>From the Corrections/Feedback section of http://www.japaninc.com/tt441

<Excerpt>

-> In TT440, we carried a news item about the Immigration
Bureau's plan to fingerprint and eye-scan every foreigner
arriving in Japan, including permanent residents, and that
furthermore, ALL would have to go to the foreigners line
-- drastically increasing the delays.

* Our reader says: In response to your recent item
regarding new fingerprinting procedures to take place in
November, I would note that, while specifics have yet to be
finalized, word is that a "priority lane" will be
established at NARITA only, using special gate equipment to
screen foreign arrivals who have pre-registered their
fingerprints and photos. No information has been made
available as yet regarding how to go about such
pre-registration, but at least one source notes that there
are currently no plans (i.e., no money budgeted) for
establishing similar facilities in Nagoya, Osaka, Kobe, or
any of the other major points of entry.

I'm sure there are hundreds, perhaps thousands, of
Japan-based foreign business people who, like myself,
travel in and out of the country at least monthly, if not
more frequently, so it really makes no sense at all that
this available technology (whatever it is$(D??(B€$B!I(Bthat's not clear
either) was not planned for wider implementation.

* We respond: Yes, we've heard about a mythical "Automatic
Gate" for re-entrants at Narita. No doubt we'll have to
wait for more news -- but it would be great if the
Immigration authorities could at least tell us how to
pre-register...

</excerpt>

Not that it matters to me personally, but have you guys heard about
this?


Sryn
sryn@yahoo.DELETETHIS.com