It’s a fantastically sunny day and from my swanky tenth floor accommodation (courtesy of the Tokyo Immigration Center) I can see the sun shimmering across the blue waters of Tokyo Bay. Oh, and I can also see some chubby Filipino women in her block washing her armpits a floor below me in one of the wings running perpendicular to mine.
The building is shaped like an X so I can see other wings across the way
I point this out to some of the guys in the room and quickly move away from the window minding the cup of tea in my hand and the half dozen men, from as many countries, then bunch themselves to the window and hoot, holler and pant aggressively at what passes for something, anything, in this mickey mouse chamber of nonsensicality.
I sit down in my corner and lean back against my futon folded up against the wall, and I sip my tea.
Mickey Mouse.
It’s a very appropriate term for this place. I’ve been here just over two weeks now and it’s been a consistent downward spiral punctuated by a total lack of logic, a symphony of rumors, with spectacular solos of ignorance and a near crushing level of boredom.
I know: my fault. I get it and I totally embrace my own ignorance and stupidity. That however does not change the fact that I’ve witnessed more proficient bureaucratic institutional operation at a KFC in Ueno. This place is efficient the way fat girls named “Candy” are happy with their lives. I have had my first two “interviews” and my file here has the density of the King James Bible. Just having information on the computer is not enough. Everything must be in print.
After all my bullshit here I’ve become something of an aficionado concerning this system.
So you overstay your VISA or otherwise violate the conditions of your VISA i.e. work a second job that deviates from the VISA you were issued (There are people in here for just that!). You get detained here at the immigration center. First you have to make a choice between two options.
Option 1: The immigration bureau slaps you with a deportation order, which you don’t fight. You buy a ticket, get a friend or family member to bring your luggage and then you leave Japan with a minimum of a 5-year ban that will prevent you from legally re-entering the country. If this works and you just want to get out then you will likely be detained only a week to ten days, then “escorted” to the airport and put on your flight.
Option 2: For whatever reason, you have something that you think is a viable excuse to remain in Japan. Perhaps it’s family, or maybe your own country is not a safe place for you. If, for example, you have a child in Japan you can apply for “Special Permission of Residence.” If you also have a spouse, particularly a Japanese one, and if he/she is willing to act as your “mimoto hou syonin” or legal guardian, you could have a respectable chance of receiving this special VISA. Also, applying for “refugee status” is similar. You have to demonstrate clearly that a return to your country would expose you to persecution or physical harm.
Because both of these Visas are essentially just “humanitarian gestures” by the Japanese Ministry of Justice, and each case is unique, and nothing in Japan happens quickly, the process takes a minimum of a month, but could last as long as six months in complicated situations.
My case is not complicated. I have a Japanese child I support financially and I have the full support of his mother, in regards to this immigration issue, at least for now, and I had been in steady contact with immigration officials. According to them my detention here is an “unfortunate occurrence based on miscommunication” but the upside is that this allows me to finally, after almost two years of stress and blank, misinformed faces staring back at me from across the immigration counter I can finally get a straight answer.
Do I get a VISA or am I gonzo, leaving on a Jet plane?
I’ve completed two of the required three interviews with my final interview and “oral hearing” scheduled for the 21st, it’s likely that I’ll know the outcome by the end of the month.
NOTE |
Typed, by Yosomono, off a 5 page letter written on what appears to be tissue paper, or rice paper. |
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Hope everything works out for you man! Definitely sounds like Japan is indeed a world of bureaucracy. They do things like this because that’s how they’ve always done them. Sometimes I guess that would help things work out efficiently with no loose ends, other times it might seem like it just bogs everything down and maybe nothing ever gets done. Just my observations on other peoples observations, speaking from my view of someone who has never set foot in Japan.
Well welcome to the paperwork BS machine.
When I first came here, another ex pat told me that by the time I had been here a year, if I was going to stay that long, that collectively the various offices and bureaucracy would have a pile of paperwork to do with me and my various activities, equal to my height and I’m not short. He was right on the money…yes? Now that I have been here nearly 20 years, I guess they have built a new room somewhere to accommodate my “file”.It is almost like Big Brother 1984, the paper monster. There is absolutely no way to estimate your chances until the moment comes, but I wish you all the luck you need.
This is true. Too true. My “file” looked like a hand written version of war and peace. Massive.
All digits are crossed and the a few other things. Thanks Yosomono for your updates.
Fingers crossed here too.
“unfortunate occurrence based on miscommunication”
Yeah….yeah…
THAT makes everything (nothing) better. Fucking paper pushers…litteraly..they love wasting paper writting the same shit again and again.
Good luck bro!
I have a big post brewing about all this….its been intricate this bullshit. Thanks for the comments man.
Good luck with the final interview. Really hope things work out.
Sarmad
India
It, is a big deal to know you have the support of the Mother of your Child! Not, to mention the fact you are supporting them financially. I hope this means they will be more lenient on you and allow you to leave with a new visa in hand. I will keep you in my prayers as well as keep my fingers crossed for you old friend.
As someone who recently lost his father, I sincerely hope bureaucracy doesn’t separate you
Sorry to hear about your loss. Thanks for the support by the way.
May you have many more discussions in the near future with the little one who headlocks crocodiles. Here’s to wishing you good luck.
good luck
Can we help in any way?
This is a meaningful comment. Thank you. I was lucky, I got a lot of help from a lot of good people, and now Im out.
All is crossed here as well. Best of luck to you gaijin. If this works become the worls most vigilant mother****er ever, your kid deserves your vigilance. No matter how silly the stuff they ask. So get in line and play the part from here out. You can always be yourself on the net and during your outings, but you have to keep up on the paperwork and visa.
Yos, thank you for the update.
The world is short on good dads. Hell its short on dads even being in their kids lives. To have a dad that is in ones life and actually cares is an amazing thing to me. I really hope this works, for your kid.
I grew up with a lot of freinds not knowing who their dad was and always told em “hey look your dad could be the worlds biggest @$$**** and not even want you. He ould beat you everytime he has a bad day. He could say the belt just doesn’t do enough and strap on some steel toed boots. So don’t go missing something that could be a living hell.”
Well you care, are in your kids life and are supporting this child. Not much of that left these days. It deserves saving.
oh man, Im not a good dad. At all. My old man set the bar too high. However, i have a problem with not knowing my kid and not supporting him. Thats it.
Good luck man.
You’re out….Shit hot! ‘onya dude!!!!
Hope all has been settled to your satisfaction. Good to be home again….Bet the first brew went down bloody fast. Good to have ya back in the world of the free.
So glad your out. Don’t get so far into the ‘what they did mode’ that you forget any mistakes you made, that helped end you up in there. Make it as hard as you can for them to ever put you back. Be sure to have that picnic with your kid too.
I look forward to your next post.
Cheers mate. I’m not upset with Immigration at all, not in regards to my situation. However there are people there that really shouldn’t be. They have broken no laws and aren’t being treated much better than animals. It’s not good. But I am out and will get to see my sons first sports day in a couple weeks. That is very good. Again, thanks for the comment.
Welcome back 🙂
Sarmad
India
Being back is nice! Thanks Sarmad