Justice Minister Hideo Usui on Monday granted special residence permission to four members of an Iranian family who have overstayed their visas, the third time such permission has been granted to foreigners. The minister had granted similar permission by issuing long-term visas to a family of three Iranians on Feb. 2, and two other Iranian families with a total of nine members last Wednesday. All four families are part of a group of foreigners who jointly applied for special permission to remain in Japan on Sept. 1. The permission, which is seen as a last resort, for foreigners whose documents have expired and are not eligible for any other kinds of visas, had previously been issued only to foreigners with Japanese relatives. The family, which has been residing in Japan since 1991, is made up of two parents -- 40 and 31 years old -- a 12-year-old daughter who is about to finish elementary school here and a 5-year-old boy who was born here. In granting visas to the family, the justice ministry reportedly took into account that the children have become accustomed to life here and could experience difficulties adapting to life in their parents' homeland. Taghibeigloo Shahroklt said that now they have been granted special residence status, he and his family can envision a future in Japan for the first time. He said he can go to a hospital to undergo treatment for a hernia as the visa means the family is now also covered by medical insurance for the first time. His daughter said she is glad to have been granted the visa as it will enable her to fulfill her dream of becoming a kindergarten teacher. It was the first time that a foreign family, whose oldest children are only of elementary school age, had been granted special residence status. The decision could open the door for numerous families in similar situations, their lawyers said.
