Post by junkdna on Mar 31, 2008 9:48:32 GMT 8
I'm on the fence on this proposal search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20080327a1.html . The thought of a five-year visa and better community services is nice. But I am curious as to what 'closer watch' means. Not that I believe I have to worry about it really. I'm not the criminal type. Which is where I believe the 'watch' would be aimed.
After nearly a decade in Japan, I'm tired of having to renew my visa every year. The year I finally got a three year visa I was jumping for joy. Until I got married and switched to a spousal visa anyway, at which point, Immigration officials said, sorry, but you got to start all over again since this is a different visa type: one year visa. Wait a minute, haven't I paid my dues already? Jeez. When we found out, both my wife and I just shook our heads. She has to come with me after all, prove who she is, prove who I am, prove we are married, and we both have to take a day off of work. Gak. If this silliness would clear up, I would certainly be more inclined to say the new proposal is a good idea.
I'm also curious about what the 'benefits' would be. To be honest, I'm not sure what kinds of benefits I'm getting now. Would better benefits be something akin to having fewer people stare at me less often and so openly? Or perhaps an Expats' Discount at my local movie theater (something akin to a Seniors' Discount)? Or what? Someone please, clarify these benefits before touting they will be better, because I certainly don't think they could top the excellent services widely available to expats / non-Americans in America: civil servants who speak your language, civil rights groups proactively working on your behalf even when nothing is wrong, automatic citizenship to all babies born within its sovereign borders, et al.
Anyway, I'm interested. But I would like to hear clear cut answers first. (Though I know asking for a bullet to the head would be easier.)
After nearly a decade in Japan, I'm tired of having to renew my visa every year. The year I finally got a three year visa I was jumping for joy. Until I got married and switched to a spousal visa anyway, at which point, Immigration officials said, sorry, but you got to start all over again since this is a different visa type: one year visa. Wait a minute, haven't I paid my dues already? Jeez. When we found out, both my wife and I just shook our heads. She has to come with me after all, prove who she is, prove who I am, prove we are married, and we both have to take a day off of work. Gak. If this silliness would clear up, I would certainly be more inclined to say the new proposal is a good idea.
I'm also curious about what the 'benefits' would be. To be honest, I'm not sure what kinds of benefits I'm getting now. Would better benefits be something akin to having fewer people stare at me less often and so openly? Or perhaps an Expats' Discount at my local movie theater (something akin to a Seniors' Discount)? Or what? Someone please, clarify these benefits before touting they will be better, because I certainly don't think they could top the excellent services widely available to expats / non-Americans in America: civil servants who speak your language, civil rights groups proactively working on your behalf even when nothing is wrong, automatic citizenship to all babies born within its sovereign borders, et al.
Anyway, I'm interested. But I would like to hear clear cut answers first. (Though I know asking for a bullet to the head would be easier.)