Foreign Resident Advisory Program | The Mie International Exchange Foundation

Requests for Assistance from Foreign Residents

　Here at MIEF, we get visits, calls, faxes and emails from foreign residents requesting assistance or information. Below is a list of examples of how we use our resources and enlist the aid of experts, when necessary, to fulfill these requests.
　The information contained on this page represents assistance and advice tailored to specific cases. Even if your current questions or concerns are similar to those listed below, please contact us for a personal consultation.

Consultation Categories：Immigration/Residency Status,　Employment,　Medical Matters and Welfare,　Living and Housing Concerns,　Tax Issues,　Education,　Marriage/Divorce/Citizenship,　
　　　　　　　Criminal/Legal Matters,　Cars and Vehicles,　Embassy/Foreign Ministry Affairs,　Organization Establishment and Volunteer Opportunities,　Other
　　　　　

Immigration/ Residency Status	Consultation Example
	Consultation request from a non-Japanese foreign resident. She has one child, and is pregnant with a second。The whereabouts of her husband (in Japan on a long-term resident visa) are currently unknown. １　Is it possible to renew her visa? ２　Is it possible to renew her child's passport?
	Assistance/Advice Given
	１　It will be difficult for the individual to renew her visa if she is not living with a spouse that has a long-term resident visa. The reason for separation will be considered in determining whether or not visa renewal is possible ２　After MIEF consulted with the individual's embassy in Japan, the mother was able to submit a successful passport renewal request for her child.
Employment	Consultation Example
	Individual was being harassed at work and requested information on who to contact/consult with.
	Assistance/Advice Given
	The individual should talk to his/her superior(s) first。If it appears a resolution cannot be achieved、they should consult with the local Labor Standards Supervision Office。
Medical Matters/ Welfare	Consultation Example
	Request from individual receiving welfare benefits. Requested information on where to borrow a wheelchair for a seriously ill family member.
	Assistance/Advice Given
	After determining that rental wheelchairs were available at the local welfare association, MIEF a times when interpretation would be available.
Living and Housing Concerns	Consultation Example
	Individual bought a house, but lost his/her source of income and can no longer pay his/her loans. Requested help with finding a way to keep the house.
	Assistance/Advice Given
	Because the individual has permanent resident status, MIEF referred them to the Social Welfare Council's Financing and Loans System.
Tax Issues	Consultation Example
	Request from an newly unemployed individual for information on whether or not he can pay off defaulted local taxes in installments.
	Assistance/Advice Given
	Informed individual that payment in installments is possible. Encouraged individual to consult with their local city office's tax department upon applying.
Education	Consultation Example
	A foreign student is planning on returning to their home country after graduating from a Japanese middle school. Requested information regarding the official certification of their enrollment and achievement records.
	Assistance/Advice Given
	Informed student that certificates are issued by the individual's school and official certification can be obtained through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Student was also advised to submit a copy of the certificates to a consulate affiliated with their home country.
Marriage/Divorce/ Citizenship	Consultation Example
	Request from an individual whose middle school-age daughter has lived in Japan for an extended period of time. Because the daughter is currently enrolled in middle school, has adapted to Japanese culture, and speaks no language other than Japanese, returning to and living in her mother country would be exceedingly difficult. Individual requested information on whether naturalization is possible for minors.
	Assistance/Advice Given
	Naturalization is possible. However, as minors are a special case, MIEF encouraged the individual to obtain more detailed information about the naturalization process by consulting the local Regional Affairs Bureau.
Criminal/ Legal Matters	Consultation Example
	Request for assistance from a woman married to a Japanese man. The husband has recognized his wife's child, who was born out of a previous marriage, resulting in the child's current resident status. Due to recent domestic violence, the individual is considering divorce, but the husband has threatened to take custody of the child and leave home.
	Assistance/Advice Given
	MIEF referred the individual to a domestic violence help center. Informed the individual that if there are concerns for the safety of her child, it is possible to stay at a shelter for one or two weeks. Advised individual to contact her husband after two weeks at the shelter. Individual was advised to consider arbitrated divorce (discussion and determination of divorce conditions in the presence of a court appointed arbiter) if the husband does not respond.
Cars and Vehicles	Consultation Example
	An individual without a motorcycle license got into a car accident on a 400cc motorcycle. In addition to a 15,000 yen fine, the individual's automobile license has also been suspended for one year. All attempts at negotiating a more lenient punishment have been unsuccessful.
	Advice
	Both the fine and the suspension of license are established punishments for the individual's offense and their severity cannot be reduced. The individual was advised to adhere to laws and conventions more closely in the future.
Embassy/Foreign Ministry Affairs	Consultation Example
	Request for advice concerning a lost passport.
	Assistance/Advice Given
	Advised individual to contact their home country's embassy and follow the instructions given by the embassy.
Organization Establishment and Volunteer Opportunities	Consultation Example
	Request for information on starting an NPO to help individuals cope with and recover from alcoholism. Request for application procedure information, etc.
	Assistance/Advice Given
	Referred individual to the Mie Exchange Center's NPO Group. Introduced individual to the NPO Establishment Guide and the information sessions conducted by the NPO group every month.
Other	Consultation Example
	A foreign student on summer vacation in Japan requested information on places where he can experience Japanese culture.
	Assistance/Advice Given
	Referred student to the MIEF website, which can be referenced for information on city and cultural exchange activities. Informed student about event flyers available in the Mie Prefectural Exchange Space, located on the 3rd floor of the Ust-Tsu building. Also gave student tips on how to search for events on the internet.