Visa villains

[Hachiko]

With U.N. studies advising more immigration, and Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's worldwide campaign for more foreign visitors, Japan is not doing itself any favors with its new legislation on visa overstays.


A banner hanging in Shinagawa Station announces a "Measures Targeting Illegal Foreign Workers Month," sponsored by the Tokyo Immigration Bureau, for June.

On May 27, Japan's Diet amended the "Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act," enacting stricter punishments. The maximum fine for visa expiry increases tenfold from 300,000 yen to 3 million yen. Banishment from Japan doubles from five to 10 years. Those who come clean at Immigration before being caught will merely be deported faster.

This is on top of already-tough detention conditions: Several days confined to a room with other criminals (sometimes at a daily charge of 60,000 yen). Access denied to family, a consulate, or even a lawyer.

Japan Times

[Maciamo]

But what does Amnesty International do ?

[Mandylion]

Oh good! It is about time we had a "Measures Targeting Illegal Foreign Workers Month." Maybe we can get rid of some of those extra months, like the Month of May, for example, or perhaps just stick it on the end and have 13 months in a year. (sigh)

So does this new act mean being a refugee will actually mean something (for a change)?

Also strikes me that fighting visa violators is setting your sights pretty dang low.

The article is really good. Everyone should have a look.

By the way, I was once technically a visa overstayer.

Back in 1998 (I was in high school) I stayed over one week while I was traveling around Japan with other members of my exchange program and sister city organization. At Kansai, I was pulled over by immigration and taken into their offices (been thought KIX? Look to the right side of that row of passport control stations as you enter the international departures terminal). After looking at me, looking at my visa, looking at my one-way ticket home, and issuing me a temporary extension of stay (ten days pre-dated to when my visa expired some seven days earlier) for some 40 bucks, they sent me on my way. So while I overstayed, I was listed on the books as having been issued an extension of stay.

Seems I lived in more humane times.

I think this all comes from inflexibility and governments not trusting their own workers with the power to make decisions on the spot to solve the issue quickly and painlessly (like in my visa case). Japan is not the only country guilty of this - ask me about the US Green Card (immigrant visa) process sometime...

[Buddha Smoker]

I hope that they do crack down on some of those that overstay. I would think that they would try to find a legal way to stay, etc. (I know situations happen and everything) but still, I see tons and tons of Filipinos that become illegal aliens. The company that I work for hires all types of people and I leave it to my managers below me to verify all this but the illegals flock in and try to get that job or whatever and it causes more problems then it cause. I'm not sure where I was going with this originally because the Illegals always seem to try to slip in and cause problems and it just gives me a huge headache.

[Mandylion]

Which makes me wonder why does it seem so hard to be a legal alien?

I wondered about this visa issue as I spent about 300 USD, a full day off work, and nearly 20 hours of traveling to get to the US consulate in Osaka for a simple notary for my wife's US visa - nearing the end of a full seven months of visa paperwork with no promises she will actually get one...Getting a visa is no easy task. It takes a lot of work and can be quite expensive, esp. when you live near the poverty line.

Why do there seem to be so many illegal aliens in Japan? We are on an island here afterall, not like they can just walk here. Is this an issue of overstaying, or is this an issue of boatloads of foreigners smuggled in? Makes me think the problem is in staying legal, not getting into Japan.

That in turn makes me wonder how smooth the system for staying a legal alien is. How simple is it to renew a visa? Seems the government would like people to keep their visas up-to-date, so what is it doing about it? Are immigration offices staffed with bi-lingual speakers? Are they (gasp) open on weekends and nights so low-wage migrants don't have to risk getting fired by missing work (I'm pretty sure the answer is no)? Are there enough offices (only one in my prefecture, and yes, I am going to have to take off work to get my visa status adjusted when I leave my job the end of July)? Are the benefits of remaining a legal alien more than becoming illegal? Is Japan trying to welcome immigrants to Japan and work them into society so they feel part of a community and want to become valuable members of their neighborhoods (or are they treating them just like cogs in a machine that will go home in a year or two)?

Granted immigrants have to make an effort too, but respect is a two way street.

[Buddha Smoker]

Originally Posted by Mandylion

Granted immigrants have to make an effort too, but respect is a two way street.

I agree very much. I hate going myself because of the attitude of the people sometimes. That sometimes can make a difference on how picky they are when renewing/updating/applying visa. I've walked in before and boom...done. While other times....I'm sorry you need this today and then I start to argue but I didn't have to last time. Then he/she states well, that is the requirement today and then I almost loose it.

[Maciamo]

Originally Posted by Buddha Smoker

I agree very much. I hate going myself because of the attitude of the people sometimes. That sometimes can make a difference on how picky they are when renewing/updating/applying visa. I've walked in before and boom...done. While other times....I'm sorry you need this today and then I start to argue but I didn't have to last time. Then he/she states well, that is the requirement today and then I almost loose it.

Exactly ! That is bureaucracy at its worst.

[Buddha Smoker]

Originally Posted by Maciamo

Exactly ! That is bureaucracy at its worst.

Well, I rest my case and know that I'm not alone.