Canada invites 1,500 new immigrants for permanent residency

Netbidy – 20 July 2022

The Canadian government has invited 1,500 new Express Entry candidates to apply for permanent residency. This is the first time Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is inviting candidates across all-programs since December 2020.

Also, Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates, which is the primary way for Canada’s large international student and foreign working population to gain residence were also included in this Express Entry draw.

Notably, an all-program Express Entry draw occurs when the IRCC considers all the candidates in the Express Entry pool for permanent residence based on their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. The all-program draw had been discontinued since 2020 due to movement restrictions placed by the government as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, the resumption of the all-program Express Entry draw means that immigrants from overseas are now eligible to be picked and invited to apply for permanent residency based on their CRS score. It is worth noting that the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off score for this draw was 557.

What they are saying

According to a statement by Canada’s Immigration Minister, Sean Frazer after the draw, “Today, I am pleased to announce that Express Entry draws have officially resumed, and applications will be processed at our 6-month processing standard. I want to thank the candidates from around the world for their patience, as we worked to reduce the backlog before resuming Express Entry draws. I look forward to welcoming skilled workers who will are essential in addressing Canada’s labour shortages.”

How Express Entry application works

• Firstly, candidates need to confirm that they meet the criteria of at least one of the three Express Entry programs. That is, the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP). Click here to check.
• If they meet the criteria, candidates can upload their Express Entry profile onto IRCC’s website.
• Candidates receive a Comprehensive Ranking System score based on their human capital characteristics such as age, education, language skills, and work experience.
• Approximately every two weeks, IRCC invites the highest-scoring candidates to apply for permanent residence.
• Those invited for permanent residence have 60 days to submit their applications to IRCC. IRCC aims to process most applications within 6 months or less.

www.samigration.com

Home Affairs’ two on trial

News24 - 20 July 2022

Two senior immigration officers attached to the Department of Home Affairs in Bloemfontein, who were arrested for bribery, have been granted bail of R5 000 each.

They were released after their appearance in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Monday (11/07).

Dolly Goitsemang Sediti (38) and Leballo Maqalika (50) face charges of corruption. The pair was remanded in custody following their arrest by the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation team in Bloemfontein.

The investigation into the case was launched in May.

Capt. Christopher Singo, spokesperson for the Hawks in the Free State, said an investigation into the alleged bribery had been launched after a foreign national blew the whistle.

“Information was received about the senior immigration officer of Home Affairs who demanded R6 000 from a foreign national for the release of his brother, who had been arrested for allegedly not having proper documents,” said Singo.

A sting operation was conducted on 26 May, culminating in the arrest of Maqalika.

“He was arrested after being found in possession of the said amount of cash paid by the victim,” said Singo.

“Further investigation discovered that Sediti was implicated in corrupt activities involving Maqalika.”

Singo said Sediti had handed herself over on 4 July, accompanied by her legal team.

He confirmed that the pair was expected to reappear in court soon.

www.samigration.com

THE CONSEQUENCES OF OVERSTAYING YOUR VISA

Section 30(1)(h) of the Immigration Act of South Africa and Regulation 27(3) of the Immigration Regulations.
A person will be declared ‘undesirable’ and will receive a ban regardless of the reason for the
overstay. The ban applies to any person who has overstayed, adults and children. The ban and
being declared ‘undesirable’ also affects people who leave South Africa while their application for
a visa (or visa extension) is pending, if their current visa has expired.
what happens if i overstay my visa?
In 2014, the Department of Home Affairs introduced new immigration regulations, which
effectively 'ban' foreign nationals who overstay in the Republic from re-entering South Africa for
a set period of time.
The immigration laws in South Africa state that a person who overstays in the Republic after the
expiry of their visa will be declared as 'undesirable'. This person would receive a document,
confirming them to be an 'undesirable' person, when they exit South Africa. Their passport is also
stamped. The document 'bans' them from re-entering South Africa. The length of time that you
are banned for depends on how long you have overstayed your visa.
Persons who overstay their visa for a period of less than 30 days will be declared
‘undesirable’ and banned for a period of 12 months. This means that this person will not
be allowed to re-enter South Africa for 12 months.
Persons who overstay their visa by more than 30 days will be declared ‘undesirable’ and
banned for a period of 5 years. This means that this person will not be allowed to reenter
South Africa for the next five years.
If you hold a visa issued by the South African Department of Home Affairs, you must always check and
be aware of the visa expiry date. If you are staying in South Africa longer than the validity of your visa,
you must apply for a renewal of the visa 60 days before the visa expires, or you must leave the country
before the expiry date. Failure to do so has severe consequences. This is set out in South Africa's
Immigration Act.
You can avoid receiving a ban by lodging your visa renewal application 60 days before the expiry
of your current visa. If possible, we advise that you submit your application 90 days before your
visa expiry date so that the Department of Home Affairs has enough time to look into your
application. (You cannot submit the application six months before the expiry of the current visa,
however.) If your visa has expired and your application for extension is still pending, do not leave
South Africa unless travel is absolutely necessary. Contact a reputable immigration advisor or
attorney should you have to travel.
how can i avoid receiving a ban?
You are able to appeal a ban. The Immigration Act allows for people to lodge a formal appeal
request to the Department of Home Affairs if they have been declared ‘undesirable’ and received
a ban. The appeal must be submitted within ten working days of the day that you received the
ban. To submit an appeal, you must email your request to the Department of Home Affairs, at
overstayappeals@dha.gov.za, with the following documents:
Written representations/letter with clear reasons for overstay,
A copy of the document declaring you 'undesirable' (you would have received this at
the border upon leaving South Africa, and a stamp in your passport),
A copy of your passport: the information page and other relevant pages, such as
pages with your South African visa(s), stickers or stamps,
If you had applied for a visa extension, also include the acknowledgement of receipt
of that application,
A medical certificate if you overstayed due to medical reasons and
Any other relevant documents that support your written representations (including
documentary evidence proving your reasons for overstaying.
For confirmation that the appeal has been received, you should contact IMS Deportations on
+27 (0)12 406 4985.
WHAT CAN I DO IF I RECEIVE A BAN?
During the Covid-19 pandemic, the South African government implemented a nationwide
lockdown as well as a closure of its borders. This meant that many people were unable to return
to their country of origin before their visas expired.
The Department of Home Affairs issued Directions specifically for people whose visas expired
during the National State of Disaster, from 15 March 2020. These Directions state that if your visa
expired from 15 March 2020 and you remained in the Republic during the period of the national
state of disaster, you will not be declared an undesirable person and you should not receive a
ban when leaving the country up to and including 31 July 2020.
Any person who did receive a declaration of undesirability during this period, should have that
ban set aside. You should contact the email address provided above to clarify this situation and
ensure that any ban that may have been noted, is removed. For more information, and to
download the Directions, see: www.scalabrini.org.za/news/covid_info.
For reliable information on the Covid-19 virus, visit www.sacoronavirus.co.za.
HAS THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IMPACTED THIS?
No You can only return to South Africa once you have applied to the South African Department of
Home Affairs for the ban to be lifted as it is not automatically removed from the system. You must
apply for the ban to be lifted. If you do not, you will be refused entry into South Africa at the Port
of Entry. You can make this application at the email address provided above. It is also advisable to
speak to your local South African consulate/embassy.
my ban has finished - can i return to south africa?
facebook.com/Scalabrini CT | info@scalabrini.org.za
www.samigration.com

SA Visa / Citizenship

Citizenship Options

• South African Citizen by Descent
• South African Citizen by Naturalisation:
• Automatic loss of Citizenship
• Resumption of South African citizenship
• Deprivation of Citizenship
• South African Citizen by Naturalisation:
• Automatic loss of Citizenship
• Resumption of South African citizenship
• Acquisition of the citizenship or nationality of another country

South African Citizen by Descent:

Anybody who was born outside of South Africa to a South African citizen. His or her birth has to be registered in line with the births and deaths registration act 51 of 1992.

South African Citizen by Naturalisation:

Permanent Resident holders of 5 or more years can apply for citizenship. Anybody married to a South African citizen qualifies for naturalisation, two years after receiving his or her permanent residence at the time of marriage.

A child under 21 who has permanent residence Visa qualifies for naturalization immediately after the Visa is issued.

Automatic loss of Citizenship.

This occurs when a South African citizen:

Obtains citizenship of another country by a voluntary and formal act, other than marriage, or;

Serves in the armed forces of another country, where he or she is also a citizen, while is at war with South Africa.

Deprivation of Citizenship:

A South African citizen by naturalization can be deprived of his citizenship if;

The certificate of naturalisation was obtained fraudulently or false information was supplied.

He or she holds the citizenship of another country and has, at any time, been sentenced to 12 months imprisonment in any country for an offence that also would have been an offence in South Africa

www.samigration.com

South African Permanent Residence

South Africa encourages permanent residency if you are serious about staying in South Africa on a long terms permanent basis there are many categories you can apply under.

• Hold a General Work Visa for five years and have a permanent job offer.
• Hold a Relative’s Visa sponsored by an immediate family member.
• Hold a Critical Skills Visa and have 5 years relevant work experience.
• Be in a proven life partner relationship for five years
• Be married to an SA Spouse for at least five years.
• Have held Refugee Asylum Status for five years.
• Hold a Business Visa.
• Receive a monthly income of R37,000 through Pension or Retirement Annuity
• Have a net asset worth of R12m and payment to Home Affairs of R120,000