Rules eased for non-Japanese travelers from Japan • DOLI, MVA agree to amend requirements after complaints from tour operators

The Department of Labor and Immigration has agreed to amend its procedure in connection with the processing of travel documents of foreign nationals residing in Japan who want to travel to the CNMI in order to unburden tour operators from such task.

Under the new rules, the Marianas Visitors Authority office in Japan will be allowed to receive the travel documents required by DOLI. These travel papers will be forwarded to MVA Saipan, which will then follow up the processing at the immigration office.

MVA Saipan office will not evaluate the documents or recommend who would be allowed to come here.

If DOLI approves the entry of a foreign national, it will issue an authorization to board which the visitor would show to the airline. Upon arrival to Saipan, the visitor will be given a visa.

According to MVA Managing Director Perry Tenorio, those who belong to Category A, namely children and spouses of Japanese nationals who are permanent residents of Japan, are exempted from the requirement.

DOLI recognized that some people in Japan are “technically Japanese” but due to their ethnic background, they are not qualified to get a Japanese passport.

But contract workers and non-Japanese businessmen residing in Japan, classified as Category B, would have to submit the documents required by DOLI.

Although it took DOLI over a year to amend its strict rules on the entry of foreign nationals living in Japan, Tenorio said the tourism office understands the concerns of the local immigration on the possible influx of illegal aliens into the Commonwealth.

Japanese tour operators, who are members of the Japan-Marianas Tourism Club, recently discussed the possibility of amending the procedure with DOLI Secretary Mark Zachares, Lt. Gov. Jesus R. Sablan and MVA Board Chairman Dave M. Sablan.

During the meeting, Sablan recommended the possibility of turning over such responsibility to the MVA-Japan office.

Iwao Sakai, president of Japan-Saipan Travel Association, said he was happy with the changes made by the immigration office. Likewise, he said he understands the reason why DOLI had to impose stringent requirements.

To curb influx of illegal aliens into the Northern Marianas, DOLI has banned the entry of nationalities from 10 countries, including Russia, Bangladesh and People’s Republic of China. Citizens from these countries who are working in Japan are asked to submit a several documents, such as copies of work permit, contract or a certificate of employment, if their companies would send them to CNMI.

Instead of merely providing plane tickets and fixing the accommodation of their clients, tour agencies are burdened with the additional task of submitting these requirements to DOLI so that a foreign national could get a visa. Processing of request for the issuance of an entry permit takes several days, depending on how fast the department could evaluate the documents.

On top of this, tour agencies are held responsible for their activities by making sure that their restricted guests do not run away, commit crimes or get into any traffic accident.