jashsu

Basically yes. The entry of the trip in which you go to complete the secondary counts as the second entry in 12 months. It seems like the period between submission acceptance and initial approval has been varying a bit. It seemed like it was down to a month or possibly less at one point.

angra

Thanks - my next entry is on August 8, less than four months away, so I think I will apply ASAP and hope for the best on timing.

rustykettel

angra

OK, application submitted. I will report back on my progress as additional data.
@rustykettel - thanks for directing me here from the thread in the Japan forum!

hey123

I'm in the same boat as you - applied back on 2017/11/06 and still no update.

downinit

My initial application on March 4, 2017, did not get pre-approved until June 5; which was three days after my trip to Japan ended. I withdrew and reapplied on February 1, which just got pre-approved on April 17. the odd thing is that the e-mail clearly stated that I have 6 months to complete my secondary inspection. "To continue with the registration procedure, go to the Immigration Bureau with the original copies of your application documents within six months of receiving this e-mail." The TTP website still says I only have 3 months. The odds of me getting back to Japan within 6 months are greater than 3 months. I guess I will need to contact them directly for clarification. Has anyone else heard about a change from 3 to 6 months on the secondary inspection? This would be a very welcome change considering how slow and unpredictable the preliminary inspection process has been.

MattEvan

I gave up on on JP's TTP. Have had great luck with APEC card recently, both on entries and exits.

MattEvan

Yes, this is a recent change. I confirmed it when I was at the NRT counter last week.

alphaod

I redid the application last week. This time I realized the mistake I've been making the last few times.

1) I needed to attach both my passport cover and the data page in a PDF for Evidence #1
2) I needed to attach front and back copy of my GE/NEXUS card in a PDF for Evidence #5

My first application denial was I didn't submit my passport copy at all
My second application denial was I didn't submit the cover and I submitted my NEXUS card as Evidence #2 .

So far the third one is still pending.

And for those wondering what happens when you get denied, you have to withdraw the previous denied application to resubmit it. You figure they would do this automatically if you get denied in a previous application.

LASNRT

I submitted my application on March 15 for my April trip - of course, as the posts above show, that was way too late. It's still pending today.

I have a 2 ˝ hour layover in August and a 3 hour layover in September. If I get the preliminary approval by then, I'm hoping to complete it during those layovers. I've cleared immigration at Narita during layovers of those short periods in the past just to buy something landslide or even drop off a package that I'm sending to a friend in Japan to the post office, and with *Gold I can used the dedicated Gold Track security line, but I do have to rush.

I know the enrollment centers in airports are attached to the departure passport control areas. I'm wondering if there's a way to bypass clearing entry passport control, customs, then immediately turning around and going to the departure passport control desk in order to enroll. Has anybody asked if this is possible, or done it themselves? Perhaps ask to be escorted by an immigration officer? Or can I just clear security as a transfer passenger and approach the departure immigration office from the exit side of the counters?

I already have my revenue stamps and the 2 entries within 90 days from this year in my passport, so I won't have to worry about that.

Thank you for sharing your tips and advice!

pushmyredbutton

Maybe I'm overthinking it, but are the questions on the application written to be somehow confusing? I have Global Entry, so as I understand it, I need to follow the 'JTTP' prompts. Question 9 specifically confuses me:

So, what's the correct answer and documentation? It's a Yes/No question, but I don't see how either answer fits the description? As a Global Entry member, are we not exempt from job-position related evidence?

rustykettel

Yes, you do not need to provide job documentation for the GE path. No for the (1) question and yes to the (2) question.

Backing up further, I answered no to the employment related questions 4 & 5. From my recollection, I could have answered yes to 4 except that there was something about intending to remain employed with the company or such and it seemed to me would just add to the confusion.

The documentation required for a GE member is the Declaration Form 13 (from inside the Information Guide PDF on the Japan TTP site), along with
In addition to scans of those, I uploaded a scan of the front & back of my NEXUS card and a copy of the GOES acceptance letter.

For the passport & NEXUS card scans, I merged my scans (PDF format) so that I had a single passport PDF (front cover & bio page) and a single PASS ID PDF (GOES acceptance letter, front & back of NEXUS card).

I then brought printed copies of all the documents submitted (see my experience above bringing only the wet ink signature version of Declaration Form 13; I'd make a copy of that form as well as the original signed one), my passport, NEXUS card, & a physical photo (not needed) along with the tax stamps to the secondary examination.

angra

reporting back - I got my initial approval this morning, with 6 months to appear for finalization.

hey123

Update: I applied back on 6 November 2017 and just received email notice today that I'm proceeding to secondary inspection. Almost 7 months to process - I can't imagine that this is a typical wait!

htehtrshtsrhstrhrsh

Me too! Looks like a lot of people are getting approved around the same time.