One of Bermuda's top job recruitment agencies has given the thumbs up to Government's new online immigration system.

BermudaJOBS' immigration processing services team manager Christina Herzog said it welcomed the launch of the online questionnaire form and work permit status system as the website allows users to follow the status of their applications, while removing the need to contact the Department of Immigration.

Government has already implemented the two new services which are available online now after a pilot scheme tried out on the likes of ACE, BF&M and the Bank of Bermuda, as exclusively revealed in The Royal Gazette last week following a leaked memo outlining the innovative system by assistant chief immigration officer Rozy Azhar to numerous business organisations, including the Association of Bermuda International Companies, the Chamber of Commerce, the Employers' Council and the International Business Association.

It is hoped the new system, which was confirmed at a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce's restaurant and nightclub division last Thursday, will enable the Department of Immigration and employers to speed up the work permit application process.

BermudaJOBS process in excess of 1,000 work permit applications on behalf of its clients each year and Ms. Herzog claimed that, as the Island's largest immigration processing company, it was therefore excited to learn that the electronic database was going to be rolled out before the end of the year and pleased to be invited to test it.

"We believe that the new system will make processing more efficient and effective and improve communications," she said. "Our clients have definitely benefited from this online tool."

In terms of what the online system will mean specifically to the employer and prospective employee, BermudaJOBS reckon the beauty of it is that it allows the Department of Immigration to focus on actual processing the applications, while recruitment firms can ensure the forms are properly completed at their end, according to Ms. Herzog.

"Before the online system was launched we were in contact with the Department of Immigration everyday - often twice a day," she said.

"By providing on-line status queries, the new system allows the customer service representatives at the Department of Immigration to be contacted as the exception rather than the norm, and therefore allows them to focus on the actual processing of applications.

"Since testing the new website pilot, BermudaJOBS has experienced a noticeable improvement in communication from the Department of Immigration.

"This in turn allows us to more efficiently focus on where we add value to our clients - in ensuring that applications are complete and well presented, rather than spending time trying to getting status updates."

The questionnaire form, which is available at www.igf.gov.bm, allows the employer to complete as much of the form as they can, save the information and then forward it via email to their prospective employee.

It cuts out the need for employers to send paper forms by post to their prospecticve staff members for completion before they start the application process, ensures that the form has been completed correctly and provides a checklist of items specific to the type of permit for which the application is being made.

Other features include a tight security within the email with an application number and URL which includes a series of characters that are unique to an employer's application, ensuring that no other person other than the recipient of the email is able to access that particular form.

And Ms. Herzog is looking forward to seeing the complete version of the system in the not too distant future.

"We understand the Department of Immigration is continuing to revamp their systems and this website is only an interim and immediate solution," she said. "We look forward to the final new system which we are assured will provide even greater streamlining to the process and communications."