I was wondering how they work... My hubby said they only get you to japan but you can't use them to return home? Is there any truth in that? Is it necessary to purchase your own passports for any reason other than meeting your SO in a port from time to time? Any opinions would be helpful. 

PLEASE search around this forum. There are like 10,000,000 discussions about passports. How, why, when, what, where... all the answers are in the Reporting to Japan section.

Short answer: Official passports are for Official travel, (TDY, PCS whatever. Orders are involved.) Tourist passports are just that.

Slightly confusing terminology, the DOS actually issues passports: http://travel.state.gov/passport/pa..._1738.html but you can have your service submit the paperwork for Diplomatic, Official, No-Fee and Congressional referrals.

Shorter answer, get both passports.

My understanding is that to travel on an official passport, you need to be traveling on orders. When you go through immigration, whether in Japan or the US, they are supposed to ask for your orders and ID when you use your official passport. If you are traveling to a different country for vacation, you are supposed to use a blue tourist passport.

Again, this is only my understanding of the way things work. I might be wrong. Hope it helps.

Here we go...........

Long answer,

Passports are taken a little more seriously than they appeared to be 20 years ago, I recommend having both of them.

Official Passport and SOFA status does a few things for you such as allows you to be in Japan for more than 90 days without a VISA, and a few other benefits that a non-SOFA sponsorship would be entitled too. The Tourist "BLUE" passport allows to travel to other countries on vacation, it would also allow you to re-enter the US if you don't have your official passport without too much trouble. You should also carry a copy of the orders assigning the sponsor to Japan as well. Sometimes it's needed sometimes it's not but it could make life a little easier in the end.

ENTRY / EXIT REQUIREMENTS FOR U.S. CITIZENS: You must have a valid passport and an onward/return ticket for tourist/business "visa free" stays of up to 90 days. Your passports must be valid for the entire time you are staying in Japan. U.S. citizens cannot work on a 90-day "visa free" entry. As a general rule, "visa free" entry status may not be changed to another visa status without departing and then re-entering Japan with the appropriate visa, such as a spouse, work, or study visa.

For more information about the Japanese visa waiver program for tourists, Japan's rules on work visas, special visas for taking depositions, and other visa issues, you should consult the Consular Section of the Embassy of Japan at 2520 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008, tel. (202) 238-6800, or the nearest Japanese consulate. Please visit the Japanese Embassy’s website for location details. The U.S. Embassy and U.S. consulates in Japan cannot assist in obtaining visas for Japan.

All foreign nationals entering Japan, with the exception of certain categories listed below, are required to provide fingerprint scans and to be photographed at the port of entry. This requirement does not replace any existing visa or passport requirements. Foreign nationals exempt from this requirement include special permanent residents, persons under 16 years of age, holders of diplomatic or official visas, and persons invited by the head of a national administrative organization. U.S. travelers on official business must have a diplomatic or official visa specifying the nature of travel as "As Diplomat," "As Official," or "In Transit" to be exempt from biometric collection. All other visa holders, including those with diplomatic and official visas stating "As Temporary Visitor," are subject to this requirement. Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) personnel, are exempt from biometrics entry requirements under SOFA Article IX.2.

If you are a U.S. citizen entering or transiting Japan, you should ensure that your passport and visa are up-to-date before you leave the United States. Occasionally, airlines mistakenly board U.S. citizens coming to Japan even though their passports have already expired. The U.S. Embassy and U.S. consulates cannot "vouch for" you without a valid passport, and passport services are not available at the airport. In some prior instances, travelers have been returned immediately to the United States, while in other cases, they have been issued 24-hour "shore passes" and required to return the next day to Japanese Immigration for lengthy processing.

Many Asian countries require you to hold a passport valid for at least six months after you enter the country. Airlines in Japan will deny you boarding for transit if you don’t have the required travel documents for an onward destination in Asia. For the entry requirements of the country you’re traveling to, visit the State Department's Country Specific Information website

Airlines in Japan will deny you boarding for onward flights to China if your passport does not have a valid Chinese visa. You will then have to obtain a Chinese visa in Japan, which can be a long and complicated process. The U.S. embassy and U.S. consulates cannot assist in obtaining Chinese visas. More information is available in the Country Specific Information for China. Entry requirements for Hong Kong are available on our web site as well.

Military/SOFA Travelers:While active-duty U.S. military personnel may enter Japan under the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) with proper Department of Defense (DOD) identification and travel orders, all SOFA family members, civilian employees, and contractors must have valid passports and, in some cases, SOFA visas to enter Japan. Active-duty military personnel should obtain a tourist passport before leaving the United States to accommodate off-duty travel elsewhere in Asia, as obtaining one in Japan can take several weeks. Personnel whose duties will include official travel should also obtain an Official Passport before coming to Japan to avoid delays of up to two months, as overseas applications for these passports must be referred to a special office in Washington, which increases the processing times. DOD travelers should consult the DOD Foreign Clearance Guide, DOD 4500.54, before leaving the United States.

Long-Term Residency Requirements:Japan changed its Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act in 2009. In addition, under the 2006 revision, if you are a long-term resident who became a resident because of your Japanese ancestry, you may have to show evidence that you don’t have a criminal record in your home country before you can renew residency status in Japan. However, because Japanese requirements do not appear to be clear-cut, the Embassy recommends that you consult with your local immigration office before starting the process of obtaining your U.S. criminal record. For more details about Japanese residency requirements, check with the nearest immigration office in Japan. If you are a U.S. citizen with long-term resident status in Japan, you are required to provide evidence that you do not have criminal records and should request these documents through the FBI Identification Record Request.

Also, it is important to remember that "Long-Term Resident" (Teijusha) and "Permanent Resident" (Eijusha) are different and are subject to different requirements.

For a renewal of visa status or a change in visa status, you should bring your Japanese health insurance card (social insurance or national health insurance) to immigration offices in addition to your passport.Immigration officials will urge those applicants without a health insurance card to join a Japanese public health insurance system.

HIV/AIDS Restrictions: The U.S. Department of State is unaware of any HIV/AIDS entry restrictions for visitors or foreign residents of Japan.

Information about dual nationality or the prevention of international child abductions can be found on our website. For further information about customs regulations, please read our Customs Information page.

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_..._1148.html

They ask for orders when you produce a tourtist passport, too.  ALWAYS have your current orders.

thanks! everyone i truly appreciate it!