Customer Comments(Mr.Hardy)

Compared to other firms of immigration lawyers, Samurai Immigration Law Firm provided me with a perfect response. They gave me clear answers right away and I was being able to leave my problem in good hands.

Mr. Hardy Joshua (From the U.S./left side of the photo)

■ From Company Employee to Freelancer in Japan

Where are you from?

I am from Florida, U.S. I came to Japan around August 2013 on an instructor visa working as an ALT (Assistant Language Teacher) at elementary and junior high schools in Gifu-shi.

At the end of 2015, my ALT employment contract ended and I left the job. Then I moved to Tokyo and started to work at a web content production company related to news and Japanese culture.

What kind of jobs did you do at the web content production company?

I did various things like simple coding and WordPress, but basically, my main job was translation.

After that, I began to think “I wanted to do more translation work” and thought about becoming a freelancer.

So, I left the company in September 2019.

From there, I started working as a full-time freelance translator.

Currently, I translate in various fields, such as tourism and gourmet articles.

What did you request from Samurai Immigration Law Firm for your support?

I could become a freelance translator while still on my work visa, but it seemed that I would have to apply to Immigration Services Bureau, so I asked Samurai Immigration Law Firm to help me with that application process.

■ I chose Samurai Immigration Law Firm over other firms

What was the first step you took to become a freelancer?

When I worked for a company, I could rely on the company to help me with any problems or issues, but once I decided to become a freelancer, I had to handle them on my research online.

I realized that lots of documents are required to obtain a work permit as a freelancer, and I was troubled by the complexity of the process. After consulting with several lawyers about what to do, I was introduced to an immigration lawyer for my problem.

Did you do any research online before contacting Samurai Immigration Law Firm?

Yes, I did. Nowadays, many people post their complaints on social media such as Twitter, but I could not find any bad reviews about Samurai Immigration Law Firm, so I believed “This firm is okay.” They were also rated very highly on online review sites and foreigner-oriented bulletin boards. After all, I decided “Let’s go with Samurai Immigration Law Firm!”

Did you make any inquiries to other certified administrative procedures legal specialists?

Yes, I did, and compared 2 or 3 firms. I went to one of them for a consultation and I just sent my inquiry to the other firm.

I was disappointed with the way both of them handled my case, and I thought “It's not good enough.”

Why did you think they were “not good enough”?

When I explained my situation and told them that I wanted a free consultation, they said, “Okay, yes, OK” in a businesslike manner which made me feel uneasy and wonder “Are they putting all their effort into their work?”  So, I quit contacting those immigration lawyers and consulted with Samurai Immigration Law Firm.

■ Samurai Immigration Law Firm had a perfect response

How was the consultation with Samurai Immigration Law Firm?

Perfect. Before going for a consultation, my head was full, and I had a lot of worries and concerns about what to ask, how to ask, what was important, etc. However, Samurai Immigration Law Firm had a perfect response and I instantly felt “I can trust this firm.”

I visited for an initial free consultation in March 2019, and in July before leaving the company, I officially signed the contract and requested their service.

How long did it take from application to approval?

It was surprisingly fast; I left the company in September 2019 and applied in January of the following year, and was very amazed to receive the results on January 11, 2020.

I was told in advance that it could take up to 3 months, so I thought, “I’ll just have to wait until February or March,” but I am glad that the result came out during the New Year holiday.

What is your evaluation of Samurai Immigration Law Firm?

Very good. Thank you for being there for me from the beginning to the end.

It was a tremendous help. Samurai Immigration Law Firm always solved my problems smoothly, and I have never felt anxious since signing the contract.

For example, the e-mails. No matter when I sent an email, they replied quickly, even though they do not work 24 hours a day. Their prompt response is truly amazing. They were able to solve any problems I had and listened to me no matter how small the problem was, which I greatly appreciated.

■ I want to work all over the world while staying in Japan

Any advice for foreigners who are planning to become freelancers in Japan?

You should consult with immigration lawyers without any delay. At least, it is best to consult with them before quitting your company.

The reason behind that is that the problems I had were handled smoothly. I could say things like, “I have this kind of problem,” or “Is this, okay?” they responded appropriately right away. From the moment I signed the contract with Samurai Immigration Law Firm, I never felt worried.

If you are thinking of becoming a freelancer, I highly recommend to consult with a certified administrative procedures legal specialist as soon as possible. It may affect the impression of the Immigration Services Bureau, so I think you should at least consult with them once before quitting your company.

Do you have any dreams for the future?

My dream is to travel the world and make the whole world my office. One of the reasons I became a freelancer is because I wanted to travel more. As for work, I am also considering a career in the medical field.

I am the eldest of 5 siblings, and all my other siblings, except me, are trying to become doctors. I once considered becoming a doctor, but I chose this path partly because of my love of languages. I dream of returning to the medical field as a translator and being able to reach out to those who are suffering and need help beyond the language barrier.

How is your work now as a freelancer?

Thanks to you, since becoming a freelancer, I have received numerous offers, which keep me busy every day.

I translate in various fields, and I am currently working on tourism and gourmet food articles, as well as business, medical, manga, and light novels, so I generally translate a wide range of anything. In addition to that, I also create subtitles.

When I first decided to become a freelancer, I had to collect the complicated necessary documents for a work permit while I also had to get a work contract, so I am so glad that I have contacted Samurai Immigration Law Firm to support my visa application many times.

Thank you very much for your help. I would like to consult with you about visa renewal and future matters so I hope you will continue to support me.

Thank you very much, Mr. Hardy Joshua.

Supervisor of This Article

Representative Immigration Lawyer, Samurai Immigration Law Firm

Official Website : https://samurai-law.com

Kentaro Kojima

Profile

In April 2009, he established a private immigration law office.
In August 2012, he incorporated the office to found Samurai Immigration Law Firm.

Specialties

Specializes in immigration services, including foreign visas, residency status, employment of foreign nationals, business management visas, permanent residency, and naturalization applications.Handles over 1,000 consultations annually.