Immigration questions?!

[Shibuya Me]

Does anyone know of a good / great immigration lawyer who does not charge a lot...or a web site I can ask questions regarding immigration issues?

Do you know if I go to my Embassy, they might help me with questions I might have?

Any suggestions?

[Taro Toporific]

Does anyone know of a good / great immigration lawyer who does not charge a lot...or a web site I can ask questions regarding immigration issues?

From the April thread "Aspiring FG, Long-Term Stay Questions.."

To quote the always-helpful Father Joseph of the Japan Times advice column:
Monday Japan Times of Dec. 10, 2002

Make sure you go through a gyosei shoshi, which is the equivalent of an Immigration Lawyer. They can work wonders.
Mr. Nakai at www. tokyovisa.co.jp or Mr. Inomoto at (E-mail)
inomoto-i@gyosei.or.jp may be able to help you.

Hmm.. Maybe should just get a scrivener. I figured if I did, and asked 'em the same questions up there straight out, they'd think I was too seedy to work with. Is that quote's complete article on the 'net somewhere?

I think I typed straight from the Monday Japan Times of Dec. 10 because I figured I'll be needing it myself. It's not online. If you have access to a college or major city library with the Japan Times check Father Ken Joseph's advice column somewhere between Dec 3 -10.

I Since then I've never had any other problems at Immigration, either. Different personel. Even the OYAJIs are friendly and helpful. Sometimes I wonder if I'm living in a parallel universe!!

It was the proper PHASE of the MOON.

Actually, to answer my own question...to quote Terrie Lloyd in his JapanToday Op-Ed piece:
http://www.japantoday.com/e/?content=comment&id=257

" I stumbled across an excellent book called, what else, "A Japanese Visa Handbook" by Motoko Kuroda and published by ICG Muse, Inc. ..."

"For example, knowing why Japanese immigration rules seem so arbitrary because the country doesn't want immigrants (not yet, at least) immediately clarifies what is needed to get someone a visa. What is that? Well, in place of black and white rules, you instead have to show strength of desire to get the visa. This translates into voluminous paperwork, persistence, and support from the hiring company and related sponsors. Put in the right effort, and your chances of successfully getting a visa increase. Simple once you know, right?"