According to VFS, there is a backlog of applications at Home Affairs' Head Office, so we are seeing applications from November and December 2020 being finalised at the moment (during May 2021). Some visa submitted during 2021 have been processed and finalised. It appears that Covid has placed restrictions on the staff numbers, and the number of pending applications has increased.
New Permanent Residence applications on hold
New Permanent Residence applications are not being accepted at VFS at the moment, and VFS has indicated that this is on the instructions of Home Affairs.
It is irregular in South African law for active statutes to be suspended without reason. The law has not been amended and the Constitutional rights of individuals to submit and expect to be granted Permanent Residence, if they meet all of the legal requirements. We are taking legal advice on this state of affairs.
We have formally asked the Minister for reasons for this situation, and we await a response. We will keep you posted.
Covid Visa Update: Gazette issued 26 March 2021
• All holders of Tourist Visas and 11(2) visas which expired during Lockdown are automatically extended till 30 June 2021;
• Those of our clients in possession of long-term TRVs which expired during Lockdown do not enjoy an automatic extension, but they have a grace period up until 31 July to submit their complete Extension/Change of Status applications. If they cannot provide all documents for an Extension or Change application, they must apply for an 11(1). Beyond that date they will be considered illegal' because they don’t have a valid visa or a VFS receipt proving they have a pending application;
• Clients who entered RSA on/after 15 March 2021 or those who received their Visas after 15 March 2021 do not enjoy any automatic extensions.
Please note that most of the regular Civic Services (births, marriages, deaths, passports) and visa services are being rendered again under Level 1.
The new service for online refugee and asylum permit renewals, has commenced during May 2021.