Thousands of expats in Japan are rushing to Tokyo's Immigration Department to apply for a re-entry visa in order to be able to leave when things get bad, Brian Thomson reports.
Some say are extremely concerned about the situation and want to get out as soon as possible.
Others say they just want to have the stamp in the passport as an insurance in order to move when things get bad.
A French citizen believes the nuclear emergency is worse than what Japanese authorities are saying and he's leaving for southern Japan today.
"I think Japanese people do not care too much about the situation now. We are getting a lot more information from the French government and yes, I believe the situation is quite bad".
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He says French authorities have advised him to either leave Japan or move to the south of the country.
Another expat says he is not leaving now but he's taking the re-entry visa just in case the situation deteriorates significantly.
"I am scared. That's why all of us are here. We are all scared. "
But some members of the crowd were a little bit more optimistic.
"We don't want to leave now. But maybe in one week, one month, in case something happens. We want to be able to come back," a young girl told SBS.
"As for our family, (therer's) no panic. It's just for....insurance," she added.
