Silviase/jgov_v1.4_full_ann huggingface dataset:
Article

## I nternational Student Employment Support Activities by the Local Governments, and Status of Residence of “Designated Activities”

As a measure from FY 2009, in cases where international students, who had graduated from university or acquired a diploma through a specialty course from a specialized training college, wished to stay in Japan after the expiration of the period of stay of the status of residence of “Student” to continue job search activities, they were permitted to change their status of residence to “Designated Activities” for six months period of stay to engage in that activities (to be extended only once). Based on a backdrop of the requests of the local governments in the proposal recruitment process pertaining to the national strategic special zones of the Cabinet Office, a further measure has taken place from December of the same year. Particularly if those who were engaging in job search activities with the abovementioned status of residence of “Designated Activities” after graduating from university, etc. as well as having been supported by the employment support project offered by the local governments (limited to those complying with the requirements set by the Immigration Bureau) and wished to engage in the job search activities, including participation in an internship through participating in the project in the second year after graduating from university, etc. he or she will be permitted to change his or her status of residence to “Designated Activities” for six months of period of stay to participate in the project and the job search activities (to be extended only once), and will be able to reside in Japan a maximum of one year (two years after graduation maximum) in order to participate in the project and engage in job search activities.
Chapter 4

# Smooth and Strict Implementation of Immigration Examination at the Port of Entry

In order to contribute to the realization of a tourism-oriented country, it is important on the one hand to strive to implement smooth landing examinations for the majority of foreign nationals, who come to Japan without causing any problems, but in order to realize a society where Japanese nationals and foreign nationals can live together harmoniously, it is also necessary to implement strict landing examinations and reliably prevent the entry of foreign nationals whose objective is terrorism, illegal work or other illegal activities.

The number of foreign nationals entering Japan in 2016 reached approximately 23 million and it is expected that this number will continue to increase in the future, but since acts of terrorism are taking place in many parts of the world and Japanese nationals have been held captive and murdered, the Immigration Bureau has been working to reconcile the seemingly conflicting goals of smooth and strict examinations through the implementation of smooth and strict examinations depending on the case.

## Section 1 Efforts to Promote a Tourism-Oriented Country

### 1. Introduction of Bio Carts

Regarding the time spent waiting in line for an entry examination, the “Tourism Vision Realization Program 2016” (Tourism Vision Realization Action Program 2016) (decision of the Ministerial Conference for the Promotion of Tourism of May 2016) set the objective of keeping the time spent waiting in line for an entry examination at the airports in FY2016 to within 20 minutes, and as one of the measures to reduce the waiting time, devices to obtain the personal identification information (fingerprints and facial photos) utilizing the waiting time, referred to as “Bio Carts” commenced at Kansai Airport, Takamatsu Airport and Naha Airport, which are the airports where the reduction of waiting time was deemed to be the most effective, were introduced from October 2016.

Bio Carts obtain the personal identification information, which immigration inspectors usually

Bio Carts

obtain from applicants for landing at the immigration examination booth, in advance during the time the applicant for landing spends in line waiting for an examination using a dedicated device separate from the examination devices, thereby omitting the procedures at the immigration examination booth, and aiming to expedite the entry procedures of the foreign travelers. From April 2017, the use of Bio Carts will also commence at 12 airports such as Narita Airport, further promoting smooth examinations.
### 2. Automated Gates

## (1) Promotion of Use of the Automated Gates

Japanese nationals and foreign nationals satisfying certain requirements (in possession of re-entry permission, etc.), who have registered in advance as users of the automated gates, are able to undergo the immigration procedures using the automated gates and do not have to undergo the usual examination by an immigration inspector at an immigration examination booth, and in this way, smooth and strict examinations are being further promoted. Following the installation of the automated gates at Narita Airport in November 2007, automated gates were installed at Chubu Airport and Kansai Airport in September 2009 and were additionally installed at Haneda Airport in October 2010. As of the end of FY 2016, 70 automated gates had been installed throughout the country.

User registration of automated gates was started at the Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau and the Narita Airport District Immigration Office in November 2007, followed by the Nagoya Regional Immigration Bureau, the Chubu Airport District Immigration Office, the Osaka Regional Immigration Bureau and the Kansai Airport District Immigration Office in September 2009 and the Haneda Airport District Immigration Office of the Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau in October 2010.

Moreover, in order to promote user registration of the automated gates in 2013, as well as increasing the number of devices for user registration and posting information in airport facilities and in-flight magazines through the cooperation of the airport operating companies and airline companies, the Immigration Bureau has been working to improve its administrative services with regard to those wishing to register for use of the automated gates through such means as sending immigration officers to the prefectural passport offices in order to enable mobile on-the-spot user registration.

Automated Gates

On-site registration using a mobile device to register as a user of the automated gates
## (2) Trusted Traveler Program Registered User Card

Front

The Trusted Traveler Program (TTP) commenced its operations on November 1, 2016, expanding the scope of eligible users of the automated gates into certain foreign nationals intending to engage in activities under the status of residence of "Temporary Visitor", who have visited Japan, certain times in the past and have registered as a low risk traveler in terms of immigration control such as business persons working for a listed company in and outside Japan. Those who are registered in this program are exempted from receiving a seal of verification for landing, and issued a "Registered User Card" as a proof of landing permission in lieu of the seal of verification for landing.

In addition, in order to contribute to expediting the immigration examinations between Japan and the United States, the immigration authorities of Japan and the United States discussed specific operations of TTP and commenced the operations that US citizens who have applied for TTP will not be required to meet some of the requirements on the premise that they are already enrolled in the U.S. Global Entry Program (GEP).

Back

## (3) Introduction of Facial Recognition Technology in the Departure and Return Procedures for Japanese Nationals

As further expediting of the immigration examinations is required in order to promote Japan as a tourism-oriented country and in anticipation of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2020, the Immigration Bureau intends to further expedite the examination procedures, while maintaining strictness of the examination, by streamlining the departure and return for Japanese nationals through the use of facial recognition technology and allocating more inspectors to the examination of foreign nationals.

The Immigration Bureau conducted a trial test of examinations utilizing facial recognition technology in 2014, and although the evaluation of the “Committee for Evaluation of Facial Recognition Technology in the Immigration Examinations” composed of outside experts was that from the perspective of technology “there is sufficient possibility of utilizing facial recognition technology in the departure and return examinations of Japanese nationals”, since there were issues which needed to be examined such as ensuring the devices had high usability, studies were being conducted to ensure higher-quality facial recognition gates.

Based on the results of the research survey on optimal installation of the facial recognition automated gates conducted in FY 2016, facial recognition gates were developed in the two years of FY 2016 and FY 2017, and advance operations of the facial recognition automated gates in the return confirmation procedures for Japanese nationals commenced at Haneda Airport on October 18, 2017.
### 3. Response to Cruise Ship Passengers

In recent years, the number of cruise ships calling at ports in Japan has increased and the size of ships has been getting much larger in size. In response to requests from the municipalities hosting the cruise ships at their ports, for prompt processing of post-arrival procedures to enable passengers to fully enjoy sightseeing and other activities within the limited time the ship stays at the port, the Immigration Bureau has been conducting prompt examinations, while securing strict examinations, since June 2012. These efforts include preparation for onboard examinations for large-sized cruise ships, adoption of a new method of examination utilizing permission for landing at a port of call, utilization of examination devices for which the systems have been modified, and the dispatch of help personnel for examinations across Japan.

In addition, the operation of a system of landing permission for cruise ship tourists permitting foreign passengers of cruise ships designated by the Minister of Justice to land through simplified procedures commenced on January 1, 2015, with permission granted to 1,070,000 passengers in 2015 and 1,940,000 passengers in 2016.

Cruise ship examinations

### 4. Other Measures to Reduce the Waiting Time for Examinations

Measures are being implemented to reduce the waiting time for landing examinations such as simplifying a disembarkation card for foreign nationals (omission of some of previously required details), which is submitted by the foreign nationals to an immigration inspector at the time of landing examination (enforced from April 1, 2016), and increasing the number of booths through the installment of a newly-arranged examination booth in which two immigration inspectors are located front and back to conduct a landing examination respectively at the same time.

Newly-arranged examination booth
## Article Measuring the Waiting Time for Entry Examinations

The Immigration Bureau has been implementing advance acquisition of personal identification information through the implementation of Bio Carts utilizing the time spent waiting in line for entry examinations at the 15 airports with the longest waiting times for entry examinations in order to implement smooth examinations so as to respond to the surge of foreign travelers to Japan and, in particular, to realize the government's goal of implementing the entry examinations within a maximum of 20 minutes. In addition, we are continuing to consider the implementation of facial recognition technology in the departure and return procedures for Japanese nationals and expanding the range of users able to use the automated gates, and will be focusing the immigration inspectors who have become available through these measures on the entry examinations for foreign nationals and reducing the time spent waiting for an immigration examination.

In the past we measured the waiting time for an immigration examination by distributing a survey form to foreign travelers who were standing at the end of the immigration queue every 30 minutes at each airport (by terminal and examination hall) and collecting the survey form from them when they reached the immigration examination booth. Taking these measurements, the average time for the month was calculated taking the longest examination time in that day as the longest waiting time for that airport, but we did not proactively or regularly release information on the longest waiting times to the public.

However, considering the fact that the time spent waiting in line for an entry examination is a matter of great concern as it affects the time spent in Japan of foreign travelers visiting Japan, a decision was made to revise the measurement method utilizing the electronic data held by the Immigration Bureau from January 2017. As a result, it is possible to measure the “completion rate of within 20 minutes waiting for an immigration examination” and the “longest time spent waiting for an immigration examination, and time of day this occurred” for each airport (by terminal and examination hall), and these results are compiled on a monthly basis and published once a month on the Ministry of Justice website.

In this way, foreign visitors to Japan are able to see the information on the waiting time for an immigration examination at each airport, and the time period when the longest waiting time occurred, thereby offering more information for their convenience and making it possible for them to make adjustments to their arrival time. In addition, it has also become possible for the Immigration Bureau to more accurately assign immigration inspectors through utilization of the results of the measurements as an indicator of the degree of congestion at the airport, contributing to further reduction in the waiting time.
## Section 2 Strengthened Countermeasures at the Port of Entry

### 1. Immigration Examinations Utilizing Information

## (1) Implementation of Immigration Examinations Through the Use of Biometric Information

Since November 20, 2007, foreign nationals who intend to enter Japan have been required to submit their biometric information (fingerprints and a facial photograph). This enables the Immigration Bureau to accurately and promptly confirm that the applicant for the verification for landing is the same as the passport holder, and to check the applicant against the blacklist maintained by the Immigration Bureau. In addition, it has become possible to stringently detect those who have previously been deported and again try to enter Japan illegally using a forged passport or another person's passport by checking their information against the data on fingerprints and facial photographs of those who departed under a departure order or who were deported in the past retained by the Immigration Bureau. The total number of foreign nationals ordered to depart through a departure order and deported through a deportation order based on the utilization of personal identification information was approximately 7,400 from the start of utilization of this information in the immigration examinations by the end of December, 2016.

On the other hand, there have been an increasing number of cases where in order to avoid their past history of deportation being discovered, foreign nationals have attempted to disguise their fingerprints by scarring their fingers or undergoing surgery and have illegally entered Japan using a forged or altered passport obtained through such means. In order to respond more appropriately to cases of disguised fingerprints, we have been striving to uncover these disguised fingerprints by modifying the fingerprint acquisition devices, and in addition to executing the deportation procedures, the Immigration Bureau has been strictly enforcing criminal dispositions through accusations and notifications to the police and other law enforcement agencies.

Immigration examination through the use of biometric information
Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka and Fukuoka, and the border measures have been strengthened. These mobile teams gather, analyze and share information on illegal foreign nationals entering and departing from Japan and conduct various joint drills, while reinforcing their cooperation with the related ministries and agencies. These mobile teams conduct patrols at the seaports and coastal areas under their jurisdictions and search onboard ships in port, as well as conducting investigations and detection of suspects, related suspects and brokers in connection with illegal immigration issues.

Joint drill

Patrol activity

Detection on a smuggling boat
# Measures Against Illegal and Imposter Foreign Residents, etc.

## Section 1 Implementation of Measures Against Illegal Foreign Residents

### 1. Past Efforts to Reduce the Number of Illegal Foreign Residents

Based on the “Five-Year Plan to Halve the Number of Illegal Foreign Residents” launched in 2004, each regional immigration bureau has actively promoted various measures, including strict implementation of landing/residence examinations, proactive public relations activities regarding illegal employment, strengthened detection by the Special Detection Officer Units (see subsection 2 (1) below), etc. wider application of custody transfer in accordance with Article 65 of the Immigration Control Act and the encouragement of the appearances of illegal foreign residents under the departure order system. As a result, the number of illegal foreign residents, which was approximately 250,000 at the start of the plan, decreased to approximately 130,000 as of January 2009, and its goal was almost accomplished.

Based on the “Action Plan 2008 for the Realization of a Society Resistant to Crime” aiming to “create a society that generates no illegal foreign residents under the new residency management system”, as the Immigration Bureau has continued efforts to further reduce the number of foreign nationals illegally staying, consequently the number of foreign nationals overstaying their authorized period of stay was decreased to approximately 59,000 as of January 1, 2014.

However, as of January 1, 2015, the number of illegal residents staying beyond their authorized period of stay became about 60,000, which was an increase for the first time in 22 years, and at the time of January 1, 2016, the number of illegal residents staying beyond their authorized period of stay was about 63,000. This further increased to about 65,000 as of January 1, 2017, for the third consecutive year, and has now reached a situation where future trends are unpredictable.

### 2. Efforts to Further Reduce the Number of Illegal Foreign Residents

The steady decrease of the number of illegal foreign residents in Japan is recognized as a result of past efforts. However, it is estimated that there are still approximately 65,000 foreign nationals staying in Japan illegally beyond their authorized period of stay.

Owing to the variety of measures being taken by the entire government aiming at the realization of a tourism-oriented country, it is expected that the number of foreign nationals entering Japan will further increase in the future. In response to this, since it is very likely that the number of foreign nationals staying illegally beyond their authorized period of stay will also increase, we will be maintaining a commensurate framework in order to crack down on these illegal residents and will also be strengthening the following measures in order to work on
further reducing the number of illegal residents.

## (1) Strengthened Detection

The Immigration Bureau has established the “Special Detection Officer Units” that are to engage full-time in detecting offenders in violation of the Immigration Act and locate the unit in large city areas where there are many illegal foreign residents, by which the Immigration Bureau has reinforced the ability to detect illegal foreign residents, has strengthened cooperation with the local police authorities and has promoted joint detection.

In addition, since it has come to our attention that illegal foreign residents tend to be concentrated in smaller groups and are scattered throughout the country, these day the Immigration Bureau is making efforts to improve collection and analysis of various kinds of information pertaining to illegal foreign residents and to promote efficient and effective exposure through assembling immigration control officers who engage in detection tailored to the target of the detection.

## (2) Preparation of an Environment Facilitating Voluntary Appearance

The Immigration Bureau introduced the departure order system as a measure to encourage illegal foreign residents existing in various parts of the country to voluntarily appear at the immigration office, and also took other measures, including a revision of the “Guidelines on Special Permission to Stay in Japan”( $ ^{*1} $ ) and publication of such cases, as well as public relations activities to encourage voluntary appearance at an immigration office.

The departure order system is a system where, unlike with the deportation procedures, foreign nationals staying illegally beyond their authorized period of stay, who meet certain criteria such as appearing in person to make a declaration in order to depart from Japan, are able to depart through simple procedures without being detained (see Part 1, Section 5, Subsection 5 below). 4,101 foreign nationals were issued with a departure order based on this system in 2016.

Meanwhile, the “Guidelines on Special Permission to Stay in Japan”, which was approved and announced in 2006 was revised in July 2009 in order to increase the transparency of the operations. The revised guideline shows that if an illegal foreign resident voluntarily appears at the immigration office, this is considered a positive factor in the judgment on adjustment of their legal status.

The Immigration Bureau is also taking measures to further publicize the departure order system and the revised guideline on special permission to stay in Japan by conducting active public relations activities, improving the environment for voluntary appearances and aiming to encourage illegal foreign residents to voluntarily appear at an immigration office $ ^{(*2)} $ .