ACCJ Town Hall Summary, Sept. 18

Town Hall – Friday, September 18, 2020

Peter Fitzgerald, ACCJ President

·      Within the last month, we witnessed numerous changes related to and beyond COVID-19.  As individuals and businesses adopt technology globally, it is exciting to see digital transformation go from a buzzword to an actual imperative.

·      Thank you to Chris LaFleur and ACCJ Committee Leaders for their robust and sustained efforts on the travel re-entry ban.  It is encouraging to see progress that serves our members.  However, more work lies ahead, and our advocacy work continues.

·      Please mark your calendars for our annual Ordinary General Meeting (OGM) on Tuesday, October 27, which will be conducted in a virtual format.  OGM includes the State of the Chamber, voting on constitutional changes, and elections.  Thank you to those serving and the candidates willing to serve during next year’s term.

Laura Younger, ACCJ Executive Director

·      Thank you to our Committees and members for the excellent programming they have implemented this year.  We have seen a tremendous increase in registrants over the last six months – more than 3,000 compared to the same period last year.

·      The Chamber is prepared to host hybrid events and has shared guidelines with Committee Leaders.  Additionally, we are furthering ways to enhance networking among members, and several options are being piloted.

·      Nominations for Leader of the Year and Volunteer of the Year are open!  Please submit nominations by Friday, October 30.  In an incredibly challenging year, please take a moment to recognize our leaders' and members' extraordinary contributions.

Christopher LaFleur, ACCJ Chairman

·      Special thanks to Catherine O’Connell, Scott Warren, and Mark Davidson for their substantial inputs as we crafted the ACCJ’s advocacy positions.

·      Although we have made considerable progress, many obstacles remain.  Notably, foreign residents in Japan still face numerous travel restrictions, as well as challenges with issuing new visas.  ACCJ will continue to push for progress and advocate for equal treatment.

Karin Lang, Minister-Counselor for Consular Affairs and Consul General, U.S. Embassy

·      Many thanks to the ACCJ and its continued partnership with the Embassy.  There has been significant improvement on the re-entry ban; however, many people remain outside the approved categories listed in the recent policy modification.  The Embassy continues to advocate for policy revisions in a manner consistent with GOJ health directives.

·      Except for the Consulate in Naha, the Embassy and Consulates have resumed limited routine services for U.S. citizens and visa applicants.  Services include visas, passports, reports of birth, and notarial services.  Please contact us to make an appointment or if you have urgent needs.

·      We have been approving exceptions to H and L visas that fall under national interest categories, which broadly apply to those returning to ongoing employment or work in the 12 sectors considered critical to the U.S. economy.  Additionally, we are seeing strong demand for the E investor visas, which are not subject to the proclamation.

·      There are two ways to ensure your absentee ballot is mailed to the U.S.:

o   You can mail your ballot to the Embassy, and we will send it via U.S. mail service.

o   Drop off your absentee ballot in the designated box outside the Embassy from September 23 to November 3, and we will send it via U.S. mail service.  The dropbox will be available during business hours.

Deana Vranas, FVAP Ambassador, Tokyo, Federal Voting Assistance Program

·      The Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) has implemented a new, innovative program and placed FVAP Ambassadors in cities with large concentrations of American expats.  Tokyo is one of three cities where FVAP Ambassadors have been established.

·      The FVAP website is a one-stop location for all your absentee voting process resources, including guidelines and contact information of your voting jurisdiction (allows you to locate by state and county).

o   Refer to this page (Election Forms and Tools for Sending) for instructions on mailing envelope criteria, postage, and cover sheet for email/fax ballots.  The forms on this page allow you to print postage that can be affixed to your envelope.

·      If you have requested your absentee ballot, you should receive it by or on September 19 via email.  If you do not receive a ballot or are worried it may not arrive in time, submit a federal write-in absentee ballot to ensure your vote is counted.  You will still be able to submit your state ballot when you receive it, and only one vote will be counted.

·      50% of states are offering to receive ballots by email or fax.  If your state requires a mail-in ballot and you intend to send it via the Embassy, ensure the Embassy receives it three weeks before your state deadline.  Your ballot must have postage.

·      For more details on the Embassy’s ballot forwarding instructions, please click here.

·      Find FAQs and other information on our FVAP Tokyo Facebook page and Twitter.

·      Please feel free to contact me at deana.m.vranas.civ@mail.mil for specific questions and assistance with voting outreach events with your company.