Sacha Kirsten

Thames Consular Provide a Worldwide Visa & Passport Service to sectors ranging from general Corporate, the Oil & Gas Industry to Travel Agents/ Operators & general public. We are orientated towards the British traveller and permenant resident of the UK though also have a Migration Division of the company which concentrates on those wishing to immigrate to Australia. Our core services we offer are: Tourist and Corporate Visas, Work Permits, Specialist Visas i.e. restricted areas, Student Visas, Legalisation Services, Legal Certificate Replacement Services as well as Passport Services.

I started with Thames Consular as a Visa Consultant, dealing with enquiries and arranging visa processings. This required geographical knowledge as well good communications skills and an understanding of the procedures and relevant contacts at the Embassies in the UK. During this time I was handed projects and tasks by the Operations Manager and the Marketing Director which enabled me to develop my skills in Account Management and Sales & Marketing. I was later promoted to Business Development Manager which requires varied duties such as managing Account Relations, Advertising in relevant media publications, following up with prospective new clients, arranging any exhibiting we may do at shows, editing our quaterly Company Newsletter as well as looking into any developments and improvements the company can make.

Sector: Consulting and Services

As an established International Travel Agency and member of the Sure Travel Group, a largely recognised brand in South Africa; the company had an expert team of Travel Agents who could cater for all your travel needs. I started with the company in my practical year of my Diploma and shadowed the then Receptionist for the first 3 months. After that I was offered the position of Domestic Travel Agent which entailed booking tailor-made national holidays for clients as well as travel and accommodation for our corporate account holders. Due to the increasing size & development of the Agency a new division was created and I was offered the oppourtunity to run the visa section whilst also coordinating our Managing Directors schedule and performing general administrational duties for her. During this time I trained up two graduates in Visa Administration to assist in this area of the company. I left after 1 year 5 months to pursue my dreams of travelling and working abroad.

Sector: Travel