On Air: Rainbow Plaza Information/2014.09.29(Mon)/8:35～
Rebroadcasting: 2014.10.04(Sat)/10:00～

At Rainbow Plaza, located on the 8th floor of the Tenjin IMS Building, free counseling regarding immigration, visa status procedures and citizenship issues is available to foreigners living in Fukuoka.

To maintain a safe and comfortable life in Japan, it is necessary for foreign residents to have correct knowledge about residency status and term of stay regulations. Are there any questions or concerns you have? A gyousei-shoshi, or administrative lawyer, from the Fukuoka Gyousei-shoshi Lawyers Association, who specializes in such matters, will answer your questions and offer consultation about topics such as the Japanese immigration system and residency status.

Consultations are held every second Sunday of the month, in October that will be the 12th. They are offered from 1 to 4 PM. Please note you are required to register by 3:30 PM.

There are English and Chinese translators present, and so consultation in English, Chinese and Japanese does not require a reservation. For consultation in other languages, please contact Rainbow Plaza at least one week prior to your visit, as an interpreter might be arranged. And, confidentiality is guaranteed. Please feel at ease to make use of these services, no matter how simple a question you may have.

Here’s an announcement from Rainbow Plaza about the annual Home Visit Program for International Students. The Home Visit Program introduces international students enrolled in colleges or language schools in the Fukuoka metropolitan area and Japanese families in Fukuoka interested in international exchange, providing the opportunity for them to meet regularly and deepen mutual understanding. Since 1989, host families and foreign students have taken part in this program each year.

Participants visit Japanese host families at their home and enjoy time together, such as conversation over meals. Each student-family pair is free to decide on where and how they would like to spend time together. In principle, the period of exchange between host families and foreign students is from November of this year until March of next year. However, many have kept in touch with each other of their own accord, even after the home visit program’s conclusion.

Interested parties, should fill out an application form and send it, or bring it, to Rainbow Plaza by Friday, October 10th. Application forms are available at the international student section of colleges, or at language schools, as well as at Rainbow Plaza. The first time for families and participants to meet is scheduled for Sunday, November 16th.

For further information, please call Rainbow Plaza at 092-733-2220. Information is also available on the Rainbow Plaza homepage at http://www.rainbowfia.or.jp