New "Disembarkation Card For Reentrant" form

[Blah Pete]

I returned through Narita last night and the guy at immigration said they have this new form and next time I have to fill in the back side.
I thought with the pet gaijin stamp in the passport this wouldn't be necessary.
[/b]

[Steve Bildermann]

Did you have a re-entry visa stamped in your passport?

[DJEB]

Everyone's gotta do these now. I had to fill one out for my trip to Australia last year.

[Taro Toporific]

Everyone's gotta do these now. I had to fill one out for my trip to Australia last year.

Yep, it's been that way for at least 25 years. Hey Steve B....I don't remember my 1960s entry as a kid on vacation but I am sure that form had to be filled out then.

[Blah Pete]

Did you have a re-entry visa stamped in your passport?

Yes, new visa and reentry stamp last August.

Yep, it's been that way for at least 25 years. Hey Steve B....I don't remember my 1960s entry as a kid on vacation but I am sure that form had to be filled out then.

The front side if the form has not changed and had been in use for years. The back side of the form is new (as pictured above).
I go to Korea about twice a month. Last time I came through before last night was 30 Nov and I used the old form.

[Samurai_Jerk]

Everyone's gotta do these now. I had to fill one out for my trip to Australia last year.

Yep, it's been that way for at least 25 years. Hey Steve B....I don't remember my 1960s entry as a kid on vacation but I am sure that form had to be filled out then.

Taro, I never filled out anything like that when I was using a re-entry permit. Were they just not doing their job all those times I came and went?

[DJEB]

Asking if you are a miscreant or not is new. Those questions were not on the old forms.

[Taro Toporific]

Everyone's gotta do these now. I had to fill one out for my trip to Australia last year.

Yep, it's been that way for at least 25 years..

Taro, I never filled out anything like that when I was using a re-entry permit. Were they just not doing their job all those times I came and went?

WHOA!

I'm browsing with the images off and didn't see the picture of that form.

Yeah that's new and they are trying to catch American FGs in perjury since their new computer system automatically flags ex-criminals from the FBI database when they pass your re-entry through their new scanner thingie.

[FG Lurker]

Yeah that's new and they are trying to catch American FGs in perjury since their new computer system automatically flags ex-criminals from the FBI database when they pass your re-entry through their new scanner thingie.

Yep, Big Brother Uncle Sam is watching and reporting.

Every day the US becomes a little bit more like the USSR. The change is slow, but relentless. I wonder how far along the transformation will get before the public rises up and stops it?

Heh, who am I kidding. Overfed, overweight, apathetic, and fearful to the point of paranoia. The US public won't rise up, the change will continue.

(I'm not anti-US. If I was I wouldn't care about this happening.)

[Steve Bildermann]

Yes, this is to lay the groundwork for later culling of the immigrant population. If they can't get you for any visa violations then they may have you for false declaration. Something akin to the IRS asking you if any of your income is from illegal sources.

Cute (and a little worrying)

[Mini_B]

I recently got nabbed going into Canada for fibbing to an Immigration Officer about my criminal history. I've come and gone to Japan about 20 times and Canada about 5 or 6. I'm from the US. About 10 years about I was charged with 'Burgerlery of a Conveince' (breaking into a car) and Grand Theft (stealing a cell phone) - we got into a scrap in a parking lot outside of a nightclub, the guys car window broke and we took his cell phone, got caught - stupid! So going into Canada I got harrassed as usual about why am I going to Canada, what kind of job I have, why am I going to visit my wife's family...those kind of questions. They ran my passport. The guy took like 15 minutes, came back and told me to go to see an immigration officer. I went, he asked me if I was ever convicted of a crime (which I was never was...just got judication withheld for the two charges). I told him no. He took my passport and came back about 10 minutes later and asked me if I forgot to tell him about anything. I explained to him that I never was convicted and he said "that's not what I asked you" (which it was). He said "I asked you if you've ever been charged with a crime, next time don't lie to an immigration officer. I'll let you in this time, but if we catch you lying again...blah blah blah." I wanted to punch him in his fucking face at that point and tell him that I don't wanna go into his shithole of a countyr anywayz (even though I love Canada). ** moral of the story is that one swipe of your passport and they have your criminal record dating back to the begining of time **

Question - Does Japan have the same info by swiping a passport and is it better to come out and tell the truth...or is it better to play dumb and hope that they don't find out?

[Taro Toporific]

...
Question - Does Japan have the same info by swiping a passport ...?

Yep, since last April they've got the same info by swiping your passport or Gaijin Card.
The NEW form, specially "the back side of the form..(as pictured above)" is their new trick.

I got the hairy eyeballs from Japan Immigration re-entering Jan 4th without my gaijin card since I have numerous scrapes with the law far more serious than yours stemming from the Vietnam War and anti-nuke movements. I'm waiting for the klaxons to sound and the nets to drop out of the ceiling on my return to Japan from my Golden Week vacation in the States.
Bottom Line: Be careful out there kids.

[vir-jin]

[Mini_B]

I had a re-entry permit a few years ago which has since expired along with my VISA. I hav a new VISA but no re-entry permit yet. Two questions:

1) Where can one FG get a re-entry permit in the TOKYO area?

2) Does immigrations take your FG card when you leave if you have a re-entry permit?

The reason I ask...they took my Gaijin card on the way out before I obtained my VISA. When I came back to Japan (with my VISA which I got in the US) they asked for my FG Card. I was wondering why he would ask since they have ALWAYS taken my card in the past.

PEACE

[Steve Bildermann]

1) Where can one FG get a re-entry permit in the TOKYO area?

2) Does immigrations take your FG card when you leave if you have a re-entry permit?

1. Any Immigration office.

2. No.

[Mulboyne]

2) Does immigrations take your FG card when you leave if you have a re-entry permit?

No-one should "take" your card when you leave - immigration officials have no way of knowing when or if you plan to return. It should be up to you whether to surrender your card.

[Ptyx]

2) Does immigrations take your FG card when you leave if you have a re-entry permit?

No-one should "take" your card when you leave - immigration officials have no way of knowing when or if you plan to return. It should be up to you whether to surrender your card.

True, when you left the country at the end of your visa they'll ask you at the airport if you plan to return to Japan before the expiration date. Even if you have only four days left. If you say no they'll take your gaijin card if you say yes i guess they'll check your re-entry permit.
I don't know what they do if you don't have your gaijin card on you though but there's a chance they won't you let leave the country.

[Big Booger]

Just draw a new box and write "Don't Remember" and check it.

LOL

[devicenull]

Here's a general question about my situation that I felt weird about. With the re-entry stamp, what at they suppossed to stamp when you leave but are coming back? It's just a nagging question on my mind if I am going to have some hassle. Do they stamp the re-entry or the visa? They stamped my re-entry and didn't bother to take a glance at my visa

[cstaylor]

Well, I'd suggest not wearing your Mao T-shirt.

Did you get the single re-entry or multiple re-entry stamp? I've only used the multiple re-entry one, and immigration will stamp your passport, not the re-entry seal.

[devicenull]

Well, I'd suggest not wearing your Mao T-shirt.

Did you get the single re-entry or multiple re-entry stamp? I've only used the multiple re-entry one, and immigration will stamp your passport, not the re-entry seal.

Single, this should be fun

But, in a country full of logic like Japan, I'm sure they will understand if there is a mistake since I got the reentry seal 2 days before I left.

[iwantmyrightsnow]

I had a brush with the law here. Was found guily? I suspect so as I had to pay a fine (along with 10 days confinement while they investigated).

Got confronted with the new form early January. Wondered should I declare or not. Stil not completely sure if I was actuallyu foung guilty (despite the fine) so decided to plead ignorance and just ticked no for criminal charges.

Luckily, I managed to get through ok.

[gmb]

When I lived here before I wanted to keep my Gaijin card for Memories. I had told them that I lost it (when I actually had it in my wallet) I was not planing to come back to live (and here I am) they gave me no problems. If you are leaving and not planing to come back for a while or not at all what can they do? Lock you up forever.

[FG Lurker]

It's a lot easier if you leave with a re-entry stamp and just don't come back.

A coworker of mine left part way through a 3 year visa and the guys at the airport were totally shocked that he was giving up his visa/gaijin card. They made him go to a little room and explained that he would give up his visa and have to reapply if he wanted to come back yadayadayada. Then he had to sign something saying he understood.

All this took time and he ended up just about missing his flight.

This happened in December 2004.

While I am sure it doesn't happen to everyone, why take the risk...