New immigration policies: Japan to fingerprint and photograph visitors (merged)
May 20, 2006, 6:48 am
#46
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Originally Posted by LapLap
I'll need to go through all this BS every time I go back to see my father-in-law and obaasan - whilst MrLapLap sails through the other queue. And what I'm really going to look forward to is dealing with our kids, all by myself, when they're grumpy and fatigued after a 12 hour flight, as these offspring of my Japanese husband will also be regarded as aliens, no matter where they're born.
Edit: It is actually age 22. See below.
1. If one parent is a Japanese citizen and one parent is a non-Japanese
citizen, then the child is a Japanese citizen, but must choose by age 22
whether to keep Japanese citizenship or the other citizenship. The child's
choice is recognized legally by Japan. The child's choice might or might
not be recognized by the other country, so the child might choose Japan and
still be a dual citizen when in the other country or maybe third countries.
Until recently, this was the rule only if the father was the Japanese
citizen -- if the mother was the Japanese citizen, the child might become
stateless as a result. But the law no longer discriminates by parent's sex.
Note: For a child born overseas, the child MUST be entered in the family
registry of the Japanese parent, technically withing 30 days of the child's
birth. This can be done at the nearest Japanese embassy.
citizen, then the child is a Japanese citizen, but must choose by age 22
whether to keep Japanese citizenship or the other citizenship. The child's
choice is recognized legally by Japan. The child's choice might or might
not be recognized by the other country, so the child might choose Japan and
still be a dual citizen when in the other country or maybe third countries.
Until recently, this was the rule only if the father was the Japanese
citizen -- if the mother was the Japanese citizen, the child might become
stateless as a result. But the law no longer discriminates by parent's sex.
Note: For a child born overseas, the child MUST be entered in the family
registry of the Japanese parent, technically withing 30 days of the child's
birth. This can be done at the nearest Japanese embassy.
May 20, 2006, 8:08 am
#47
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I wonder how this is going to work when I take my legally dual citizen kids back home to visit the olds without the missus. Arriving back in Japan will they have to go through the foreigners line with me? That'd be nice, my kids being treated like foreigners in their own country. This sucks on so many levels. I wonder if it's worth going to see my local MP to register a protest, as useless a gesture as that will probably be.
May 20, 2006, 12:49 pm
#48
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Originally Posted by Scifience
If either parent is Japanese, my understanding is that the children also qualify for Japanese citizenship. They would just have to choose which citizenship they wished to keep by age 20, IIRC, since Japan doesn't (technically) allow dual citizenship.
Edit: It is actually age 22. See below.
Edit: It is actually age 22. See below.
May 20, 2006, 3:06 pm
#49
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May 21, 2006, 3:29 am
#50
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Originally Posted by Scifience
If either parent is Japanese, my understanding is that the children also qualify for Japanese citizenship. They would just have to choose which citizenship they wished to keep by age 20, IIRC, since Japan doesn't (technically) allow dual citizenship.
Edit: It is actually age 22. See below.
Edit: It is actually age 22. See below.
I'm delighted to be shown that my understanding of this is way out of date (opinion was formed by experiences of friends some time ago).The upside to all this might be a nice relaxing hour to myself in the immigration queue whilst husband and offspring collect the suitcases (possibly laden with all the dodgy terrorist equipment I packed in there) and wait for me past customs.
I'm sure the fingerprinting and photographing of foreign spouses will be extremely effective in preventing crime.
May 21, 2006, 5:08 am
#51
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We must rally the disparate diaspora!
Well I guess I just will have to get off my butt and start the process, any ideas? I thought a simple multi lingual web site to rally the disparate diaspora! I also thought of throwing stink bombs at my local councellors house.
May 21, 2006, 8:03 am
#52
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Originally Posted by Q Shoe Guy
Well I guess I just will have to get off my butt and start the process, any ideas? I thought a simple multi lingual web site to rally the disparate diaspora! I also thought of throwing stink bombs at my local councellors house.
http://www.debito.org/
He is a naturalized Japanese citizen who does a lot of work to try and end discrimination against foreigners in Japan. IIRC, he has met in the past with a number of fairly high-level officials in the Japanese government.
Talking to your local MP (provided your Japanese is good enough) also can't hurt.
Good luck! It is absurd that they are doing this to people with a gaijin card - the tourists, I have no problem with.
May 21, 2006, 8:35 am
#53
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Originally Posted by Pickles
That's no different anywhere else, including the US. Foreigners don't vote.
I may be wrong - but I think there are other examples - probably mostly within the EU. (And I know that any EU national can stand as a candidate for election to the European parliament in any EU member country).
I think it would be quite a good experience for the Japanese diet to see some foreign residents get some representation in return for the taxes they pay. There has been talk of allowing "permanent residents" in Japan the right to vote in Japanese elections. (And IIRC perhaps there was one example of a city that allowed this for some local elections?) But I think this is very unlikely to happen at a national level...
Last edited by jib71; May 21, 2006 at 8:43 am
May 21, 2006, 8:51 am
#54
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Originally Posted by Scifience
You might want to contact this guy: Arudou Debito
May 21, 2006, 9:36 am
#56
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There should be another piece of legisitation stating when the program will be implemented (to my understanding), as mentioned according to USAToday it should be in place by Late 2007.
May 21, 2006, 9:56 am
#57
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Originally Posted by aa4ever
When will they start doing this?
On a totally different note, immigration at NRT was already horribly long during peak times on flights from the US. Now, it is only going to become longer.
On a totally different note, immigration at NRT was already horribly long during peak times on flights from the US. Now, it is only going to become longer.
May 22, 2006, 7:47 am
#58
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FWIW, I spoke to a contact at the Canadian Embassy and it would seem that they are reviewing, and going forward to lodge a complaint vis a vis this new law. Perhaps you might also call your embassy to start the ball rolling. This law needs to be shredded........
May 24, 2006, 5:12 pm
#59
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Official text from the foreign ministry.......
I wanted to share the "official" foreign ministry text that was given to me by the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo. The following of course is juxtaposed with the article of the Japan Times and other newspapers. It would seem that the Embassy is currently seeking further clarification to the vague wording of "other permanent residents with permanent status". If any of you wish to contact your own missions for clarification it would greatly be appreciated.
"On May 17, 2006, the Government of Japan adopted an amendment to the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Law that allows Japanese authorities to take electronic fingerprints and digital photographs of visitors entering Japan. The provisions exempt those visiting Japan for diplomatic or official purposes, those invited by the state, those under 16, and ethnic Koreans and other permanent residents with permanent status. The Government of Japan has advised that the information will be closely managed to ensure that it is used for law enforcement and national security purposes only. Travel documents incorporating biometric technology are becoming commonplace worldwide, with that information increasingly collected and assessed at border control points. Implementation of these provisions is expected by November 2007."
"On May 17, 2006, the Government of Japan adopted an amendment to the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Law that allows Japanese authorities to take electronic fingerprints and digital photographs of visitors entering Japan. The provisions exempt those visiting Japan for diplomatic or official purposes, those invited by the state, those under 16, and ethnic Koreans and other permanent residents with permanent status. The Government of Japan has advised that the information will be closely managed to ensure that it is used for law enforcement and national security purposes only. Travel documents incorporating biometric technology are becoming commonplace worldwide, with that information increasingly collected and assessed at border control points. Implementation of these provisions is expected by November 2007."
May 30, 2006, 12:16 am
#60
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The first two times I lived in Japan they required fingerprints to be taken and then they did away with the law after public backlash--mostly from long-time Chinese and Korean residents in Japan who aren't allowed to become Japanese nationals. I wouldn't be surprised if after a while they decide to back of this new legislation.