Subject: American Community Update - December 2004 Welcome to the December newsletter! Here are the topics for this month: -- Upcoming Holidays -- Security Situation -- Stiffer Immigration Penalties in Japan -- New Visa Appointment System in Naha -- Importing Pets into Japan -- Earthquake Preparedness -- For Parents of Children with Special Needs (Tokyo) -- How to Contact the Social Security Administration -- Unsubscribing --------------------------------------------------------- Upcoming Holidays --------------------------------------------------------- The Embassy and our Consulates will close for- -- Japanese Labor Day, November 23 (Tuesday) -- US Thanksgiving Day, November 25 (Thursday) -- Reduced staff (Tokyo only), December 22 (Wednesday) -- Japanese Emperor's Birthday, December 23 (Thursday) -- Christmas Day, December 25 (Saturday, observed on Friday December 24) -- New Year's Day, January 1 (Saturday, observed on Friday, December 31) -- Japanese Adult's Day, January 10 (Monday) -- Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday, January 17 (Monday) While we will be open for regular business between Christmas and New Year's, many of our staff will be taking time off to spent the holidays with family, and you may experience longer waiting times. Please remember that the days just before and just after a holiday are usually exceptionally busy and you can expect significantly longer waiting times. Visit us outside of these times and you should have a shorter wait. A full list of all of our holiday closings is online at http://japan.usembassy.gov/e/acs/tacs-holidays.html. If you do come to see us at the Embassy in Tokyo, note that we have two lines to enter the building; a (usually) longer line for visa applicants and a much shorter line for customers coming for American Citizen Services help. --------------------------------------------------------- Security Situation --------------------------------------------------------- The security situation in Japan remains the same with no new credible threat information; however the Government of Japan has taken heightened security measures at key facilities and ports of entry, as counter terrorism precautions linked to the increased role taken with the deployment of Japanese self defense forces to Iraq. The September 10, 2004 Worldwide Caution Public Announcement we distributed via this channel remains in effect (you can always read the most current information at http://travel.state.gov). --------------------------------------------------------- Stiffer Immigration Penalties in Japan --------------------------------------------------------- Please note that Japanese Immigration law has recently changed, primarily to include significantly stiffer penalties to those who overstay their visas and/or work illegally. Full details are online at http://www.moj.go.jp/ENGLISH/IB/ib-78.html -------------------------------------------------------- New Visa Appointment System in Naha -------------------------------------------------------- The American Consulate General office in Naha has gone to an Internet-based appointment system for all visa services. If an American wishes to apply for a visa for his/her spouse, for example, they need to schedule the appointment on-line. Please visit http://naha.usconsulate.gov and schedule a time to see us. -------------------------------------------------------- Importing Pets into Japan -------------------------------------------------------- Bringing pets across international borders can be difficult, and preplanning is very important. If you are thinking of bringing a dog or cat into Japan from overseas, there have been recent revisions to Japanese regulations regarding the importation of pets. Effective November 6, 2004, the procedure of importation of dogs, cats, raccoons, foxes and skunks has changed. The quarantine time will be reduced from current levels to only 12 hours, providing the additional requirements and documentation have been met. Without the required documents, the maximum quarantine time can be 180 days. Animal Quarantine Service (AQS) officials advise that the entire process can take up to six months to complete. The basic steps for importing accompanied pets are: 1. Implant a microchip for identification of the pet prior to vaccination for rabies. 2. Get two rabies shots within the effective interval. Age of the pet should be 90 days or greater at first vaccination, with second vaccination no more than 1 year before import. 3. Get a blood test after the second rabies shot. 4. Make advance notification of the pet importation to AQS no later than 40 days prior to arrival. The exact form for this advance notification will not be available (on the AQS website) until January 2005. 5. The pet must stay in the exporting country at least 180 days but no more than two years after the date of blood sampling. 6. Upon arrival, submit the following documents to AQS: a. Health certificate. b. Two rabies vaccination certificates. c. Advanced notification acknowledgement sent from AQS. d. An Import Quarantine Application Form provided by AQS. When importing pets as unaccompanied cargo, the steps include: 1. Submit the documentation the same as accompanied pets (cargo importation requires more time and expense). 2. The owner of the pet is not required to be present in order to apply for quarantine inspection. A proxy can make the application. 3. The Narita quarantine service charges a detention fee of approximately JPY 3,000 or more depending on size per day for all pets, which includes basic boarding, food and care for the pet. 4. Other costs may be incurred for transportation fees, kennel customs clearances, import tax and a proxy charge depending on the pet and other circumstances. MAFF Grace period. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MAFF) has granted a grace period for pets aged 10 months or older. From November 6, 2004 to June 6, 2005, these pets may be imported using either the existing requirements or the new requirements. Starting June 7, 2005, all pets must follow the new requirements. People wishing to import a pet into Japan should visit the website: http://www.maff-aqs.go.jp/english/ryoko/index.htm for detailed information. Employees may also contact the Animal Quarantine office at Narita at +81-476-32-6664; fax +81-476-30-3011. Bringing a pet from Japan back to the U.S.? Try here: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ncie/pet-info.html -------------------------------------------------------- Earthquake Preparations -------------------------------------------------------- Japan is the most seismically active piece of real estate in the world. The Tokyo metropolitan area experiences regular tremors of varying intensities and the probability that a severe and damaging earthquake will occur is high. The consequences of such a quake will vary greatly depending upon the time of day and year that the quake occurs, and no one can predict with any certainty what conditions will be like immediately following an intensive shock. It is prudent that everyone be prepared to fend for themselves in the immediate aftermath of a big earthquake. Every family and company should develop its own emergency plan and make sure its personnel and their family members are familiar with earthquake emergency procedures and precautions for their safety. Companies and organizations should coordinate carefully with their ward or city office to ensure that they are familiar with Japanese government plans for their area. Please read on for information on how to best prepare. (we have a lot more information on disaster preparedness online at http://japan.usembassy.gov/e/acs/tacs-7111.html) -------------------------------------------------------- Essential Supplies (Store enough for three-five days) -------------------------------------------------------- Water (four liters/one gallon per person per day. Change water every three to five months). Food (canned or pre-cooked, requiring no heat or water. Consider special dietary needs, infants, the elderly, pets). Flashlight with spare batteries and bulbs. Radio (battery operated with spare batteries). Large plastic trash bags (for trash, waste, water protection, ground cloth, temporary blanket). Hand soap and/or disinfecting hand cleaner gel that does not require water. Feminine hygiene supplies, infant supplies, toilet paper. Essential medications as required; glasses if you normally wear contacts. Paper plates, cups, plastic utensils, cooking foil and paper towels. First Aid kit with instructions. Yen in small bills (ATMs may not work after a disaster), with coins and phone cards for public phones. Place emergency supplies and your telephone in places where they are less likely to be knocked over or buried by falling objects (on the floor under a strong table is a good choice). -------------------------------------------------------- Essential Home Preparations Before a Disaster -------------------------------------------------------- Secure water heaters, refrigerators and tall and heavy furniture to the walls to prevent falling. Move heavy items to lower shelves, and install latches or other locking devices on cabinets. Install flexible connections on gas appliances. Remove or isolate flammable materials. Move beds and children's play areas away from heavy objects which may fall in an earthquake. Register at Embassy or Consulate online via a secure site at http://japan.usembassy.gov/e/acs/tacs-7130a.html. -------------------------------------------------------- Essential Planning Before a Disaster -------------------------------------------------------- Draw a floor plan of your home showing the location of exit windows and doors, utility cut off points, emergency supplies, food, tools, etc. Share it with baby-sitters and guests. Establish family meeting points with alternate sites inside and outside of your home for all members to gather in the event of an evacuation. Establish reunion sites with alternate sites for when the family is not at home, e.g., local shelter, neighbor's house, park, school. Designate a person outside of your immediate area for separated family members to call to report their location and condition if separated. Learn or establish disaster policy/planning at your children's school Know your neighbors and make them aware of the number of people living in your home. Learn where the nearest designated shelter for your neighborhood is. Photocopy passports and other important documents. Store copies away from home (for example, at work). Learn how to contact the police, fire and rescue services in Japanese. Be able to provide your address in Japanese. We have a guide on line at http://japan.usembassy.gov/e/acs/tacs-call.html. -------------------------------------------------------- Essential Steps Immediately After a Disaster -------------------------------------------------------- Check your immediate surroundings for fire, gas leaks, broken glass and other hazards. Open doors and/or windows to avoid being locked in if there are after-shocks. Contact one friend or relative in the U.S., and ask them to inform other parties of your situation. Monitor local TV and radio for evacuation information (If available in your area, for English info, listen to AFN 810AM). --------------------------------------------------- For Parents of Children with Special Needs (Tokyo) --------------------------------------------------- The Tokyo English Life Line (TELL) Community Counseling Service offers a support group for parents of children with physical, mental and emotional challenges. This informal group meets once a month in central Tokyo, near Omotesando. They offer presentations by speakers from a variety of disciplines. Topics have included behavior management, learning variation, communication within the family, coping with the public's perception of disability and wellness strategies for parents. For more information, please contact tellparentgroup@hotmail.com. --------------------------------------------------- How to Contact the Social Security Administration --------------------------------------------------- If you would like to contact Social Security directly, now you can! SSA has a regional office in Manila, and they have experts standing by to assist you. Social Security beneficiaries can call the Social Security office in Manila from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday, via their direct lines (63)(2) 526-5936 and (63)(2) 522-4716 or through the Embassy trunk line (63)(2) 528-6300. You may contact them by email at SSAD.VARO.Manila@ssa.gov If you prefer, you may send your inquiries to the following address: Social Security Administration U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs c/o American Embassy, 1131 Roxas Blvd. 0930 Manila, Philippines or, if you have access to APO/FPO mail Social Security Administration VARO Manila, Philippines FPO AP 96515 --------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribing --------------------------------------------------- We make every attempt to include in our newsletter information of real value. We know that should world events dictate, we can use this email channel to get important information to you, as we did in the immediate aftermath of 9/11. That said, if you are leaving Japan or otherwise wish to unsubscribe from this list, click on this link, or type it into your browser's address window: http://mh.databack.com/c.php?L=tokyoacs&E=#email# You can also unsubscribe by writing from the same email address you used to subscribe, and send a blank email to: leave-tokyoacs@mh.databack.com --------------------------------------------------- Inclusion of Non-U.S. Government links or information does not imply endorsement of contents. This newsletter is prepared by the American Embassy in Tokyo with contributions from our Consulates/Consulates-General in Sapporo, Nagoya, Osaka-Kobe, Fukuoka and Naha. Need a form? Just about any form needed for use in our American Citizen Services sections is now available for download, including passport forms, the things you need to marry in Japan, blank Powers of Attorney, US Federal tax forms and more. 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