There is more taking place at the BEC than just the registration of new employees of companies with the Immigration and Naturalization Service. “Apart from the fact that we support various companies and organizations -including TU/e- with the formal procedures, we also want to serve as an intermediary for questions from the expats themselves, and help them find the right organization for insurances, childcare or housing”, explains Ron Stoop, coordinator of the expat center.

“We are busy binding companies and organizations to us. In principle we speak with virtually all expats from the region when they arrive here. We like to refer them to banks, insurance companies or doctors that we know will help them properly.” By ‘help them properly’ Ron means especially that English is spoken at these organizations and that materials -such as an insurance policy- are available in English. “Insurers will never offer the whole policy in English, but our condition is that they should at least have a summary in English, so that the expats know what they have taken out an insurance policy for and what not.”

In addition, Stoop wants to emphasize that the BEC is the place for all questions from expats. “Although we don’t know all the answers, we can refer them to the right organizations. We also like to hear from them if there are any complaints, about housing for instance. “If we don’t hear anything, we don’t know whether things are going right or wrong. So all information is more than welcome.” (HB)

The Brabant Expat Center is located in the Kennedytoren at Kennedyplein in Eindhoven. More information may be found on: www.expatguideholland.com