Alien registration cards

[nampachamp]

I was wondering if those with SOFA status can still apply for alien registration cards. My folks are gonna be leaving soon but I'm planning on staying. If my visa is still up to date, can I get an ARC?

[socalheart]

I was told by Japanese immigration and the U.S. Consulate that as an American citizen you must exchange alien resident status for SOFA status or vice versa.

[paradox]

You must have a sponsor to get a visa to live in Japan. If you are not married to a Japanese person, it is not so easy, but can be done. You could get a job and be sponsored, but not so easy, and it is possible, but not extremely likely, to get a Japanese person to sponsor you but they would take full responsibility for you and your actions. Check with the immigrations department in Naha or outside Kadena gate 2.

[wkarma]

There is no immigration outside gate 2. It moved six years or so ago over by BC street and moved again a year ago to kadena circle.
peace

[Muku]

You must have a sponsor to get a visa to live in Japan. If you are not married to a Japanese person, it is not so easy, but can be done. You could get a job and be sponsored, but not so easy, and it is possible, but not extremely likely, to get a Japanese person to sponsor you but they would take full responsibility for you and your actions. Check with the immigrations department in Naha or outside Kadena gate 2.
And if you have the means and proof that you can support yourself, have a job with a steady income you can also in some cases sponsor yourself as well without the need of a Japanese sponsor.

I was told by Japanese immigration and the U.S. Consulate that as an American citizen you must exchange alien resident status for SOFA status or vice versa.
I concur with what Socal wrote. If a person who was living off base for example here with a spouse visa took a SOFA status position that would all be lost, even if the person had PR status here.

[wkarma]

Spouse visa lost. PR not lost. You can still have PR in many cases even with sofa status. They will consider you a permenant resident with sofa status privledges. This will not work if you get sofa status through MCCS or 18SVC.

peace

[Muku]

Spouse visa lost. PR not lost. You can still have PR in many cases even with sofa status. They will consider you a permenant resident with sofa status privledges. This will not work if you get sofa status through MCCS or 18SVC.

peace

Care to share how? Seeing as how immigration here will cancel your PR or any other status when you get your passport stamped as having SOFA.

You wont have a spouse visa if you have pr status there is no need to carry both. Once you receive pr status you have changed your visa status from a spouse visa to permanent residence status.

[wkarma]

Care to share how? Seeing as how immigration here will cancel your PR or any other status when you get your passport stamped as having SOFA.

You wont have a spouse visa if you have pr status there is no need to carry both. Once you receive pr status you have changed your visa status from a spouse visa to permanent residence status.

It doesnt matter so much Muku. Im sure anything i post in this case you will have a smartass answer for. So i will just say i am a permenant resident as im sure you are as well. I do not work on base but i did work for americable back in the day and had an ID card was still a PR and never lost it. But you are correct if you have your passport stamped with sofa you will loose your visa or PR. But when you have PR you do not have to get your passport stamped sofa unless the people who are sponsering you require it.
peace

[nampachamp]

this is an unrelated question, but do any of you know how to get into the japanese only clubs, like "king of mania" or others? i tried to get in with some japanese friends, and i speak the language pretty well but they still wouldn't allow it. i'm a college student visiting and it'd be nice to party with the locals.

[BEELINE]

I work for Stars and Stripes have a ID card and when i went to Immigration was told Permenant residents do not have to change there status as far as immigration is concerned. If the command you work for makes you change thats a different story. The Armys policy is no need to change.

[wkarma]

this is an unrelated question, but do any of you know how to get into the japanese only clubs, like "king of mania" or others? i tried to get in with some japanese friends, and i speak the language pretty well but they still wouldn't allow it. i'm a college student visiting and it'd be nice to party with the locals.

By law they can not keep you out (unless you are sofa status) Show your passport, alien registration or drivers license to prove you are not sofa status.
Most of the time at that point they will let you in if not and you speek japanese just go to the nearest police box and let them know whats going on ask them to go back with you to the club most of the time they will go back and sort it out with you.
Peace

[hankypanky]

By law they can not keep you out (unless you are sofa status) Show your passport, alien registration or drivers license to prove you are not sofa status.
Most of the time at that point they will let you in if not and you speek japanese just go to the nearest police box and let them know whats going on ask them to go back with you to the club most of the time they will go back and sort it out with you.
Peace

Most of the time it is not the owners, but the clientel that goes to that joint that don't like americans. Either from personal reasons, lack of language, stereotype of americans being noisy....the list goes on.

Better just find another joint if your okinawan friends can't get u in.

[Okiman]

Here is the problem with having a SOFA job and carrying PR in your passport, which laws do you fall under? They have started cracking down on folks that have PR status and are getting ID cards via the CVS. Those who have gone through this know that they review all of your credentials, and make sure that your passport is stamped SOFA prior to you getting an ID card. This has been in effect for a few months now, so many of you might not know about it. This is to make sure that you either fall under SOFA with an ID card or your PR status with an Alien card. The next step and what Korea has done is that if you have had any status other than SOFA, student, or visitor, then you will not be eligible for a SOFA job. I have heard a few guys that are sweating it over there as their time comes for renewing all their stuff.

[Muku]

It doesnt matter so much Muku. Im sure anything i post in this case you will have a smartass answer for. So i will just say i am a permenant resident as im sure you are as well. I do not work on base but i did work for americable back in the day and had an ID card was still a PR and never lost it. But you are correct if you have your passport stamped with sofa you will loose your visa or PR. But when you have PR you do not have to get your passport stamped sofa unless the people who are sponsering you require it.
peace

As you probably know there is a difference between carrying an ID and having SOFA status the two do not necessarily go hand in hand.

If telling you something that you wrote is incorrect makes my replies to you as being a smartass then wtf does that make you? :scratchchin:

I work for Stars and Stripes have a ID card and when i went to Immigration was told Permenant residents do not have to change there status as far as immigration is concerned. If the command you work for makes you change thats a different story. The Armys policy is no need to change.
Are you officially under SOFA status? Is that stamped in your passport as well?

Like I wrote above there is a difference between and ID and Sofa.

[Muku]

Here is the problem with having a SOFA job and carrying PR in your passport, which laws do you fall under? They have started cracking down on folks that have PR status and are getting ID cards via the CVS. Those who have gone through this know that they review all of your credentials, and make sure that your passport is stamped SOFA prior to you getting an ID card. This has been in effect for a few months now, so many of you might not know about it. This is to make sure that you either fall under SOFA with an ID card or your PR status with an Alien card. The next step and what Korea has done is that if you have had any status other than SOFA, student, or visitor, then you will not be eligible for a SOFA job. I have heard a few guys that are sweating it over there as their time comes for renewing all their stuff.

What matters if I remember correctly is whether or not your passport is stamped sofa.

One thing to keep in mind as well is that people who have PR status here in Japan have NO requirement to renew their visa so there would be no "official" reason for them to go to immigration to report the change in their status and to show their passport to them unless they were concerned about Japanese laws.

The reason being is that once you are under the SOFA you are under the direct guidance of the sofa and have different protections and rights afforded US citizens that are covered specifically in the sofa that a person who had pr or other visa status here in Japan would not have. That is the purpose of the sofa in the first place as you all know to protect your rights as an American Citizen.

That is one of the reasons that this comment that wkarma made in an earlier post doesnt make any sense.
Spouse visa lost. PR not lost. You can still have PR in many cases even with sofa status.

[Muku]

By law they can not keep you out (unless you are sofa status) Show your passport, alien registration or drivers license to prove you are not sofa status.
Most of the time at that point they will let you in if not and you speek japanese just go to the nearest police box and let them know whats going on ask them to go back with you to the club most of the time they will go back and sort it out with you.
Peace

Tell that do Debito:rolleyes:. You are right by law they shouldnt be able to keep you out but why in the hell would anyone want to go to a place where you are not wanted?

Good luck to anyone following this advice and going to the cops and trying to get their assistance in getting you into some club that doesnt want you their in the first place.

It is awfully naive of someone imo to think that threatening to go to the cops is a smart way to get into a club here. Plus even if you were lucky enough to actually get their assistance and get into said club there is no law that says they have to seat you or serve you btw. :scratchchin:

[Okiman]

What matters if I remember correctly is whether or not your passport is stamped sofa.

One thing to keep in mind as well is that people who have PR status here in Japan have NO requirement to renew their visa so there would be no "official" reason for them to go to immigration to report the change in their status and to show their passport to them unless they were concerned about Japanese laws.

The reason being is that once you are under the SOFA you are under the direct guidance of the sofa and have different protections and rights afforded US citizens that are covered specifically in the sofa that a person who had pr or other visa status here in Japan would not have. That is the purpose of the sofa in the first place as you all know to protect your rights as an American Citizen.

That is one of the reasons that this comment that wkarma made in an earlier post doesnt make any sense.

Agree, but I have seen guys recently getting rejected for getting CAC cards with privileges unitl they changed their status. Like I said the CVS is still new and folks are catching up, so we will see how it goes, if at all.

[wkarma]

Tell that do Debito:rolleyes:. You are right by law they shouldnt be able to keep you out but why in the hell would anyone want to go to a place where you are not wanted?

Good luck to anyone following this advice and going to the cops and trying to get their assistance in getting you into some club that doesnt want you their in the first place.

It is awfully naive of someone imo to think that threatening to go to the cops is a smart way to get into a club here. Plus even if you were lucky enough to actually get their assistance and get into said club there is no law that says they have to seat you or serve you btw. :scratchchin:

True if i was not wanted inside i probably wouldnt go. Only had it happen to me one time at a snack i explained myself to the owner and was let inside. I didnt say threaten to go to the cop i said go. If you want you can force the issue although its not really worth it if they dont want you there you probably wont have fun any way. Just go someplace where you are more welcome. And by the way screw David (Debito)
peace.

[Carl]

Hypothetically, if I were to get PR, then get a SOFA job, I would lose PR? OK. Now, what if I decide that the SOFA job wasn't all that great and decide to quit and go back to my old job? When I go back to immigration, would I have to start all the way back from a marriage visa again or can I go right back to PR? I'm guessing they would make me go back to having a visa...they could squeeze more money out of me that way.

(the immigration office probably makes quite a bit of money with the visa renewal scam they are running...just like the DMV with their driving test.)

[wkarma]

This is directed towards you Muku. Seeing how you will not allow any PMs.
This is the second time you have called me naive. You know nothing about me but i am far from naive. What i am is 46 years old been on okinawa 24 years. Married three times. Jailed twice. In the naha detention facility once for an extended stay. (all three times for weed by the way before any one asks) Seen and done alot of shit so far in my life not all good but i can say i have never ****** anybody over. So being called naive is just plane silly. Exspecially by a sad lonley little man that goes by Muku.
peace

[Okiman]

Hypothetically, if I were to get PR, then get a SOFA job, I would lose PR? OK. Now, what if I decide that the SOFA job wasn't all that great and decide to quit and go back to my old job? When I go back to immigration, would I have to start all the way back from a marriage visa again or can I go right back to PR? I'm guessing they would make me go back to having a visa...they could squeeze more money out of me that way.

(the immigration office probably makes quite a bit of money with the visa renewal scam they are running...just like the DMV with their driving test.)

I am not 100% sure, but that is what I have been lead to believe and why the guys try to hide thier passports when they have to get ID cards. My advise to guys that PR is do you want to give it all up for a year long contract that gives you an ID card.

[Muku]

This is directed towards you Muku. Seeing how you will not allow any PMs. This is the second time you have called me naive. You know nothing about me but i am far from naive. What i am is 46 years old been on okinawa 24 years. Married three times. Jailed twice. In the naha detention facility once for an extended stay. (all three times for weed by the way before any one asks) Seen and done alot of shit so far in my life not all good but i can say i have never ****** anybody over. So being called naive is just plane silly. Exspecially by a sad lonley little man that goes by Muku.
peace

This is why I called you naive. You know I have no idea why you added the comment about ******* someone over, or being in detention, or your marriage history whatever when you or anyone has to resort to asinine comments like this to try to make their point that comes across as being naive (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/naive).

Oh I allow PM's however I just wont answer them that's all. :D

FYI this is the definition of naive.....
1. having or showing unaffected simplicity of nature or absence of artificiality; unsophisticated; ingenuous.

And your replies in response to what I wrote fit this definition to a "T".

[wkarma]

I guess the bottom line is if you get sofa status and go to immigration and ask them to change your passport to sofa they will of course and you will loose your Visa or PR. If your command says you must then you must and you will loose your status. Most people out there with a PR would not think of going on base. Most of the time they have established themselfs locally and no longer care about sofa status jobs.
peace

[Muku]

Most people out there with a PR would not think of going on base. Most of the time they have established themselfs locally and no longer care about sofa status jobs.

On this we agree!:thumbup1:

[wkarma]

This is why I called you naive. You know I have no idea why you added the comment about ******* someone over, or being in detention, or your marriage history whatever when you or anyone has to resort to asinine comments like this to try to make their point that comes across as being naive (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/naive).

Oh I allow PM's however I just wont answer them that's all. :D

FYI this is the definition of naive.....
1. having or showing unaffected simplicity of nature or absence of artificiality; unsophisticated; ingenuous.

And your replies in response to what I wrote fit this definition to a "T". Still way off. But thats ok to each his own. The reason i posted some personnel stuff is kind of the same reason you posted page upon page about your mother in laws death. (my respects by the way im sure it was a hard time for you and your family) That and you got my goat a little by calling me naive. So good on you its not every day some one can get under my skin. I guess im just one naive SOB.
peace

[Muku]

Hypothetically, if I were to get PR, then get a SOFA job, I would lose PR? OK. Now, what if I decide that the SOFA job wasn't all that great and decide to quit and go back to my old job? When I go back to immigration, would I have to start all the way back from a marriage visa again or can I go right back to PR? I'm guessing they would make me go back to having a visa...they could squeeze more money out of me that way.

(the immigration office probably makes quite a bit of money with the visa renewal scam they are running...just like the DMV with their driving test.)

I was told by immigration once a long time ago that if I ever took a SOFA job and had it stamped in my passport and then go back to a visa status that it would be the same as starting back at zero.

Now then it is a HELL of a lot easier now a days to get PR status here than 20 years ago. Back then it took a shit load of paperwork and a hell of a long time just to get a reply to the request. Now it only takes a few months in most cases and it can be applied for as well in something as short as 5 or 6 years of living here.

So it's up to the individual I guess, hell why not just take the ID card and forgo the sofa status?

My advise to guys that PR is do you want to give it all up for a year long contract that gives you an ID card.
Good point! Is it worth it?

[Muku]

Still way off. But thats ok to each his own. The reason i posted some personnel stuff is kind of the same reason you posted page upon page about your mother in laws death. (my respects by the way im sure it was a hard time for you and your family) That and you got my goat a little by calling me naive. So good on you its not every day some one can get under my skin. I guess im just one naive SOB.
peace

Well next time how about writing your own thread about it huh?:grin1:

Hey I will admit to you that I am still naive about a lot of shit here too.

Thanks for the condolences btw :12a:

And peace to you as well.

[wkarma]

(the immigration office probably makes quite a bit of money with the visa renewal scam they are running...just like the DMV with their driving test.)[/QUOTE] Not sure when the rules changed but years ago you only needed to bring your state side license to the NAHA dmv along with a translation and they would change it over for a small fee.

peace

[Okiman]

I think that the main problem about the rules here, they are based upon whomever you are dealing with that day. 10 years here and 10 different ways of what is right and wrong. Thus I play by the most humblest of rules.:old:

[Muku]

(the immigration office probably makes quite a bit of money with the visa renewal scam they are running...just like the DMV with their driving test.) Not sure when the rules changed but years ago you only needed to bring your state side license to the NAHA dmv along with a translation and they would change it over for a small fee.

peace
Me too!:thumbup: I actually feel sorry for the people now a days. Like you probably, I have heard too many horror stories about the guys that run the tests down at Naha's DMV.:thumbdown:

I often wonder who actually bitched about the rules/laws to "make" them change the rules in the first place. My mistake was not having my military licenses transfered over as well, which I could have had done too at the same time. :cursing:

[wkarma]

I will say rules are rules but here in Japan it depends on what day and who you talk to as to how the rules are interpreted. Just be humble and if you dont get the answer you want go back again and odds are good or bad you will get a different answer.

peace

[Carl]

It took me 3 tries to get my license here. The driving test is hard and if they want you to fail, they will find the littlest things to make you fail (which is why it is so hard). You get charged for each try too (something like $40 total) which is why they want you to fail. The first time I went, I failed for going a little past the white line at the first stop sign. Fair enough, but the sign was way past the line and made stopping like that kind of awkward. I also thought it sucked that it was an instant fail instead of a point deduction. I went to the driving school a couple weeks later then took the test again immediately afterward. I failed again for not getting far enough to the left or right before making a turn. It was BS because I knew I was turning correctly, but he took points off for each and every turn anyway. I went back to the driving school a second time just to make sure and I finally passed the test on the third try.

One thing I noticed the 3 times I was there was that cute girls who didn't do too terrible on the test would generally pass on their first try. I was actually in the back seat during one such girl's test...she didn't check her mirrors a single time yet somehow still passed. Every time I went, every cute girl passed on her first try with the exception of one. Guys don't have that much luck.

They probably got something going on with the schools too because they'll ask every time if you've been to a school and if so, they'll ask where. It's hard to explain, but it all just seemed very fishy the way they asked about it and then went on to suggest certain schools.

As for the immigration office, they tell me I'll get the 3 year visa NEXT year...they tell me that every year right after handing me my 1 year visa. I've asked them about this and they won't give me a solid answer. They just try to dodge the question and say something like "some people only get 6 month visas. It depends on the person". It's not a huge deal though...at least it's still MUCH cheaper than it would be to get my wife a green card. It just sucks missing work (hourly pay:thumbdown:) going down there every year to take care of it. It would be nice if there were set criteria as to who got what though. Oh, and I asked them how many years it takes to get PR and their reply was "eventually". :scratchchin:

[Muku]

They probably got something going on with the schools too because they'll ask every time if you've been to a school and if so, they'll ask where. It's hard to explain, but it all just seemed very fishy the way they asked about it and then went on to suggest certain schools
That's why the girls passed.....they paid the money to go to the school.:cursing: Sucks but thats the way to do it here, pay $2,000.00 or so, go to the driving school, and "pass" the test. :rolleyes:


As for the immigration office, they tell me I'll get the 3 year visa NEXT year...they tell me that every year right after handing me my 1 year visa. I've asked them about this and they won't give me a solid answer. They just try to dodge the question and say something like "some people only get 6 month visas. It depends on the person". It's not a huge deal though...at least it's still MUCH cheaper than it would be to get my wife a green card. It just sucks missing work (hourly pay) going down there every year to take care of it. It would be nice if there were set criteria as to who got what though. Oh, and I asked them how many years it takes to get PR and their reply was "eventually".

Eventually you will get your visa, I actually had immigration "tell" me to apply for pr status.

[TheLastDon]

As far as the drivers license goes, if you have a SOFA license(not expired) and your stateside license you don't have to take a driving test. You will still have to get your stateside license translated and present your SOFA license and all you will have to do is watch a video and take a written test. At least that's how it was about 3 years ago. If anyone want to know for sure I can make a few calls and post again.

[hankypanky]

Hypothetically, if I were to get PR, then get a SOFA job, I would lose PR? OK. Now, what if I decide that the SOFA job wasn't all that great and decide to quit and go back to my old job? When I go back to immigration, would I have to start all the way back from a marriage visa again or can I go right back to PR? I'm guessing they would make me go back to having a visa...they could squeeze more money out of me that way.

(the immigration office probably makes quite a bit of money with the visa renewal scam they are running...just like the DMV with their driving test.)

how much ****in' money are they making on on a visa, 50 bucks, say 60? get a ****in life! if u want to stay here, u deal with it. If not, go back to the big PX in the sky:thumbdown:

[Sex Wax]

Just be illegal like me...makes it more interesting. Oh wait, I have a SOFA ID now. OK ... nevermind. I used to be "shima-gaijin" Now i just wash cars to facilitate the cheap purchase of charcoal and beer, and to bring YOU, the potential consumer, a little enjoyment. And I like to make fun of people at the barbershop getting haircuts. Plus, I really dig Taco Bell.

[Carl]

That's why the girls passed.....they paid the money to go to the school.:cursing: Sucks but thats the way to do it here, pay $2,000.00 or so, go to the driving school, and "pass" the test. :rolleyes:


$2000 for the school?! Is that for driver's ed or something? I only payed about $50... The school I went to (Naminoue) just lets you drive around a copy of the real course for an hour with an instructor.

Oh, and hank, I think your reply was a little uncalled for. I do deal with it and if you had read my other post I even said it wasn't a big deal. I was trying to point out how the vagueness of who gets what ("It depends on the person" is the only criteria I can get from them) seems kind of like a scam.

[Asshat]

I guess the bottom line is if you get sofa status and go to immigration and ask them to change your passport to sofa they will of course and you will loose your Visa or PR. If your command says you must then you must and you will loose your status. Most people out there with a PR would not think of going on base. Most of the time they have established themselfs locally and no longer care about sofa status jobs.
peace

Well, I was able to manage two pages of this thread. Currently on Okinawa, no US Gov agencies are telling anyone to produce their SOFA stamp unless they are getting a job under SOFA, ie spouse preference.

However, no US Gov agency will hire anyone on a tourist visa either.

The discussion seems to revolve around the nuances between base privledges, (ID or CAC) and visa.

NAF agencies may require a new employee receive a SOFA stamp. Either way, that doesn't mean that employee gives up his gaijin torokusho.

And for those of you pretending you are Japanese, and staying away from the bases, all I can say is if you had a cushy Gov job with SOFA, your ability to stay here would not be based on the wishes of your wife, and maybe, just maybe, you'd be making enough bread to afford the gasoline to actually drive somewhere. Not to mention higher quality beef at reduced prices. :grin1:

[wkarma]

Permenant Residents are not here at the whim of there wifes we stay here married or not and can sponser others. But your are correct if you are saying people with a spouse visa. But i do know a few that were here for several years got divorced and due to the length of there stay on okinawa were still able to get a long term visa that need to be renewed every three years. And arent the people with the cushy base jobs here at the whim of the U.S. gov.
peace

[Muku]

The only thing I would add to that as well is in reference to this comment here....NAF agencies may require a new employee receive a SOFA stamp. Either way, that doesn't mean that employee gives up his gaijin torokusho..

It only matters really to the Japanese government.

The US authorites would have no say about that anyway unless they were pricks about it and decided to notify Japanese immigration and inform them about a persons status change but what are the odds of that happening?

[Asshat]

The US authorites would have no say about that anyway unless they were pricks about it and decided to notify Japanese immigration and inform them about a persons status change but what are the odds of that happening?

Zero. All hiring agencies however do require a copy of the passport to verify the applicant is in Japan legally, and not on a tourist visa.

The places that issue ID cards definitely don't check passports.

It stands to reason that one could (as many do) maintain both SOFA and PR status.

[thistle]

Yes, Artic Blue,

I got a 6 month visa, numerous 1 year visa's, (the immigration office in Tokyo is brutal, I once saw them telling off some Taiwanese students off for going back to their home country to visit, when I asked for a re-entry they just stamped me no problem).
Then when I came to Okinawa I finally got 3 year visas.

Normally you can apply for PR after 8 years of living here on a spouse visa I would say, but I have found the Immigration office here to be particulary leniant and they even speak english up at Kadena!

[Bones]

As posted by AH:

The places that issue ID cards definitely don't check passports.

I guess that you know best, but for myself.......

I applied for an immigrant visa before returning this time.

Sent off a package of paperwork prior to leaving stateside.

One of the documents required proof of sponsorship.

Once we got here, I had to be finger printed.

And to get my card, all of the data had to match.

Yes, they do check your information. And if you lie about your background, it won't take them long to get rid of you. Lost 7 neighbors to date.

Bones:old:

[Asshat]

Yes, they do check your information. And if you lie about your background, it won't take them long to get rid of you. Lost 7 neighbors to date.

Bones:old:

Hi Bones. I was refering to DOD ID cards, or CAC cards. The HR will check passports before issuing a DD 1172.

I suppose if one was getting a PR card (torokusho) they would not want to have a giant SOFA stamp in their passport either.

[Muku]

I suppose if one was getting a PR card (torokusho) they would not want to have a giant SOFA stamp in their passport either.

AH you may already know this and if so oh well........just to let you know here there is no such thing specifically as a PR card. The gaikokujin toroku shomeisho that you often refer to is the card that we by law have to carry about with us where ever we go off base.:rolleyes:

Permanent Residency is a visa status called eiju or having your eiju ken; 永住権, えいじゅうけん, which just happens to be printed on the card.

[Muku]

I applied for an immigrant visa before returning this time.


Bones Japan doesn't have an immigrant status visa.:scratchchin: Japan also for the most part doesnt take in refugee's either. People dont usually emmigrate to Japan because the immigration laws here, or should I say Japan isn't really an open borders type of country.

Now if you had written spouse visa I would have understood. Japan has only 7 categories of visa's (http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/03.html#categories) according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Website.

Types of visa's for Japan (http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/04.html#a)


Once we got here, I had to be finger printed.

Nothing special about that. Just be happy you don't have to have the one of the prints on your alien registration card.

[Bones]

As posted by Muku:

Bones Japan doesn't have an immigrant status visa.:scratchchin: Japan also for the most part doesnt take in refugee's either. People dont usually emmigrate to Japan because the immigration laws here, or should I say Japan isn't really an open borders type of country.

Now if you had written spouse visa I would have understood. Japan has only 7 categories of visa's according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Website.

Well, this is what we did before we left Florida. I called the Japanese consulate, told them of my intentions to retire here on Okinawa. They sent me some forms that needed to be filled out. I mailed the necessary forms to our relatives over here. Once those were returned, I sent in my passport, the required paperwork, and a $25.00 check, and a few weeks later got my
passport back with a three year Visa in it.

Doesn't matter what it's called, I'm here.:D

Bones

[Maytag Man]

As far as the drivers license goes, if you have a SOFA license(not expired) and your stateside license you don't have to take a driving test. You will still have to get your stateside license translated and present your SOFA license and all you will have to do is watch a video and take a written test. At least that's how it was about 3 years ago. If anyone want to know for sure I can make a few calls and post again.

Don, that's the latest info I got from a couple of recently retired friends married to locals. Where did you go for the license? Nago? Thanks! :thumbup1:

[Bones]

The only thing that would add, is if you have an expired sofa license, bring it with you. And take a local driving class off base. It costs about 5000 yen for a one hour class.

If you've taken the off base course, and you have failed your first test, go back to the driving school again. Explain to the instructor why you failed, and ask him for guidance. For my part, I couldn't get my brain to accept having to drift to the right, or left, before my turn. During my second time at the school, the instructor focused on my weakness, and I passed on the third try.

One of the the advantages of going to the class, the place that is teaching you sends a report to the local police department. I've known some people at the testing station down in Naha, who have failed 17 times. The people who take local classes often pass their exam faster than the ones who have not.

The written test is a laugh. The driving part is the hardest. Some people have failed the written test. They fail, because they forget that in Japan, we drive on the left side of the road.

But, best of luck.:cool:

[TheLastDon]

Don, that's the latest info I got from a couple of recently retired friends married to locals. Where did you go for the license? Nago? Thanks! :thumbup1:

My friend went to the one in Naha. It's the place marked with a B on the map.


http://maps.google.co.jp/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=ja&geocode=&q=%E9%81%8B%E8%BB%A2%E5%85%8D%E8%A8%B1+&sll=26.221983,127.701473&sspn=0.047816,0.087805&ie=UTF8&ll=26.215703,127.667157&spn=0.002989,0.005488&t=h&z=18

[Muku]

My friend went to the one in Naha. It's the place marked with a B on the map.


http://maps.google.co.jp/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=ja&geocode=&q=%E9%81%8B%E8%BB%A2%E5%85%8D%E8%A8%B1+&sll=26.221983,127.701473&sspn=0.047816,0.087805&ie=UTF8&ll=26.215703,127.667157&spn=0.002989,0.005488&t=h&z=18

This is second hand info here so anyone might want to check ahead before going but I have heard that Naha is the only location here on island that offers the driving test, (written portion only) in English.

[TheLastDon]

This is second hand info here so anyone might want to check ahead before going but I have heard that Naha is the only location here on island that offers the driving test, (written portion only) in English.

Second hand info? Aw jeez ok Muku I will clarify, I didn't get a license there but I took my friend there because he didn't know his way around Naha. I made some calls to find out the proper procedure. Now if you want to debate whether or not the location in NAHA on the map I posted is not the place go ahead. :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

Why do I even bother? :argh14: Technically isn't all stuff posted on here second hand info? I mean how many people on this board have actually met in person.

[Asshat]

Why do I even bother? :argh14: Technically isn't all stuff posted on here second hand info? I mean how many people on this board have actually met in person.

Come on Don! You too can be an expert on all things Okinawa. All you have to do is ask your wife to verify everything you post. lol. Then it could be the "real deal."

[Muku]

Second hand info? Aw jeez ok Muku I will clarify, I didn't get a license there but I took my friend there because he didn't know his way around Naha. I made some calls to find out the proper procedure. Now if you want to debate whether or not the location in NAHA on the map I posted is not the place go ahead. :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

Why do I even bother? :argh14: Technically isn't all stuff posted on here second hand info? I mean how many people on this board have actually met in person.

Damn TLD....LMFAO here.....:D

My post started "This is second hand information here....BECAUSE the information I was posting was SECOND HAND information not in reference to what you had posted. (I honestly thought I was adding information to what you had written that's all........)

I never had to take the test because I got my license the old fashioned way here.....I got it translated.

Sorry about that.....:crying::D

[TheLastDon]

Damn TLD....LMFAO here.....:D

My post started "This is second hand information here....BECAUSE the information I was posting was SECOND HAND information not in reference to what you had posted. (I honestly thought I was adding information to what you had written that's all........)

I never had to take the test because I got my license the old fashioned way here.....I got it translated.

Sorry about that.....:crying::D

Fair enough, you quoted me so... :)

[Muku]

Fair enough, you quoted me so... :)

Yeah I did.....wonder of wonders though, it got mis-read.:D