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Corporate Citizens

for the corporate citizen

For the corporate citizen - your success is ours

Hassle Free Immigration assist our clients with all work permits, intra-company transfers, study permits, temporary and permanent residence permits as well as permits for spouse and dependants that accompany the main applicant. Our registered migration agents have several years of immigration and emigration knowledge to best advise you on your specific visa or permit situation

The current trend of globalisation has seen many companies expanding to South Africa and importing skills from overseas branches to local branches. The task of the Human Resources Manager and/or Officer has become increasingly complex and difficult when it comes to obtaining the correct permit and visas for employees on secondments or assignments to South Africa. Arranging work and business permits for skilled staff coming into South Africa is a complicated process with many legal obligations to adhere to; legal obligations that Human Resources Departments might not be aware of and which could lead to delays in the processing of applications, and even refusals.

This is where Hassle Free Immigration comes in. Our company specialises in obtaining work permits for staff entering South Africa on international assignments and secondments. Our consultants have years of experience in dealing with The South African Department of Home Affairs as well as SA Embassies abroad. Through years of extensive experience in working with large corporate companies, we have enabled ourselves to understand corporate structures and deadlines, when it comes to obtaining the correct permit on the specific time for the person entering South Africa.

We have therefore singled out our areas of expertise which includes the following:

  1. All Work Permits ( General, Quota, Exceptional skills & Intra Company)
  2. Spouse & Dependant visas (for accompanying family)
  3. Business and Work authorisation Visit Visas
  4. Student Visas
  5. Permanent Residence applications
  6. All Visa and Work Permit Extensions
  7. Dedicated private courier company with experienced drivers and assigned vehicles for all collections and deliveries


Communication: An Open Door PolicyYou’re Companies Gateway to – International Assignments!

Hassle Free Immigration established itself as a market leader and a recognized outsourcing agent of all Human Recourses International Assignments.

Once the HR has given us the go-ahead with an International Assignment, whether the employee will be assigned from Afghanistan or Uzbekistan, we provide a complete service regarding costs, timeframes and documentation needed.

This unique service has been provided to our current corporate clients with great success. Not only is it hassle free, it is also cost effective. With the detailed planning on timeframes and costs, we can ensure that no unnecessary costs have to be paid for changing of travel itinerary for the Expat as well as the family.

Each and every application will be granted on its own merits, it is therefore vital to present your application with all the correct documentation required.

Hassle Free Immigration will:

  1. Assist you in locating all relevant documentation for the application
  2. Forward all relevant application forms
  3. Complete all application forms
  4. Assemble the application ready for submission
  5. Represent your application form start to finish with all the relevant High Commissions and Embassies.
  6. Leaesing directly with HR locally as well as the International Assignment desk anywhere in the world.
  7. Submissions arranged abroad with any SA Embassy worldwide


Additional Services

Save time by letting Hassle free Immigration take care of all auxiliary applications needed for your work, study and other permit applications, such as birth certificates, police clearances and translations. By using Hassle Free Immigration's additional services, you are able to have one point of communication instead of three external points of contact such as the South

African Police Services and Home Affairs. (Please note these services are only available if it forms part of your work permit application that we are doing)

Certificates

HFI can obtain the following South African certificates:

  • birth
  • marriage
  • death certificates and
  • apostles of all the above mentioned certificates required for your application in a fraction of the normal processing time, saving your human resources department and expatriate employee valuable time.

HFI can obtain United Kingdom and USA certificates:

  • birth
  • marriage
  • death certificate swithin three to five weeks.

All other certificates from countries not mentioned here, please contact HFI for information.

Police Clearances

HFI can obtain the following South African certificates:

  • South Africa: When applying in person, South African police clearances can take up to four months to process. HFI can obtain these same certificates on your behalf within six weeks. We are also able to assist you in obtaining police clearances for the following countries:
  • USA
  • UK

Translations

With documents being translated by a Sworn Translator of the Supreme Court, you can be assured that translations are of the highest quality at all times and will be accepted by any immigration authority.

Certification of documents

Documents will be certified by a Commissioner of Oaths

Notarial Contracts

These contracts will be drawn up by our Notary Public. These Notarial Contracts become necessary in Same Sex Relationship applications or Life Partner Agreements when applying for work permits

Courier Service

HFI utilizes the services of a reputable 100% black owned courier company with full time well experienced drivers to provide a personalized collection and delivery service. For our international courier services we use DHL courier services

24 Hour Service

With HFI you the corporate will not only become a number, we are a small, dedicated and experienced team who realizes that immigration matters do not hold office hours. We are there to assist in any Emergency at any time - day or night.

B-BBEE certification

Hassle Free Immigration is proud to be South African and have been a B-BBEE certified enterprise since September 2008.

We are currently a level 4 contributor with 100% recognition level for an exempted micro enterprise. – Certification available upon request

Other services we offer that may be required during Work Permit applications:

  • SAQA
  • Benchmarking
  • Waiver applications
  • SA Foreign Birth Registration
  • Good Cause Letters
    • Section 11(2) Work authorisation Visa – Pre Authorised – E.g. OR Tambo International Airport (Visa Exempt Nationals only)
  • Placements of advertisement for Work permit applications

Experience in large account management

Hassle Free Immigration is proud of our years of experience in large account management. The long standing relationship with our large corporate companies is testimony to this.

We have successfully provided a global immigration service to our large corporate clients. Once we have received the instruction from HR, our team will start the process to have the Assignee obtain a work permit as hassle free as possible.

Process:

Experience has taught us that clear and clutter free communication with all parties involved is the vital key to success. We therefore have standard procedures in place that has been tested and perfected to ensure a clear communication line.

  1. Instruction: This is usually in a form of a formal e-mail instruction from the HR decision maker. HFI will not proceed with any application without formal instruction. We have learnt that with large organizations, we cannot start an application for permits until a formal go-ahead has been given. This will ensure that all (HR and HFI) is clear on what is expected.
  2. Formal Response to Instruction: Again this will be in e-mail format. It will give clear information on procedures to be followed, timeframes, costs, alternative suggestions (if applicable) and any problems that may arise during the process. With this information your company can make calculated and qualified decisions before the process starts, to effectively manage the expectations of the Expat and to have realistic start dates for the new Assignee.
  3. Direct communication with the Expat: A detailed e-mail is sent directly to the Expat that explains the procedures and timeframes. All relevant checklists regarding documentation required and application forms are sent as well. The dedicated HFI consultant will also telephonically contact with the Expat to discuss the checklist, application forms and procedures in detail. During this conversation the Expat will also be given the opportunity to ask the consultant any questions that may arise. We have found that this ensures that the Expat understands the process and what is expected from him/her and forms a clear idea of the process to be followed.
    Throughout the process all communication will be cc’ed to the relevant HR as well as the line manager to ensure that all parties involved are on the “same page” on where we are in a process and what the next step will be. This also enables HR to communicate any deadlines, pitfalls or concerns.
  4. Meeting the Expat: We have found that it is usually very beneficial to meet the Expat at your company’s offices in person when he/she enters for a look-see (only if possible). We will then reconfirm the procedure and explain the paperwork in more detail if required.
  5. Collating and preparation of application: All supporting documents as listed on the relevant checklist will be required to be forwarded in e-mail format to the dedicated consultant from the Expat as well as HR. HFI will then create the relevant motivational and supporting letters that will be forwarded to HR to be reviewed and then to be printed and signed on company letterhead. HFI also completes all relevant application forms on behalf of the Expat and HR to then be signed respectively.
  6. Finalization:
    • Submission Abroad: The collated pack is couriered to the Expat directly. Personal submission is required by the DHA Mission abroad. Once submitted HFI will directly follow-up the application and will communicate progress of the application with all parties involved.
    • Submission in SA: The complete pack will be collected from HR and the application will be submitted by HFI directly to the relevant DHA office. HFI will directly follow-up the application and will communicate progress of the application with all parties involved. Once the application has been finalized and the permits endorsed, will all the original documents and passports be delivered to HR/Expat.

Your dedicated consultant:

Carla de Kock
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0836990431

Business Manager:

Henry Harper
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0824142198

Business Owner

Dirkje Harper
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0114311705


Relationship and experience with SA Home Affairs and International Embassies

The Department of Home Affairs (DHA):

Our team has a long and good standing relationship with the Department of Home Affairs (DHA). As mentioned we have registered immigration practitioners and therefore we are formally and legally acknowledged by DHA. Being a registered immigration practitioner gives us as HFI the authority to deal with all immigration applications on behalf of your company and the Expat. Our consultants have +/- 10 years of working experience with the department and direct contact with the heads of various regional offices as well as missions abroad.

HFI participates in quarterly meetings/workshops with the Minister of Home Affairs and various other immigration practitioners. At these meetings/workshops we are given the opportunity to raise any concerns and discuss changes in the immigration law. We are also invited to put proposals forward to assist the ministry before changes to legislation are implemented.

The Large Account Unit team:

HFI was one of the first immigration consultancies to have applied for one of their corporate companies to become a part of the pilot project successfully. The large account unit was established in November 2008 and we are proud of our involvement and current working relationship with the LAU team.

The LAU is now embedded into our immigration law and is a success story from its initiation. Being one of the front runners and going through the teething stages when this initiative was launched by the DHA we have had the opportunity to build strong and lasting relationships with the LAU team.

International Embassies:

HFI’s years of international immigration law experience effectively resulted in the building of relations with numerous International Embassies and Missions abroad. Although the process and regulations changed from time to time we always endeavor to research immigration changes and procedures on a continuous basis.

Our large database of corporate companies which we provide an immigration service to has allowed us to have a diverse and broad knowledge of immigration rules and thus have resulted in establishing long term embedded relationships.


Administrative Excellence

We have divided our administrative procedures and excellence into the following categories:

  1. Database management: To allow a database management system to work effectively, experience has taught us that an Internal Immigration Audit is vital for success. HFI will therefore assist HR to gather and compile all relevant information to be inserted into the immigration database management system. This audit will allow and enable HFI to notify HR well in advance of expiration dates on permits/documents/visas/passports etc.
    The system will also indicate in detail at which stage each application currently is and provide a short progress description.
  2. Renewals and extensions: With the above mentioned immigration database management system, all renewals and extensions can be managed by HFI well before the date of expiry of existing permits. This means that we can manage and alert HR well in advance to avoid last minute rush applications that could lead to the expiry of visas/overstaying/deportation and immigration fines.
  3. Meetings: Depending on volumes it is recommended that progress meetings are held fortnightly with HR and the dedicated HFI consultant. At these meetings timelines/changes/concerns/recommendations and progress of applications are discussed. Heads-up can be given on possible new assignments at these meetings which allow for discussion in terms of the best permit options and timeframes to enable all to manage expectations.
  4. Record keeping: Hard copies as well as electronic copies of all application documents and issued permits are kept in a 5 year storage system. This record keeping allows for the upkeep of permit information on the immigration database management system and also allows HFI to access certain documentation that could be required for permit renewals and extensions (e.g. translations/birth certificates/SAQA etc.). Should any documents/passports/visas get stolen/lost or damaged, HFI will have record of the original.
  5. Training: Our experience in large account management have taught us that it is extremely beneficial and productive to have Immigration Training Sessions with the HR staff involved with International Assignments and the Expats twice a year. These sessions are used to train and inform HR/line managers in terms of internal processes/procedures used by HFI as well as indicating timeframes. This allows for the management of expectations and leads to a seamless and hassle-free immigration process.