For some time now, I have been monitoring the criminal acts committed by people who are present in different countries as foreigners. Here in the Philippines, a Palestinian man was arrested in Quezon City for stealing a bag containing a lot of cash from the café of a hotel, according to a news report by the Manila Bulletin.
As it turns out, the Palestinian already has a history of committing other forms of crime. Could it be possible that, apart from violence and terrorism, theft and an obsession of committing crime are parts of the Palestinian nature?
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…
A 36-year-old Palestinian man was arrested after allegedly taking a money bag containing P5,020 and an empty cash box from a hotel café on Timog Avenue in Barangay South Triangle, Quezon City, at around 11:06 p.m. on Thursday, July 23.
The suspect, identified as “Ham,” was intercepted by hotel security personnel at the establishment’s exit after the incident was detected through the hotel’s CCTV monitoring system.
Initial investigation showed that the suspect entered the café and allegedly took the money bag and empty cash box without the knowledge or consent of the 24-year-old male cashier.
Recovered from the suspect were P5,020 in various peso bills and coins, the cash bag, the empty cash box, and a backpack.
Personnel of Kamuning Police Station (PS 10) later responded and took custody of the suspect from the hotel security personnel.
Further verification showed that the suspect had previous criminal records for estafa, unjust vexation, resistance and disobedience to a person in authority, use of a fictitious name, and concealing his true name in October 2025, as well as theft in May 2026.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Are there a lot of Palestinians living in your local community right now? Are you aware of the fact that a lot of Palestinians follow Islamic terrorists as their leaders? How many Palestinians do you think are present all over the Philippines today? Did you notice an increase of the number of foreign Islamists in your local community over the past twelve months? Do you think the national government is secretly allowing Palestinians to enter the Philippines as high-priority refugees with immigration in mind?
Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco
There is no denying the fact that fraud and other forms of crime went up in the United States whenever illegal aliens get involved. Recently an illegal alien was sentenced to eight years in prison for his involvement in an $89 fraudulent payroll scheme that saw illegal alien construction workers and their employers evade taxes, according to a news report by Breitbart. The convicted illegal alien criminal is from Honduras.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the report of Breitbart. Some parts in boldface…
An illegal alien has been sentenced to eight years in federal prison for his involvement in an $89 million fraudulent payroll scheme that saw illegal alien construction workers and their employers evade taxes.
“Today, we held an illegal alien from Honduras accountable for a brazen scheme that stole more than $38 million from American taxpayers to facilitate the employment of illegal aliens,” Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald said.
“This case exposes how unchecked illegal immigration fuels widespread payroll tax fraud and underground economies that harm American workers and taxpayers,” McDonald said. “This sentence sends a strong message: Those who exploit our open borders, cheat the U.S. Treasury, and violate federal laws will face justice.”
Department of Justice (DOJ) officials detailed how the illegal alien helped operate the payroll scheme through several maneuvers to ensure that illegal construction workers were kept off the books:
According to court documents and statements made in court, from 2015 to 2022, Mario Flores, of Honduras, an illegal alien, conspired with others to create a series of shell companies to run an unlicensed check cashing and cash courier service business. These shell companies cashed approximately $89 million in checks from subcontractors in the construction industry, charging them a percentage of the dollar amount of the checks they cashed as a fee for this service. Through this scheme, construction contractors and subcontractors paid their workers in cash without withholding and paying required payroll taxes, allowing them to operate without regard to the workers’ legal authority to work in the United States. Flores also caused the filing of false tax documents with the IRS to conceal the scheme.
…
In addition, Flores and his conspirators defrauded workers’ compensation insurance companies by leasing their certificates of insurance to contractors and by providing false and fraudulent information to the insurers about, among other things, the number of workers covered by the insurance and the amount workers were paid.
“Homeland Security Investigations is committed to protecting the integrity of our financial system and enforcing our nation’s laws,” HSI’s John Condon said. “Those who orchestrate large-scale payroll tax fraud and facilitate the illegal employment of unauthorized workers will be held accountable.”
Flores pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government and one count of conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think America still has a lot more illegal aliens working in construction and committing fraud to this day? Do you think illegal aliens are obsessed committing fraud and harming American workers and taxpayers?
The Trump administration’s enduring efforts to bring down the number of illegal aliens still present in America achieved a huge breakthrough deportations as twenty nations have formally agreed to accept the said illegals, according to a Newmax news report. This development could lead to an acceleration of deportations.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Newsmax report. Some parts in boldface…
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday that the United States has secured agreements with 20 countries to accept migrants living in the U.S. illegally who refuse to return to their home nations, describing the deals as a key part of the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement strategy.
Rubio said the agreements allow the United States to deport certain illegal aliens to so-called “safe” third countries when returning them directly to their countries of origin is not possible.
“A part of securing our border is dealing with the people that are in this country unlawfully, many of whom do not want to go back to the country that they originally came from,” Rubio said during a Cabinet meeting at the White House.
He said in some cases deportations are blocked because the migrants’ home countries refuse to accept them or because court rulings delay removals.
“One of the key things we have achieved is now 20 countries have signed third-country national agreements,” Rubio said. “These are safe countries where individuals who refuse to go back to their country of origin can be sent to that country instead.”
The agreements mark a significant expansion of the administration’s deportation efforts as President Donald Trump pushes forward with a broad immigration crackdown focused on border security and removal of illegal aliens living in the country illegally.
Rubio said the administration has worked closely with the Department of Homeland Security to implement the policy. He did not identify the countries that have signed the agreements or specify when the deals were finalized.
According to Rubio, the threat of deportation to a third country has also encouraged some illegal aliens to voluntarily return to their home countries.
“What often happens when you go to the person who’s here unlawfully and say, ‘We’re going to send you to this third country,’ is all of a sudden they decide they’d rather go back to their home country instead,” Rubio said.
Immigration enforcement and deportation policies have remained central priorities for the Trump administration, which has argued tougher enforcement measures are necessary to deter illegal immigration and strengthen border security.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think this breakthrough will lead to more deportations of illegal aliens soon? How many illegal immigrants are living within your local community right now?
In Japan, the raising of immigration fees could soon become a reality as the Japanese House of Representatives approved a bill to raise the ceiling on fees for immigration procedures, according to a news article by Jiji Press. This means the approved legislation will be reviewed and eventually be decided upon by the nation’s House of Councillors (upper chamber).
To put things in perspective, posted below is the entire article of Jiji Press. Some parts in boldface…
Japan’s House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a bill to raise the ceiling on fees for immigration procedures, making it likely to be enacted during the current parliamentary session ending in July.
The amendment to the immigration control and refugee recognition law was approved by a majority vote at a plenary meeting of the lower chamber of the Diet, with backing from the Liberal Democratic Party-led ruling camp and opposition parties including the Democratic Party for the People and Sanseito.
If the bill clears the House of Councillors, the upper chamber, the new fees would be implemented within this fiscal year, which ends next March.
Under the revision, the ceiling would be raised to 100,000 yen for permission to change residence status and extend the period of stay and to 300,000 yen for permanent residence permission. Actual fees would be determined based on a relevant ordinance within these limits.
Currently, the fee cap for the three categories is 10,000 yen.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think it is likely the House of Councillors will approve the bill to raise immigration fees? How do you think this will impact foreign immigration in Japan in the long term? Do you think reforming immigration will become a huge part of Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae’s legacy?
Even though controversy hounded it, the approved plan of Ibaraki Prefecture in Japan on rewarding those who report businesses hiring illegal foreign workers will take effect on May 11, according to a news report by Kyodo News. Ibaraki Prefecture (population of around 2.9 million) is located northeast of Tokyo and it already has a high number of illegal foreign workers.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of Kyodo News Some parts in boldface…
A controversial plan to reward people who report businesses hiring illegal foreign workers will take effect May 11 in a prefecture northeast of Tokyo, the local government said Wednesday.
Ibaraki Prefecture, which, as of 2024, had the highest number of illegal foreign workers among the country’s 47 prefectures, will report such employers to police after verifying the information. It will offer 10,000 yen ($63) if a tip leads to a case being opened.
Reports will be limited to businesses hiring foreign workers unlawfully, and the prefecture plans to issue guidelines, including not basing reports solely on individuals’ appearance or nationality.
Reports can be filed through the prefectural website by providing personal information such as name, address and phone number, and must include a copy of identification, such as a driver’s license, the prefecture said.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think more local government units and prefectures in Japan should follow Ibaraki Prefecture’s policy on dealing with illegal foreign workers found being hired by businesses? Do you think such a policy will improve Japan’s way of removing illegal foreign workers and cleaning up the private sector from such people? Is Ibaraki Prefecture’s 10,000 Yen reward good enough? Do you think Ibaraki Prefecture should come up a new policy to punish foreigners who cause public disturbances?
Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco
The total number of foreigners living in Japan has exceeded four million (as of 2025) based on the official numbers released by the government, according to a Kyodo News report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of Kyodo News Some parts in boldface…
The number of foreign nationals residing in Japan hit a record 4.13 million in 2025, topping 4 million for the first time, aided by a rise in permanent residents and foreign workers, government data showed Friday.
According to the Immigration Services Agency, 4,125,395 foreign nationals were residing in Japan at the end of 2025, up 9.5 percent from the previous year, hitting a record high for the fourth consecutive year.
They accounted for 3.36 percent of the country’s population, up from 3.04 percent last year. Around 947,000 were permanent residents, while 475,000 were holders of visas in specialized work fields such as engineering or the humanities.
By nationality, Chinese topped the list of foreign residents in Japan at 930,000. Vietnamese came second at around 681,000, followed by South Koreans at around 407,000.
Japan also had around 356,000 Filipinos and around 300,000 Nepalese. Sri Lankans, at around 79,000, ranked ninth, up from 12th place in 2024.
Known for its strict immigration policy, Japan has been gradually opening its doors to foreign workers in recent years as the country faces labor shortages due to the aging of society.
Its refugee recognition system is also seen as stringent. The agency announced that 187 foreigners were recognized as refugees last year, down 3 from the year before. The total includes 123 Afghans, 26 Yemenis and 11 Chinese.
Japan accepted a total of 474 people, mostly Ukrainians, under what is known as the complementary protection system that treats those fleeing conflict as equivalent to refugees. The number fell sharply, by 1,187 from 2024.
The government granted residential status to 525 people on humanitarian grounds.
The number of foreign nationals applying for refugee status dropped 8.7 percent to around 11,000. The figure has been on a downward trend since the agency introduced a plan to eliminate “illegal immigrants for the safety and security” of Japan in May last year.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think Japan can solve its labor shortage problem without relying on foreign immigrants? Do you think any significant changes on immigration in Japan will happen under the administration of Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae over the next few years? Why do you think there are many foreigners who are applying for refugee status in Japan? Did you notice a high number of Muslim foreigners causing disturbances in Japan recently?
US President Donald Trump delivered another meaningful State of the Union Address. His speech emphasized what his administration has done, what they are working on and which direction America itself is headed.
What is very notable about this year’s speech was how Trump exposed the wickedness and unpatriotic nature of the Democrats (the Satanic Left and Islamo-Leftists). The White House issued a statement about whose side the Democrats are on.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the White House statement. Some parts in boldface…
Tonight, President Donald J. Trump delivered a historic State of the Union address before a joint session of Congress — proudly declaring the dawn of a new Golden Age after just one year of transformative leadership in his second term. In a powerful speech, President Trump highlighted unprecedented accomplishments: a fully secure border, plummeting inflation, falling gas prices and crime rates, surging stock markets and 401(k)s, massive tax relief for working Americans, and bold actions to restore peace through strength abroad.
This was a speech of renewal and resolve — yet congressional Democrats, consumed by delusional hatred and obstruction, refused to join in celebrating these victories for the American people.
Tonight, Democrats refused to applaud:
– Reaffirming “the first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens.”
– The grieving families of innocent American women and children murdered by criminal illegal aliens — including the mother of Iryna Zarutska, a North Carolina woman savagely killed on public transit by a career criminal monster.
– Securing our homeland and finally ending the invasion of savage criminal illegal aliens — killers, rapists, gang members, and traffickers — with the strongest, most secure border in American history.
– Prioritizing American citizens over illegal aliens.
– Unifying against political violence.
– Inflation finally subsiding after years of Democrat-driven price shocks that crushed working families.
– Keeping violent criminals locked up.
– Lower prescription drug prices for millions of Americans.
– The decisive military action that brought indicted narcoterrorist Nicolás Maduro to justice, crippling drug cartels and liberating our hemisphere from vicious narcotrafficking terrorists.
– Protecting minor children from the horrors of irreversible sex changes.
– Gas prices dropping to multi-year lows, putting money back in Americans’ pockets.
– Law enforcement officers being respected once again after years of vilification.
– The financial futures of millions of American newborns through Trump Accounts.
– Protecting the integrity of our elections by preventing illegal aliens from undermining our democracy.
– Banning large corporations from scooping up single-family homes, ensuring they remain available for working Americans.
– Ending widespread fraud schemes — like the $19 billion Somali fraud scandal that burdened Minnesota taxpayers.
– Warrior Dividends for our great military heroes.
– Reducing the flow of deadly fentanyl across our border by a record 56% in one year.
Very clearly, the Democrats today are twisted, very woke and they do not really care about America’s own citizens and stakeholders. Too many times have the Democrats sided with illegal aliens, illegal immigrants, and other foreign criminals at the expense of the American people. The general elections of 2024 are over and yet the Democrats never changed for the better at all. They are actually worse and more toxic right now.
The Democrats love illegal immigrants/aliens, the Islamic terrorists, the scammers, the crooks, the thieves and a whole lot more evil forces. Can you imagine John F. Kennedy and Robert Kennedy being alive today (they each would be over 100-years-old had they survived) and look at their fellow Democrats? They would have been very disgusted and shocked with how much their party changed for the worse! I can imagine an elderly RFK condemning Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib as Islamic terrorists disguised as their party members.
With the YouTube videos posted below, you will not only see how disgusting Democrats really are, but also see how Trump cleverly exposed their true colors.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to Trump’s 2026 State of the Union Address? Do you think the Democrats today have any sanity remaining at all? Do the Islamists like Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib reflect your values as an American? Do you find Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi and Al Green the most pathetic Democrats of today?
Recently in the city of Parañaque, elements of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) arrested an overstaying Chinese national who was caught in the act of running a scam operation in his residence, according to a BusinessWorld news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the BusinessWorld news report. Some parts in boldface…
THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) has arrested a Chinese national allegedly operating a cryptocurrency investment scam in a condominium unit in Parañaque City.
In a statement on Wednesday, the BI said fugitive search unit (FSU) agents, working with the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-National Capital Region (CIDG-NCR) and the Department of Justice Office of Cybercrime, apprehended a 41-year-old Chinese national on Monday, inside a residence along Diosdado Macapagal Blvd. in Barangay Tambo.
Authorities said the man was caught in the act of managing a computer workstation suspected of being used for online fraud. Intelligence reports earlier linked the location to another Chinese national believed to be running the operation with several accomplices.
He had also overstayed in the country, failing to extend his visa since October 2024, and was found to be working without a permit.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, are you concerned that there could be more Chinese nationals illegally staying and secretly doing scam operations? Are there many Chinese nationals living in your residential community right now?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
The ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) has officially been institutionalized recently as Republic Act Number 12312 has been signed into law by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).
Back in July 2024, the ban on POGOs was declared and there were some economic effects that followed (click here and here). POGOs are notorious for being connected with varied forms of crime and human rights abuses. It should be noted that even though the ban was in effect, there were still POGO operations uncovered in Parañaque City (click here, here and here) which itself has been a hot spot of criminal activities involving Chinese nationals for many years now.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news article of the PNA. Some parts in boldface…
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has signed Republic Act (RA) 12312, institutionalizing the ban on Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) and declaring their operations and other related activities illegal.
RA 12312, or the Anti-POGO Act of 2025, signed by Marcos on Oct. 23, repeals RA 11590, which previously legalized offshore gaming operations.
“The State recognizes that the maintenance of peace and order, the protection of life, liberty, and property, and the promotion of the general welfare are paramount for the meaningful enjoyment of democracy. The State likewise values the dignity of every human person and guarantees full respect for human rights,” the new law stated.
“To this end, offshore gaming operations in the Philippines are hereby banned and declared unlawful,” it added.
RA 12312 prohibits the establishment, operation, or conduct of offshore gaming in the Philippines; the acceptance of any form of betting for offshore gaming operations; acting as a POGO gaming content or service provider; the creation and operation of a POGO hub; and the introduction, use, or possession of POGO gaming equipment or paraphernalia.
The law orders the permanent cancellation of all licenses previously issued for POGO operations.
All Alien Employment Permits and certificates of exemption and exclusion issued by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), as well as any visa or work permit issued by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) or other visa-issuing agencies to POGO workers, have also been revoked.
“Upon the effectivity of this Act, the DOLE, the BI, and other visa-issuing agencies shall not be allowed to issue any visa or work permit to any person for purposes related to offshore gaming operations,” the law stated.
“The BI shall ensure that any foreign national whose visa is cancelled in accordance with this provision shall be deported directly to the country of his or her birth or citizenship, in coordination with the appropriate embassy or consulate.”
Under RA 12312, all POGOs, as well as POGO gaming content providers, accredited service providers, and local gaming agents whose licenses have been revoked, remain liable for taxes, duties, regulatory fees, and all other charges up to the last day of their operations.
These are due and payable to the government for obligations arising from or in connection with their operations.
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) is directed to audit persons and entities to determine any outstanding tax liabilities, despite the revocation of licenses and closure of operations.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think there are still POGOs or even tiny POGO-like operations still operating secretly around the country right now?
In response to the abuse of visa processes and cases of fraud committed by some foreigners, Japan recently tightened the rules for applying for the Business Manager Visa and also raised the capital requirement by six times, according to varied sources. To put things in perspective, the said visa was launched by Japan over a decade ago in order to attract foreign entrepreneurs who can contribute a lot to building up the national economy and create new jobs.
To get yourselves oriented, watch the English-language analytical news video of NHK World by clicking here. To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from NHK’s English news report. Some parts in boldface…
Japan’s business manager residence status, introduced a decade ago to lure entrepreneurs from overseas, has become increasingly popular. More than 41,000 people held it last year.
But concerns have grown that the status was being misused as an easy path to immigration, prompting the government to tighten rules this month – including a steep increase in capital requirements.
Worries about abuse – With the number of business manager visas issued more than doubling in ten years, worries have grown that it was being misused – a view highlighted by then-justice minister Suzuki Keisuke earlier this month.
“It was pointed out that the residential status is abused by some foreigners as a means of moving to Japan, as permit standards are lax compared to the same systems in other countries.” (Suzuki Keisuke)
How have the requirements changed? –Japan introduced this visa 10 years ago to attract foreign entrepreneurs. The goal was to boost investment and create jobs. But new rules for the visa were introduced in October.
The capital requirement was raised six-fold, from 5 million to 30 million yen. That means incoming applicants will need nearly 200,000 dollars in the bank.
The rules also require companies to hire at least one full-time employee, who must be, for example, a Japanese citizen or permanent resident.
It also requires that applicants have at least three years of business management experience or hold at least a master’s degree.
Why tighten the rules? – Authorities said the capital requirement was too low. In addition, they’ve seen a number of fraudulent applications using shell companies that aren’t actually operative in the real world.
“Someone who has no intention of engaging in business activities can obtain business manager residence status as a means of immigrating to Japan. But that is not acceptable from our viewpoint. We made these changes because we believe the previous requirements were too loose.” (Ito Junji)
Over 41,000 people had business manager residence status last year. That number has more than doubled over the last decade.
Social situation in China may be one cause of the increase – More than half of the people holding this residence status are Chinese. Of course, there are legitimate applications. But the visa has also been widely advertised on social media as a means of moving to Japan.
And some Chinese residents are looking for a way to escape their country’s harsh rules. For example, Beijing’s strict lockdown policies during the coronavirus pandemic pushed people away. And China’s high-pressure “entrance exam war” is another reason why people want to leave China. They want to raise their children in Japan to avoid that kind of pressure.
Meanwhile, The Japan News (of The Yomiuri Shimbun) published an editorial about the recent tightening of rules regarding the Business Management Visa. Posted below is an excerpt. Some parts in boldface…
A status of residence originally created to help Japan’s economic growth by accepting entrepreneur-minded foreign nationals is being abused.
The system must be changed in line with its original intent, while authorities must firmly crack down on illegal residency.
The Justice Ministry has tightened the requirements for obtaining the business manager visa, a type of residence status, by revising a ministerial ordinance under the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Law.
This type of visa was created in 2015 for foreign nationals who launch businesses in Japan. The number of business manager visa holders has continued to increase, reaching 44,800 in June this year.
In recent years, there have been cases where foreign nationals have reportedly obtained this visa fraudulently by establishing shell companies. The Immigration Services Agency investigated 300 applications suspected of fraud and found that 90% of them had irregularities such as having no actual business operations.
It is believed that the holders of this visa in those cases have come to Japan under the guise of starting businesses with their real purpose being to bring their families for advanced medical treatment or to provide their children with high-quality education. This situation where the system’s original intent is being disregarded cannot be overlooked.
Previously, the government granted this status of residence for up to five years if applicants had an office in Japan and met either of these requirements: having capital of ¥5 million or more or hiring two or more full-time employees.
Under the revised ministerial ordinance, the minimum capital requirement has been raised to ¥30 million and it is now mandatory to hire at least one full-time employee. A certain level of Japanese language ability is another new requirement.
In South Korea, obtaining a similar visa requires about ¥32 million in capital, and in the United States, about ¥15 million to ¥30 million in capital is needed. Compared to other countries, Japan’s lenient visa criteria may have contributed to the rampant abuse.
There are other areas that need to be changed. Currently, screenings for the visa have been conducted primarily through documents alone. If illegal acquisition is suspected, why not conduct interviews with the applicants in addition to on-site inspections?
It is also important to check business operations regularly after the visa is granted. To that end, strengthening the system for immigration checks is indispensable.
Some people say that because screenings of registrations for companies and other entities have been lax in the first place, shell companies have been used as covers for money laundering and other purposes. The loose screening system must be overhauled.
As you can see in the above editorial excerpt, cases of abuse and fraud were spotted by Japan’s government already. In related to the findings, watch the China Observer YouTube video below.
The China Observer video pointed out that a lot of foreigners who applied for Japan’s Business Manager Visa before were Chinese nationals. Some Chinese nationals see the said visa as a shortcut to immigration into Japan and get away from mainland China where their lives allegedly have been hard and restrictive. It is also widely reported that China has been having serious economic problems for years now.
Going back to the Japanese authorities, the changes made on the Business Manager Visa were meant to prevent further fraud from happening, to ensure that companies have substantial operational capability, and prevent the proliferation of shell companies. Along the way, the authorities want to make certain that those who applied for the visa have at least 3 years entrepreneurial experience or have a master’s degree in business management, so that the foreigners (who secretly have no intention to contribute to Japan’s economy) can be prevented from entering.
When it comes to the abuses of the Business Manager Visa, Japanese authorities discovered cases of fraud such as some small buildings in Tokyo and Osaka had as many as fifty different company names registered with the same address, and often with no real staff present. These visa-related fraud cases only add to the endless problems Japan already has. That being said, Japanese authorities did the right thing with tightening the rules and adjusting requirements for the Business Management Visa.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think that too many foreigners abused the Business Management Visa already? Did you notice any foreigners who want to migrate to Japan with a hidden agenda that would only lead to trouble? Do you think other countries should follow Japan’s example?
Author Carlo Carrasco 