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Serendipity
Joined: 14 Oct 2005 Posts: 36
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Posted: Sun May 07, 2006 6:05 pm Post subject: CoE / Gaijin cards for Japanese |
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Just got my CoE the other day but the problem is, even after looking around this forum, I'm still confused regarding what to do next with this very pretty piece of paper sitting on my fridge (the rest of my family got the brains, I just got the looks).
Do I have to start another application process? Do I just get a stamp at the consulate here in Japan? Do I become a Korean tourist for a couple of days?
On a completely unrelated and darker note, I heard something today that just blew me away.
I have a friend who was born, educated and currently lives in Japan. His parents (one or both, I don't know) are Korean which apparently means he is required by law to carry a gaijin card!. I was stunned. Is it just me, or is this just a LITTLE over the top? You mean being born here is not enough?
Visually, the card is identical to ours but he has a little more flexibility when leaving and entering the country. One downside mentioned was the difficulty in obtaining tourist visas in other countries (such as America)..
Maybe I'm missing something obvious here and there is a perfectly reasonable justification for this... |
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earthmonkey
Joined: 18 Feb 2005 Posts: 188 Location: Meguro-Ku Tokyo
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Posted: Sun May 07, 2006 6:24 pm Post subject: |
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Congrats.
Take your COE to the immigration office here in Japan. They will give (sell) you your visa. |
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Serendipity
Joined: 14 Oct 2005 Posts: 36
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Posted: Sun May 07, 2006 6:28 pm Post subject: |
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(getting up from floor and back onto chair) Is it really that easy? |
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earthmonkey
Joined: 18 Feb 2005 Posts: 188 Location: Meguro-Ku Tokyo
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Posted: Sun May 07, 2006 6:52 pm Post subject: |
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Yes, you used to need to go to an Embassy overseas, but this is no longer the case. Visa is 4,000 yen. You purchase a tax stamp at a store in or near your immigration office. Are you in Tokyo? If so, you'll go to Shinagawa. |
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kdynamic

Joined: 05 Nov 2005 Posts: 562 Location: Japan
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Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 1:15 am Post subject: |
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Re: zainichi koreans carrying gaijin cards. It's a lot more complicated than that. Most of them have the option to become citizens, but choose not too for many reasons involving taxes, politics, etc. But, in short, just being born in Japan does NOT mean you get citizenship. |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan
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Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 3:37 am Post subject: |
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kdynamic wrote: |
Re: zainichi koreans carrying gaijin cards. It's a lot more complicated than that. Most of them have the option to become citizens, but choose not too for many reasons involving taxes, politics, etc. But, in short, just being born in Japan does NOT mean you get citizenship. |
Ethnically they are Koreans and carry Korean passports (as they are considered foreigners, though born in Japan). If they want to become Japanese nationals they have to change to a Japanese name, quite a bit to swallow for many who lived through World war II and suffer anti-Korean persecution.
Many have Korean and Japanese names and often hide their Korean names and 'act' as if they are Japanese. In reality they are Korean nationals born in Japan. |
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Serendipity
Joined: 14 Oct 2005 Posts: 36
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Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 8:06 am Post subject: |
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That starts to make sense; he always did get a bit sensitive at being called Japanese.
CoE..
I live in Tokyo, can I go to Tachigawa instead of Shinagawa? |
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Brooks
Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1369 Location: Sagamihara
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Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 9:50 am Post subject: |
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no, I think Shinagawa. |
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