Updates for Assignees in Japan
March 18, 2011— As some employers consider temporarily redeploying staff out of Japan following the recent earthquake and tsunami, they should take certain immigration implications into account. For workers leaving Japan, employers should try to ensure that employees carry valid travel documentation both to depart and re-enter the country. The Japanese Immigration Bureau and many foreign embassies have implemented temporary measures to assist affected foreign nationals and their families.
Work and dependent visa holders departing Japan must ensure that they carry valid Japanese visas and re-entry permits. If their visa or re-entry permit expires while outside of Japan, they will need to apply for a new Certificate of Eligibility and visa before they can re-enter. Likewise, permanent residents must ensure that their re-entry permits are valid to avoid losing their status. The Japanese Immigration Bureau is currently processing re-entry permits within one to two working days, but it is also faced with an exceedingly high volume of applications. As such, travelers who need to obtain re-entry permits should do so as soon as possible. While obtaining re-entry permits before departure is strongly recommended, we recognize that the situation in Japan remains highly fluid and that departure at this time presents significant challenges.
Individuals with extremely pressing travel plans may be granted a discretionary single re-entry permit that can be collected at the airport. Expatriates should also remember to ensure their passports and Japanese visas are valid to avoid any departure issues.
Individuals who have lost their passports or are otherwise in need of travel assistance should contact their respective embassies in Tokyo. Many foreign embassies, such as Australia, China, India, the United Kingdom and the United States have posted specific information on their websites.
Employers should ensure that their expatriate employees staying in Japan continue to hold valid immigration status. Expatriates who, due to the earthquake and tsunami, have overstayed on their visas may be given special consideration. However, the Japanese immigration authorities have not issued any formal announcement on the matter and requests are being evaluated on a case-to-case basis. The Japanese government has issued special rules for visa extensions for individuals residing in Aomori, Fukushima, Iwate and Miyagi prefectures, or who were in these areas during the March 11 earthquake.
Individuals seeking to verify the safety of their relatives or to determine if relatives have already left Japan can contact the respective help desks of the Japanese Immigration Bureau or the Red Cross. |
About AIReS
AIReS, which was named to the 2010 Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing independently owned businesses in the U.S., is in its 30th year of providing best-in-class relocation management services. With seven ISO registered U.S. offices and other strategically located employees located around the globe, AIReS is a recognized industry leader in delivering high quality relocation and assignment management services to leading corporations. The company boasts some of the industry’s highest annual customer-satisfaction scores and a client-retention rate of over 98%. For more information, please visit the AIReS website at www.aires.com. |
