• Consultative Bodies

Consultative Bodies

The Minister is required by law to consult with statutory, professional bodies, namely:

· the Bermuda Architects’ Registration Council;

· the Bermuda Bar Council;

· the Bermuda Clinical Social Work Council;

· the Bermuda Dental Board;

· the Bermuda Medical Council;

· the Bermuda Nursing Council;

· the Bermuda Pharmacy Council;

· the Council of Professions Supplementary to Medicine;

· the Bermuda Psychologists’ Registration Council;

· the Professional Engineers’ Registration Council; and

· the Surveyors Registration Council.

The Minister is also empowered to consult with non-statutory bodies. The Ministry regularly consults for various sectors of the business community. The following non-statutory bodies are often consulted:

· the Bermuda Association of Professional Engineers;

· the Bermuda Association of Surveyors;

· the Bermuda Engineers Association;

· the Bermuda Federation of Musicians and Variety Artists;

· the Bermuda Industrial Union - Construction Division;

· the Bermuda Industrial Union - Hotel Division;

· the Bermuda Massage Therapy Association;

· the Bermuda Medical Association;

· the Bermuda Medical Society;

· the Bermuda Pharmaceutical Association;

· the Bermuda Photographers Association;

· the Bermuda Psychological Association;

· the Bermuda Social Workers’ Association;

· the Bermuda Society of Arts;

· the Bermuda Society of Interior Designers;

· the Bermuda Veterinarian Association; and

· the Institute of Bermuda Architects.

The statutory bodies are generally sent the whole of the work permit application for comment. The non-statutory bodies do not see the application, but are asked if they know of any of their members who are seeking employment in the category in which a work permit has been applied for.

At the same time that a work permit application is sent to the Department of Immigration, the employer should send the relevant portions of the application to the appropriate consultative body. The consultative body will forward their comments to the Department of Immigration. The employer should include, with the work permit application, a copy of the covering letter, which they sent to the consultative body.

The Department of Immigration will allow two weeks, from the date of receipt of the work permit application, for the consultative body to forward their comments. If the work permit application does not contain a copy of the covering letter to the consultative body, the department will have to assume that the employer has not consulted and proceed accordingly.

Where the statutory body in Bermuda has already registered a professional, the employer may simply forward the person’s registration number to the Department of Immigration. In such cases further consultation with the statutory body is not necessary.

LAST UPDATED: 22 NOVEMBER 2000

contact: Assistant Chief Immigration

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Last Modified: 12/13/2004

contact: Assistant Chief Immigration Officer