Visa, adultery

[bobdob]

I'm probably going to get flamed horribly, but please before you judge, think that there's lot of background you don't know.

I'm thinking about going to Japan to work, and the question is about visa restrictions.
I know most countries refuse to give you a visa if you have a criminal record.
I was convicted in South Korea of adultery. That, however, isn't a crime in Japan.
Does anyone know what effect it will have on my visa application?

[epigene]

Japan also refuses visas to people with criminal record, but I have absolutely no idea what will happen in your case.

Why not call the Japanese embassy, pretending you are asking in behalf of a friend or something? Sorry, that's about the only thing I can think of... :souka:

[Brooker]

Is adultery illegal in South Korea? What's the penalty? Anyways, I don't think you'd have a problem getting into Japan, they like adultery. :-)

[mangaman]

I don't recall ever being asked about criminal records at any time at Japanese immigration. I have never had to produce any records proving I don't have a criminal record from my home country nevermind a 3rd country(I'm assuming you are not Korean). How would they know anyway if you didn't tell them about it.

[bobdob]

I don't recall ever being asked about criminal records at any time at Japanese immigration. I have never had to produce any records proving I don't have a criminal record from my home country nevermind a 3rd country(I'm assuming you are not Korean). How would they know anyway if you didn't tell them about it.

That's a decent point. It wouldn't be permanently recorded on my passport, since it's not a crime in my country.

Anyway, I've done wrong, I know that. I just don't want to be paying for it for the rest of my days. Self-preservation & the wish to make some dough to look after my parents. They don't deserve to pay for my screw-up.

[mr.sumo.snr]

Is the country that issued you your passport aware of your criminal conviction? When you were arrested, tried or whatever were consular staff involved? If there isn't a paper trail leading back to your home country then why not return home and apply for work in Japan from there? You could even apply for a new passport so isn't even a visa record from having lived in South Korea.

[Raymond]

adultery? :p

[TwistedMac]

it means he cheated on his wife :P

But like he said. There's probably a lot behind it we don't know (not that that's much of an excuse though ;) )

[ArmandV]

Is adultery illegal in South Korea? What's the penalty? Anyways, I don't think you'd have a problem getting into Japan, they like adultery. :-)

Would adultery be the South Korean equivalent of a felony, misdemeanor or infraction? Yeah, what's the penalty?

[budd]

http://www.worldworx.tv/safety/asia/south-korea/
http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/internet/inimr-ri.nsf/en/gr-71313e.html
"Adultery is a crime actively prosecuted in Korea. In 2002 a U.S. citizen was convicted of adultery and sentenced to six months imprisonment. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Korea are strict, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. American citizens have been detained solely on the basis of drug tests. Travelers should also be careful to adhere to Korean government regulations regarding currency exchange and customs declarations."

[GaijinPunch]

Dude.... that is just wacky. How do they go about the investigations and what not? I never knew that. Anyways, hmm... I can't remember the circumstances in which Japan checks for criminal records when attaining a visa. I had an unpaid parking ticket from 1996 that I just now found out about, and was in Japan from Jan 1998 until late 2004... you gotta think for at least one of those visa renewals I had a warrant out for my arrest.

[m477]

http://www.worldworx.tv/safety/asia/south-korea/
http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/internet/inimr-ri.nsf/en/gr-71313e.html
"Adultery is a crime actively prosecuted in Korea. In 2002 a U.S. citizen was convicted of adultery and sentenced to six months imprisonment. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Korea are strict, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. American citizens have been detained solely on the basis of drug tests. Travelers should also be careful to adhere to Korean government regulations regarding currency exchange and customs declarations."
Wow. Are you sure this is South Korea?

[ArmandV]

http://www.worldworx.tv/safety/asia/south-korea/
http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/internet/inimr-ri.nsf/en/gr-71313e.html
"Adultery is a crime actively prosecuted in Korea. In 2002 a U.S. citizen was convicted of adultery and sentenced to six months imprisonment. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Korea are strict, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. American citizens have been detained solely on the basis of drug tests. Travelers should also be careful to adhere to Korean government regulations regarding currency exchange and customs declarations."


Hey, it could be worse. The offending male could have been Bobbitized.

[Maciamo]

Hey, it could be worse. The offending male could have been Bobbitized.

lol what's "Bobbitized" ? A reference to Bobby Fischer ? :p

[ArmandV]

lol what's "Bobbitized" ? A reference to Bobby Fischer ? :p


It was a case where a deranged wife, Lorena Bobbit, lopped off her hubby's...uh, "staff of relief." It was later reattached.

[budd]

"How do they go about the investigations and what not?"
wife/girlfriend/haters information?

"Are you sure this is"
not me, but the url seems to be
it is scary though
i've noticed that the actors in korean dramas (that i've watched) seem to have their clothes on all the time, even when sleeping

[epigene]

Hi bobdob,

Sorry, I thought you were South Korean at first... :p

I recall an American citizen applying for a work (business?) visa in Japan and found nothing about a criminal record investigation in it. The visa review process is more lax for foreign nationals married to Japanese. I think that that kind of investigation comes only when you apply for permanent residence or naturalization.

Even if the authorities do investigate, it will be in your home country, I think, unless you have lived in South Korea for a very long time. The only possibility of getting caught will be to be on the "persona non grata" list, i.e., criminal record in Japan.

My personal conclusion: Very low possibility of it hurting your chances.

I have found that the only countries that consider adultery a crime are South Korea and Taiwan. A Korean newspaper on the Web had an article saying it is high time the nation did away with this law. Adultery was a crime in Japan before World War II. McArthur scrapped it for us. :-)

Hope it helps in some way! :wave:

PS I forgot to add that adultery in Japan was a crime for women only!! :box:

[budd]

taiwan too?!! i have to visit a friend, so its good to know. thanks for the info!!!