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aodtohan
Joined: 09 Jan 2010
Posts: 28
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 Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 5:27 am Post subject: Getting a Softbank Keitai Plan (on a US TOURIST VISA) |
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In relation to getting a GAIJIN CARD with my US tourist visa, I am aware that owning a KEITAI japan is absolutely crucial.
However, to sign up for a plan (Ex. Softbank), they require a GAIJIN CARD (or at least some certification from the City Ward).
Have any of anyone who were successfully able to sign up for KEITAI plans even without having a Work Visa yet? I have my old keitai with me (since I was an exchange student in Tokyo last year) and I hear that it would be much cheaper to use the same phone and start up a new keitai plan. |
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Apsara
Joined: 20 Sep 2005
Posts: 2142
Location: Tokyo, Japan
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| Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 5:39 am Post subject: |
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| I believe that it's not only the alien registration card that you need, it's a visa allowing long term stay. Even with the ARC you may well be turned down for a plan. |
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seklarwia
Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 1546
Location: Monkey onsen, Nagano
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| Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 5:52 am Post subject: |
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| You need an ARC and permission to stay for at least 90 days when you apply to sign up. That pretty much rules out all tourist visa holders. |
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Apsara
Joined: 20 Sep 2005
Posts: 2142
Location: Tokyo, Japan
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| Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 6:47 am Post subject: |
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| Tourist permit holders do get 90 days, so perhaps it's "more than 90 days" rather than "at least 90 days"? A detail I know, but it would make a difference in this case. |
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wayne432
Joined: 05 Jun 2008
Posts: 255
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| Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 6:58 am Post subject: |
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Usually you need your alien card, but sometimes you can get away with just your visa (non-tourist).
With just the tourist visa, you could get a prepaid... |
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seklarwia
Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 1546
Location: Monkey onsen, Nagano
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| Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 8:05 am Post subject: |
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| Apsara wrote: |
| Tourist permit holders do get 90 days, so perhaps it's "more than 90 days" rather than "at least 90 days"? A detail I know, but it would make a difference in this case. |
I stand by what I said. And for the record I said at least 90 days when you apply to sign up, so unless the tourist got their ARC and got into a shop to sign up as soon as they stepped out of the airport, they wouldn't be eligible. I have a multilingual service guide in front of me and I quote:
The applicant's visa must be valid for at least 90 days following the date of application.
And at Wayne:
Softbank won't allow you to get any phone, prepaid or contract, without at least an ARC or health insurance card. I can't be bothered to copy out all the terms and conditions especially regarding the 2006 "Act for the Prevention of Illegal Mobile Phone Use" but perhaps you can find them on their website. Basically Softbank won't sign you up unless you have a registered residential address.
Perhaps other companies can supply tourists with a rental phone, but I'm not sure if that is what the OP is looking for. |
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Apsara
Joined: 20 Sep 2005
Posts: 2142
Location: Tokyo, Japan
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| Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 8:08 am Post subject: |
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| Thanks for clearing that up. I didn't realise on reading your other post that you meant the visa had to be valid for 90 days after the date of signing up, but I see that now. |
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wayne432
Joined: 05 Jun 2008
Posts: 255
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| Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 3:43 pm Post subject: |
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| seklarwia wrote: |
And at Wayne:
Softbank won't allow you to get any phone, prepaid or contract, without at least an ARC or health insurance card. I can't be bothered to copy out all the terms and conditions especially regarding the 2006 "Act for the Prevention of Illegal Mobile Phone Use" but perhaps you can find them on their website. Basically Softbank won't sign you up unless you have a registered residential address. |
Well regardless of that, I've had 2 friends pick up softbank prepaid without an ARC or health insurance card while I was with them (last year). I've also heard people tell me they got a prepaid while in the country on a tourist visa (no HRC or alien card).
Of course, this was only Tokyo... when I tried getting a prepaid a few years back (outside of Tokyo), I needed to show them an ARC.
So while I'm not disagreeing with you on the legality, it's still possible. |
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Imseriouslylost
Joined: 09 Nov 2009
Posts: 123
Location: Tokyo
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| Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 4:00 pm Post subject: |
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I've been to several Softbanks, AUs and Docomos looking to get a phone and so far have been sent off by all of them. I tried using my health insurance card (Japanese national health insurance), my Visa and the piece of paper that says my Gaijin card is processing. None of them worked.
I think you must have a Gaijin card in order to get a phone, which sucks because the wait for a Gaijin card is one month. If you're on a tourist Visa you should probably go with prepaid. |
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seklarwia
Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 1546
Location: Monkey onsen, Nagano
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| Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 10:07 pm Post subject: |
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| Imseriouslylost wrote: |
I've been to several Softbanks, AUs and Docomos looking to get a phone and so far have been sent off by all of them. I tried using my health insurance card (Japanese national health insurance), my Visa and the piece of paper that says my Gaijin card is processing. None of them worked.
I think you must have a Gaijin card in order to get a phone, which sucks because the wait for a Gaijin card is one month. If you're on a tourist Visa you should probably go with prepaid. |
There is a second piece of paper you can get from the ward office that you have to pay a few hundred yen for. This can be used to get a phone, open a bank account, etc. I'll see if I can find mine, but I'm pretty sure it was completely in Japanese so I'll have to get somebody to read the name for it for me.
It would seem that the receipt that you get when you apply for the ARC and passport are normally sufficient for some places. I was lucky to be with native who seemed quite surprised when they wouldn't accept them (she has been helping set up new ALTs for a while) but she was able to find out what they wanted and go back and get me one. |
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lenoreelux
Joined: 30 Nov 2009
Posts: 44
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| Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 11:02 pm Post subject: |
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| seklarwia wrote: |
| Imseriouslylost wrote: |
I've been to several Softbanks, AUs and Docomos looking to get a phone and so far have been sent off by all of them. I tried using my health insurance card (Japanese national health insurance), my Visa and the piece of paper that says my Gaijin card is processing. None of them worked.
I think you must have a Gaijin card in order to get a phone, which sucks because the wait for a Gaijin card is one month. If you're on a tourist Visa you should probably go with prepaid. |
There is a second piece of paper you can get from the ward office that you have to pay a few hundred yen for. This can be used to get a phone, open a bank account, etc. I'll see if I can find mine, but I'm pretty sure it was completely in Japanese so I'll have to get somebody to read the name for it for me.
It would seem that the receipt that you get when you apply for the ARC and passport are normally sufficient for some places. I was lucky to be with native who seemed quite surprised when they wouldn't accept them (she has been helping set up new ALTs for a while) but she was able to find out what they wanted and go back and get me one. |
I was wondering about that. I am arriving March 23rd to start with Interac and one of my biggest worries was being able to get a cell phone when I arrive at my placement. If you do find out the name of that paper, please let me know so that if i run into any problems I can take care of it.. I would like to see the name if it in Japanese if it is possible. I enjoy translating kanji. Thank you ^-^ |
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Apsara
Joined: 20 Sep 2005
Posts: 2142
Location: Tokyo, Japan
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| Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 11:15 pm Post subject: |
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| That document is called a 外国人登録原票記載事項証明書 (gaikokujin touroku genpyou kisai jikou shoumeisho), and they will often ask you what information needs to be on it. Tell them you need it to apply for a cellphone and they should know what to do- basically address, visa status, period of stay etc. needs to be on it. |
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seklarwia
Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 1546
Location: Monkey onsen, Nagano
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| Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 9:08 am Post subject: |
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That's the one. Thank you  |
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lenoreelux
Joined: 30 Nov 2009
Posts: 44
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| Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 3:48 pm Post subject: |
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| thank you ^-^ |
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