EU & Turkish Officials to Take Further Steps to Ease Schengen Visa Procedures

Schengeninfo |  03 Jan 2023

Representatives of the European Union countries and the Foreign Ministry of Turkey have held three meetings in Ankara, in order to further ease visa process for Turkish citizens.

According to a report of Hurriyet Daily News, the meetings have been held in order to discuss the steps that should be taken regarding visa facilitation process for nationals from Turkey, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.

In this regard, embassies have vowed to take further measures in order to solve visa problems.

“We will try to increase the number of our personnel and receive technical support from intermediary visa agencies. We will also open an emergency visa channel, especially for the business world and students,” the embassies in Ankara pointed out in this regard, according to the report.

Following the ongoing meetings held between EU Member States representatives as well as Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs the embassies have stressed that they would increase the number of personnel and also offer solutions for students as well as businesspeople.

Previously, it was reported that Turkish nationals were subject to significant problems with the duration of their Schengen visa applications during their journey to European countries. In addition, it was reported that missions have been considerably postponing the visa appointment dates, thus further making the process more difficult by requesting additional documentation.

A total of 1.2 million visa applications have been received by authorities in European countries, according to ministry officials. Still, the recent data reveals that the number decreased to 200,000 in 2020 during the pandemic, during which period a large number of EU countries closed their embassies or consulates or reduced their personnel in order to prevent an increase in the number of applications.

At the same time, it was reported that the total number of applications this year reached 3.5 million, taking into account also those who did not file an application for a visa for a period of two years and postponed their visit, education, trade and tourism purposes.

Last year, officials from EU and Turkey discussed the visa liberalization process for Turkish nationals. The announcement was confirmed by the Deputy Foreign Minister of Turkey, Faruk Kaymakcı.

The Minister back then added that the visa liberalization process would allow more than 20 million citizens from Turkey to reach European countries for tourism and also get involved in other industries in European countries, including business, and transportation industries. However, such a process has still not been finalized despite continuous attempts taking in this regard.

www.samigration.com

How much it now costs to buy a KFC, Nando's, and Chicken Licken - or some cheaper takeaway options

 Business Insider | 03 Jan 2023

• Chicken is one of South Africa's most popular takeaway items, and most leading brands also sell franchises you can buy and run.
• The big players like Nando's, Chicken Licken, and KFC charge in the millions for a new store.
• But several smaller or newer franchises offer cheaper, if lesser-known, options.
• Here's how much it costs to open a takeaway chicken restaurant franchise in South Africa.

Chicken franchises are among the most popular - and expensive - takeaway businesses to buy in South Africa. 

Much of this has to do with demand - South Africans collectively eat around 1.92 million tonnes of poultry, or up to 16 birds each, per year.

And several brands, like KFC, Nando's, and Chicken Licken, have made a good business of getting South Africans to buy even more in ready-to-eat formats.

The country's top takeaway chicken spots pull crowds with familiar branding, strong marketing campaigns, and popular recipes and preparation methods. Many of these branches are franchisee-owned and run - and even the leading brands still have some locations available to buy. 

Their streamlined systems and strong branding come at a premium to franchisees, though - and may be too rich for first-time chicken shop operators. This is why many smaller, newer franchises are looking to cash in on this chicken love affair.

Here's how much it now costs to buy a Nando's, KFC, Chicken Licken - plus a few other lesser-known but cheaper chicken franchise businesses.

Nando's

It's not easy to become a Nando's franchisee in South Africa - the first thing South Africa's leading homegrown chicken franchise says in its prospectus is that most don't make it through the application process. They don't only require a pretty hefty payment - but also want people who possess "the attributes of a business owner to successfully fulfil your role as a Nando's franchisee". They require franchisees to get involved with the business and only accept those who will be owner-operators.

As part of the turnkey business you're buying, Nando's commits to handling premises selection, interior design, site development, and project management. There's also a non-negotiable two-month training period.

Cost of buying a Nando's branch: Nando's charges a R35,000 application fee followed by a R250,000 franchise fee payable upfront. Establishing a new Nando's branch costs about R3.7 million. Franchisees also need at least R415,000 in working capital. In total, if you're deemed worthy, a new Nando's franchise will cost between R5.25 million and R7.05 million, depending on store format.

Nando's no longer stipulates fees for royalties and marketing, but these have previously been set at 12% of net monthly sales.

Alternatively, Nando's posts established franchises for sale on a dedicated website.

Chicken Licken

Chicken Licken has a long history in South Africa - its first branch opened in the Johannesburg suburb of Ridgeway in 1981. Despite this, it's a chicken fast food chain that's somewhat flown below the radar compared to the likes of Nando's, instead earning a cult status among fans. There are, however, hundreds of stores around the country, many of which are franchises.

Chicken Licken says its franchise model with "tightly controlled internal cost structures" has proven successful across the continent. They're looking for franchisees who are financially stable "with business acumen, living close to the proposed site and prepared to become fully involved in the running of the business".

Cost of buying a Chicken Licken branch: Chicken Licken charges an upfront franchise fee of R180,000. Depending on the store's size, type, and location, the total investment amount is estimated to be at least R4 million - or about R3 million more if you want to build a drive-through option. They also charge ongoing fees for advertising, marketing, and royalties, which total 12%.

KFC

KFC is the global leader in fried chicken sales, and it’s no different in South Africa. The store has a dominant position for its target market here, and as such new franchises are hard - if not impossible - to come by. If you're desperate to own a KFC store over any other chicken franchise, your best bet will likely be the purchase of an existing KFC an old franchisee may no longer want or be able to keep.

Although this may raise some concerns about the historical success of the branch, KFC says they are “constantly on the lookout for potential franchisees to purchase existing KFC businesses that may become available from time to time”. They’re looking for operators with proven track records in the industry and “the financial muscle to grow the KFC brand in your chosen geography”.

Cost of buying a KFC branch: KFC does not stipulate the cost of purchasing a new KFC franchise in South Africa, if available, nor did it respond to Business Insider’s request for information. 

Historically KFC in South Africa has given the first bite of new franchises to existing owners with good track records, and prices for these started at about R6 million.

Galito's

Galito's started as early competition to the rise of Nando's, and in many ways, follows a similar approach in recipe and marketing. The business began with a single store in Mbombela but has grown to 183 in 16 countries.

Cost of buying a Galito's franchise: Galito's charges an initial joining fee of R130,000. Store setup costs roughly R2 million, depending on size and format. Franchisors also charge a monthly fee of 9% of turnover, which goes towards marketing and management.

Bird & Co

Bird & Co is a fast-food franchise that focuses on chicken and pizza. On the chicken side, they offer items like burgers, wraps, and wings. It's a comparatively small franchise, with just 11 branches mainly focused around the Durban area. This means they are relatively competitively priced compared to some of the more prominent names in the industry.

Cost of buying a Bird & Co franchise: Bird & Co charges an R80,000 upfront fee. They estimate that opening a new branch will cost in the region of R1.75 million. They charge a 5% ongoing management fee.

Chicken Bar

Chicken Bar started in September 2019, intending to become "the new home of African grilled chicken dishes". The business is still small, with only one branch listed on their website, but costs are comparatively low, with minimal working capital required, compared to more established franchises. They offer a kiosk or container option to prospective franchisees.

Cost of buying a Chicken Bar franchise: Chicken Bar charges an upfront fee of R100,000 and estimates the total investment amount to be R981,000. They charge an ongoing fee of 8% for marketing, advertising, and management.

Chicken Xpress

Chicken Xpress started as a single store in 2011 and expanded using a franchise model. They now have more than 20 stores, with several located in Botswana and Uganda. They sell fried chicken in burger, pieces, and wings formats at competitive prices.

Cost of buying a Chicken Xpress franchise: Chicken Xpress charges an upfront fee of R125,000, and estimates the total investment amount to be R1.54 million. They charge 6.5% fees allocated towards advertising, marketing, and management.

Honchos

Honchos is a chicken franchise started in Pietermaritzburg in 2005. They focus more on the flame-grilled side of the industry and offer items like burgers and shawarmas. They now have 98 stores, including some in Botswana, eSwatini, and Lesotho. They have two store formats available for purchase which differ in size and cost.

Cost of buying a Honchos franchise: Honchos charges an upfront fee of R150,000 and estimate the total investment amount to be between R1.8 million and R2 million. They recommend a working capital of R150,000 and charge 7% ongoing fees for management and marketing.

Pedros

Pedros is a flame-grilled chicken business that has tried hard to take on Nando's in both recipe and advertising. They've grown rapidly in recent years and now have over 100 stores. They offer both standalone and drive-through options. These cost less than many of their big-name competitors but more than many of the smaller operators in this sector.

Cost of buying a Pedros franchise: Pedros charges a R125,000 joining fee. They estimate a standard store will cost between R1.7 million and R2.8 million, while drive-throughs will likely cost between R2.5 million and R3.5 million. They charge an ongoing fee of 7%, which goes towards royalties and marketing.

www.samigration.com

 

Stateless SA man left in limbo after parents never registered his birth turns to court for help

News24 |  03 Jan 2023

Pretoria - A young man left in legal limbo after his parents never registered his birth has appealed to the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, for help.

The Department of Home Affairs had simply ignored his plight over the past nine years to be registered as a South African citizen.

Tebogo Khoza said since he turned 16 in 2013, he had tried in vain to be registered as a South African. He said he was born here and has never left the country since birth. While the department said it would assist him, nothing came of it.

Lawyers for Human Rights assisted him in his legal bid not to be rendered stateless.

Khoza was orphaned at the age of 9 and lived at a youth centre in Limpopo. He stayed there until he reached the age of 18.

According to South African law, he should have access to citizenship and documentation.

When he turned 16 he made his first attempt with the help of the centre to register his birth and apply for an identity document.

The designated case manager from the Department of Social Development who handled his matter made no attempt to register his birth or obtain documentation for him.

Due to the fact that his birth was never registered, an immigration investigation officer from the Department of Home Affairs was assigned to investigate his case.

A report was submitted two years later by the investigating officer, which concluded that Khoza was indeed born in South Africa and did not have citizenship anywhere else.

Despite this, the department refused to process his application for citizenship or provide him with vital documentation to enable him to access services and live productively in society.

Lawyers for Human Rights said through no fault of his own, Khoza had been deprived of birth registration and citizenship since birth.

It said this case highlights the failure of South Africa’s legal framework to adequately address the issue of statelessness.

“The South African Citizenship Act makes provision for children who are born in South Africa, and would otherwise be statelessness, to acquire citizenship by birth.

“The act also makes provision for children born in South Africa from non-citizen parent(s) to acquire citizenship through naturalisation if they have lived their whole lives in the Republic until the age of 18,” said Nothando Shongwe from the organisation’s Statelessness Project.

However, South Africa had not established or published regulations that prescribe the administrative process to follow for submitting such applications, she said.

“The Constitutional Court in Chisuse v Director General: Department of Home Affairs emphasised that citizenship goes to the core of a person’s identity, their sense of belonging and security of person.

“Deprivation of, or interference with, a person’s citizenship affects many aspects of their private and public life, including that of their family,” Shongwe said.

It was argued in court that in failing to ensure that Khoza is documented, he, together with thousands of others in the same boat, are rendered stateless.

“All human beings have an inherent right to human dignity. Yet being undocumented results in people being treated in the most inhumane manner.”

Shongwe added that Khoza finds himself in legal limbo, and this had a range of negative impacts on his life. It had resulted in continued prejudice as he could not study, work, get married, obtain a driving licence, open a bank account or access any social assistance.

Khoza said in his affidavit that he recently had a child, but his name could not appear on the child’s birth register as he was undocumented.

“This causes me a great deal of stress as I am not legally recognised as the father of my child,” he said. He also wants to marry his partner, but being undocumented, he cannot do so.

He has received many job offers and development opportunities over the years, but once again he is hampered in accepting these due to his lack of legal status.

The court meanwhile reserved judgment in this case.

www.samigration.com

South Africa: Consular Posts Processing Long-Term Visa Application

Fragos | 03 Jan 2023

As an update to the withdrawn centralized processing of long-term visa applications, consular posts are now processing and issuing long-term visa applications that were included in the centralized adjudication process at the Department of Home Affairs between January 12, 2022 and August 31, 2022.

Consular posts are also processing applicants still awaiting an outcome of applications submitted after September 1, 2022, when the centralized adjudication process was withdrawn. Applicants will be contacted via telephone when a decision has been made on their application and must obtain the approval or refusal outcome at their nearest consular post. Applicants who applied for their visas at VFS centers will receive an outcome on the online portal.

The Department of Home Affairs has not yet confirmed the new visa processing times

www.samigration.com

 

New Zealanders’ path to Australian permanent residency eased by ditching income and health checks

The Guardian |  03 Jan 2023

Move expected to help clear backlog of about 11,500 applications and could ease process for up to 300,000 Kiwis

Australia will lower requirements for New Zealanders to obtain permanent residency. Photograph: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

The Australian government has lowered the bar for New Zealanders who have applied for permanent residency.

Under changes announced by the home affairs department, New Zealanders who applied on or before 10 December for a subclass 189 visa will no longer face hurdles related to income, period of residence and health conditions.

The move, enacted by regulation, will help clear a backlog of about 11,500 applications, slashing wait times from two years down to six months or less.

The chair of Oz Kiwi, Joanne Cox, which represents New Zealanders in Australia, said she was hopeful the new streamlined system would be expanded to ease the process of obtaining permanency for up to 300,000 New Zealanders.

In July the Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese, promised to announce improved pathways to citizenship and permanent residency by Anzac Day 2023, declaring his government didn’t “want people to be temporary residents forever”.

The Australian government has temporarily paused new applications for 189 visas while it considers “future migration and citizenship pathways for New Zealand citizens in Australia, reflecting the close ties between our two nations”, according to the home affairs department website.

This means that during the period of the pause, from December to July 2023, all existing applications will be finalised. This is a fast track that acknowledges “that this group of New Zealand citizens are long-term residents of Australia, have been working here and contributing to Australia’s economic recovery during the Covid-19 pandemic”.

Conditions, such as the income threshold of $53,900 and the bar on people with certain medical conditions gaining permanent residency, will be waived.

New Zealanders will be able access the benefits of permanent residency more quickly, including the National Disability Insurance Scheme, social security payments and automatic acquisition of Australian citizenship at birth for their children born in Australia.

Cox said the existing system was “unfair”, allowing freedom of movement between Australia and New Zealand but then subjecting New Zealanders to the same conditions as other applicants for permanent residency.

Cox said the conditions on the 189 visa, such as medical checks, were “nonsensical” for those who were already “eligible for Medicare and paid the Medicare levy”.

“At the moment, we say we can ‘permanently reside’ in Australia rather than be ‘permanent residents’,” she said.

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“It’s all good … until something goes wrong. If you have an issue like a disabled child or if you’ve committed a crime that makes you eligible for deportation, then it’s not all sunshine and roses.”

Cox said a cohort of up to 300,000 New Zealanders lacked a “pathway to permanency” due to changes made by the Howard government in 2001, and the limits on the 189 visa which acted as a “screening tool” barring those on lower incomes.

Then there are wait times, with only half of applications finalised within 21 months.

“We’re aware of people who applied in November 2020 and Jan 2021 who are still waiting to be approved for their 189,” she said.

“Those people should already be citizens now, they’ve already done their one year of residency … but they were stuck in this backlog.”

According to the regulation’s explanatory statement, the measure would “support workers from New Zealand living and working in Australia on a permanent visa to support economic recovery.

“Applicants are still required to meet public interest criteria, including those relating to character, national security and Australian values.”

www.samigration.com