Refused exit from Japan - DPChallenge Forums

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

02/21/2006 02:58:05 PM · #6

Have a safe trip Marac. Jah guide mi brethren!

Skyarcher

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

02/21/2006 02:16:02 PM · #7

Waiting to hear that you made it safely back to UK....

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

02/16/2006 09:08:23 PM · #8

Actually the only GOOD thing to come out of my experience in jail was that i realised i had been smoking (tobacco) for 28 years.... I was like WOW!!! I stopped and still do not smoke since June last year I will NEVER smoke again but I also fear that the damage has been done.

Buying my ticket today and packing then i go to immigration 20th for the evening and in the morning my Gretsch, my Fender Tele and my iMac and camera gear will leave here for good.. I been here 9 years and would say that the Japanese people are totally wonderfull but the laws need a serious looking at.

eschelar

Canon EOS-7D

02/16/2006 10:23:00 AM · #9

Heh, be careful what you say. China (last I heard anyhow) monitors internet usage to a small degree (not as bad as russia though).

I think I've seen it growing wild here too, but you have to pick it at the right time to have any THC content. Which is probably why most people don't smoke it.

Of course smoking it is the stupidest way to take it into your body.

Go bake some muffins or something if you must.

ALL smoke is carcinogenic to some extent. Burning anything and inhaling the smoke particles is inherently unhealthy.

And yes, health is my field of expertise - specifically natural food and special dietary needs for those with allergies.

Don't forget that getting caught by cops in a bad mood in a government with total authority and an unpredictable need to set examples of people is significantly more unhealthy than doing the drugs in the first place, so either way it is not recommended.

The Dmachine

Sony DSC-F717

02/16/2006 06:30:48 AM · #10

You were caught for POT. Oh Oh. Its true in China they can kill you, but I think you need to be caught with over a quarter pound or so. The funny thing is marijuana grows wild here and many people in the country smoke it with tobacco and don't know what it is. My buddy picked a bunch, cooked it into oil and is still smoking the stuff 6 months later.

The Dmachine

Sony DSC-F717

02/16/2006 06:26:29 AM · #11

I live in China, and even the Communist authorities aren't that strict. I had wanted to go to Japan but I am now reconsidering, I have heard alot of bad things about the Japanese policing of foreigners.
In China the cops treat you better then they treat the locals. I got into a scrap at a bar a year ago, knocked the guy out of course, but it wasnt my fault. Anyhow the police came, took us to the station, made him apologize to me, and that was that. I didn't have my passport and that wasn't a problem. One of the police officers asked where I lived, I told him, and he said "we're neighbours, we should hang out sometime".

If you don't mind me asking why did you have to spend 3 months in jail?

suemack

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

02/16/2006 05:56:07 AM · #12

(((hugs))) thoughts and positive vibes coming your way Marac.

02/16/2006 05:16:34 AM · #13

Originally posted by BobsterLobster:

Sorry to hear about the guitars!! :-o

Sold my Gibson LP Standard today 1996 tobacco sunburst 50s reissue for a mere 84,000 YEN but it was the best offer we got and covered my ticket expense..

Yes RISU I believe you are correct it will be a min of 3 years they said and even after that 3 years there is no gaurentee that I will be allowed to return here daughter living here or not, dont matter a bit. but the usual case is 5-10 years.

I will fly out on 21st Feb on Aeroflot Russian airlines, I will present myself to Immigration on 20th Feb in the morning and be required to stay in their custody and taken to the airport on 21st morning to get my flight, I am allowed to take my baggage also and I have heard they dont have to let me do that either, they can send me home with nothing but the shirt on my back if they so wish.

Kissing the ground when I touch down in London is very much EXPECTED, I will sure be glad to be home.

Finally thanks to everyone offering their best wishes, and to Philip Dyer who is a good friend of mine and I really miss our little trips out to shoot.. god bless you.

risu81

Sigma 18-50mm f/3.5-5.6 DC for Nikon

02/16/2006 12:23:34 AM · #14

Originally posted by eschelar:

Looking at advice from an Australian Govt. web site:
"Some people convicted of drug related offences have had their sentence suspended but will be issued with a deportation order. People deported under these circumstances are not permitted to return to Japan for five to ten years."

This seems to be the situation alionic is in. I do not think they make any exceptions for spouses or relatives. A year or so ago there was a story about a young girl that was being deported. One of her parents was Japanese and the other parent was from the Philippines, or some other Asian country. The girl was born abroad and her parents died in some accident, I think. Anyway, she came to Japan to live with her grandparents because she had nowhere else to live, but immigration was determined to deport her after her visa expired. I think they might have let her stay, but it was only after a lot of publicity.

eschelar

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

02/15/2006 10:29:15 PM · #15

Any news on whether or not you will be allowed back? If there is a yes, you might want to see if you can get that in writing. The London Office for Japan's Visa office might not have good communication with home base and might give you flak if you have all this on your record, but don't deal with someone in the know.

I don't know much about Japan's methods, but Taiwan's setup in this regard is more than pathetic. I had a business card and a letter from the police station (the governing authority on foreign visa's, not the criminal law police) and they didn't know what to do with it. They didn't even know about laws that were 2 years old. (I had to do the research in Taipei City Hall, so I'm sure).

If you do want to go back, it might be good to find out before you leave what might be involved.

Of course things do change after you get married to a national, so they might say no, but not have a leg to stand on after you get married. You might need to wait a year in between though.

PhilipDyer

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

02/15/2006 09:17:21 PM · #16

Wow, Marac, that's really awful. I'm glad you got some results, but I feel terrible that you're selling the guitars. Keep that chant going until you land in England and know that you and Hanae are getting all the positive vibes I can send your way.

BobsterLobster

Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

02/15/2006 09:02:00 PM · #17

Sorry to hear about the guitars!! :-o

risu81

Sigma 18-50mm f/3.5-5.6 DC for Nikon

02/15/2006 08:03:55 PM · #18

Sorry to hear about the deportation. Good luck!

blindjustice

Canon EOS-60D

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

02/15/2006 08:11:47 AM · #19

good luck with everything.
have a pint of Fuller's for me when you get to the UK.

Canon EF 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5 USM

02/15/2006 06:45:21 AM · #20

Originally posted by benhur:

I know things have not been going your way this week but do you think you might be here for the london GTG of Saturday?
The new plan does sound good.
All the best anyway

Hello Ben, yes you are right things have not been so smooth of late but Im strong and I will get through it all, there is nothing I would enjoy more than to be in London on the 18th but I will be deported on 22nd Feb I am looking for tickets as we speak I think I can only afford Aeoroflot Russian airlines because i lost so much money on the other tickets that were direct flight with Virgin Atlantic.. I have no money now and have to sell my Gibson and my 1974 Fender Tele to cover it.. I will be still bringing your lens it is in my suitcase right now and I must apologise for the delay.. I will bring it up to nottingham when i get there and catch my breath so please e-mail me with a phone number..

I hear that Aeoroflot have really gotten better, the online reviews about them only say that the food sux but the pilots are brilliant

benhur

Canon EOS-40D

02/15/2006 06:25:43 AM · #21

I know things have not been going your way this week but do you think you might be here for the london GTG of Saturday?
The new plan does sound good.
All the best anyway

s4nd3r99

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

02/15/2006 04:08:07 AM · #22

sounds like a good plan.
Good luck man!

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

02/15/2006 03:44:19 AM · #23

Today I recieved a call from the Tokyo Immigration office...

I can purchase my own ticket and declare myself to the Tokyo office with my baggage and my ticket the day before my flight where I will have to spend the night in their custody and then in the morning I will be taken to the Airport and escorted out of the country with my personal things..

I consider that a RESULT.

Thank you for your thoughts NAM-MYO-HO-RENGE-KYO

eschelar

Canon EOS-7D

02/14/2006 11:00:29 AM · #24

I realize that you are are a little touchy on the subject alionic. My last post was split into two portions. The last part was an anecdote about what happened to someone who ran from it in response to others who were suggesting (albeit somewhat tongue in cheek) that you run away. I was stating that it is important to be careful about leaving issues like this.

It was more directed towards them than you.

As far as you being guilty about something, I already said that you could go forward one step by getting a hair drug test. This would be a good show for the police officers that you are taking them seriously.

Whether you are clean or not is about your behavior. Only you know that.

What you did say though was that you spent three months in their Jails. Is it common for people who are 'guilty of nothing' to spend that much time in jail? You didn't say if you were JUDGED as guilty or not. If you were judged as guilty in the past, then you may have a rocky road ahead.

If you were judged innocent and really are innocent, you should be in the clear. The British Embassy will help you and you should have little difficulty in securing an extra three days to a week extension.

I've only been living in Asia for three years and haven't been to Japan yet, but it's probably a fair bit more civilized than Taiwan. I helped a friend of a friend last week who was being deported and they were jacking around with his situation quite a bit. They were completely disorganized and he had been brought a prescription for his asthma condition three times, yet they still had no record of it.

Owning Bob Marley stuff isn't a crime, but when you have a lot of it, especially the more gaudy stuff, you are still making a statement to whoever comes into your house (I'm talking about the cops here) and inviting trouble. I hope you got rid of it. If you have been in Japan for 9 years, I'm sure you already appreciate how much of a difference appearance can make.

I will also second the advice to bring an older Japanese friend. Father of the bride? Relatives of someone at your school?

risu81