You Don't Really Need Your Passport Do You?

[wagyl]

Next the RFID implant in the scruff of the neck.

[Coligny]

Right, got it. Thanks.

Used to be those stamps, then the stickers, now the card...

Soon...

image.jpg

(Hey, it's Japan after-all...)

[Mike Oxlong]

Next the RFID implant in the scruff of the neck.

Seems like one got implanted to my hand just a few short years ago...

http://kotaku.com/5793925/your-iphone-i ... youve-been

[Coligny]

Next the RFID implant in the scruff of the neck.

Seems like one got implanted to my hand just a few short years ago...

http://kotaku.com/5793925/your-iphone-i ... youve-been

The navy from the whip log all my (bowel) movements to... And place little dots on the maps following my path, seems he never erase them either, meaning my current GPS map is an unreadable soup of white dots... I should RTFM someday...

[TennoChinko]

Right, got it. Thanks.

Used to be those stamps, then the stickers, now the card...

Soon...

image.jpg

(Hey, it's Japan after-all...)

Wait until they kick him out of the sento for that tattoo...

"It's not yakuza! The Nazis did it!!"

"Yakuza, Nazi. Same thing. Rule is rule. Get out now!"

[Mock Cockpit]

It does kind of raise the issue of what our status is if we have a valid Zairyu card but we let our passport expire. Who wants to volunteer to be the test case?

From a practical point of view Immigration will ask to see your passport when leaving the country or when renewing your status of residence, but it is perfectly possible that status of residence extends longer than the passport.

Fun bonus philosophical question: if we were extradited for being in Japan with an expired passport, would our own country recognise us without a passport? This issue must have arisen before.

Then again there are deeper existential issues: I use my name because it is the name I have been told is mine, by people who claim to be my parents. but I have no memory of the events. How do I know for sure? Why does my government trust me and give me a birth certificate when I say I am that person?

Nothing will happen. I had an expired passport for a bit last year due to my fuck-up. I still have an old gaijin card though. Presumably immigration knows when your passport expires and if they had a hard on about it they'd be on your back about getting a new one, wouldn't they? I still haven't got my permanent residence sticker swapped over to my new passport. Must get around to it one of these days. Hate those cunts at immigration though.
Edit- even though the old passport expired the nice chaps in Canberra backdated the new one to when the old one expired obviously working on the idea that what Japanese immigration don't know won't hurt them.

[wagyl]

It does kind of raise the issue of what our status is if we have a valid Zairyu card but we let our passport expire. Who wants to volunteer to be the test case?

From a practical point of view Immigration will ask to see your passport when leaving the country or when renewing your status of residence, but it is perfectly possible that status of residence extends longer than the passport.

Fun bonus philosophical question: if we were extradited for being in Japan with an expired passport, would our own country recognise us without a passport? This issue must have arisen before.

Then again there are deeper existential issues: I use my name because it is the name I have been told is mine, by people who claim to be my parents. but I have no memory of the events. How do I know for sure? Why does my government trust me and give me a birth certificate when I say I am that person?

Nothing will happen. I had an expired passport for a bit last year due to my fuck-up. I still have an old gaijin card though. Presumably immigration knows when your passport expires and if they had a hard on about it they'd be on your back about getting a new one, wouldn't they? I still haven't got my permanent residence sticker swapped over to my new passport. Must get around to it one of these days. Hate those cunts at immigration though.
Edit- even though the old passport expired the nice chaps in Canberra backdated the new one to when the old one expired obviously working on the idea that what Japanese immigration don't know won't hurt them.

The nice chaps in Canberra also made sure that your passport expires 10 years from the backdated date, rather than 10 years for the issue date: they benefit from an early renewal next time!

I am not certain, but I think it is very likely that since they are no longer indicating status of residence in passports, you will not get a visa sticker in your new passport, but you will be instead encouraged to get a Zairyu card.

[Wage Slave]

I am not certain, but I think it is very likely that since they are no longer indicating status of residence in passports, you will not get a visa sticker in your new passport, but you will be instead encouraged to get a Zairyu card.

That sounds pretty likely. I'll let you know when I finally get my new passport. I'm going to need something, in English, to claim my VAT refunds.

[Coligny]

It does kind of raise the issue of what our status is if we have a valid Zairyu card but we let our passport expire. Who wants to volunteer to be the test case?

From a practical point of view Immigration will ask to see your passport when leaving the country or when renewing your status of residence, but it is perfectly possible that status of residence extends longer than the passport.

Fun bonus philosophical question: if we were extradited for being in Japan with an expired passport, would our own country recognise us without a passport? This issue must have arisen before.

Then again there are deeper existential issues: I use my name because it is the name I have been told is mine, by people who claim to be my parents. but I have no memory of the events. How do I know for sure? Why does my government trust me and give me a birth certificate when I say I am that person?

Nothing will happen. I had an expired passport for a bit last year due to my fuck-up. I still have an old gaijin card though. Presumably immigration knows when your passport expires and if they had a hard on about it they'd be on your back about getting a new one, wouldn't they? I still haven't got my permanent residence sticker swapped over to my new passport. Must get around to it one of these days. Hate those cunts at immigration though.
Edit- even though the old passport expired the nice chaps in Canberra backdated the new one to when the old one expired obviously working on the idea that what Japanese immigration don't know won't hurt them.

I think, passport are a travel... Thing...

As long as your status of residence allows you to stay in the country, the passport validity is not really a matter.
If you want to come and go then of course it's a problem.
That's might be why when you go on vacation in a place needing a visa your passport usually need to have 6 month of validity left. You could not leave without a proper passport. Since you would not be able to enter another country.

[Wibble]

I am not certain, but I think it is very likely that since they are no longer indicating status of residence in passports, you will not get a visa sticker in your new passport, but you will be instead encouraged to get a Zairyu card.

That sounds pretty likely. I'll let you know when I finally get my new passport. I'm going to need something, in English, to claim my VAT refunds.

I think that will be what happens too. It's all about the zairyu card (not just entry/exit but carrying a passport alone is no longer sufficient for a mid/long term resident) and they are keen to move people onto it as soon as possible.

How about getting a new re-entry permit for your passport? They still give out stickers for those and it says permanent resident on it in English. (Also as a minor thing, you don't have to show your card if you exit/re-enter on a paper-sticky permit)

[Wage Slave]

How about getting a new re-entry permit for your passport? They still give out stickers for those and it says permanent resident on it in English. (Also as a minor thing, you don't have to show your card if you exit/re-enter on a paper-sticky permit)

That sounds pretty clever. However impressively made the card is, people like seeing passports. They are universally recognised and they understand them. Getting a re-entry permit also means that if, admittedly difficult to imagine circumstances should intervene, re-entry can be delayed up to 2 or is it 3 years.

[nikoneko]

I just got my Zairyu card today, absolutely nothing was updated in my passport other than canceling the old stamps. I was told I did not need it anymore at least for most normal purposes in Japan. I am not PR though so don't know about that. I was told if I leave for less than a year I don't need re-entry permits anymore. But if more than a year I need a special re-entry permit to maintain my current status. Something like that.. I can take a picture of the "handy" little paper "explaining" when I need a re-entry permit if anyone is curious.

[Wibble]

How about getting a new re-entry permit for your passport? They still give out stickers for those and it says permanent resident on it in English. (Also as a minor thing, you don't have to show your card if you exit/re-enter on a paper-sticky permit)

That sounds pretty clever. However impressively made the card is, people like seeing passports. They are universally recognised and they understand them. Getting a re-entry permit also means that if, admittedly difficult to imagine circumstances should intervene, re-entry can be delayed up to 2 or is it 3 years.

Those were basically my reasons too. Maximum length is 5 years, not sure if that is just for permanent residents. Confuses check-in staff recently who must have been told to look at cards now, but they have always accepted me pointing at the sticker when I can't be bothered to find my card on return.

[inflames]

I actually wound up getting a stamp in my passport last year.... the people at immigration in Osaka had some random issue with my picture for the zairyuu card and just had me fill out a request for the stamp to be transferred (was leaving the country suddenly and didn't have any stamps in the new passport).

I went to the US consulate last year to get my passport renewed; it took about 10 days. Didn't have to deal with diplotrash either, although the Japanese staff were really annoying.

[Wage Slave]

Just for the sake of information I finally got the new passports this week. 53 days from posting to receipt and unless January is busy for them it will be worse as the summer approaches. I am still waiting for the old passports and one current Japanese passport to be returned.

Either do it when you are home or make sure you do it well in advance of when you will need it.

[Yokohammer]

Taking the thread on another small tangent ...

Since my old AR was due to expire next month I thought I'd mosey on up to the Sendai Regional Immigration Office and get me one of those newfangled Zairyu Card thingies.

This was the first time to Sendai Immigration. I've had PR since '95 so there has been no need since I moved up here. Anyway, being familiar with the churning, festering cesspools of international ill will that are the Tokyo and Yokohama immigration offices (actually, Yokohama used to be nice, but last time I was there "The Gloom" had already set in), I got an early start and braced myself for an unpleasant morning.

Nothing could have been further from the truth.

I walked into the Sendai office at around 10 AM, a bit later than planned due to heavy traffic, and there was no one there. I mean, there were people working there, but there were no "customers." Compared to the places I'm used to Sendai immigration is tiny, and the reception lady smiled and waved me over with a cheerful "ohayo gozaimasu." The whole episode was so cheerful and courteous that it was almost indistinguishable from ordering a happy meal at McD's. A nice McD's, that is. She gave me the short form required and explained the bits that seem to confuse some people, apologising for the poorly designed form. By this time about three other people had wandered in.

Anyway, in no more than about 10 minutes (I'm not exaggerating here) I had my card (7 years, like it says on the tin), and was thanked ever so much for taking the time to come in. I was expecting a cup of tea (didn't happen).

So that's that. Done until next time, or whatever comes first.

[matsuki]

Moral of the story...visit inaka immigration if at all possible!

[GomiGirl]

Am just waiting for my new Aus passport and then I will be headed out to Shinagawa (hopefully for the last time in a long time) for my PR Zairyu card.

[Samurai_Jerk]

Moral of the story...visit inaka immigration if at all possible!

Tokyo's quick as long as you get there first thing in the morning. Not 10 mins quick but I can usually get out in about 40 mins or so.

[Wibble]

Moral of the story...visit inaka immigration if at all possible!

Yep, the Tachikawa branch office has always been very speedy for me and sometimes it's been totally empty. Might be worth the extra travel time from central Tokyo?

[Yokohammer]

Moral of the story...visit inaka immigration if at all possible!

Tokyo's quick as long as you get there first thing in the morning. Not 10 mins quick but I can usually get out in about 40 mins or so.

That was my experience and strategy in the big bad city too. I took it a step further though, and attempted to get there first thing on Monday morning (you'll notice that my visit to immigration up here was a Monday too), after the staff had had a couple of days to unwind without having to deal with pompous, entitled asses and people trying to pull one over. Obviously not everyone, but I have witnessed a few cases of foreigners throwing the "I pay my taxes and am therefore entitled ... blah blah blah" or similar shtick at the staff in Tokyo and Yokohama. Really embarrassing.

Anyway, yeah, first thing in the morning is probably best.

[yanpa]

Anyway, yeah, first thing in the morning is probably best.

On my first visit to an immigration office, in Germany (this was back when the EU was still the EC), I turned up at some sane time like 11am and announced my intentions, the guy at the desk laughed, pointed towards an overflowing waiting room and told me to come back the next morning at 7am. I duly did, saw a queue which stretched out of the building and halfway around the docks, and resolved to come back the next morning at 6am. Which I did, along with half the refugee population of Bosnia-Hercegovina, and finally got to see someone with a stamp at around midday.

Since then, for me the only conceivable time to go to immigration is first thing in the morning.

[Russell]

Then again, Japan tends to attract less refugees than Germany...

[Wibble]

A word of warning if you are unlucky enough to have a British Passport that needs renewal. All change again to improve the service save more money.

The processing centres in Hong Kong and everywhere else as far as I can see have all been closed and now the only option is to apply and pay online and then send your passport, photo and form to HMPO Liverpool. This is not cheap. EMS from here to there (trackable) costs about £10. You then have to pay for processing and their expensive (non trackable) courier back to you. Another £150 near enough.

…

And if it is like this now what's it going to be like in peak season? Come back the archaic system at the British Embassy in Tokyo - all is forgiven and I take all my unkind words back.

Maybe they've been listening: UK passport fees for overseas applications are being reduced from April. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2014 ... 509_en.pdf
Adult renewal will be £83 without the postage. Still £10 more than UK residents for no apparent reason.

[Wage Slave]

Alas, alackaday and fuck my luck. Typical.

[Wibble]

Alas, alackaday and fuck my luck. Typical.

Helpfully, there's still nothing obvious on passports section of the irritating .gov.uk site so they aren't going out of the way to stop people still falling into that trap.

[gaijinpunch]

Why the fuck do you even have an embassy here if they can't renew your passports. That's basically the only reason you need one.

[yanpa]

Why the fuck do you even have an embassy here if they can't renew your passports. That's basically the only reason you need one.

Where else am I going to get my iodine pills from? And where else are people who might object to the forthcoming nuptials between a Japanese and British citizen go to inform themselves of said upcoming union of peoples if not the waiting room to the consular section where the banns of marriage are displayed for three (3) weeks, by appointment only?

[Wibble]

Why the fuck do you even have an embassy here if they can't renew your passports. That's basically the only reason you need one.

There still appears to be plenty of people working in the consular office, despite not doing passports or visas anymore. Perhaps they are super helpful to anyone arrested?
Or maybe they are just there to eat big dinners and play golf? After the new ambassador arrived, a mini golf range appeared in the grounds. That probably keeps him busy.

Where else am I going to get my iodine pills from? And where else are people who might object to the forthcoming nuptials between a Japanese and British citizen go to inform themselves of said upcoming union of peoples if not the waiting room to the consular section where the banns of marriage are displayed for three (3) weeks, by appointment only?

That alone makes it worth a visit. The marriage notices give ages, occupations,and addresses for each, which are rather revealing.

[legion]

Why the fuck do you even have an embassy here if they can't renew your passports. That's basically the only reason you need one.

The embassy is not there to deal with subjects of the house of Windsor, the embassy is there to look after her and her cronies' interests.