More than three dozen people from Myanmar who have been granted exceptional status to remain in Japan without being designated as refugees have applied for more stable long-term residency, their lawyers said.
The 37 people from 22 families living in Tokyo and Gunma, Saitama and Chiba prefectures applied with the Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau for long-term residency because they may not be able to renew their current residence status if the situation in Myanmar changes.
Their current status denies them welfare benefits and does not allow their relatives to come to Japan.
"They are not able to live a stable life in Japan due to many obstacles," said Hironori Kondo, one of the lawyers.
Less than 20 percent of applicants for long-term residency have been granted the status this year, according to research by the legal team, and one man who did apply committed suicide in April because his family was not allowed to join him.
"My husband killed himself because it was too dangerous for him to return to our home country (to see the family). How can we make a living now?" asked the man's 40-year-old widow at a news conference Monday.
Instead of being granted refugee status, the 37 people were given a designated activities visa. Under long-term resident status, foreigners can stay for a designated period without any work restrictions.