Visa Violation Penalties Toughened From Today

[Mulboyne]

Japan Times: New deportation rules raise penalty for those who don't turn themselves in
The penalties for overstaying will stiffen with the revised Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Law that takes effect Thursday. The upper limit of fines will go up drastically. For visa violations or illegal entry, the fine can reach 3 million yen, up 10-fold.Those who encourage employment of people without legitimate residential status can be fined up to 3 million yen. Foreigners who become engaged in activities other than what they are authorized to do under their visas can be fined up to 2 million yen, also up 10-fold.
"I doubt these people will actually be able to pay millions of yen," said lawyer Satoshi Murata, who specializes in labor issues pertaining to foreigners in Japan. "If they cannot pay, they will be detained and must provide labor" before they are deported, he said. "And to tell you the truth, I don't think (the government) actually expects them to pay, either."
...Under the revised law, people who have overstayed their visa will be able to leave Japan voluntarily -- instead of being deported -- under certain conditions, including no past record of deportation. Such people can return to Japan after one year. On the other hand, people deported for a second time for an immigration violation will be banned from entering the country for 10 years, instead of the current five.