Can I "enter" Japan?
#1
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Join Date: Mar 2000
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Can I "enter" Japan?
OK, I guess a pretty simple question...
I am flying HNL-NRT-SIN with a 4.5 hour layover at NRT. As I have never been in transit through a foreign country (they have always been my final destination) is it possible for me to go through customs and immigration to get a stamp in my passport, only to turn around and go back in?
I am flying HNL-NRT-SIN with a 4.5 hour layover at NRT. As I have never been in transit through a foreign country (they have always been my final destination) is it possible for me to go through customs and immigration to get a stamp in my passport, only to turn around and go back in?
#3
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It is my understanding that there is no out of pocket departure fee for NRT as it is included in your ticket.
at KIX you must pay a departure fee of approx $26 US
at KIX you must pay a departure fee of approx $26 US
#5
Join Date: Aug 2000
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Be careful, I did this my first time ever in TPE (Taipei.) I had a 3 hour layover and my boarding pass for my next flight was stamped "Transit Passenger."
I decided that I needed a Taiwanese stamp in my passport and went through immigration without a hitch. I walked around outside for about 10 minutes and then lined up to "leave" the country.
The immigration officer DID NOT appreciate what I was doing and started to yell. He didn't speak much English and finally someone showed up to translate. I was told that I had "done a very foolish thing" and that I knew I was a "Transit Passenger" so why did I leave the airport?
I denied knowing that I had done anything wrong, and apologized. They didn't buy it and after the legal necessaries, I was escorted by a policeman to my gate. He waited with me for over an hour until I boarded the departing flight.
I asked him if I was black listed from Taiwan and he said, "No, but next time don't leave the airport if you are a transit passenger."
Sure enough, I've had no problems since then entering or exiting Taiwan. To this day, I don't know exactly what the problem was. Maybe they just didn't like "stamp collectors."
Edited to add: Because I left the airport I had to pay the departure tax. It was US$10 or $20. I was given an official receipt so I'm pretty sure it wasn't a "phony fine."
[This message has been edited by eastwest (edited 12-10-2001).]
I decided that I needed a Taiwanese stamp in my passport and went through immigration without a hitch. I walked around outside for about 10 minutes and then lined up to "leave" the country.
The immigration officer DID NOT appreciate what I was doing and started to yell. He didn't speak much English and finally someone showed up to translate. I was told that I had "done a very foolish thing" and that I knew I was a "Transit Passenger" so why did I leave the airport?
I denied knowing that I had done anything wrong, and apologized. They didn't buy it and after the legal necessaries, I was escorted by a policeman to my gate. He waited with me for over an hour until I boarded the departing flight.
I asked him if I was black listed from Taiwan and he said, "No, but next time don't leave the airport if you are a transit passenger."
Sure enough, I've had no problems since then entering or exiting Taiwan. To this day, I don't know exactly what the problem was. Maybe they just didn't like "stamp collectors."
Edited to add: Because I left the airport I had to pay the departure tax. It was US$10 or $20. I was given an official receipt so I'm pretty sure it wasn't a "phony fine."
[This message has been edited by eastwest (edited 12-10-2001).]
#6
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: EWR and KGL (with occasional home/work trips to NRT/ITM)
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I do that all the time in NRT on my trip to other Asian destinations. I have done that 6 times just this year (it is funny to see so many same day arrival and deaparture stamps of NRT).
#7
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Sorry for not updating this, but I had zero problems going through NRT Customs and Immigration. I went into Narita City and then back through Immigration control 2 hours later!