Contact / Visitation

Parent-Child Visitation Support Guide
Revised effective as of April 2017.

As a social welfare agency providing support for parent-child visitations under the 1980 Hague Convention, ISSJ facilitates visitations and contacts between parents and their children who do not live with each other and are therefore unable to see one another without special arrangement.

Who Can Request Visitation/Contact Support

Those who have applied for assistance under the Implementation Act of the Hague Convention and received approval from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to receive visitation support.

How to Obtain Parent-Child Visitation Support

Initial Consultation
We will respond to request for consultation by telephone or e-mail (Japanese or English).
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Submission of Application Form
Please complete the application form by providing requested information and submit it to ISSJ with the original signature of the applicant (the completed form can be mailed or PDF). If you have any agreement or other relevant document pertaining to your visitation rights (such as an agreement between the parties, mediation papers, settlement records, decree and court judgment, etc.), please send all such documents along with the application form.
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Application Review In‐person Meeting for Acceptance and Commencement of Support
Based on the designated application form (and an agreement) that you have submitted, we will have an in- person meeting with the father and the mother separately for acceptance of support. We will ask about background that led to the use of our assistance and previous contact with their children up to the present, etc. We will also explain our support method and confirm the final goal that the father and the mother aim for.
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Visitation Plan
We will work closely with both parents and the child by phone, e-mail, or in-person meetings to develop a visitation plan that takes everyone’s wishes into consideration. The actual visitation schedule is basically decided one month in advance. Please note that we cannot respond to the schedule adjustment immediately before the fixed schedule.
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Follow-Up on Visitation
Once the visitation takes place, we will follow up with both the father and the mother separately by phone, e-mail, or in-person meeting. After providing our visitation support service twice, we will have an in-person meeting again with each of the parents support to confirm the visitation plan going forward. Details of ISSJ Visitation Support. Services
①Visitation Support with the Attendance of ISSJ Social Worker(at a maximum of 4 times)
ISSJ social worker picks up the child on the day of the schedule visitation and accompanies the child at the site of the visitation. Our visitation support service is available for a maximum of 5 hours a day. ②Online Mimamori Contact (at a maximum of 4 times)
By using an online visitation system developed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs called “Online Mimamori Contact” on PC, tablet or smartphone, the parent and child have online meeting sessions via the internet with the assistance of and monitoring by the social worker.

Terms and Conditions of ISSJ Parent-Child Visitation Support Services

In working with ISSJ, it is important for all parents to observe and adhere to the following:

We set the visitation schedule based on our assessment of the physical condition and schedule of the child.
Once the visitation schedule is agreed upon, we will execute such visitation as arranged except in case of unavoidable circumstances.
Parents should take special care not speak ill of the other parent, and be considerate to each other in order to allow the child to experience a positive and enjoyable visitation.
Please refrain from smoking or consuming alcohol during visitation.
If we suspect or notice any abusive behavior, violence, coercion, or plans for abduction, we will terminate the visitation.
If the child allows the visiting parent to take photos or short videos, please never use any such photos or videos for mediation or other legal proceedings involving the child so as to allow the child to relax and enjoy the visit without worrying or being anxious. (In case of Online Mimamori Contact, taking videos is not allowed during the visitation)

The 1980 Hague Convention Concerning Support for Visitation and Contact

ISSJ has a contract with Ministry of Foreign Affairs(MOFA) to support visitation and contact between parents and children that are separated.
For further information please see Examples of visitation by ISSJ(pdf)

For those who want to be assisted by the Central Authority based on the Hague Convention, please see the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan’s website, “To Those Who Want to Have Visitation or Contacts with the child （Assistance Provided by Central Authority based on the Hague Convention）“
(Examples of visitation by ISSJ included)

Adoption of Migrant Family Members (e.g., Relative Adoption)

ISSJ offers services and counseling for Filipino and Thai (relative) Adoption in cooperation with government agencies. For adoption or name change process, social workers who speak Tagalog and Thai can offer some guidance.

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One Time Donation

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Monthly Supporter Donation

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Beginning of ISSJ

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ISSJ’s adoptions are in the best interest of the child and we think adoptions are for those children who need family, not for prospective adoptive parents. We follow the 1993 Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption as well as the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child.

Who We Are

International Social Service Japan (ISSJ) is a social welfare organization that helps individuals, children, and families confronted with complex social welfare issues because of migration and crossing country borders.

Back Issues 2014

ISSJ newsletter "INTERCOUNTRY" is published semiannually with latest reports and events information. Back issues are Japanese only.

Donations /Membership

Donations, subsidies, and membership fees from both individuals and corporations are crucial to ISSJ's activities and operations. Please donate or be a member of our organization for continuous support.

Support Services for Migrants and Refugees

ISSJ provides a wide range of consultation services for refugees and migrant families in Japan in order to facilitate their integration into Japanese society.

Adoption

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Prospective Adoptive Parents

ISSJ considers children should have an opportunity to grow up with a family, and adoption is a procedure for a child who needs family. ISSJ is looking for prospective adoptive parents who can raise the adoptee as his/her own child.

Who is a Refugee?

Refugee is a person who fled their country due to persecution. ISSJ has been providing counseling and support to refugees and asylum seekers since Indo-Chinese refugees (from Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos) arrived in Japan in the late 1970s.

Organization

About International Social Service Japan (ISSJ). Address. Established 1952. ISSJ assists adoption, international divorce, stateless children, refugee, asylum seekers.

Corporate Partnership

You can support ISSJ in a part of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), which is beneficial to the company in enhancing its image and reliability. Donations, donating items, putting advertisement on flyer for ISSJ events, etc.

Residence Status and Social Services

There are different types of residence status for refugees and asylum seekers. Social serv...

Biological Parents

ISSJ provides counseling for unplanned pregnancy / birth, and who have difficulties raising children. ISSJ can give advice about adoption as an option. ISSJ can think of ways both you and your child can be happy.

日本語Parent-Child Visitation Support GuideRevised effective as of April 2017.As a s...

Volunteering

ISSJ welcomes volunteers to help our activities. Please support us in office work, events such as charity movie festival and bazaar, or you can work as volunteer interpreter or intern. You can broaden your volunteer network.

Tracing / Searching

Adoption is a lifetime process. ISSJ assists tracing / searching roots of the adoptees. ISSJ recognizes adoptee’s right to know and we consider tracing service a part of adoption. ISSJ keeps adoption records from it's establishment 1952.

Statelessness - Birth Registration

Children of foreign nationals who don't have Japanese spouse cannot have Japanese nationality even when the child was born in Japan. ISSJ helps stateless children with the procedures including birth registration to acquire nationality.

Participating in Events

By participating in events such as charity movie festivals and concerts, you can support for ISSJ's activities and projects. We are looking forward to your participation and help.

"Saving Lives of Former Students in Afghanistan and Their Families”

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Adoption Q&A

ISSJ is happy to answer questions from birth parents or those who are interested in intercountry adoption. Please contact us for any questions or consultations. Also please see our Adoption Q&A from biological and adoptive parents.

Supporting Migrants

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History

History of International Social Service Japan (ISSJ) established in 1952, accredited by the Minister of Health in 1959. ISSJ is the Japanese branch of international welfare organization ISS, with network over 140 countries.

Other

ISSJ welcomes donations in various way. Please donate unused and unwanted items at home for charity bazaar, Otakara Aid, refugees, and asylum seekers. Please call us before you send items.

Messages from Clients

Messages from ISSJ's clients whom we provided support, i.e. biological mothers, adoptive parents, and children who were adopted.

Assistance with Information Exchange with Adoptive Parents and Adopted Children in British Columbia, Canada

The birth parents or relatives of an adopted child in British Columbia, Canada, are eligible to apply to the state government for the exchange of identifying or non-identifying information with the child’s adoptive parents. The information exchange may range from medical information, letters, cards and pictures, to the full exchange of names and addresses for direct contact.

About Us

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ISS Network

International Social Service(ISS), headquarters in Geneva, was established in 1924 to protect the rights and well-being of children and families. There are 15 branches and ISS network spans to 140 countries.(as of April 2015).

Get Involved

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Activity / Fiscal Report

Please see activity reports regarding our projects, program, activities, and plans as well as financial statements of ISSJ.

ISSJ issues newsletter "Intercountry" semiannually with latest reports on our activities and event information such as charity movie festival, concerts, or symposium.

Contact Us

ISSJ's social workers will assist unplanned pregnancy/birth, difficulties raising child, intercountry adoption, visitation, registering stateless child, tracing roots, marriage/divorce, refugees and asylum seekers.