Felony and entry into Japan.

[OHayou]

Originally Posted by darkshadowgirl

Yeah I've thought about going without him.. But I HATE traveling alone. It is very depressing and lonely to me and un-enjoyable so that's out. And none of my friends have any money to go with me.

I admire your offer to go with me that would be cool (are you in the states or Japan?)
But I don't think my bf would be having that at all. Maybe if you we're a girl it would be OK.

Yeah 2014/15 is a really lonnnggg time but been together for 8 years and I doubt we'll break up.

But yeah going without him is an option to think about...

Yeah, going alone is kind of depressing but also pretty adventurous.

lol I live in Ohio (ohayou..get it..I know I know .. i'm a hilarious guy) I'm going to Japan for New Years eve and such. If you're around the same town lets meet for Gyudon which is my favorite meal in Japan. (Is it just me or does even the rice taste better in Japan...)

But yeah, my whole point was it's a long time to wait + 8k is a lot + Japan is pretty safe so I hope you get to go but if not .. its only 4 -5 years away or don't even look at it like that .. look at it like it's only about One Thousand Eight Hundred and Twenty Five days away!!!

[darkshadowgirl]

Meh... just talked to a lawyer.. it will be exactly 3.5 years before we can go.... This is soo unfair!

I guess the positive side is I can spend that time saving money for it.

[JohnBraden]

Originally Posted by darkshadowgirl

Meh... just talked to a lawyer.. it will be exactly 3.5 years before we can go.... This is soo unfair!

I guess the positive side is I can spend that time saving money for it.

Was that a U.S. lawyer? If so, how much does he know about immigration procedures in Japan? Have you talked to the embassy? If their database was so extensive that the Japanese would know of your boyfriend's felony in the States, then perhaps they could sell their technology to the U.S. intelligence community, seeing as the NSA, DIA, FBI and CIA can't even talk to each other....

I'd try the embassy in Washington.... anything on the west coast is just a consulate and they may not know enough....

[MMM]

Overseas Japanese diplomatic establishments may not issue a visa to an applicant who comes under the following categories or is suspected of coming under these categories:

- If the contents of the application are false.
- If the applicant has a criminal record including more than one year's imprisonment.
- If the applicant has a criminal record involving narcotics, marijuana, stimulants, prostitution, etc.

So this information was wrong?

[JohnBraden]

But wouldn't a visa requirement be needed only for a stay the landing permission immigration issues would not cover? If it's for a tourist entry, a visa isn't required. I know a lot has been said about this already and most is just our own opinions on the interpretation of the law. But she really hasn't heard it from the horse's mouth yet. I don't know if I would try it myself, but I would definitely try to get the most definite answer possible from here: the Embassy of Japan in Washington.

[Sangetsu]

Originally Posted by GoNative

In my experience in Japan barely any government department databases are interconnected let alone them being connected to another countrys criminal database. Japan may make a lot of high tech stuff but you'll find that it's use within Japan is much less than most other developed nations. Especially within the bloated and incredibly inefficient bureaucracy where paper filing is still more popular than putting things on a computer database.

This is not true. A friend of mine who is in Japan on a work visa lost his US passport on a daytrip to Korea. Japanese immigration let him back into Japan after looking up his info on the computer. They were able to find everything about him on their computer, from his drivers license photo to his residency tax payment records. They also had the number for his employer, though he had never given it to them.

[darkshadowgirl]

Originally Posted by JohnBraden

Was that a U.S. lawyer? If so, how much does he know about immigration procedures in Japan? Have you talked to the embassy? If their database was so extensive that the Japanese would know of your boyfriend's felony in the States, then perhaps they could sell their technology to the U.S. intelligence community, seeing as the NSA, DIA, FBI and CIA can't even talk to each other....

I'd try the embassy in Washington.... anything on the west coast is just a consulate and they may not know enough....

Oh I just talked to a lawyer about when he was eligible for expungement for that felony. Which is 3.5 years. :/ (why did he have to be so stupid!)

But your right.. I shouldn't give up the fight. Calling the embassy in Washington is a good idea. It doesn't hurt for sure.

[Lonthego]

Meh 3.5 years ain't so long..like you said you people can save up money and stuff..learn some Japanese, etc.
Japan is like one of the most bureaucratic countries out there, they're really neurotic about following their protocol right to the letter, so the chance of someone receiving special treatment or exemption is very very slim

[darkshadowgirl]

Oh I just found this in an article about Paris Hilton:



"An immigration official at the airport said that Hilton might actually have been able to pass the border if she had applied for an entry permit earlier, instead of trying to do so the day after pleading guilty in Las Vegas.
Though Japan takes a tough stance on drug offenses, the bans do not always last and can sometimes be overcome. Soccer icon Diego Maradona was barred from entering the country in 2002 during the World Cup finals due to his multiple past drug arrests but was eventually given a 30-day visa as a "special delegate." Even though several members had drug issues in their past, the Rolling Stones were also allowed into the country after years of struggles at the border. Former Beatles member Paul McCartney was arrested and deported in 1980 for marijuana possession when he was caught with the drug at the Narita airport."

This is promising!


and I found this weird form on the embassy's website. A letter of Guarantee? Kinda sound like you can vouch for someone??? There's no information on it though...

http://www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/j/download/GL_E.pdf

[JBaymore]

That form is for a Japanese national to "sponsor" an individual. In effect it makes THEM fully responsible (in legal as well as the all important "social" aspects) for that individual. It is usually used in business relationships. And usually the Japanese person "vouching" for the individual knows them and their character. Or there is so much money involved that they will be willing to take that risk.

Do you have someone in Japan that you know well enough to ask that of them?

As far as the other stuff........

Is you friend an acclaimed musician, cultural figure, or have some other world-class reason Japan would want to allow him into the country? Otherwise you are kind of comparing apples to oranges, I think.

I am not trying to be "negative" here... just to stay in the realm of likely reality. (I have to deal with this kind of consideration when taking students to Japan.)


best,

...............john