Japan Immigration Policy Changes

Immigration policy is going through some changes in Japan. Within the next 3-years, we will supposedly see a change in the "Alien Registration" system. Details are still unclear, but it appears that a new card containing an "IC Chip" will be issued by the Immigration Bureau that will replace the current card, which is issued by your local city or town authority. Where you will go to do things is not yet clear, but at least under this new system the "Re-Entry Permit" will be abolished (well, effectively, it will be issued with your status of residence).

In the meantime, however, some changes have already been made. Were you aware of these 2 changes that have already taken effect??!!

1. Revision of Supporting Documentation for Visa Applications

Immigration forms required for the Certificate of Eligibility (COE), visa renewal, change of status and other visa related applications were revised last year, which in turn directly impacted the supporting documents requirements.

One of the more significant changes is that immigration bureau now requires the Japan office of large companies who pay 15,000,000 yen or more a year in income tax deductions from all its employees (foreign and Japanese nationals)to submit the official certificate of income tax deducted from all employees as a supporting document for the application of COE, visa renewals, etc.

Through this change, large companies who provide this tax statement will not have to provide company registration, profit/loss, organization charts, and other documents that have been required up to now. Additionally, the applicant will not have to provide his/her resume, employment contract, university diploma, assignment letter, etc.

The document requirments for applicants working for companies whose tax deductions are less than 15,000,000 yen per year, will have to provide most, but not all, of the supporting documents required prior to the policy change. One of the documents no longer required, in most cases, is the copy of the employment contract.

The above is good news for large Multi-National Companies, as this simplifies much of the application process for "intra-company" and "business manager" visas which make up the main stream of expatriate visa applications for working in Japan.

2. Additional Documenation Requirement for Company's not using "Gyosei-Shoshi"

Until recently, only the applicant’s and/or a company employee’s (usually human resource personel's) signature was required on immigration forms. ie. If you were an employee of the company, you could easily complete the visa application for another employee of your organization without question (third party applications can only / could only be made by legal scribes or "Gyosei-Shoshi). However, the new forms have an additional page that must be filled out by the President or top Human Resources Manager with the official company seal or stamp.

Most of the questions asked of the company on the application form is the same as the previous forms, but this change is obviously an inconvenience to HR administrators in Japan, as receiving the company stamp on forms usually is a time-taking process within large Japanese entities.

So, under these new implemented changes, large international companies have gained some convenience in terms of the required supporting documentation for applications, but have also lost some inconvenience in making those applications, as any old "Joe" from the company can no longer submit an application....... without the official stamp from the big boss upstairs!

Airlines Continue to Amaze Me!

I got caught up in the iceland volcano saga in Europe, which appears to have "blown over" rather quickly this week. However, it has made me think about a couple of things;

1. How Reliant We Are On Mobility
The iceland volcano just showed us how important transportation systems are to getting relocated to where you need to be for work or pleasure. We take for granted that there are thousands of flights per day that get not only people relocated to where they need to be, but get things where they are needed. We are so globally dependant on each other, if planes don't fly and trucks don't drive, everything falls apart. All the fresh vege and dairy products made for the markets in Europe during the volcanic ash disaster had to all be thrown away. Talk about a waste of resources! If transport systems go down, despite how much CO2 they might be responsible for, there is an incredible waste of resources somewhere else....... Food for thought.

2. JALs Pull Out Effect
As we see JAL restructure everything they do due to 20 years of complete mis-management, the ripple down effect on others is quite stricking. JAL just announced more closure of routes here; http://www.japantoday.com/category/business/view/jal-to-cut-45-more-overseas-domestic-routes. As an example, JAL will be pulling out their subsidiary "J-AIR" from Nagoya Airport as per an announcement last week. The ripple down effect here; this decision will basically shut down the prefectural operations of the Nagoya Airport. Half of Nagoya Airports services just got cancelled; this has a huge effect on the economics of the airport and related suppliers.

The above just really highlighted to me how reliant an economy is on the airlines, and in fact how reliant our relocation industry is on airlines and transportation systems. We all need to understand just what mayhem occurs when people and freight can't move.

More Than Japan Housing, More Than Japan Cars and Furniture, More than Japan Serviced Apartments, More Than Japan Destination Services, More Than Japan License Conversion, More Than Japan Information!
The H&R Group is MORE THAN RELOCATION!
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Relocating to Tokyo? Tokyo Ranked Number 1 Most Expensive City

The rank of the overall international cost of living indexes is reported as at April 2010 using New York as the base city.

The rank for the top 10 most expensive locations is as follows:
April 2010 Rank Country, City (Jan 2010 Rank)[Change in Rank]
1 Japan, Tokyo (1) [0]
2 Switzerland, Geneva (2) [0]
3 Brazil, Brasilia (3) [0]
4 Switzerland, Zurich (4) [0]
5 Norway, Oslo (6) [-1]
6 Denmark, Copenhagen (7) [-1]
7 Venezuela, Caracas (8) [-1]
8 China, Hong Kong (5) [3]
9 Liechtenstein, Vaduz (9) [0]
10 Australia, Sydney (15) [-5]

The indexes are calculated using the prices for specific quantities of the same goods and services in each location, based on expatriate spending patterns across 13 broad categories (Basket Groups). The cost of living studied is the cost of maintaining an expatriate standard of living.

Tokyo is the overall most expensive place in the world for expats. Tokyo is also the most expensive place in the world for accommodation, while it is the fourth most expensive place in the world for groceries.

For the full list of all 282 global locations see here; http://www.xpatulator.com/outside.cfm?aid=240

If your are relocating to the most expensive city in the world, make sure you see us at H&R Group. We will make sure you keep your relocation bill to the minimum through our experienced international team.

More Than Japan Housing, More Than Japan Cars and Furniture, More than Japan Serviced Apartments, More Than Japan Destination Services, More Than Japan License Conversion, More Than Japan Information!

The H&R Group is MORE THAN RELOCATION!

www.morethanrelo.com

Touching Your Clients Brilliantly

I spent the last week under the influence of nature.

After 3 days in the US at a Planning Meeting for the coming Worldwide ERC Relocation Conference, my plans to travel to Europe were struck down by that Volcano in Iceland. After changing my flights 3 times, I simply gave up and came back to Japan!

Well, everything is an opportunity, and this gave me an opportunity to think about somthing....
Our groups lofty goal is to become the most reputable relocation company in Japan to Japanese and Foreigners. I have mentioned this before, but I use "Singapore Airlines" repuation in the Airline Industry as an example of who we want to be in our "Relocation" Industry. When I fly back home to NZ, I always use Singapore Airlines as they are just so great to travel with. I would rather fly 20 hours with Singapore Airlines than 11 hours with poor service.

For this reason, I am always comparing other airlines to Singapore. On my recent trip I flew with ANA, US Airways and United. United were particularly unmemorable. Not bad, but nothing jumped out as being fantastic. US Airways were similarly ordinary. I didn't get to fly with them to Europe, but as a domestic airline they were average. ANA, however, I thought were great. Good service that probably gets close to Singapore, nice friendly staff, and they seem to get it; the little things like coming back to pick up your empty coffee cup that they left with you when they took away your dinner tray (simple, but US carriers don't do it unless the cup falls out in the aisle). The meals were tasty for economy class and the aircraft was new with the TV built in. This is ANA that is not funded by Japanese tax payers, but a company that has worked out how to provide a top quality service in their industry in a competitive fashion (unlike JAL who has to rely on 3 government cash infusions and then still can't get it right).

However, what did catch me is somthing else. I spent alot of time on the phone in the US; calling US Airlines and ANA to change my flights. Their customer service over the phone, both companies, was fantastic. They listened to your needs, gave you the options and executed things really well; no being hung up on and it was generally a good experience. Then there was the time I spent at the check in counter. My US Airlines experience is mentioned in my previous blog entry, basically the front line staff were great, but the experience I had from the front lines's superiors was less than memorable. ANA check in staff were friendly and I had a good experience there.

What did this teach me? Well, taking the flight is just one part of the service. The experience you have on the phone and at the check in counter happens before you get on the flight. ie. Your impressions of the airline are set before you even experience flying with them.

For us in the service industry, this is really important. Every point of our service that touches our clients, even before we meet them to assist with their relocation sets the scene for how our clients will judge our service. One bad piece of communication, one poor phone call and we have already set the parameters for how our clients will judge our service.

To be the most reputable company in relocation in Japan for foreigners and Japanese, we need to be brilliant at every touch point with our clients! Impressions are everything!

My impression of US Airways is forever marked by a bad experience at the check in counter. However, my experience with ANA at the check in counter, on the phone and on the flight was all great. At every touch point, they were brilliant. Impressions count!!

Super Duper Service

The big lofty goal of our organization at H&R group is to become the relocation company that has the number one reputation with Foreigners and Japanese. To our staff the example I use to explain who we want to be is "Singapore Airlines" that have a record unheld by anybody else as the most "awarded" airline in the world. Singapore Airlines signifies service greatness; they have been selected as the best airline in the world for something like 20 of the last 21 years. That is who I want H&R Group to be in relocation.

It was in great contrast to this that I experienced US Airways in the last few days. Unfortunately, I am still experiencing them, as I am stuck in Philidelphia due to the ash created by the volcano in Iceland. I must admit that US Airways on the phone have been great. They even rescheduled all my flights this morning, so that I can hopefully fly out of here tomorrow. Their customer service on every occasion has been wonderful everytime I called customers services.

It is a pity therefore, that I came across John F in Washington DC yesterday. Due to John F, I will never choose to fly US Airways again. This is much like Northwest Airlines that did the same dis-service to me in Japan a few years ago. I swear I will never use them again, and I will tell the John F story until I am blue.


I arrived in Washington DC two days ago oblivious to the fact that some volcano in Iceland was spitting ash. I swiped my passport in the machine, which immediately told me "See an attendant, your flight has been cancelled". The lady that attended to me was really nice. It was not her problem that a natural disaster prevented me from flying and I accepted that. She kindly looked into all the options and booked me into the nearest available flight, about 4 days away. Not over the moon at the 4 day part of things, I asked her what other options I had, and she suggested that "standby" was the only other option, and that to do that I needed to be in Philidelphia where my international flight departed. I took this advice on board and asked for the next flight to Philly, so that the next day I could be at the airport.


She kindly re-arranged my flights and then asked me to place my luggage on the scales. As per the flight into the US, my suitcase was 30kgs due to the company brochures and other work material I was carrying. However, now that my flight was just a domestic one to Philly, and not the International linked flight an alarm comes up about my suitcase being over weight.


So here I am. I have been standing at the counter for about 60 mins now getting everything re-done. Granted; it is a natural disaster over which nobody has control, but my departure date has been put back by 4-days. US Airways offers no compensation, no hotel stays, no meals, abosolutely zip, which is accepted; not US Airways fault. In order to get out of the US and get to the business meetings scheduled, I need to be in Philly to see if I can get an earlier flight on stand by. My choice yes, but I have paid for that flight and I have just chosen to take it without the international piece until it can be confirmed. My suitcase is no different to when I arrived in the US and took a domestic flight to Washington DC from Chicago.


So, up rolls John F and looks at my over weight suitcase. Sorry sir, you are overweight, and this will be a $75.00 charge he says. But please, I said, this is the same suitcase for which I came to DC with. I was not charged in coming here, and so why should I be charged on the way out? Sir, you choose to change your flights, he says. So what?, I replied. I changed my flight because my international flight has been delayed 4 days, and I need to be in Philly to try and get an earlier flight. Oh, you may have a very valid reason sir, but our system can't just over ride this, as you have chosen to change your flights. You're joking I say. No, I have made my decision he says. Hold on a minute John F I say; you have made your decision or your system cannot allow the change, which one is it? Oh, well um..... it is both, but that's it, you can pay the 75.00 dollars and take your bag or leave without it.


What fantastic customer service. Do you think this is how Singapore Airlines became number one? This was an opportunity to win me over. It would have cost US Airways nothing, and I would have been a fan. Result; I was so pissed off that not only did I take John's name to report to customer service, but I will never take US Airways again, and I will not ever recommend them to anyone else.


So, John F. I hope you enjoyed your power play yesterday. Maybe one day you will wake up and realize what the role is you have in building your companies reputation. Let's face it, it doesn't matter how good the people on the front line are, and it doesn't matter how good the US Airways executive team is, if middle management of your airline is all like you, your airline doesn't stand a chance. It is a pity that you can't see it, because one day it is also likely to be the reason that someone takes your job. Happy future fella, the writing is on the wall.

The Relocation Industry Club; Worldwide ERC

Much to the surprise of many "Relocation" has an industry of its own and there are a couple of organizations around the world that are set up to facilitate dialogue and mutual business opportunties in relocation related areas.

The largest of these organizations is the Employee Relocation Council (ERC) or what is known today as the "Worldwide ERC"; www.worldwideerc.org

The ERC is the relocation organization for both domestic US relocations and for international relocation and holds conferences in USA, Asia and Europe, and is the organization that everyone turns to for information, benchmarking and networking on relocation topics.

The H&R Group, and in particular our relocation brand "ReloJapan" has been a member of Worldwide ERC for over 10 years, and is proud to be associated with our industries most prominent organization.

I am also proud to have been nominated onto the ERC Planning Committee of the "Global Workforce Summit" to be held in Seattle towards the end of October 2010. The planning committee consists of about 25 relocation professionals who are tasked with the organization of the summit and the preparation of some 20 different seminars / sessions on a variety of relocaton topics.

In particular interest to me is a session that I have been allocated to facilitate on "360 Degree Communication in International Relocation". While I have very few ideas on how to move this session forward right now, I am particularly motivated by the topic, as I see the worst of it being a "Destination Service Provider" in Japan.

There is definately no 360 degree communication in terms of the work we receive through Relocation Management Companies as per my entry of February 9th; http://real-o-cating-japan.blogspot.com/2010/02/who-is-client-in-relocation.html, whereby nobody appears to have the same "client" and therefore the focus goes on different people in the process depending on who you are; resulting in communication to about 45 degrees and not 360.

It will be a welcoming concept to invite some speakers on 360 degree communication to my session, and I really hope that all the Relocation Management Companies attend it!

The Cult of Done..... "Just Do It"

I have always been a great fan of Nike's "Just Do It" slogan. In fact, I think these are the 3 words I like most in the world after the word "Balance".

I am currently reading "Linchpin" (http://www.sethgodin.com/) and he quotes Bre Pettis in his book to have quoted this about "The Cult of Done" or what I would call the art of "Just Do It";

1. There are 3 states of being. Not knowing, action and completion.
2. Accept that everything is a draft. It helps to get it done.
3. There is no editing stage
4. Pretending you know what you are doing is almost the same as knowing what you are doing, so accept that you know what you're doing, even if you don't, and do it
5. Banish procrastination. If you wait more than a week to get an idea done, abandon it.
6. The point of being done is not to finish, but is to get other things done.
7. Once you're done, you can throw it away
8. Laugh at perfection. It's boring and keeps you from being done
9. People without dirty hands are wrong. Doing something makes you right.
10. Failure counts as done. So do mistakes.
11. Destruction is a variant of done
12. If you have an idea and publish it on the Internet, that counts as a ghost of done
13. Done is the engine of more

I really like this. Especially 8 and 9, as they are so right and I often get caught on them myself. Increasingly, I believe life and what you learn from it, is all about implementation or what you "do". They more you implement, or the more you "do", the more you learn and the more you succeed.

If you lead a life of "balance" and have an attitude to "Just Do It" all the time, I think you will live a pretty rewarding life!

More Than Japan Housing, More Than Japan Cars and Furniture, More than Japan Serviced Apartments, More Than Japan Destination Services, More Than Japan License Conversion, More Than Japan Information!

The H&R Group is MORE THAN RELOCATION!
http://www.morethanrelo.com/