Getting through the red tape of immigration may get easier for small and medium sized companies after the launch of a new fix-it service.

Well-known local businessman Tony Goodfellow has set up Goodfellow Associates to take companies through all the necessary steps to bring foreign workers into Bermuda.

"Everyone I have spoken to has thought it was a good idea -- Immigration, business owners of all sizes,'' said Mr. Goodfellow. "I have not heard one person think it was a bad idea.'' According to Mr. Goodfellow, about 30 percent of work permits that arrive at the Department of Immigration are either filled out incorrectly or missing vital documents.

"What I will be doing is making sure that all the procedures have been gone through correctly, from putting adverts in the paper, and making sure that they are not too specific or difficult to fill, to gathering documents and putting them into immigration.'' Mr. Goodfellow, who is a director of Smith's department store and Rothschild Services, stressed that he does not think there is a problem with the Government department and what he will be doing will help their cause.

But he added the document from the Immigration Department on how to bring a foreign worker into the Island is five pages long.

He said: "Some small and medium sized businesses look at this and go `Oh God'. I talked to a lot of people in this field, and found that there is a need for this kind of service. If you do not have a personnel department the process can be daunting.'' The flat fee for the first time application from companies is $200, and renewals $125. He added: "If it gets complicated after that, then it is $75 an hour.'' He added he will also look at other applications and consider taking them on as business.

Currently he says he has one hotel and several small international businesses signed up.

"But I cannot tell you who they are. Confidentiality is very important. If you do not have it, you lose the business.'' He added: "How much work involved will depend on the business. Once you build up a rapport and a file on what the business does it will become easier to know what they want. We can do everything from making sure that the X-ray is done to making sure all the `I's are dotted and the `T's crossed.'' Good Deal: Tony Goodfellow