Sankei Forecasts Unregulated Visa Bonanza

[Mulboyne]

[yt]0zz6E9QEeQM[/yt]
Ginza of the future

The Ministry of Justice has a working group looking at introducing a point system for immigrants which would give easier entry to qualified professionals. The Sankei has an article which worries that some of these proposals might amount to a free-for-all. The working group is suggesting granting visas to spouses, spouses' parents and a maid or housekeeper for the applicant. The spouse would also have some kind of working visa from the off. The MoJ panel has presumably concluded that elite foreigners won't be interested in making a home in Japan if their spouse - who may also be a working professional - can't also carry on their career in the country. The housekeeper visa sounds like an attempt to be competitive with Hong Kong and Singapore. The Sankei thinks this means there would a lot of unqualified baggage along with every qualified professional and doesn't care for that outcome. The Ministry has indicated it it hopes to put the new framework in place later this year.

Source (Japanese)

[cstaylor]

The Sankei thinks this means there would a lot of unqualified baggage along with every qualified professional and doesn't care for that outcome.

How many elite foreigners does the Sankei think will come to Japan? 100? 1000?

[Samurai_Jerk]

I know Japan is not unique in not allowing spouses of people on working visas to work but I've always thought this was ridiculous.

[Mulboyne]

How many elite foreigners does the Sankei think will come to Japan? 100? 1000?

I'm a bit unclear whether this new framework replaces the existing visa classifications (Specialist in Humanities etc) or supplements it. If it replaces it, then there are no details so far about what happens in the 3-5 year overlap between the two systems. I can imagine quite a few expats here on current visas who would like to be able to sponsor a maid visa, have their spouses working and perhaps bring over family. They would want to change their status.

If this wasn't possible, they might end up with an incentive to leave Japan and reapply under the new system if their companies approved. The only drawback to doing that would be for people hoping to apply for PR since it would set the clock back to zero on their continuous residency. Then again, if permanent residents aren't also able to sponsor maid visas then it might actually act as a disincentive for some to apply for PR.

If the proposals also apply to current expats then there will be a few thousand who would take advantage of the new status. Looking at new entrants, I think we sometimes underestimate the attraction of Japan, especially for other Asians. Certainly, a lot of us here know there can be professional drawbacks to a long Japan career but it is still not a bad posting to have on your resume.

If it becomes easier to have your spouse and family over then there might be some who would give more thought to spending a few years in the country. It's often said that Singapore is a good place to be if you have young children. Japan doesn't score too badly on that front either. Certainly, we're talking about elite expats but those are the people Japan wants to attract.

[matsuki]

I can imagine quite a few expats here on current visas who would like to be able to sponsor a maid visa, have their spouses working and perhaps bring over family.

...or bring over personal whores? I've met quite a few NJ that brag about having women in Thailand, Philippines, etc. I can only imagine what they will do when this goes through.

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

With Japan oozing toxic nuclear waste into the environment and ensuring its future generations are going to be physically warped in ways far more serious than snaggleteeth or bandy legs, shouldn't the 3K have more important issues to tackle instead of stirring up more anti-foreigner sentiment?

[Greji]

How many elite foreigners does the Sankei think will come to Japan? 100? 1000?

They estimated there would be three, but one was a Philippina nurse, so since she would not be able to pass the Japanese test, it looks like two.....

[Mulboyne]

...or bring over personal whores? I've met quite a few NJ that brag about having women in Thailand, Philippines, etc. I can only imagine what they will do when this goes through.

Have you considered applying for a job with the Sankei?

[matsuki]

Have you considered applying for a job with the Sankei?

I tried but as soon as they saw I was NJ they told me the position was filled...and let the next Japanese applicant step in.



Seriously though, I wasn't trying to come across prejudice, just mentioning that I've run across some scummy NJ here that will definitely abuse the housekeeper visa. That kinda stuff goes on in the middle east all the time.

[Mulboyne]

Seriously though, I wasn't trying to come across prejudice, just mentioning that I've run across some scummy NJ here that will definitely abuse the housekeeper visa. That kinda stuff goes on in the middle east all the time.

The problem of maid abuse in the Middle East is all about the exploitation of maids, not prostitutes being imported by the occasional expat.

[matsuki]

The problem of maid abuse in the Middle East is all about the exploitation of maids, not prostitutes being imported by the occasional expat.

Indeed, both are the same concept though. Don't think it will be rampant or anything, was just saying that I can only imagine those guys taking advantage of the visa that way.

[Samurai_Jerk]

Indeed, both are the same concept though. Don't think it will be rampant or anything, was just saying that I can only imagine those guys taking advantage of the visa that way.

You're imagining something that doesn't really make sense if you think about it.

I could see someone maybe using it bring a girlfriend over but not a mistress they keep in Thailand. Afterall, there's a reason you're keeping her in Thailand. However, my guess is something like this would only be open to families with a live-in maid who's also a nanny and a cook. In other words, she's an essential part of the household. Even if a single guy could bring a maid and used that as a cover to bring his girlfriend, it hardly equals prostitution.

[cstaylor]

was just saying that I can only imagine those guys taking advantage of the visa that way.

And how is this different from Japanese abusing the "entertainer" visa?

[matsuki]

You're imagining something that doesn't really make sense if you think about it.

I could see someone maybe using it bring a girlfriend over but not a mistress they keep in Thailand. Afterall, there's a reason you're keeping her in Thailand. However, my guess is something like this would only be open to families with a live-in maid who's also a nanny and a cook. In other words, she's an essential part of the household. Even if a single guy could bring a maid and used that as a cover to bring his girlfriend, it hardly equals prostitution.

If it's only open to families, then I misunderstood, but I can see some single guy bringing a different "maid" over every year for god knows what.

And how is this different from Japanese abusing the "entertainer" visa?

Not familiar with that but once again, I can only imagine what goes on with it.

BTW, don't get me wrong, I'm not arguing for or against this Visa, just commenting on some of the ways I can see it being abused.

[Samurai_Jerk]

If it's only open to families, then I misunderstood, but I can see some single guy bringing a different "maid" over every year for god knows what.

Something wrong with fucking?

[cstaylor]

Not familiar with that but once again, I can only imagine what goes on with it.

It's how foreign hostesses are allowed to stay in Japan.

[matsuki]

Something wrong with fucking?

If there is, I don't want to be right ]It's how foreign hostesses are allowed to stay in Japan.[/QUOTE]

Ahhh, well just another example of laws being laws in other countries and laws being suggestions in Japan I guess.

[cstaylor]

Ahhh, well just another example of laws being laws in other countries and laws being selectively enforced in Japan I guess.

FTFY.

[matsuki]

FTFY.

Indeed!