Client Testimonial
A client from Taiwan asked our office to handle an application for a Certificate of Eligibility under the "Cultural Activities" status of residence. The stay was for research on Japan's traditional crafts and the regions that produce them. This client first contacted us through our website.
"Cultural Activities" is a status of residence for academic or artistic activities that do not involve income, and for specialised research on culture or arts unique to Japan. Compared with work or student statuses, there are far fewer applications, and it is hard to find information online that fits your own plan. How to document the activities and the host organization has to be worked out case by case.
Our client had a fixed travel schedule and was worried about whether the application could be completed in the limited time available. We communicated in Chinese, organised the documents that were needed, and contacted the host organization directly on the client's behalf. The Certificate of Eligibility was issued 18 days after the application was filed.
※ The client's name is shown as initials to protect their privacy.
※ The following is our translation of the client's original Chinese responses. The original text appears later in this article, exactly as we received it.
Message from the Client (Translated)
Q1. [Concerns before request] What kind of problems or anxieties did you have before consulting our firm?
My departure date was getting closer and closer, and I looked up many different approaches online. It seemed that applying for this visa as an individual was very difficult, and I was worried that I would not be able to complete the application in the limited time I had, which would affect my original plans to go abroad.
Q2. [Deciding factor] What was the "deciding factor" for choosing our firm among many administrative scrivener offices?
Your office responded to my inquiry very quickly, and resolved the difficulties I was facing thoroughly and efficiently. Once I learned that some of those difficulties could be overcome, I decided to work with your office.
Q3. [Impressions of our service] How was the response and support from our firm (the person in charge) while the procedures were actually progressing?
Your responses were very fast and efficient. Being able to communicate in Chinese was extremely convenient. You also told me, with very clear logic, which documents I needed to add, and helped me by contacting the host organization, so I felt very much at ease while preparing the application.
Q4. [Results and Message] How do you feel now that the procedures have been successfully completed, and do you have a message for others who might have similar concerns?
When I learned the result, it was a great weight off my mind. I had been worried that if it was not approved, it would affect my schedule afterwards. Thankfully, with the office's help, everything was completed smoothly and quickly!
If you are thinking of applying for a Cultural Activities visa to come to Japan, you can leave these matters to the office with confidence. There is no need to keep searching online for solutions or to try to handle it all yourself. Leaving it to professionals is much faster!
Message of Gratitude from the Administrative Scrivener
C.Y., thank you very much for your kind words. We are delighted that the Certificate of Eligibility was issued and that we were able to help you prepare for your activities in Japan.
"Cultural Activities" is a status of residence with relatively few applications. As you wrote in Q1, many people find that the more they research, the harder it seems to apply on their own. Because there are few set patterns, it is important to show through documents, one point at a time, what activities will be carried out, where, and with whose cooperation. If you contact us early, we can sort out what is already in place and what needs to be added.
For Cultural Activities, the cooperation of the organization hosting the activities in Japan is also essential. For the host, too, immigration procedures often come with questions and concerns. We contacted the host organization directly and made a point of answering their questions as quickly as we could. The fact that this application went smoothly is also thanks to the care with which the host organization engaged with the process.
We were also greatly encouraged to hear that communicating in Chinese was convenient for you. Because these procedures matter so much, we want our clients to be able to consult us in the language they are most comfortable with.
If you have questions about Cultural Activities or another status of residence for research in Japan or for learning Japanese culture or arts, please feel free to contact our office. We also handle consultations in Chinese and English.
[Original Text] Message from the Client (Chinese)
Q1 【委託前的煩惱】諮詢之前，您在哪些事情上感到困擾？又有哪些不安？
主要是已經距離出國時間越來越近，上網找了很多方法，似乎個人去申請這個簽證的難度很高，擔心自己無法在有限時間裡完成簽證申請，以致於影響自己原本的出國計畫。
Q2 【選擇本所的關鍵】在眾多行政書士事務所之中，您選擇本所的關鍵是什麼？
本行政書士事務所回應我的諮詢非常快速，也很完整有效率解惑我遇到的困難 ，在得知一些困難可以克服後，選擇與貴事務所合作。
Q3 【對應的感想】實際進行手續的過程中，您覺得本所的應對如何？
貴所應對相當快速有效率，可以以中文進行溝通非常便利，也以很清楚的邏輯告訴我要補上哪些資料，並且協助我聯繫受入機構，讓我在申請的預備過程中很放心。
Q4 【得知結果後的感想】手續順利完成後，您現在的心情如何？若有想對懷著相同煩惱的人說的話，也請與我們分享。
得知結果後放下心中大石頭，原本還擔心如果沒有通過的話，會影響自己後續的期程規劃～還好在事務所協助下順利且快速完成！
請如果有想要申請文化活動簽證到日本的朋友，可以放心交給事務所來處理相關問題，不用自己一直上網搜尋解法或想自己來處理，交給專業會快速很多！