SF Language Services

SFLS has qualified and experienced bilingual assistance specialists available 24 hours a day, 7 days per week to help employees and their families who are relocating to the United States. We work very hard to ensure our clients understand all the essential elements of daily life and the environment in America today. Our specialists quickly educate our clients to ensure a smooth and comfortable transition to life in the US, especially in the critical first three months following arrival.

SFLS takes great pride in the fact that our employees, including our founder, have direct experiences of relocation both to the USA and abroad. We are sensitive to the challenges faced by individuals and families when moving to another country.

Before our clients leave their native countries, SFLS representatives make contact, preparing them for their expatriation and assuring that they bring the necessary documentation and personal belongings to insure ease of transition.

Upon arrival, we are available for help with…

1. Airport Arrival:

SFLS staff meets the employee at the airport and assure safe transport to their accomodations. We provide an orientation of the accommodations facility and their initial surroundings. We remain with them in the crucial first hours following arrival, familiarizing them with general services that are available.

2. Orientation Packet:

SFLS provides the expatriate with post-arrival orientation packet highlighting the city, events, facts of living in the US; education, utilities, shopping, healthcare, including city maps and local information.

3. Professional Orientation:

SFLS staff assures that the employee can locate their place of work assignment, are introduced to the facilities and begin the orientation process.

4. Temporary and Permanent Housing:

Finding appropriate and comfortable housing is critical to happily settling-in. SFLS staff coordinates with local realtors and apartment complexes to tour and decide on an appropriate home. We stay with the employee through the contracting phase and assure that they thoroughly understand the contracting process and the obligations involved. Our bilingual staff will provide an accompanied walk-through of housing, pointing out safety issues, explain appliances, and all services provided by the complex.

5. General Services in the Local Community:

Once settled into their new home, SFLS provides an accompanied familiarization tour of the community (e.g. places of worship, shopping, hospitals, post offices, and otherwise). Awareness of safety is a primary consideration in this orientation.

6. Securing Physician Services and Familiarization With Medical Procedures:

Each expatriate and family has specific needs related to personal health. SFLS staff works with the employee in securing appropriate medical care and assure that the employee is aware of processes and directions for medical assistance.

7. Social Security:

Establishing a social security number is a very important early step in settling-in and establishing identity. SFLS employees assure that this step is completed, accompanying the employee to these government offices.

8. Banking:

The establishing of a bank account is tantamount to survival in the USA. SFLS not only assists in establishing banking services, but makes sure that all aspects of personal banking are understood.

9. Safe Driving, Drivers’ Licenses and ID Acquisition:

Mobility is vital to the employee’s happiness and adjustment. SFLS staff assists with driver’s license acquisition, including providing interpretation during the driving tests to assure that the instructor and department of motor vehicle’s examiner are understood.

10. School Enrollment and Education:

For employees with children, education becomes a primary concern. SFLS assists in the orientation and enrollment process, introducing the student to the school and the school to the student. SFLS continues to monitor the progress of students and assists the local school system in understanding the needs of the individual student. This includes providing interpretation as necessary to the school administration and families.

11. Shopping:

SFLS staff introduces the employee to the vital shopping venues in their neighborhood for food, household goods, clothing and pharmaceuticals.

12. Local Customs, Traditions and Holidays:

SFLS provides the employee with ongoing cultural education in the local customs and important traditions. We make sure that the holidays, when the employee is away from work, are understood and participated in, if it is their desire.

13. Transportation Systems:

Alternative forms of transportation are available throughout the community and are often more practical than individual transportation. SFLS staff educates our expatriate friend to these alternatives.

14. Local Entertainment Venues:

We strive to assure that our guests experience life in the USA to the fullest. We recommend entertainment venues in the local community that are of interest to our guests individually and are age appropriate for family members.

15. Repatriation Assistance:

When the expatriate assignment in the US concludes, we assist them with all aspect of repatriation (e.g. resolution of final bills and recovery of any deposits, canceling utilities, notification of forwarding address, de-registration of vehicle and disposition of title, car loan pay-off and income tax obligations).