If you were to choose a visa lawyer, what factors would you consider most important?

The most important factor would be whether the visa application will be successfully approved. However, there are no objective data available to compare this aspect across visa lawyer offices. Some offices may advertise approval rates as high as 98%, but these claims are just self-reported rates and can easily be fabricated. Moreover, if an office accepts only straightforward cases, it is quite easy to achievie 100% approval. Similarly, claims about having handled tens of thousands of applications can also be exaggerated easily.

What about comparing the number of years an office has been in operation? While it’s true that a long-standing practice can serve as a reliable indicator of experience, but visa-related laws and regulations change frequently. Therefore, staying updated with the latest information is far more critical than simply relying on the number of years an office has been in business.

To work as a visa lawyer in Japan, the person must pass the certified administrative scrivener exam. However, this exam is not particularly difficult. Most of the questions are multiple-choice, and there are no questions related to visas on the exam. This means that not all certified administrative scriveners are well-versed in visa matters simply because they hold the qualification. To gain specialized knowledge about visas, one needs to study extensively on their own after passing the exam.

To study and fully understand laws and immigration systems, a person must possess certain aptitudes. Simply put, it comes down to whether they are skilled at studying. The reason legal professionals such as administrative scriveners and lawyers disclose their educational background on their books or websites is to demonstrate that they have the aptitude to endure advanced studies, thereby earning the trust of potential clients. Therefore, whether the administrative scrivener you are considering actively discloses their educational and professional background can also serve as an important criterion when selecting a reliable professional.

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