red tape reduction unit visa cases july 2015

DATE RECEIVED

Client type ISSUE ACTION STATUS

07/04/2015 (Escalated 31/05/2015)

Private residentRequires assistance with outstanding visa application for his wife.

When caller was contacted, the visa had already been issued. Ticket was accordingly closed.

Resolved.

15/03/25 Business

The company imported a Chinese-‐designed and built machine for manufacturing irrigation equipment. A scarce skills visa was refused for the Chinese engineer who was to oversee the setting up of the machine and train the SA engineers and technicians that were to operate and maintain it. The machine was standing idle for several weeks, resulting in substantial loss in income for the company.

The DoHA was contacted and the company's case stated. The visa was granted after a delay of almost 3 weeks.

Resolved.

15/04/06 Private resident

Client is a SA citizen, living in SA with his Australian-‐born wife, who was in the country on a relative's visa. The entered SA on 28 May 2013 and her visa was to expire on 27 May 2015. They wanted to apply for a new visa (no longer possible, since visas now are to be applied for in one's country of origin), and was told to apply via Visa Facilitation Services (VFS), whose processes and systems were "a nightmare". Various issues raised.

Matter was raised with the DoHA, but, in order to prevent being declared undesirable, the couple left SA prior to the expiry of the wife's visa. She would apply for a visa there.

Closed, but not resolved.

15/05/06 Private resident

Client was unable to conduct certain transactions within his and his wife's company, because of her non-‐residence status. Her application for a business visa would take too long and the requirements to be met were too onerous.

Client was advised to remove his wife as a director of the company, as an interim solution. He did so, and would contact us if he experienced problems w.r.t. her business visa/permanent residency application.

Resolved. (No DoHA intervention required)

14/09/19 Business

Permanent residency application through VFS. Client raised issue Complaabout the process of submitting PR application via VFS (online application not working, difficulty in arranging interview, fees, etc.) Was in the process of relocating to Jhb, and agreed to submit application there. (An unrelated issue regarding his child's visa was resolved during the same period.)

(Caller was to lodge PR application at Jhb Investment Centre.)

14/09/16 Private individual

Client is an expat living in SA, with two children from a foreigner, from whom she divorced some years prior. Was concerned that she would not be able to leave the country with the children, as she would not be able to obtain a parental consent affidavit from her ex-‐husband, with who she had not had contact since the divorce.

Advised client that the implementation of the unabridged birth certificate and parental consent affidavit requirements had been delayed until 1 June 2015.

Case closed.

15/06/10 Education sector

Client required assistance to convince the DoHA to issue student visas to foreigners intending to study English at SA language schools. The DoHA refuses to do so, insisting that such schools need to be registered with the Dept of Higher Education (DHE), despite DHE issuing a circular to the effect that this is not a requirement.

Wrote to DDG: Immigration and other officials). DoHA wants letter (general circular not acceptable), confirming that DHE registration for language schools is not a requirement. Being followed up with DHE.

15/04/09 Business

Assistance with an appeal against the refusal of a business visa application (which is supported by the DTI)

Wrote to the DDG and discussed the matter with him. Matter under consideration by the DDG.

15/05/13 Business

Assistance required with corporate visa, which is said to have expired. The company purchased and operates a single fishing. It is Russian-‐built and quite rare, so requires Russian crew.

Set up a meeting for company (and attended same) with DoHA immigration officials.

The co. appointed Deloitte to assist it with the application for a new corp. visa. An application waiver of corp. visa requirement is being considered by the DoHA.

15/04/29 Private individual Client requires assistance with outstanding visa application (for wife).

Matter taken up with DoHA and escalated to DDG Response from DDG awaited.

2015/2027 BusinessApplication for permanent residency. Temporary residency permits expired.

Re visas for possible investors. Escalated to DDG. Response from DDG awaited.

15/01/18 BusinessAppeal against rejection of visa application for wife and children.

Matter taken up with DoHA. No feedback. MS Jacobi and the children flew back to Germany mid-‐June 2015 to prevent being declared undesirable.

14/09/12 Business

Visa issue. Applications for Client, wife and children (2) were rejected. Taken on appeal and approved i.r.o. Client and one child. Appeals i.r.o. his wife and one child pending since Nov. / Dec.. 2014 – no feedback.

Took matter up with DoHA. No feedback. Call centre cannot give updates anymore -‐ access to track and trace system has been terminated as part of systems upgrade. Matter escalated to DDG.

Response from DDG awaited.

14/11/26 Private individual Appeal against the rejection of an application for a retired person's visa.

Escalated to DDG. Response from DDG awaited.

14/11/25 Business

Application for a scarce skills visa (chef). Applied on 9 Sept 2014 already, and no feedback from DoHA.

Taken up with the DoHA, no response. VFS site simply states date application was lodged. Matter escalated to DDG.



Client required assistance to convince the DoHA to issue student visas to foreigners intending to study English at SA language schools. The DoHA refuses to do so, insisting that such schools need to be registered with the Dept of Higher Education (DHE), despite DHE issuing a circular to the effect that this is not a requirement.

No response from DoHA, escalated to DDG. Response from DDG awaited.

14/02/04 Private individual

Requires assistance with VISA extension Contacted DoHA. No feedback. On 17 March 2015, client advised per e-‐mail that visa is ready for collection, but still not confirmed by DoHA Cape Town, despite several requests. Escalated to DDG.


15/01/20 Private individual Visa application (partner visa, married to SA wife). Application made >1½ years ago.

No feedback from DoHA. Escalated to DDG. Response from DDG awaited.

07/01/2015 Business Appeal against rejection of permanent residency application.

Taken up with DoHA. No feedback. Escalated to DDG. Response from DDG awaited.

15/08/2014 Business

Applications for permanent residency (for both). Applications lodged in Cape Town (DoHA). All attempts to establish status have met with no success.

No feedback from DoHA. Escalated to DDG. Response from DDG awaited.

15/06/08 Researcher

Appeal the current rejection status of client's application to extend her visitor's visa endorsed for research and study permits for her children until 31 December 2015. Received incorrect information from VFS

Discussed matter with DoHA DDG, Mackay Client had to return to Italy to apply for her and her family's visas.

15/07/17 Foreign investors Home Affairs granted foreign investors a 3 year temporary business visa last year. And now suddenly a permanent residence visa is disallowed

Logged with Red Tape Reduction Unit

15/06/30 Missionaries

Clients had to renew 5 years visa which expired in January 2015. Re-‐applied and 3 have been rejected. Appealed and paid the fine but are unaware of the status of their appeal. No feedback

Escalated to DDG.

15/07/15Foreign investors (purchased property in Knysna

Awaiting visas since June 2014 and were told in July 2015 to wait another 8 weeks



English language schools not viewed as accredited education institution and hence students are not being granted study permits. Broader issue -‐ getting accreditation by SETA


red tape reduction unit visa cases july 2015

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