Visa matters group posting on GLOBOsapiens

Japan Gets Tough with Visa Overstays

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whereisliz Joined: Oct 03 Points: 8654 Posts: 164 Posted: 2004-05-10 18:40:00    From this morning's San Francisco Chronicle: "Known locally as "overstayers," foreigners are subject to being jailed for three to four days, fined up to $3,000 and banned from Japan for five years for staying a single day longer than their visa permits. Some are even charged $600 for each day in detention and denied the right to call their family or embassy unless they appeal their cases, a three- to five-week process that few overstayers opt for." "Christopher Mockford, a student from Ellensburg, Wash., was handcuffed and detained for three days after finishing a yearlong scholarship program at Shimane University in western Japan. He, too, was banished from Japan for five years, for staying one day longer than his visa allowed. "My major is Japanese, and now I will have to probably change it," Mockford said." Whole article here: http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/05/10/MNGT16IQK81.DTL --- travel inspiration & information at whereisliz.com Reply    Reply with quote    Contact whereisliz   kathmandukitten Premium account Joined: Sep 03 Points: 2729 Posts: 82 Posted: 2004-05-11 14:54:00    My word! Thanks for the warning! I overstayed my visa in Thailand to save 100 Baht and the hassle of standing in an immigration office for the day.. next time i go anywhere near Japan i'm leaving on time!! --- Would you risk it, for a biscuit? Reply    Reply with quote    Contact kathmandukitten