Home Affairs extends validity period for expired visas

Businesstech  - 04 October 2021

Home Affairs minister Aaron Motsoaledi has clarified which services will be available at Home Affairs offices during the country’s adjusted level 2 lockdown, and announced extension dates for various documents.

While Home Affairs offices are operational across the country, some services have been suspended to reduce the number of physical visits.

This is to limit the risk of people infecting each other and the staff because social distancing is difficult when you have a large crowd, it said.

Motsoaledi has subsequently published a national gazette, detailing what services will be available under the extended level 2 lockdown and going forward. These include:

• Births registration;
• Late registration of births;
• Re-issuance of birth, marriage and death certificates;
• Applications for temporary identity certificate;
• Applications and collection of identity cards and documents;
• Applications and collection of passports;
• Solemnisation and registration of marriages;
• Applications for retention and renunciation of citizenship;
• Applications for rectifications and amendments of personal particulars;
• Applications for travel documents for people who plan to travel abroad;
• All back-office support services;
• Visa services in terms of the Immigration Act;
• Online renewal of refugee status and asylum seeker permits/visas.

Extensions and new dates

This applies to all visa and permit holders who applied for the previous waiver, and who have not left the country since the declaration of the state of disaster, and for holders of asylum seeker permits and refugee status which expired during the state of disaster.

He added that the following services will be rendered by the Department of Home Affairs from the following dates:

• Permanent residence permit appeals applications with effect from 1 October 2021;
• Proof of permanent residence permit applications with effect from 1 October 2021;
• Permanent residence permit applications from 1 January 2022.

www.samigration.com

UK to lift travel restrictions to SA - report

Business Insider SA  - 03 Oct 2021  

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson could relax travel restrictions soon.

• South Africa could be moved from the UK's red list.
• This means that travellers would no longer have stay 10 days in a so-called quarantine hotel.
• Fully vaccinated people would not have to quarantine at all.

The United Kingdom (UK) could ease travel restrictions to South Africa as soon as Thursday according to a report by The Telegraph.

This possible move follows heavy lobbying by South African business organisations as well as the government, to urge the UK government to move the country from its controversial red list, which requires travellers to quarantine even if they test negative and are vaccinated.

Such a shift would mean travellers would no longer have stay 10 days in a so-called quarantine hotel at their own expense of £2,285 (R44,800).

The lobbying to be moved from red list went to the highest level with SA President Cyril Ramaphosa and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson discussing the issue last week.

Having SA on the red list has hurt the local tourism season, with Tourism Business Council of SA saying the tourism industry loses around R26 million every day that the country remains on the list, Fin24 previously reported.

SA Migration - Visas: Critical Skills Work Visa , Business Visa , Retirement Visa , Spouse Visa , Life Partner Visa , Registered Immigration Practitioner , Immigration Lawyer ,Permanent Residence , Citizenship, Asylum to temporary residence  , Refugee   - www.samigration.com

Home Affairs extends validity period for expired visas

Businesstech  - 29 September 2021

Home Affairs minister Aaron Motsoaledi has clarified which services will be available at Home Affairs offices during the country’s adjusted level 2 lockdown, and announced extension dates for various documents.

While Home Affairs offices are operational across the country, some services have been suspended to reduce the number of physical visits.

This is to limit the risk of people infecting each other and the staff because social distancing is difficult when you have a large crowd, it said.

Motsoaledi has subsequently published a national gazette, detailing what services will be available under the extended level 2 lockdown and going forward. These include:

• Births registration;
• Late registration of births;
• Re-issuance of birth, marriage and death certificates;
• Applications for temporary identity certificate;
• Applications and collection of identity cards and documents;
• Applications and collection of passports;
• Solemnisation and registration of marriages;
• Applications for retention and renunciation of citizenship;
• Applications for rectifications and amendments of personal particulars;
• Applications for travel documents for people who plan to travel abroad;
• All back-office support services;
• Visa services in terms of the Immigration Act;
• Online renewal of refugee status and asylum seeker permits/visas.

Extensions and new dates

This applies to all visa and permit holders who applied for the previous waiver, and who have not left the country since the declaration of the state of disaster, and for holders of asylum seeker permits and refugee status which expired during the state of disaster.

He added that the following services will be rendered by the Department of Home Affairs from the following dates:

• Permanent residence permit appeals applications with effect from 1 October 2021;
• Proof of permanent residence permit applications with effect from 1 October 2021;
• Permanent residence permit applications from 1 Janaury 2022.

www.samigration.com

South Africa awaits the bold & adventurous and if you are considering immigrating to South Africa or just residing temporarily in South Africa you will be pleased to know there are many opportunities for skilled workers, students and investors who will contribute to South Africa's economic development.

SA Migration specializes in assisting people from all over the world to relocate to this wonderful country. We are proud to be a leader in the field of migration and relocation. SA Migration was founded out of the need for a specialist organization to assist migrants to South Africa. SA Migration head office is located in Cape Town, South Africa, adjacent to the Department of Home Affairs.