New Procedures in Entering Japan for Foreigners

[mr.sumo.snr]

I believe someone told me that in order to be a citizen of Japan, you have to renounce your other citizenships. Is this true or not?

Bit of a tangent. But yes you do have to renounce your other citizenships.

However, I quote from UK Home Office guidelines: "A person who renounces British citizenship has a right (once only) to resume that citizenship if the renunciation was necessary to enable him or her to keep or obtain some other citizenship. A person who renounces British citizenship more than once, or for any other reason, may be allowed to resume that citizenship if the Home Secretary thinks fit."

So roughly translated you seriously have to go out of you way to STOP being a UK national.

--

--

 

[SouthernBelle82]

I don't think that's really a big deal personally. They just want to keep a check on who's in the country and have you accounted for that you're there. Someone might be looking for you for some reason and they put out a memo and than the people at immigration can see if you're there etc. As long as they aren't doing like the NSA here in the States and keeping information on people than I wouldn't worry too much. It just sounds like they're wanting to add you to the records. Does the Japanese government spy on it's people?

 

[Mike Cash]

Well, that's the danger if an issue gets one's goat as much as this does mine. I'm still sure there are many ways for foreigners' biometrics to be mis-used, through incompetence or otherwise.

No argument there. I was only referring to the specific scenario you mentioned.

 

[Calchas]

How would you feel if you had to do that every time you got into your car or every time you drove home? It's a big deal.
Only foreigners other than the Zaiinichi get this done every time they come to Japan, even if they have attained permanent resident status. It's unfair and discriminatory. If the reason for this is for public safety, then why don't the Zaiinichi get printed/photoed, and why don't the biggest offenders living in Japan (the Japanese themselves) get this treatment? This is not the USA where someone from the outside attacked them on 9/11. And, in case you hadn't read above, Japan had just stopped the fingerprinting, but now they want to reinstate it!?
Oh, and I am also from the USA and never got fingerprinted for my license in the 3 states in which I lived, so it is not a natural thing.

In America I often get stopped at night and asked for ID by the local police many times not but a few feet from my home. I am use to small annoyances such as this so to me its no big deal.

In anycase your question is silly as I have already mentioned "how I feel" about the situation. When ever security gets tighter processes become harder or more bothersome its the price you pay for more security. These new "bothersome" procedures don't bother me at all. I don't live in Japan nor do I have any desire to do so. I simply do not care what the Japanese do with my photo and fingerprints.

You are of course free to feel otherwise but don't think yours is the only way to look at it. That brands you as a fool. Perhaps you should do whatever "japanese" do in a public setting to try to get the goverment to prove that the added procedures increase security or help show that it has no effect what so ever and should be dropped.

But debating with me here does nothing to change my mind nor help to advance your cause of getting rid of the " discriminatory" procedures.

Good luck to you.

 

[Glenski]

Southern Belle,
Your consulate/embassy can keep track of you in case of emergency. It is not up to immigration to do that. Different bureaucracy. You can't expect foreigners to call up immigration after an earthquake and ask Japanese-speaking officials where your friend/family member is.

Calchas,
The fact that you do not live in Japan pretty much makes your arguments here moot. I agree to disagree with you (and not call you a fool). Strongly disagree. Oh, and by debating here I was not attempting to change the discriminatory system. That would be foolish! I, like others, was just trying to educate people.

I am curious, though, as to why you would be stopped for ID in the USA? Are you some sort of obvious immigrant or visible threat?

 

[rowiko]

This new law raises so many issues, and I fail to see why Japan has to go down the same path as the U.S.
What infuriates me, as a long-term resident with permanent residence status, most, however, is the almost complete lack of proper information from the authorities and the mis-information in the press. Newspaper articles recently stated that permanent residents would be exempt, but as it turns out, that only applies to the "special" permanent residents with Japanese ancestry, not the "regular" ones. Those, it says in the official information from the Immigration Bureau, have to queue up along with all other foreign nationals and be fingerprinted and photographed each time they re-enter Japan.
At the same time, however, they are apparently testing an automated system, which will allow people like us to register our biometric data only once and be able to go through simpler immigration procedures - at least at Narita. Try as I might, however, I was not able to find any information on that in English!
If I have to provide the authorities with my fingerprints and photograph, so be it (despite the privacy issues it raises), but as long as I'm not scrutinized like a first-time visitor every time I come back from abroad, I guess I can live with it. So why aren't we properly informed about these things and need to get enraged because we have to draw our conclusions based on incomplete or inaccurate information?
Actually, the authorities already have our data on file anyway, so I view it as their duty to send a letter to each and everyone of us, informing us properly about the implications this new law will have for us. I think permanent residents deserve to be informed!

 

[Glenski]

Looks like they have updated the video.
Male British voice.
No Japanese person with the English dubbed over.
No smarmy foreigners oohing and aahing over the explanations.
MUCH fewer explanations (none as to why this is being done)!
Demonstrations of the fingerprinting.

http://nettv.gov-online.go.jp/prg/prg1431.html

Oh, and I still object to being called a "visitor" here, with my status as permanent resident.

 

[Mikawa Ossan]

Would you prefer being called an "alien"?

 

[rowiko]

I don't want to be called neither a "visitor" nor an "alien". What would be wrong with
"foreign national"? It would be so simple, stating the fact, and politically correct.

 

[Glenski]

I'm an alien, foreign national, an alien resident, and permanent resident. I have not left the country in years. If I did, I would not return to Japan to "visit"; I would return to living here.

 

[mr.sumo.snr]

Looks like they have updated the video.
Male British voice....Oh, and I still object to being called a "visitor" here, with my status as permanent resident.

It's a definite improvement. All they need to do now is install a couple of those machines at the counters for Japanese nationals and allow re-entry permit holders to use them.

--

 

[Glenski]

What do you mean "allow reentry permit holders to use them"? They are required to use them!

 

[mr.sumo.snr]

I want a separate line for re-entry permit holders. A line for re-entry permit holders alone might be a bit overkill - so why not add a couple of the machines to the counters for Japanese nationals (who of course wouldn't have to use them). We can then continue to line up with the other 'residents'. You get my drift?

--

 

[Glenski]

There will be no additional lines. Japanese go through the Japanese line. Everyone else, including PR and spouse visa holders go in the tourist lines. Everything will be slower, and if you have a J spouse toting kids or extra baggage, good luck on getting immigration to allow him/her in the same line as you.

why not add a couple of the machines to the counters for Japanese nationals (who of course wouldn't have to use them). We can then continue to line up with the other 'residents'.

Because that would make sense. To date, such a thing has not even been hinted at. I wouldn't expect it.

 

[pipokun]

Soon after the Japanese line finshes, the immigration officer starts the non-Japanese line.
I don't know if this would end under the new immigration procedure. Just wait and see what will happen.

 

[rowiko]

"Wait and see" actually does appear to be the only thing we can do!
I asked someone (Japanese) to check with the authorities again about the exact procedures to be adopted next month. What she came back with was nothing at all! Nobody has (or discloses) any information about those machines. All they are apparently saying is that trials are in progress ... still. With little more than a month to go now. The thinking behind it seems to be: "Let's implement the law first, and then we can still think of what to do with those re-entry permit holders"... If in the meantime they get caught up in long queues along with all the tourists - tough luck, right?

 

[Ewok85]

Pffft, we're all just visitors unless you naturalise, at which point its a whole different ball game (as Debito found out).

 

[mr.sumo.snr]

Interesting Letter To The Editor (Daily Yomiuri, Saturday October 20th). (not published online so OCR'd and reprinted below)

"As a permanent resident of Japan who makes around a dozen international business trips annually, I share Terrie Lloyd's frustration over the new entry procedures at Narita Airport and other ports of entry ("Fingerprinting for Foreigners is Back," Page 20, Oct. 17).

Like Mr. Lloyd I find it incongruous that the very same government that deemed me suitable to live here "eternally" (the meaning of the "ei" in "eiju") would now implicitly suspect me of being a threat to the national interests of this land I have called home for more than 20 years. The lack of sufficient news coverage has also not helped.

In any case, on a recent trip through Narita Airport, I stopped to have a chat with the immigration supervisor who told me two things that potentially make the situation more bearable. First, there will be separate queues for returning visa holders and tourists. Second, on the first re-entry after the new procedures take effect visa holders will effectively be "registered" and will receive some sort of card that, when produced at the time of future re-entries, will speed up the process.

Not a perfect solution, but perhaps one we can live with for the time it takes the government to acknowledge all the negative effects Mr. Lloyd pointed out."

When I had my 'chat' with Aichi regional immigration bureau they made it clear PRs would have to line up in the same queues as 'true' visitors. Something tells me they're making this up as they go along!

--

 

[Goldiegirl]

When does this new system start? Maybe i overlooked something. I just came through Narita and nothing was different...well except this time there were all these officers with sniffing dogs. I have never seen that many dogs at an airport. They were between immigration and customs. I actually felt a little intimidated.

 

[Han Chan]

When does this new system start? Maybe i overlooked something. I just came through Narita and nothing was different...well except this time there were all these officers with sniffing dogs. I have never seen that many dogs at an airport. They were between immigration and customs. I actually felt a little intimidated.

The new procedures will be started in one month - 20th november.
I will get a chance to try it for my new year holiday. I really hope that I will not have a "bad hair day" when I reach Narita!

 

[Goldiegirl]

Thank-you Han Chan. I know what you mean about having a bad hair day. I try to refresh my make-up and hair before getting off the plane, but somehow I still look like tired and travel weary. I can't wait for them to take my picture. I close my eyes in every picture. i don't know why but it is irritating to who ever is trying to take a photo of me. I had 6 pictures taken to get one where my eyes were at least half way open for my drivers license!

 

[Sharingan]

When will we have to have DNA test to enter a country ?

 

[Glenski]

Don't worry about the makeup or whether your eyes are open fully. The facial pic is meant for a little higher level analysis of bone structure.

 

[pipokun]

When will we have to have DNA test to enter a country ?

Before the DNA test...
Japan would probably ask visa applicants for the police report like the US and European nations do.
And next she would request the fingerprint and the interview for visa application like the US does.
Lastly she would change the visa application fee. Now it is free for most people now.

 

[Han Chan]

Before the DNA test...
Japan would probably ask visa applicants for the police report like the US and European nations do.

We all know that many US citizens have become paranoid since 9/11. However, many US citizens find that many of the new initiatives there do more to harm peoples privacy than to prevent terror. Actually mostly europeans and japanese are not required to give their fingerprint when entering US: Quote from: http://usinfo.state.gov/gi/Archive/2004/Jan/05-770667.html) "Only visitors entering the United States with a visa are subject to the new requirements. The visa waiver program -- an agreement maintained with 27 nations -- allows travelers to enter the United States without obtaining a visa, so they will not be subject to biometric checks in the immediate future. Citizens of these same nations entering to work or study are still required to have a visa, however, and also will be subject to the new requirements.

The visa waiver program countries: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and The United Kingdom.

I have not heard of any european country which asks for police report for normal visa applications. Actually japanese are granted 3 month visa upon entry to a Schengen country - no questions asked.(Schengen Agreement - Wikipedia)

Maybe the procedures will become more complicated for japanese citizens in the future, as a retaliation for treating european tourists as potential terrorists. Unfortunately the diplomatic game is often tit for tat.

I certainly hope that the european countries and Japan will continue their friendly diplomatic relations, but if enough european citizens feel humiliated because of the new procedures, these people might urge the european politicians to give Japan a diplomatic slap in the face.