Job Discussion Forums

[gibberish]

I would appreciate hearing about recent experiences entering varoius airports in Japan.

I will be arriving soon on a tourist visa. I've read and heard a lot about people being flagged as "looking for work", and subsequently, ordered to leave the country on the next flight.

Has anybody coming to teach recently entered on a tourist visa? Were you discovered or did you pass through? Where are they flagging people? At Immigration or Customs? Is luggage routinely searched or is it random?

Thanks in advance.

[Chris21]

As a foreigner, I think there's a good chance that your luggage will be checked, especially if you're coming from SE Asia. I flew back from Thai in March and every Japanese person in my customs line was quickly waved through, while I (the only foreigner) was searched.

I've also seen drug-sniffing dogs checking all of the in-bound luggage from SE Asia.

I've known plenty of people that came on a tourist visa, found work, and stayed on a new work visa.

[bornslippy1981]

I've flown into Kansai Airport twice, and didn't have my bags searched either time.

As far as I know, unless you tell them you're looking for work, you won't get sent back. Of course, somebody will probably post that they knew a guy, who knew a guy, who knew a gal who got caught, but I've met plenty of people who did what you're doing. Some landed jobs, others went home after 3 months searching, thousands of dollars spent, and heartbreak because they couldn't stay.

Good luck.

[wolfman]

Wait, so what you're saying is... If, at the airport, they know you're looking for work they'll make you get back on a plane and leave? That's legal there?


Related question... If you have a laptop, will they make you turn it on and search the contents of it?

[earthmonkey]

I came on a tourist visa, found a job and changed to a working visa. I can't remember what I told them at passport control as it was over 4 years ago.

As for being searched, I was never asked to open my bags when coming from the U.S. I was when I came back after a trip to Thailand. Perhaps that's just by chance.

Wolfman, I can't imagine them searching the contents of your laptop. Too much porn?

[Gordon]

In the 8 or 9 times I have come into Kansai I have never been searched. But then it might have something to do with travelling with little kids. They make a good cover. Poopy diapers always fool the drug sniffing dogs.

[Zzonkmiles]

I've entered Japan 3 times. All three of these flights were from the US to Kansai International Airport.

The first time was on a work visa and they didn't check any of my bags.

The second time was on the same work visa and they checked all of my bags, opened my suitcases in front of everyone else, took me to a secluded area, and made me take off my shoes so they could inspect them. I was NOT happy about that.

The third time was on a spouse visa and they let me (and my Japanese wife) through with no problem whatsoever.

So it's really a crapshoot. I guess it depends on which customs agent you happen to encounter.

[Ignore What I]

ahhhh if only I could just delete a post entirely. Pardon me.

[wolfman]

[callmesim]

I came here on a working visa and still the Immigration Officer was an arse. I didn't get my bags searched but he kept asking me questions like "So why are you here?", "So you're here for 90 days then?" when he had my passport right in front of him and I'd said I was here for the year.

But I got through so it can't have been too bad. I was very tired at the time which didn't help with my patience levels. [/i]

[Ai]

[ntropy]

Leave the Vicks Inhaler at home.

Illegal substance in Japan

[kdynamic]

The biggest problem I have is people yelling at me to get in the gaijin line when I know I'm supposed to be in the citizens and re-entrants line

[JimDunlop2]

they've recently (or maybe even not so recently) clarified that. There are now English/Jpns signs that specifiy that the nihonjin line is ALSO for foreigners with re-entry permits.

[PAULH]