Problems with work permit applications and renewals are set to become a thing of the past when a new company specialising in immigration matters opens next month.

Opening on September 3, at 13 Front Street, Immigration Advisory & Consultancy Services (IACS) is the brainchild of owner, chief operations officer and former immigration officer Suzette Butterfield-Lewis, and the new company has already been inundated with calls for help.

Mrs. Butterfield-Lewis's partner is sister and former educator Norma-Anne Smith who said there was a "desperate need" for this type of service on the Island.

Mrs. Butterfield-Lewis explained: "I was employed by the Bermuda Government for 28 years, for the last ten years in Immigration in the work permit section which was my love."

Having retired in January, Mrs. Butterfield-Lewis went back to school at Mount St. Vincent in Halifax, Canada, and on her return to the Island, she said: "I was bombarded with former clients from immigration asking for help."

Indeed, she said that even though her business is not officially open, she has had clients calling, turning up on her doorstep and has been helping clients nearly every night.

Continuing to study for her business degree through the arrangement between Mount St. Vincent and the Bermuda College, Mrs. Butterfield-Lewis has also been working at the English Sports Shop who she said had been very supportive of her endeavour.

Mrs. Butterfield-Lewis also said that she had met with Permanent Secretary of Immigration Randy Horton and Chief Immigration Officer Dr. Martin Brewer who had given their full support to the new business.

Mrs. Butterfield-Lewis said IACS would not guarantee work permit approval but clarified that their job was to ensure all the paperwork was in order, easing the headaches of the staff at the immigration department.

She said when working for immigration, it was very common for incomplete applications to be submitted without all the correct paper work and also said the negative press about the delay in work permits was not the fault of the immigration department. The sisters agreed that their main aim was to make the process of any submission to the immigration department "smooth sailing" and Mrs. Butterfield-Lewis added: "A lot of companies, especially smaller companies, will appreciate this as it will free them up so they can go on running their business."

Services offered by IACS include work permits, permission to reside and attend school/college, dependant re-entry letters, permission to seek alternative employment, entertainers/sportspersons permits and salespersons' permits.

IACS will also deal with the consultative bodies if required and certify documents.