Passports - yuck

[damn name]

I hate renewing my passport in Japan. It's aggravating. After my last visit, I thought to myself, "With any luck at all, I'll die before this one expires and not have to go through this again..."

Have you ever noticed that it seems like everyone working at your embassy in Tokyo is Japanese? I haven't seen a non-Japanese person working at my embassy in 20 years. They aren't allowed to come near the foot thick glass, I guess. I'd like to be able to speak normal English for just a brief moment, but ohh no. Even at my own embassy, I have to speak like I'm talking to a 3-year old.

Have you ever noticed that everyone who works at Japanese embassies abroad are Japanese?

I find it strange that a Japanese citizen is scrutinizing me at my embassy as if they work for Japanese immigration. It just doesn't sit right with me.

Maybe the non-Japanese working at embassies have figured out that they can do even less work (if that's even possible) if they let the Japanese do everything.

Oh, and you can't reply to this thread directly. You have to send a fax to this thread with your comment or question in detail and maybe someone will contact you within a week with a fax reply to your question.

[JLR]

Could be worse. In Russia the US embassy is guarded by Russian thugs who try to get a bribe from you to enter your own damn embassy. After refusing I was then told by them I needed the Embassy was closed today (a lie) and then was told I needed proof of an appointment to be let in. My Russian gf at the time went off on them and called them disgusting pigs.

I buzzed the Embassy and was let in and was told they have no control over who guards the embassy on Russian soil. Lovely...

[omae mona]

I'd like to be able to speak normal English for just a brief moment, but ohh no. Even at my own embassy, I have to speak like I'm talking to a 3-year old.

See, they're doing that to help us. When our native-speaker, citizen, government employees come to the window, it's worse. I have to speak like I'm talking to a 1 or 2 year old!

[Samurai_Jerk]

Wareware America-jin can renew our passports by mail so there's no need to go the embassy. Although when I did have to go that one time the security guards were all Japanese but the embassy staff I dealt with weren't.

[dimwit]

Wareware America-jin can renew our passports by mail so there's no need to go the embassy.

Ditto for Canadians.

[6810]

Wareware America-jin can renew our passports by mail so there's no need to go the embassy. Although when I did have to go that one time the security guards were all Japanese but the embassy staff I dealt with weren't.

Ditto for Ozzies. Sent mine registered post with money order, had the new passport in less than seven days.

How easy can it get?

[legion]

Ditto for Ozzies. Sent mine registered post with money order, had the new passport in less than seven days.

How easy can it get?

Ditto the Brits, now outsourced to HK for inefficiency

I used to like going to the Embassy to see if I could spot a Brit.

[matsuki]

So uhhhhh damn name, what embassy are you referring to?

[IparryU]

I hate renewing my passport in Japan. It's aggravating. After my last visit, I thought to myself, "With any luck at all, I'll die before this one expires and not have to go through this again..."

Have you ever noticed that it seems like everyone working at your embassy in Tokyo is Japanese? I haven't seen a non-Japanese person working at my embassy in 20 years. They aren't allowed to come near the foot thick glass, I guess. I'd like to be able to speak normal English for just a brief moment, but ohh no. Even at my own embassy, I have to speak like I'm talking to a 3-year old.

Have you ever noticed that everyone who works at Japanese embassies abroad are Japanese?

I find it strange that a Japanese citizen is scrutinizing me at my embassy as if they work for Japanese immigration. It just doesn't sit right with me.

Maybe the non-Japanese working at embassies have figured out that they can do even less work (if that's even possible) if they let the Japanese do everything.

Oh, and you can't reply to this thread directly. You have to send a fax to this thread with your comment or question in detail and maybe someone will contact you within a week with a fax reply to your question.

they put the Japanese "guards" at the entrance because it is still "Japan". At any border they have that.

But inside the US embassy they are all yanks working there and if you don't speak 'merican... you will have a hard time. One time I went there and some old Japanese lady was trying to get a visa cause she opened a crepe shop in SF... they guy she was talking to gave her no love and said to get a translator and come back... i was next in line.. so it was good for me!

[maraboutslim]

Back in the day, there were plenty of Japanese working at the US Embassy in Tokyo. Are they all gone?

[Greji]

See, they're doing that to help us. When our native-speaker, citizen, government employees come to the window, it's worse. I have to speak like I'm talking to a 1 or 2 year old!

You were lucky, when I finally got a US type, I had to do the point and show gig. Words had little to no meaning. Aleast the JN employees make and attempt to listen and answer.....

[Greji]

they put the Japanese "guards" at the entrance because it is still "Japan". At any border they have that.

But inside the US embassy they are all yanks working there and if you don't speak 'merican... you will have a hard time. One time I went there and some old Japanese lady was trying to get a visa cause she opened a crepe shop in SF... they guy she was talking to gave her no love and said to get a translator and come back... i was next in line.. so it was good for me!

Note: IPU speaks Japanese and could have been a gentleman and interpreted for her, but what does he do? Shove her out of the way and take her place in the line. Man after me own heart.....

[Mike Oxlong]

Note: IPU speaks Japanese and could have been a gentleman and interpreted for her, but what does he do? Shove her out of the way and take her place in the line. Man after me own heart.....

You would have got her phone number, then shoved her outta the way!:cool:

[Greji]

You would have got her phone number, then shoved her outta the way!:cool:

Damn, never thought about that Mike! You're spot on again!

[matsuki]

Note: IPU speaks Japanese and could have been a gentleman and interpreted for her, but what does he do? Shove her out of the way and take her place in the line. Man after me own heart.....

LOL, that was a dick move...but then again keeping another J-creperie out of the US is justification enough.

[Catoneinutica]

Back in the day, there were plenty of Japanese working at the US Embassy in Tokyo. Are they all gone?

No, they're still there. Really weird hybrids between cud-chewing American bureaucrat and sexually frustrated onee-san.

[maraboutslim]

yep, those are the ones!

[IparryU]

Note: IPU speaks Japanese and could have been a gentleman and interpreted for her, but what does he do? Shove her out of the way and take her place in the line. Man after me own heart.....

I didn't shove her... I just let her walk by weeping while I laughed my way to the counter.


wasn't even halfway thinking about translating for someone at that time... two crying kids and a bitching wife with passport apps, birth abroad report stuffs, SS card ap, etc. blahh etc. BS paperwork... had to do to much translation to wify.

And I couldn't even grab her number for Greji cause of the lil one in my arms.

[Coligny]

And I couldn't even grab her number for Greji cause of the lil one in my arms.

Toddler foreheads leave plenty of room to write shopping lists or phone numbers...

At worst diapers works too, just think aboot copying the data before disposal...

[damn name]

So uhhhhh damn name, what embassy are you referring to?

Canadian embassy.

The guarantor system is different than most countries. The person must be a doctor, lawyer, etc., and I moved very far from anyone satisfying that requirement who has known me for the required minimum length of time. That requires a self-declaration be done at the embassy.

Of course I would do it by mail if I could, but we all don't live under the same circumstances.

[Samurai_Jerk]

Canadian embassy.

The guarantor system is different than most countries. The person must be a doctor, lawyer, etc., and I moved very far from anyone satisfying that requirement who has known me for the required minimum length of time. That requires a self-declaration be done at the embassy.

Of course I would do it by mail if I could, but we all don't live under the same circumstances.

Yeah, I heard about that system from a Canadian friend. Sounds really fucking annoying. I'm always glad to hear that the US isn't always the biggest pain in the ass in the Western world when it comes to doing shit for its citizens. Just usually.

[dimwit]

Canadian embassy.

The guarantor system is different than most countries. The person must be a doctor, lawyer, etc., and I moved very far from anyone satisfying that requirement who has known me for the required minimum length of time. That requires a self-declaration be done at the embassy.

Of course I would do it by mail if I could, but we all don't live under the same circumstances.

What you are talking about is a Statutory Declaration and you don't have to go to Tokyo to get it.

Statutory Declaration in Lieu of Guarantor Requirements
If you do not have a guarantor and are completing a "Statutory Declaration in Lieu of Guarantor" (form PPTC 132), which can be obtained by request from the Embassy, refer to specific instructions on the form.

In addition, please note that references on this declaration form must be different from the ones on the passport application form. This form must be signed by you in front of an officer at the Canadian Embassy or Consulates or in front of a notary public. (Kosho Yakuba or Kosho-nin in Japanese. A list of Kosho Yakuba in your area can be provided by the Embassy upon request.

For residents of Kansai, Kyushu and Okinawa, please contact the Embassy's Consular Section in Tokyo for information on the Signature Witness Service rendered by designated local law firms in your region.

At the time of signing you must present two other pieces of personal identification, of which at least one must bear your photo and one must bear your signature

Can't you find a notary in your city? It will cost you money but so will doing a statutory declaration at the embassy.

[Russell]

Yeah, I heard about that system from a Canadian friend. Sounds really fucking annoying. I'm always glad to hear that the US isn't always the biggest pain in the ass in the Western world when it comes to doing shit for its citizens. Just usually.

You ain't seen the Dutch embassy yet. You have to go there in person. In Tokyo. Not the consulate in Osaka. They stopped accepting passport renewals at all consulates worldwide. To save money (for them, not for us). Only embassies. Sucks to be Dutch.

[waruta]

You ain't seen the Dutch embassy yet. You have to go there in person. In Tokyo. Not the consulate in Osaka. They stopped accepting passport renewals at all consulates worldwide. To save money (for them, not for us). Only embassies. Sucks to be Dutch.

It's not all that bad, just the effing photo requirements suck. At least the staff speak three languages (Eng, Ja, Dutch) and are very helpful, albeit from behind a 20cm thick polycarbonate panic room. There's usually no line at all and it's such a peaceful embassy (and beautiful) compared to any of the others such as the Chinese embassy or the US one.

[matsuki]

It's not all that bad, just the effing photo requirements suck. At least the staff speak three languages (Eng, Ja, Dutch) and are very helpful, albeit from behind a 20cm thick polycarbonate panic room. There's usually no line at all and it's such a peaceful embassy (and beautiful) compared to any of the others such as the Chinese embassy or the US one.

Do they have any ovens on the premises?

Seriously though, back in 2009 I wanted to visit a friend in Shanghai and was not so happy to hear about the retarded visa required and that I had to waste my time at that scummy embassy...and pay the inflated "fuck you amerika" rate instead of "the rest of the world" rate.

[Samurai_Jerk]

pay the inflated "fuck you amerika" rate instead of "the rest of the world" rate.

Those higher rates are usually reciprocal.

[matsuki]

Those higher rates are usually reciprocal.

Yeah, I know the whole story behind it....US gov probably making tons of $$ off of it too...

[waruta]

Do they have any ovens on the premises?

Are you trying to compare us to the fucking Krauts? Or is it just pure ignorance that leads you to mistake us with the Germans my Native American friend?

[Coligny]

Are you trying to compare us to the fucking Krauts? Or is it just pure ignorance that leads you to mistake us with the Germans my Native American friend?

For fook sake, chill out man, not everything is aboot the djouzes...


Dutch oven


Dutch wife


Dutch Rudder...

[Russell]

Dutch oven

Dutch oven = The act of trapping a person under bed covers after releasing vile ass fumes.

Let's keep it at that, that that was Chokonen's interpretation, because the other implied meaning is highly inappropriate, when referring to any nationality (including Germans).

[...]
Dutch wife

[..]
Dutch Rudder...

Dutch teacher...

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