|
"Alien Registration" February 19, 2002 |
|
 RealAudio |
|
|
On every first and third week of the month, here in the Tinig Pinoy program, we discuss various cases related to immigration which foreign nationals in Japan encountered. This part of the program is in corporation with Mr. Nakano, an immigration specialist. And today, we will talk about an inquiry of our listener regarding Alien Registration. The listener has entered Japan with the tourist visa, and recently he was granted the working visa, and it was advised by immigration officer to do the alien registration at his perspective municipal office. Alien registration is an important procedure for foreign residents in Japan. Alien Registration Law Article 1 states that; Alien Registration is designed to secure equitable control over the foreign residents in Japan by clarifying matters pertaining to their residence and status. Equitable control pertains to secure every correct documents and information concerning the foreign residents in Japan with regards to resident alien, relationships and status for identification purposes to be utilized in immigration controls, work, education, welfare systems and other public administrations in Japan. Not every foreign national is required to carry out the alien registration. Those exempted are: holders of diplomats or official status of residents: members and civilian employees of the armed forces of the United States of America or United Nations forces, and their dependents residing in Japan: and also those on tourist visa or those who are to leave Japan within 90 days. According to Article 3, those who entered Japan are required to apply for alien registration within 90 days from the dates of their arrival in Japan. However, it is not necessary for foreign nationals who will depart Japan within 90 days from the dates of their entry to Japan. The law also provides that those who are born in Japan, and those who acquire foreign nationality in Japan, need to register within 60 days from the dates the baby was born. Application for alien registration should be done at the municipal office of the city or ward of their residence. To apply, fill up the application form, which is available in any municipal office. Along with the application form, you'll need your passport and two 4.5 by 3.5 of your photo taken within six months before the application. Foreign nationals under the age of 16 need not submit photos for the registration. Article 4 states that, the application form for alien registration must contain the following information: registration number, registration date, name, date of birth, place of birth, sex, nationality, address or residence in home country, occupation, passport number, date of issuance of passport, date of entry to Japan, status of residence, period of stay, address, name of the head of household, relationship with the head of household, name and address of work place if applicable. Any changes in the information reflected in the alien registration, must be reported to the municipal office within 14 days after the change was made. Article 8 states that, when the person concerned changes the place of residence, an application for the change must be made within 14 days at the municipal office regarding the new residence. And Article 9 states that, when the person concerned makes a change of their occupation or work place, or status of residence and period of stay, application for the change must be made within 14 days. When up to hand in for the alien registration card, Article 15 states that, the application must be done in person at the municipal office. However, Article 15 Clause 2 states that, if a foreign national is under the age of sixteen or cannot appear in person for reasons of illness or other physical disabilities, the person who shall make the application on behalf of the concerned should be the spouse, child over the age of sixteen, either of the parents, relatives or any other persons living with the concerned foreign national. The registration certificate will be issued within two weeks after the application. Upon the completion of the registration, one will be issued an alien registration card with an assigned registration number. The card will serve as an identification card of every foreign national living in Japan. Article 13 states that, all foreign nationals of sixteen years of age or older are required to carry their alien registration card at all times, instead of their passports. If under any circumstances a foreign national was asked to present their registration cards, one should always make it available at all times. Article 18-2 No. 4 states that, any foreigner caught violating this rule will be subjected to a fine of not more than two hundred thousand yen, and for special permanent residence, a fine of not more than a hundred thousand yen. In general, foreign residents in any country are required to carry along their passports at all times. In Japan, instead of carrying the passport, one must carry the alien registration card. The alien registration card is being issued to safeguard the passport of foreign residents. By the way, a number of groups are giving free consultations for foreign nationals on immigration related issues. The Osaka Prefectural Administrators Group provides free consultation in English, Spanish, Chinese and Polish every second Wednesday of the month, from 1 to 4 o'clock in the afternoon. You can call the Osaka Prefectural Administrators Group at 0669437501, 0669437501. The Toyonaka International Center in corporation with the Gyosei Syoshi Nyukan Tetsuzuki Kenkyu-Kai also gives a free consultation every Friday from 1 to 4 o' clock in the afternoon. You can call the Toyonaka International Center at 0668434343, 0668434343. Call in advance if you would need a translator for your mother tongue. Because of the IT technology, now there is also a 24 hours internet free consultation website, which one can access on three consecutive days at the beginning of every month. The address is ajisai.sakura.ne.jp/ childergnp. For further information, send your email to gyonyuke@nbox2.inet-osaka. or.jp. Or call 0722329364, 0722329364 for further details. If you have any problems concerning immigration issues, don't hesitate to approach the support groups I just mentioned. |
|
|
|
