APEC line open to NJ residents at Kansai Int’l Airport (UPDATED 1/7/08–now it is not)

mytest

Hi Blog. For those travelling over the holiday season, here are some helpful letters for those going through Kansai International Airport (Kankuu, or KIX). It turns out NJ residents can go through the APEC Immigration Channel (business line). Print up these letters if the terms apply to you, show them at the border, and decriminalize yourself more efficiently. Courtesy of Martin Issott. Arudou Debito in Sapporo

(click on letter to expand in browser, Japanese and English)
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ENDS

2 comments on “APEC line open to NJ residents at Kansai Int’l Airport (UPDATED 1/7/08–now it is not)

  • People are going to call me a wet blanket, but the new line doesn’t do anything for me, even though I’m a KIX user.
    Don’t get me wrong, as I can see how, for some people, the biggest issue is getting through immigration with the least amount of fuss as possible. For those people, Martin, you’ve done a great job, and I applaud you.

    For me though, the issue has never been about being delayed at immigration. I only travel a few times a year and I accept delays, crowds, questions and discomfort as part of the whole ‘package’, as it were.

    The only live issues for me are the treatment of foreigners who have already been vetted by the government, the painting of all NJ with the same criminal brush, the scaremongering in the media, the dubious grounds presented by the government, and the general subterfuge.

    Having a new APEC line simply feels to me like they’ve now made a new door at the back of the bus – so I can get there quicker.

    Anyway, it just might be me who feels this way. And for all the people who you’ve made life a bit easier for – thank you very much, Good job.

    –QUITE, TJJ. FOR THE RECORD, FINDING WAYS TO POKE HOLES IN THE NEW POLICY DOES NOT MEAN WE ACCEPT IT. IT’S TO SHOW HOW ILL-THOUGHT OUT IT WAS AND THAT WE’RE NOT GOING TO TAKE IT LYING DOWN. ANY CONCESSION WRUNG OUT OF THIS REGIME IS A POSITIVE STEP. AND IF WE SOMEHOW CAN GET IT COMPLETELY RESCINDED, OR HAVE ENOUGH EXCEPTIONS MADE THAT THE POLICY IS WELL NIGH MEANINGLESS, GREAT. ANYWAY, BUT LET’S SHOW PEOPLE WE KNOW OUR RIGHTS AND THAT WE’RE NOT MERELY TRAVELERS, BUT RATHER RETURNEES HOME–AND DESERVE THE APPROPRIATE RECOGNITION AND PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT THAT BEFITS PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE. IS ALL. DEBITO

    Reply
  • UPDATE FROM MARTIN ISSOTT, DATED JANUARY 7, 2008

    Dear Debito , A very Happy New Year !

    I regret to have to advise that the APEC channel at KIX has been closed off now to regular returning residents , unless of course , you are on the KIX Immigration clandestine list .

    After 2 successful re entry’s via the APEC channel at KIX 1/12 and 14/12 last year, my wife and I were refused entry via this channel today 7/1 by arrogant, curt and dismissive officials who demanded we join the foreigners cattle pen lines .

    They insisted the KIX APEC channel was only for APEC card holders – this is a downright lie.

    On 14th December last year I followed in the APEC line an obviously senior Korean businessman and his wife who were checked off on a list by a junior official , this man did not offer an APEC card , I watched the whole procedure carefully !

    So after arguing with the officials today eventually we had to join the end of the Gaijin line – there is now at KIX a re entry permit holder line, if not a re entry booth , you are finally directed to any open booth for fingerprinting etc , it is faster than the visitor NJ line , but joining the end of the queue today it took us 37 minutes , the visitors line must have been taking at least an hour .

    So another inconsistency is evident – there are foreigners and special foreigners and depending who you are , you are directed to one line or the APEC no waiting line !
    ENDS

    Reply

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