abolished for international students as long as they intend to work as a teaching assistant with in the college they belong to.

## ○ Establishment of a special exception to the period of stay for foreign nationals applying for permission to extend period of stay

In case an application of permission for extending the period of stay or for changing the status of residence is made by the expiration date of the period of stay, but procedures are not completed by the expiration date, the foreign national is allowed by the amended “Immigration Control Act” to stay with the status of residence either until the procedure is completed or for two months after the expiration date of the period of stay even after the period of stay is expired whichever comes earlier (implemented in July, 2010).

## ☐ Efforts of the Immigration Bureau concerning the Great East Japan Earthquake

Due to the Great East Japan Earthquake, foreign nationals subject to notification by the Ministry of Justice, based on Paragraph 2 of Article 3 of the Act on special measures for preservation of rights and interests of victims of specified disasters, are all allowed to postpone the expiration date of the period of stay until August 31, 2011 without taking any particular measures. Further, the Immigration Bureau swiftly accepted rescue teams of about 1,100 members from other countries and implemented quick procedures so that foreign nationals wishing to leave Japan due to the earthquake would be permitted to later re-enter Japan as well as follow the procedures to leave Japan. Along with that, the Immigration Bureau also implemented procedures so that college students, trainees and technical interns who returned home in the middle of their studies or training due to the earthquake are able to smoothly re-enter Japan.

To confirm the safety of foreign nationals who might have fallen victim to the earthquake, the Immigration Bureau, based on requests from municipalities and foreign diplomatic offices in Japan, provided information on registered foreign nationals in the devastated area. The Immigration Bureau also referred to inquiries from families and relatives of foreign nationals and Japanese nationals in the devastated area about any existence of evidence of their leaving Japan.

- The Immigration Bureau implemented procedures so that foreign nationals who resided in the devastated area are able to request the issue of a certificate of registered matters in the municipalities to which they evacuated. Along with that, in order to support such municipalities which have difficulties in registering foreign nationals, the Immigration Bureau acted for such municipalities by carrying out the registration.

- The Immigration Bureau set up a specific phone number to conduct telephone counseling also on holidays so that foreign nationals who were affected by the earthquake can be provided with information.

## ○ Implementation of measures against illegal and false foreign residents

- There has been a steady decrease in the number of illegal overstayers. The decrease seems to be the outcome of past efforts over the years. However, it is estimated that still there are some 100,000 potentially illegal foreign residents, and efforts to further decrease the number of illegal foreign residents have been promoted by strengthening detection, reinforcing collection and analysis of information on illegal foreign residents, and promoting voluntary appearance.

• “False residents” stands for foreign nationals who disguise themselves as legal residents by falsifying their status of residence and purpose of stay by means of fake marriage, pretending to be students, etc. and work without legal status in Japan by misusing forging or alternating documents or abusing fraudulent documents. Since they actually appear to be “legal residents”, precise data on their actual number has not been obtained. The existence of false residents