Staying in Japan as much as possible with a Tourist Visa

[shindays]

Does anyone here have experience of partly living in Japan with 90day tourist visas? I'm thinking of taking up such a lifestyle for now, since I'm sometimes working in other Asian countries moving around isn't really a problem for me. I'm just curious as to how far I can push the limit of visits/how many times a year with how long pauses in between? As far as I know, nowadays short "visa runs" are pretty much out of the questions and I want to minimize the risks.

I recently spent 5weeks in Japan and would like to return after spending 7weeks outside. I'm thinking of having a Japanese company send me an invitation letter for a meeting, I will carry a return ticket for sure and I thought landing to a different airport might be a good idea as well. Sounds reasonable?

Also I speak "not too bad" Japanese, going through the customs seems smoother that way

[wagyl]

I have no direct experience. If Immigration considers that your activities here are something other than tourism then you will have a problem.

Your entry into any country other than one in which you have nationality is a decision entirely at the discretion of that country. There is no guarantee that you will be granted entry, even for tourism. I am sure you know this, but it bears repeating.

Immigration information is linked and entry at a different airport will make no difference.

Because airlines bear the responsibility for getting you out of the country if you have been denied entry by Immigration, you will often find that you will come across problems at the check-in counter at your departure airport.

[shindays]

I see. In that case, I wonder what is the normal procedure for visitors with a purpose of attending a business meeting on behalf of a company located in their home country? If such bureaucratic procedures are complicated, probably better to stick with tourism.

Never had any problems with immigration and everyone has been very kind, so far

[wagyl]

Those business people who have 50 day meeting sessions, and then another 50 day meeting session 30 days later? While not returning to their home country in the meantime? It is no more than a guess on my part, but I bet they start to have troubles somewhere during that continued cycle.

[shindays]

Exactly. I just heard of someone who was refused entry because of such a story. I guess any involvement in business related matters, arises unnecessary suspicion, resulting in tougher inquires. So that option seems to be out of the question.

Other than that I'm hearing that usually two visits per year should be safe. 6 months/year sound pretty decent, 9 would be better though

[omae mona]

Yeah, what wagyl said. The key thing, as he said, is that entry is at discretion of the officer on duty. I sure wouldn't leave any valuables you need access to, since you could be denied entry any time.

On the optimistic side, Japan *wants* legitimate tourists and would be happy to let you in 12 months a year if they thought it was legitimate tourism and you're going to be spending money like crazy, with no chance of becoming a burden on society or the government. As soon as they think there's a risk you're going to try to work in Japan or a risk of you becoming reliant on government services (health insurance, or maybe the clean housing and free food kindly provided by the police after you get in a brawl on the street...), they're not gonna let you in. You better be able to convince them that you don't need any Japan-source income and can stay out of trouble while you're visiting, no matter the length of your stay.

[wagyl]

And one small hint: what you are calling a tourist visa is strictly speaking a short stay visa. The same visa for a business meeting. What attracts the suspicion is questions of how you can support yourself. The businessman forever in meetings over numerous extended trips to Japan but never going back to base, the serial tourist who is here for months at a time.... Immigration will start to ask "how can this guy afford this lifestyle? Can we be sure he is not really working in Japan?" You take risks, and you might be greatly inconvenienced.

Depending on your age and nationality, the Working Holiday Visa scheme may be of interest.

(I've been polite today. In truth, you are getting pretty close to asking for tips to rort the system (fabricating a letter from a Japanese company and such like). No one here does it, and there have been a couple of highly (self) publicised cases of people who have tried and got caught out in the last couple of years. We don't offer those people sympathy, we point and laugh.)

[yanpa]

I hear the Korean guards in the Gaijin Gulag in the bowels of Narita Airport provide a special welcome to repeat visitors.

[wagyl]

Aren't they Chinese? You can tell by the acne scars.

[yanpa]

I have it on the authority of a Trained Journalist that they are Korean KBs driving GAS vans.

[wagyl]

My apologies. I must have been stuck on rewrite number 7.