Filipino family gets special permission to stay in Japan

Saturday 07th November, 05:44 AM JST

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Badge213 at 12:22 PM JST - 8th November

overstaying their visas, I doubt they were paying taxes without getting reported to the government?

Any case, people like them overstay get special permission, while people like us have to do it all the LEGAL way, stand in line, fill out tons of paperwork, pay visa processing fees for those silly stamps, PAY TAXES, work within the limits of our visas etc etc.
Badge213 at 12:26 PM JST - 8th November

Case 1. You live in Japan and work LEGALLY for years, spending hard time and money working for Permanent Residency the legal way, you go down to Immigration and have your application maybe approved, maybe rejected a few times before you are approved, again doing it all the legal way within the bounds of the law.

Case 2. You just overstay your visa, have some kids, go to Immigration and say "my country is poor", then news media spins it around "oh they have kids, Japan is BAD for not letting them stay etc etc" and wham get a special visa.
USNinJapan2 at 12:52 PM JST - 8th November

sharpie

...that see no alternative but to overstay their visas...

BS. The altherative and the correct thing for any responsible person to do would be to not oversay one's visa. The alternative may not be the most convenient or preferable course of action for them but it is the proper one and they should be held accountable for CHOOSING not to take it. Speaking of ignorance "I had no choice but to break the law because life here is better" is not a valid excuse.

USNinjapan, you are half japanese. you of all people should possess even an inkling of sympathy for these people. if not, i say good luck to you if and when you ever decide to go to the country that makes your other half.

I'm just curious, why should I, of all people, possess more reason to have sympathy for illegal immigrants and immigration scofflaws? I'm obviously not one of them so why?

As for wishing me luck thank you but there's no need because unlike some I follow the proper procedure and abide by existing immigration laws. The other country is the US, where I am a citizen so immigration isn't an issue for me there. I'm an alien here in Japan but again I don't break the law so no problems and no need to have people make excuses for my actions.
dolphingirl at 02:27 PM JST - 8th November

USNinJapan2: You seem to think that you are a perfect citizen and that the mistake that these people made was unforgiveable. I think that many people have broken a law or two even if only a minor infraction. Many people are arrested and not charged. It's the same thing here. These people are not violent criminals. They overstayed their visas; quite a serious offense in the eyes of immigration but there are always extenuating circumstances. I think if they didn't have children things would be different and probably they wouldn't be able to stay. If Japan were more welcoming to foreigners, people would be more likely to go through proper channels rather than overstay their visas.
USNinJapan2 at 02:51 PM JST - 8th November

dolphingirl

Perfect citizen? Only if you say so.

You seem to equate overstaying a visa with fogetting to turn in a libray book. You think these people just didn't notice that their visas had expired? For years? Since the '90s? How convenient. As for extenuating circumstances I'd like for you to get creative and give me an extenuating circumstance that would prevent someone from properly working with immigration authorities to rectify their situation for the better part of a decade. Hell even with a library book you still have to face the consequences in the form of an overdue fine.

I think if they didn't have children things would be different and probably they wouldn't be able to stay.

So is that your rule of thumb? Visa overstayer, no kids, sorry folks we're shipping you back to where you came from. Visa overstayer, has kids, oh you say they only speak Japanese? Okay then we'll feel sorry for you and let you stay despite your blatant disregard for our laws. Nice. Great message that sends out to prospective immigrants. So what about people who are here in Japan legally on a visa, and have children, and dutifully request for a visa extension before their visa expires? They don't get special consideration, but on the flipside if you do nothing, overstay your visa, avoid the authorities, and raise your kids as only Japanese (or claim to) you get the government's (and your) sympathy. Oh, and the longer you overstay your visa and stay under the radar the stronger your sympathy case will be. What a great reward system.
dolphingirl at 04:05 PM JST - 8th November

USNinJapan2: I am in no way condoning breaking immigration laws. I'm simply saying that authorities should always use their good judgement, reason and a little humanity when dealing with cases like these. Tens of thousands of people are deported every year. 80% of overstayers surrender themselves to immigration. Authorities have to decide which people to deport and which people can stay. I don't know exactly what their criteria or protocol is but there are likely many factors involved in their decision. Japan has rigid immigration laws as it is. To blindly apply laws without taking all things into consideration is just stupid.
trinklets2 at 06:11 PM JST - 8th November

It's not just a matter of getting visas the legal way, illegals with children are enjoying some kind of child allowances. It's understandable granting these children are really half Japanese. But what if they're not? It's just unfair for the many Japinoys in the Philippines.
martyman at 10:36 PM JST - 8th November

The laws on immigration in Japan are very liberal, if you get a media spin, more than likely you will be granted that golden pass..Sorry, I mean special permission to stay in Japan. Im my case and many others reading or posting, what happens when your Japanese spouse passes away leaving you no sponsor to stay in Japan? The Japanese gov't will not give you special permission to stay, but will ask you to leave Japan quietly. It is a double edged sword for all immigrants.
fondofj at 11:05 PM JST - 8th November

This is not a usual case that represents every overstaying foreigners with kids born in Japan. Even there are many such families who are deported and not considered the situation same as this pinoy family. Special permission for residence is only for special cases not in general cases. The cases for spouse visa is never considered as "special" when the Japanese wife files divorce. On the contrary, a filipina lady was ordered deportation a few days ago when she was found in no relation with a Japanese man. The immigration is likely to be favorable with the cases of humanity where the family would be in deep trouble if they are deported. But for some nationalities the authority acts in favor of them and some they simply ignore and deport unfortunately.
TokyoLurker at 01:39 AM JST - 9th November

is there even at least a family name? there are roughly hundred thousand of filipino in japan (or even more). this is just like saying,"opps, i ate a pizza at pizza parlour".
eigonosensei at 11:22 AM JST - 10th November

HEADLINE "Filipino family gets special permission to stay in Japan"

WHY?

The article does not answer this simple yet important question.
womanforwomen at 11:51 AM JST - 10th November

Try fighting for your rights without breaking the laws. Breaking any law has a recochet effect on you and happens at the time you least expect.
Miyaratmosphere at 05:13 PM JST - 13th November

**sharpie at 12:17 PM JST - 8th November

interesting issue and decision by immigration to allow them to stay. the opinion of those such as USNinjapan is obviously a very ignorant way to deal with a situation where people like the hiratsukas are valuable assets to japanese society. they are honest workers and taxpayers that see no alternative but to overstay their visas due to conditions in their native country.**

Ｄｉｄｎ’ｔ　ｈｅ　ｓａｉｄ　ｈｅ　ｗａｓ　ｈａｌｆ　Ｊａｐａｎｅｓｅ？？　Ｔｈｅｒｅ’ｓ　ｙｏｕｒ　ａｎｓｗｅｒ　Ｉ　ｇｕｅｓｓ．
CandleStickPark at 12:49 AM JST - 14th November

Yet another example of immigrants doing things the wrong way, yet governments bending the rules to let them get away with it. It's crap AND it encourages others to do the same. Why follow the rules if you can just do things the illegal way and get away with it anyway. Those who bring up the Human Rights topic are also full-of-it. Now, there is one huge difference here, this particular family appears to be an asset to the country; Does not excuse their illegal actions. Their positive role is not so common, however. How many illegals simply enter the host country to take-up resources and then complain about the host country.
OneForAll at 01:08 AM JST - 14th November

Japanese are wise and compassionate in this case. I really am not happy when another is suffering. More of this is needed. Only good can come out of it. What goes around comes around. Good on Japan.