Q&A
		Legal Q1. An overstaying acquaintance of mine was uncovered, and imprisoned by the immigration authorities. Will he have to return to his country straight away? Q2. My friend was caught for overstaying and taken to court. When I tried to visit her at the police station I was not allowed to see her, being told she cannot understand Japanese. I have telephoned the public-appointed lawyer, but he just hangs up on me without hearing what I had to say. My friend is slightly mentally unstable, and she normally uses sleeping pills, so I am very worried about her health. I notice that the police also seem to be quite concerned. Q3. I am a Japanese woman. I met an Iranian who had overstayed his visa. After a while, he was arrested by the police and sentenced to two years imprisonment with a three year suspension. Finally, he was deported, two years ago. I went to Iran a year ago and we were married. I returned to Japan by myself and registered our marriage with the city hall. The period of suspension will be over next year. How can I bring him back to Japan? Q4. I am a Filipina woman married to a Japanese man. I have a child in the Philippines by my former husband, and I want to bring him to Japan and have him attend a Japanese school. My aged mother is also in the Philippines (my father is dead) and I would like to bring her to live with us in Japan too. How would this be possible? Q5. A friend of mine overstayed his visa and was arrested by the local police. Is there a way to find out what is happening to him while he is in detention or to protect his rights? I am worried about fees to employ a lawyer. Q6. My Japanese husband died. I have with me a child from my former husband whom I brought with me from the Philippines, and a child from my husband who died. My husband had a Japanese wife before me and there is a child from that marriage. I don’t know how much money my husband left, but do I and my children have any claim to inherit his estate? Q7. About applying for the permanent resident’s qualification. Q8. I have been here for 3 years on the technology (Gijutsu) visa, but the last time I tried to have my visa renewed I was refused on the basis that I was a simple labourer, (Tanjun Rodo) and told to take a temporary stay (Tankitaizai) visa in order to get ready to leave the country.? What should I do? Q9. Do you know about the Japanese Nationality Law?

		Labor Q1. Please tell me about unemployment insurance. Q2. I am a Taiwanese woman married to a Japanese. I work in the accounting section of a foreign owned company.Our boss is an Indian man. He doesn't just ask me about my body measurements, and the colour of my underwear, he also talks about sex and continually makes me feel bad. He hasn't touched me or pressured me to go out with him, but mentally I feel worn down, and I have been hospitalised and taken long breaks from work. I want the company to transfer him, but is this possible? Q3. I am an English woman. I was dispatched to a Japanese advertising company by an employment agency on a one-year contract. The contract has been renewed a number of times. This time I will not renew, but is it possible to claim a retirement allowance. There is nothing written in the contract about a retirement allowance.

		Marriage, Divorce and Domestic Violence Q1. I am married to a Japanese man. I'd like to have my child, who is now being brought up in the Philippines, come to Japan. How can I do this? (a Filipina, 32 years old) Q2. I'm thinking of getting married to a Japanese. But I came into Japan on a passport with someone else's name and on a status of residence as a temporary visitor. Will the fact that I came in on someone else's passport be an obstacle to marrying a Japanese in my own name and getting a special residence permit? Is there any problem in the revised Immigration Law? (a 28 year old Filipina) Q3. I came into Japan on a false passport and met and got married to a Japanese under my false name. When I went home to my country, my relatives point out that my passport is under a different name. My daughter is about to go into elementary school, and I would like to go back to my original name for that, but what should I do? (a woman, 30 years old, from country C) Q4. I married a Japanese man in the Philippines, but after he got back to Japan he married another Japanese woman. What will happen to our marriage? Q5. I am a victim of domestic violence by my Japanese husband. I have left him, taking my children, but where can I go? Also, my visa is about to run out, but what happens with my visa when I've left home? My husband will probably not allow me to get a divorce, but what should I do? (Thai woman, 32) Q6. I am a Thai woman married to a Japanese man. Recently my husband has been trying to get me to give him a divorce. For family reasons, I decided to go temporarily to my country, but I'm worried that while I'm away he'll divorce me while I'm not aware of it. What should I do? Q7. My wife is a foreigner and we live in Japan together. How can we get a divorce in Japan? Even if in her country if we need a court hearing to divorce, is it still possible to get a divorce by consultation in Japan? When we cannot get a consultation divorce what should we do? Q8. I am a Filipina woman who has broken up with her Japanese husband. We have a one year old child between us. I want to leave the child with my parents in the Philippines, and work in Japan to support him/her. Is that all right?

		Children(recognition,adoption,education) Q1. I am a Filipina woman, married to a Japanese man with a three year old child. Not only does my husband bring no money to the house, he has also not been back to the house for more than one year. Am I entitled to a child support allowance? Q2. What sorts of things should I know if I become pregnant? Q3. We are a Filipino couple who have overstayed our visas. My husband has no regular work and I am about to have a child. Can I receive any public assistance? Q4. I am a Filipina woman who has married for the second time, to a Japanese man. 195 days after marriage I had a child. Is my child recognised as being the legitimate child of my current husband? Q5. I am a Japanese woman with a Filipino husband. I had a child 190 days after we were married but I heard that under Japanese law the child would not be legitimate. Is this really true? Q6. My wife (a Filipina) had a child with her previous husband. Can we bring the child to Japan? Q7. I am a Filipina who has overstayed her visa. I had a child in Japan. Is it absolutely imperative to register the birth? Q8. Please tell me about the “School Attendance Support System.

		Medical Care Q1. What is the best way to contact a doctor? Q2: What should I do once I get an examination appointment? Q3: What should I do when I'm buying medicine at a local pharmacy or drug store? Q4: What should I do if I become sick while on vacation? Q5. What should I do if I hurt my self or get sick? Q6. I heard that there is a system, which will cover some of the costs of expensive medical treatment. Q7. What kind of checkups and advice can one get when pregnant? Q8. My child was born premature. I will need money for hospitalization, but is there any public assistance for this? Q9. How can I get inoculation for my child? Q10. My child just born has a disability, but can I get assistance for his medical fees?

		Living Q1. I wish to drive in Japan. Can I drive on an International Licence I have from my country? (Peruvian, Male, 32) Q2:How to switch over from a foreign country's licence Q3.I am a Filipina woman who has divorced a Japanese man. Now I am an instructor in an English school and raising a child (with Japanese nationality). I wish to buy a mansion, but can a foreigner like me buy one? I don't have permanent residency, but I have 3 million yen in savings. Q4. I have heard of cases of foreigners being refused leases. Can you tell me about discrimination over housing? Q5. I started working in Japan in September. What kind of taxes are there in Japan? Q6. In my case, what kinds of tax do I have to pay? Q7. How about the income tax rate? Q8. What is the difference between a resident and a non-resident? Q9. And how is resident's tax calculated? Q10. How are income tax and resident's tax paid? Q11. What is an income deduction? Q12. At my company I have something about a "final return" (kakuteishinkoku). What is this? Q13. What kind of documents do I need to request a tax refund? Q14: How long does the refund take to come through? Q15: What should I do if I am returning to my country in the meantime? Q16. I am a Pakistani man. Every month I remit money to my family in Pakistan. I have heard it may be possible for me to get a tax refund. How do I go about applying? Q17. Brazilian national Mr. "B" is in his second year of working at the American "G" corporation's office in Japan. His parents are in Brazil, so to cover their living expenses he is remitting 50,000 yen a month. Can Mr. B claim a dependent's reduction on his tax? Q18. Please tell me about the Japanese health insurance system. Q19. Please tell me about the nursing care insurance system. Q20. The Livelihood Subsidies System

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