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308 Japanese companies affected by U.S. work visa halt: survey

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And how about the number of Americans who have a family and business in Japan are not allowed back in Japan because they hold a US Passport?

14 ( +17 / -3 )

As an America and a conservative living in japan I am against this move by the president. In fact it’s a good reason why I now will not vote for him.

1 ( +8 / -7 )

Brian William MeissnerToday  10:08 am JST

As an America and a conservative living in japan I am against this move by the president. In fact it’s a good reason why I now will not vote for him.

I'm also a conservative and understand and respect your point, however, what is wrong with putting legal Americans (tax payers) before an person who is not American first? Doesn't Japan and other countries do the same?

1 ( +8 / -7 )

@since1981, I'm in that boat. Family in Japan, meanwhile I'm stuck in US. :(

7 ( +8 / -1 )

And how about the number of Americans who have a family and business in Japan are not allowed back in Japan because they hold a US Passport?

They're not being refused because of their passport, they're being refused based on where they've been recently. It is possible (but expensive and time-consuming) to reenter Japan via a third country and intermediate quarantines. A few of the routes were effectively closed with the last round of entry bans, but at least one does still exist (with 2 intermediate quarantines so it will take a minimum of 6 weeks to effectively clear all procedures).

1 ( +3 / -2 )

The US economy cannot stay afloat without the skilled foreign work force in the country. The 1,400 Japanese mentioned in the article are not here flipping burgers. The last company I worked for before retiring would have had to close its doors without the skill foreign workers employed there. The company was thrilled when they could find an American to hire, and would take Americans with fewer skills than foreigners. Meanwhile, American companies would rather hire skilled foreigners than spend their own money and time (many years) training unskilled Americans.

I don't know whether Trump is ignorant, are purposely trying to damage America.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Yeah, sure, keep complaining while they hire foreign staff for nothing while we can’t find a job.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

"I'm also a conservative and understand and respect your point, however, what is wrong with putting legal Americans (tax payers) before an person who is not American first? Doesn't Japan and other countries do the same?"

Put the shoe on the other foot. Imagine you are leading a foreign based subsidiary of a US firm and you need specific talent from within your company to do certain highly skilled jobs, such as engineering or product development. Your company has trade secrets they wish to keep secret, and they have a way of making or doing things that are unique to that company. Maybe some aspect of their quality is one of their hallmarks, like BMW or Mercedes-Benz for example. Do you think someone from the host nation will have the necessary knowledge and experience to come in and fill that position? No. More likely they will have to transfer back to the US and learn the ropes before they can do the job right in their foreign subsidiary. It is the same for US subsidiaries of foreign, including Japanese firms, operating in the US.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

@ Desert Tortoise, you make a good point. However, the article suggests it only affects the issuance of permanent visas (green cards). I don't think that would include sending skilled workers to US operations for a limited period such as a year which happens frequently.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Japan has some of the harshest immigration policies in the world. Japan can say nothing. They must wait it out just like every other country.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

Give those jobs to the Vietnamese!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Getting work visa's for coming to Japan for work is on hold now because of the virus, many people I work with come into Japan to work for a few days, maybe up to a couple weeks, then move on to other countries, just not happening at present

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Why can’t Japan test on arrival like other countries and have people isolate?

Too difficult?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

It is time to forget america.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Yes a bit torn on this issue and it feels Japan has why more business here in the U.S then the U.S in Japan. Japan employs so many Americans through their business here in the U.S and feels like in the automobile industries Japan brands are more U.S made then that of our American companies. Also I know in my very own experiences a person with a work permit visa was a direct impact on my marriage being dissolved. Why would a manger of a Big Ramen chain here in the U.S want to pursue a married women with 3 kids married for 18 years yes bonus she probably seen single 40 year old guy with no kids as $$$. Then try to say he didn't cause the divorce. I just would like some more traceability and accountability for those that our guest here. As I hope other countries do with American workers in their countries.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

"@ Desert Tortoise, you make a good point. However, the article suggests it only affects the issuance of permanent visas (green cards). I don't think that would include sending skilled workers to US operations for a limited period such as a year which happens frequently."

From the article: "Last month the U.S. government extended the pause in issuance of green cards until the end of December, and also expanded the measure to include some work visas."

It is the recent halting of the issuance of work visas, with an exception only for agricultural workers, that is causing problems for these companies. Those companies need specific skill sets not immediately available in the US labor pool and now those positions must go unfilled.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

US made Toyotas have higher domestic content than any US brand auto. Toyota has over a dozen manufacturing plants in the US. Iris Ohyama even opened a plant in the US making filter media and some of their vacuums.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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