good! Tell them that, and point out that they don't need this policy, then.The government most likely has enough data on you already.
You have not even been reading what I wrote. Some foreigners are exempt, including some that are members of nationalities the Japanese fear.So your solution is for Japan to sit and wait for an attack from non-homegrown terrorists? Since Japan has participated in the Gulf, sooner or later some wacko terrorist group from that region may decide to hit Japan in some way. It is probably prudent for them to bolster security to be on the safe side.
If by "green card" you mean PR status, then yes, you will have to go through the separate lines and get printed and photographed with the other "potential terrorists".Would I be correct in assuming that Green Card holders get fingerprinted but nevertheless line up with US Citizens at immigration control?
Incredible tunnel vision!Having these new procedures may or may not be necessarily be "fair," but it would be pointless to direct it against their own citizens as Japan does not seem to be an enclave of Islamic radicals, unlike Britain.
If you aren't going to be serious, don't bother to answer, ok?
2) [and more importantly] "their own citizens" are the only people who have committed terrorist acts in Japan!
Ah, "so far". That's the only "logical" weapon at your (and Japan's) disposal. So, in that case, why is it that they don't print and photograph all foreigners?
I'm very civil. Have I used profanity here? You are the one who used sarcasm instead of data and reasoning. I only replied to it.
Those snarky comments were followed by statements that explained what they meant and were meant to educate, not satirize like you did. Gulag indeed!You're the one there, why don't you ask them why aren't they fingerprinting all foreigners? Instead of playing message board games, why not get with other gaijins and organize protests?
I may be sarcastic (and satirical), but you uttered the following snarky comments:
1. "If you aren't going to be serious, don't bother to answer, ok?" (See my last response to Pachipro.)
2. "Incredible tunnel vision!"
3. "You just don't get it, do you?"
4. "Geez, have you not even been reading one single word?"
So, the USA has twisted Japan's arm to set up the new policy in Japan? Please show me where this is documented. From all accounts I have read, Japan decided this on its own "merit".it's foreign governments that are making other countries within their realm of interest and control do this in order for these countries to better track their own citizens.
So, the USA has twisted Japan's arm to set up the new policy in Japan? Please show me where this is documented. From all accounts I have read, Japan decided this on its own "merit".
In a recent speech here in Japan, Barry Steinhardt, Director of the American Civil Liberties Union Program on Technology and Liberty had this to say:
"Officials of my government have been traveling the world urging other nations to cooperate with and join the United States in creating vast new infrastructures for the routine invasion of privacy, all supposedly to help defeat terrorism. They have in many cases been pressuring and sometimes bullying other nations into going along with this approach.
The Japanese Version of US Visit is a product of that pressure."
NB: gaiatsu means foregin pressureI'd like to say I find the whole response to 9/11 strange, but unfortunately I can't. It was all too typical. My guess is the program in Japan is a result of gaiatsu on America's part. This is indeed quite sad.
Share info with other countries...gasp....the horror. Stay home if you don't like the policy. As for those who are permanent residents. I do feel that you should have some leniancy.
Oh, I understand that already. Just the fact that you have electricity, use a phone, use the internet, the government already KNOWS who you are and what you're up to. I never imagine myself alone anymore ever, or that I am ever truly in a private area. It is impossible to insulate yourself anymore. Is it right or wrong, well it all depends. The funny thing too is that how many people post their picture on the internet, how do you control who is using your picture? We post so much about ourselves that we ultimately have no control ove,r that is amazes me that when you are forewarned that your fingerprints and picture will be taken we panic and freak out. We give it away freely every day!
That's exactly my point. All the things you mentioned are easily accessible to the government (and shared with other governments).