[ogsa-wg] FW: New entry requirements for Japan Travel

[Andrew Grimshaw]

All,
My brother sent me this.
Is what's good for the goose good for the gander?

                                                              
                 New Japan Travel Requirements                
                      Effective 11/23/07                      
                                                              
                                                              
  Japan has recently announced a policy change regarding      
  entry at border crossings for Non-Japanese citizens which   
  will go into effect November 23, 2007. This policy change   
  will affect ALL non-Japanese citizens arriving in Japan     
  regardless of travel purpose, duration of stay or previous  
  entries (except for those traveling on diplomatic or        
  special government related clearance).                      
                                                              
                                                              
  All travelers will be fingerprinted and photographed upon   
  entry through Japanese Immigration. Travelers who refuse to 
  be subject to fingerprinting and photography will be        
  refused entry and immediately deported or possibly          
  detained. As some travelers feel uncomfortable giving up    
  any more information than necessary when traveling abroad,  
  I would advise disclosure of this policy to anyone          
  traveling to Japan as hesitation or refusal may likely turn 
  into a complicated and expensive situation.                 
                                                              
                                                              
  What we don't know is how this will effect entry times.     
  There is an expectation that this policy change will result 
  in delays as immigration officers explain the new policy to 
  travelers who are unaware of it. I would expect that they   
  will increase staffing and provide handouts for travelers   
  upon arrival in the terminal or otherwise inform people of  
  the new policy, but expect this to cause delays in entry,   
  limo services, etc as delays tend to create a domino        
  effect.