From: wpm@is.morgan.com (W. Phillip Moore)
Subject: Re: Reentry permits (wasRe: registering marriages)
Organization: Informations Services Dept., Morgan Stanley Japan
	<HARKCOM.92Sep2083240@spinach.pa.yokogawa.co.jp>
	<1992Sep2.194420.402@hamblin.math.byu.edu>
	<1992Sep3.071230.11803@westford.ccur.com>
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1992 23:19:16 GMT


>>>>> "David" == David Luke <luke@platypus.ee.byu.edu>:
>>>>> "Hank" == Hank Cohen <hank@westford.ccur.com>:

David> I believe you can just go to Japan like anyone else.  The only
David> problem would be if you had an unused spouse visa (they are
David> single-entry) already stamped in the passport, or a valid re-entry
David> permit from a previous visit.  I don't know whether you could talk
David> them into ingoring it and letting you enter as a tourist.

I can almost guarantee you they would give you a hard time about this, and
depending on where you were from/coming from, they might not let you into
Japan.  

Hank> My understanding is a bit different about re-entry permits.  If you
Hank> are a registered alien then when you want to leave Japan you have 2
Hank> choices get a reentry permit either single or multiple and pay the
Hank> rather outrageous fee that they demand.  

Single entry is 3000 yen, multiple is 6000 -- high but not that bad.  

Hank> Or surrender your Alien Registration Card to the immigration agent at
Hank> the airport.  If you surrender your alien registration card then you
Hank> have to re-apply for another one on your return.

Do you know anyone who has tried this??  I suppose you could get away with
it, but you'd be coming back to Japan and starting with the immigration
authorities from scratch.   

Hank> I don't have my Passport here to check but I believe that the
Hank> passport stamp is valid for about four or five years and it says
Hank> multiple entry.  The re-entry permit refers to alien registration not
Hank> to the visa.

If you have a working VISA, then it should be for just one year.  I have
been told repeatedly that I can't get a working VISA longer than 1 year.  
The multiple reentry permit has no time limit, but is only good until your
current VISA expires.  

Note on re-entry VISAs:  Immigration authorities are fairly forgiving if
you leave Japan with the intention of returning, and forget to get a
reentry permit.... the FIRST TIME ONLY.  The first time I left Japan on a
business trip, I waited until I was at the airport, played stupid, and got
my reentry permit there.  The second time, they noticed that I had pulled
this once already, and they gave me a royally hard time -- kept me in their
office until 5 minutes before my plane was scheduled to depart
(intentional?? neah....)

I know several other people who have had similar experiences, and they were
treated far worse -- one individual was forced to return to the Osaka
immigration office and come back the next day.  Ruined his vacation.  I
suspect that part of this was due to the fact that I had a working VISA,
and worked for a Japanese firm (Matsushita Electric Works, my first and
LAST Japanese employer 8-).

I recently changed jobs (now work for a US investment bank) and am finding
out that immigration isn't as friendly as they used to be.  In fact, they
have thus far stalled my VISA application for over two weeks -- have to
check out my new employer thoroughly, or so they say.  Sure -- Morgan
Stanley has been in Japan for over 20 years, and many of our employees are
ex-patriots.

Discriminatory??  You bet!!  Don`t play games with immigration, as they can
make your life rather miserable, including kicking your ass out of Japan.
I've seen that happen to lots of English teachers.  

W. Phillip Moore	   				Phone: 81-3-3286-9359
Information Services Department                           FAX: 81-3-3286-9040
Morgan Stanley Japan Ltd.  Tokyo Branch             E-mail: wpm@is.morgan.com
	Ote Center Bldg. 3F, 1-1-3 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan