Japan Deports Uzbek Citizen Over Visa Violation

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Japan's immigration authorities have deported an Uzbek citizen who remained in the country illegally after his student visa expired, the Embassy of Japan in Uzbekistan said.

According to the embassy, the citizen entered Japan on a student visa but stayed in the country without legal status after the visa expired. He was later detained by the Japanese authorities and deported to Uzbekistan at government expense.

The embassy stressed that a student visa is intended solely for educational purposes and does not provide grounds for employment.

The diplomatic mission warned that foreigners found to be staying or working illegally in Japan face strict measures, including detention, placement in an immigration detention center and subsequent deportation. It added that the Japanese government shares information about such violations with the government of Uzbekistan, meaning that appropriate measures may also be taken against those individuals after they return home.

The embassy also urged citizens to treat with caution offers claiming that it is possible to work in Japan on a student visa and not to trust such claims.

In addition, the embassy rejected the misconception that applying for refugee status allows foreign nationals to remain in Japan for an extended period or work in the country. It stressed that using the asylum process for such purposes is not permitted. If a refugee application is rejected, a foreign national may be placed in an immigration detention center or deported.

The embassy also noted that providing false information or using fraudulent methods when applying for refugee status may result in serious legal consequences.