Non-Japanese using Japanese lane (with family) at Immigration
Apr 2, 2014, 10:29 pm
#1
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Join Date: Sep 2003
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Non-Japanese using Japanese lane (with family) at Immigration
Off to Japan again soon. Until now, I've always gone solo in the gaijin line at Immigration while the rest of Clan Jpatokal take the Japanese line, but this time I'm most likely going to have a baby strapped to me.
Browsing through old threads, I see several assertions that "officially" I have to go to the foreigner line and can take Jp family members with me, but I'm not seeing any "official" links, and in practice this apparently always isn't enforced.
Suggestions? Should we try our luck in the Jp queue, have all four of us slum it in the non-Jp line, or do half and half?
Browsing through old threads, I see several assertions that "officially" I have to go to the foreigner line and can take Jp family members with me, but I'm not seeing any "official" links, and in practice this apparently always isn't enforced.
Suggestions? Should we try our luck in the Jp queue, have all four of us slum it in the non-Jp line, or do half and half?
.
Apr 3, 2014, 5:59 am
#4
Join Date: Feb 2013
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I do not have an answer but I am curious as well. I know it used to be in old days, I am talking about 20 to 30 years ago it was based on a passport. Japanese passport holders went through “Nihonjin” line and non-Japanese passport holders went to “Gaikokujin” line, did not matter family members traveling together, married couple together, etc.
But time has passed since and looks as there was no official announcement concerning how family members with mixed passports go through a passport control at airports but I have a feeling that things are bit more relaxed now.
But time has passed since and looks as there was no official announcement concerning how family members with mixed passports go through a passport control at airports but I have a feeling that things are bit more relaxed now.
Apr 3, 2014, 8:37 am
#5
Join Date: Aug 2002
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The logistical problem could be that the Japan national queues may not have the useless fingerprint readers. (I don't know.) The re-entry stations do, and they funnel overflow visitors to these queues anyway.
Apr 4, 2014, 6:51 am
#6
Join Date: Jun 2006
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From personal experience the last two times going through KIX immigration control, went to cue in the Gaijin Residence Line and was shuffled to the Nihonjin line.
Went though after my wife in the Nihonjin control. Not together but after her.
It was faster than the Gaijin line.
Went though after my wife in the Nihonjin control. Not together but after her.
It was faster than the Gaijin line.
Apr 4, 2014, 11:37 am
#7
Join Date: Aug 2002
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From personal experience the last two times going through KIX immigration control, went to cue in the Gaijin Residence Line and was shuffled to the Nihonjin line.
Went though after my wife in the Nihonjin control. Not together but after her.
It was faster than the Gaijin line.
Went though after my wife in the Nihonjin control. Not together but after her.
It was faster than the Gaijin line.
Don't the nihonjin even have automated gate lanes?
Apr 4, 2014, 2:19 pm
#8
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Apr 4, 2014, 2:33 pm
#9
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Up until they introduced the automated gates and started fingerprinting the filthy foreigners, you were allowed to use the Japanese lanes if you had an ARC. I did it all the time as it was much faster (& I must admit I enjoyed ignoring all the "helpful" Japanese around me that kept telling me I had to use a different line)
This post is no help with the OP's actual question though. Sorry.
This post is no help with the OP's actual question though. Sorry.
Apr 4, 2014, 4:46 pm
#10
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There is now zero chance of someone with a non-Japanese passport to use the Japanese only lanes, because all those not carrying a Japan passport must get biometric data (left and right index fingerprints, and face picture) taken, and the devices to do this are not in the Japanese only lanes.
You can take Japanese family members with you through the non-Japanese lines. They will not be subject to the biometric tests.
You can take Japanese family members with you through the non-Japanese lines. They will not be subject to the biometric tests.
Apr 4, 2014, 6:37 pm
#11
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Apr 5, 2014, 4:12 am
#12
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There is now zero chance of someone with a non-Japanese passport to use the Japanese only lanes, because all those not carrying a Japan passport must get biometric data (left and right index fingerprints, and face picture) taken, and the devices to do this are not in the Japanese only lanes.
Apr 5, 2014, 4:19 am
#13
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The Japanese and non-Japanese among us all went through the non-Japanese line. It took about as long, if not slightly less time, than people getting in line at the same time as us going through the Japanese line took. So I'm also not sure just what you are so concerned about.
Apr 5, 2014, 10:41 am
#14
Join Date: Jun 2005
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Although I was frequently in that line, I was only challenged once by a helpful person. I just pointed out the words 再入国 on the signage and he apologized profusely ... But perhaps I just look like I belong in Japan. Entering KIX a few weeks ago, the customs agent kicked off in Japanese "Welcome back. How long have you been away". It took a while for him to twig that I was a temporary visitor. Made me smile.