illegal in japan & trying to get to USA

[chameli]

i am writing on behalf of a indonesian muslim friend of mine who lives and works in japan. He has overstayed his visa in japan by nearly 6 years. he wants to go to the USA as a student but we fear he will not be able to get in. after consulting with a lawyer, we were told he still has a good chance if he sends in his visa application with a waiver of inadmissablity. (which the laywer will complete for the measly fee of $6,000) Does anyone have any experience with this? what exactly does my friend have to do? what are his chances? has anyone entered the US legally after being illegal in another country? How does the INS treat this kind of matter? I've heard some people say that the US doesn't care what his legal status was in other countries and other people say that since he is a muslim man, he will be checked throughly and scrutinized. We don't know what to expect. do we actually need a lawyer or can we just file the visa application alone?

He has never had any problems in japan except his legal status.

thank you for any light you can shed on this problem.

 

[puicac]

After 5 years in Japan he could apply for Japan citizenship!

I was working in Japan for almost 2 years and I know that after 5 years in Japan he could officially apply for Japan citizenship! (But he has to renounce at any other citizenship - condition).
As a foreigner, you can obtain Japanese citizenship if you get naturalized. The conditions are as follows:
1)An address in Japan for consecutive 5 years or more,
2)20 yrs. old or above, and capable according to the laws of one's own country,
3)Good behavior,
4)Ablity to make a living by oneself or by the skills/assets of family members,
5) Willingness to lose present citizenship by obtaining Japanese citizenship.
However, if you are married to a Japanese citizen, condition 1) is reduced to 3 years. Also, if 3 years or more have passed since the date of marriage, the requirements are reduced. For more details, consult with the Nationality Section of Nagoya Legal Bureau.
Tel.: 052-952-8111