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Study Visa Information

Why do we need Study Visas?

• Study visas allow you to study at MSA

• VFS Global manages the applications of South African visas, they facilitate

the process

• Home Affairs processes and decides whether or not you will receive a visa

• Visas that allow you to be in South Africa, but do not allow you to study

cannot be used to study in South Africa. You can then contact VFS and get

an endorsement on your visa that does allow you to study.

• You cannot study at MSA without a valid study visa or study endorsement

on your visa


How to apply for a Study Visa Renewal

within South Africa

• Go to the VFS website; http://www.vfsglobal.com/dha/southafrica/complete-

online-form.html

• Complete the online form to apply for a Temporary Resident Visa (Study)

Selection type - Temporary residence Visa

Sub type – TRV Renewal Visa

Sub type – Study Visa

• Follow the prompts to apply – Make sure you have all documents ready for

your application

• Make an online payment or at Standard Bank – Follow prompts

• Costs involved: R425 DHA application fee + R1350 VFS Service Fee +

R175 police clearance = R1950

• Make the appointment and organise transport to get there on time


http://www.vfsglobal.com/dha/southafrica/complete-online-form.html

On the day of the appointment

• Bring the following documents: your appointment confirmation

the VFS fees receipt

your valid passport

a copy of your passport

the completed online application form

all supporting documents (see next slide)

• VFS only accepts fully completed applications

• VFS will issue you with a receipt

• You will need this receipt to collect your study visa from VFS

• The receipt contains a Tracking Number, with which you can track the status of your visa application online


List of documents required for Study

Visa Renewal within South Africa

• Completed online form (VFS website)

• Valid Passport that expires no less than 30 days after new visa will expire

• Yellow Fever vaccination (if travelling from or transiting through endemic area)

• Medical Report (form BI-811, can be found online) not done longer than 6 months ago

• Radiological Report (form BI-806, can be found online) not done longer than 6 months ago

• Valid Medical Aid for entire period of Study Visa

• Confirmation of Enrolment (apply at Student Services or email [email protected])

• Letter of undertaking from MSA (this will accompany the CoE after you applied for it)

• Proof of sufficient funds (last 3 months bank statements, stamped by bank). If you use your parents’ account, they will have to write a signed letter stating they are financially responsible for you and add a certified copy of their passport

• Proof of payment of applicable VFS fee


mailto:[email protected]

Medical Aid necessity

• First and foremost you do not want to end up in a situation where you end

up in hospital without medical aid

• There can be serious health implications if you do not have a medical aid

• Furthermore it is illegal to not have a valid medical aid while you are in

South Africa on a study

• It is one of the study visa requirements to have valid medical aid, thus

Home Affairs can deport you if you do not have valid medical aid

• You will then end up on a list that does not allow you to enter South Africa

for a minimum of 12 months and a maximum of 5 years


Medical Aid options

• There are various options for Medical Aid for students in South Africa:

• Valid medical aid from home (some international medical aids also cover

you in South Africa. Check this with your provider and ask for proof of cover

to apply for your study visa and to show MSA)

Momentum Ingwe – www.ingwehealth.co.za/

CompCare Wellness - http://www.compcare.co.za/

• There are many options. As long as they cover you fully during your stay in

South Africa and are registered as a Medical Scheme in South Africa you

can apply for them.

• If unsure, contact VFS or Home Affairs with regards to the specific medical

aid you want to choose.


http://www.ingwehealth.co.za/

Latest report.xls

How to apply for a Study Visa Renewal in

home Country

• You will apply at the South African Embassy/High Commission/Consulate in

your home country

• You will need the exact same list of documents as previously mentioned + a

SA Police Clearance

• You will need to bring a physical copy of South African Police

Clearance(Police clearance explained, see next slide)

• This means applying for a SA Police Clearance early!


Police clearance explained

For renewal in your home country

• If you have been residing in SA for

the previous 12 months you will

need a SA police clearance.

• It can be obtained from an SA police

station. It takes up to 8 weeks and a

notification will be sent when ready

for collection.

• Upon collection you need to bring

R114 in cash and your original

passport

• Alternatively you can apply directly

at the Pretoria Head Office.

• Police clearances can not be older

than 6 months at time of submission

to the Embassy

• It is your own responsibility to get

your police clearance on time

For renewal within SA- VFS

• VFS is no longer accepting police

clearance done at the Police Station

as they have biometrics facilities on

their premises

• A VFS officer will take your biometrics

on the day of your appointment at an

addition cost of R175, for the police

clearance purpose


Timeline for applicationsTime before Visa

expires

Action

6 Months Make sure your passport is valid or apply for a new one

5 Months Apply for a South African police clearance only if you plan to

renew in home country

4 Months Make sure you have or don’t need Yellow fever vaccination

3 Months Book appointment for Medical Check

Book appointment for Radiological Report

Apply for COE with student services

Apply for/extend Medical Aid

2.5 Months Go online to www.vfsglobal.com and book an appointment

for your study visa renewal & pay fees

After Come to Student Services with your VFS South Africa

receipt that will be captured on the system

Once study Visa has been issued bring it to student services

with original passport so they can be registered.


http://www.vfsglobal.com/

What you need from MSA for your study

Visa renewal

• You need to apply for a COE from MSA

• You can also email [email protected] or come through to

Student Services for the forms

• MSA will email you a COE and required Undertaking letter if you have paid

80% of your semester’s fees and if you attached a photocopy of your

passport

• We send out monthly reminders from 5 months before your current Study

Visa expires to ensure you start your visa application in time

• You can come to Student Services for any complicated visa queries



What does VFS do with your application?

• VFS only collects your paperwork and checks if everything required has ben

submitted

• They take your biometrics

• Then they send everything to Department of Home Affairs for processing

and approval

• They provide you with a receipt that has a tracking number.

• You can go online and use that tracking number to check on the progress of

your application and find out exactly how far the visa application is


What to do if you overstayed your visa

• Never aim to overstay your visa

• You will be placed on an “undesirables list’ that could prohibit you from re-

entering South Africa or 12 months – 5 years

If you find yourself in this situation the following applies;

• You will no longer be allowed to study at MSA and will be discontinued

• Before going to VFS with all your documentation, you will need to add a

Letter of Good Cause

• Such a letter is issued by the Home affairs only to internationals that were

unable to apply for visa renewal in due time, due to circumstances beyond

their control

• For more information on letter of god cause visit;

http://www.vfsglobal.com/dha/southafrica/pdf/Immigration-Directive-120615.pdf


Home affairs Regulations for MSA

Enrolments

• We cannot enrol you if you do not have a valid study visa

• It is illegal to be in South Africa without a valid visa

• MSA is required to report to Home Affairs when students defer or cancel

their studies. Their Visas will then immediately become invalid.

• Home Affairs audits all South African universities and checks whether or not

students have valid study visas

• To help you out we send monthly to students whose visas are expiring

between 1 and 5 months later

• Provided that the student applied for their visa renewal 2 months before the

old one expired, returning students can use the VFS South Africa receipt

(with tracking number) to enrol at MSA

• New students must have a valid study visa to enrol


Example Scenarios

I have a business or work permit. Can I use that to enrol at MSA?No you can’t. You can contact VFS South Africa to apply for an endorsement that also allows youto study on your permit. If you have that endorsement, we can enrol you.

I have a study visa for a different institution. Can I use that to enrol at MSA?No you can’t. You can contact VFS South Africa to apply for a change of condition, where thenew study visa should clearly state you will be studying at MSA. If you have that change ofcondition, we can enrol you.

I have a diplomatic visa. Can I use that to enrol at MSA?Yes you can. A diplomatic visa allows you to study, so you can enrol at MSA. If the visa is aboutto expire, you must apply for a study visa to continue studying.

I have a Zimbabwean Special Permit (ZSP) issued after August 2014. Can I use that to enrolat MSA?Yes you can, this permit allows you to study in South Africa.

I have Refugee or Asylum status. Can I use that to enrol at MSA?Yes you can, this permit allows you to study in South Africa


Contact Details VFS and Home Affairs

VFS:http://www.vfsglobal.com/dha/southafrica/

Helpline VFS: (012) 425 3000

Home Affairs:

http://www.dha.gov.za/index.php/immigration-services/types-of-temporary-permits

Department of Home Affairs Toll Free Hotline: 0800 60 11 90


http://www.vfsglobal.com/dha/southafrica/

http://www.dha.gov.za/index.php/immigration-services/types-of-temporary-permits

Contact Details MSA

International Student Support MSA

Tshepiso Mogotsi – [email protected]

011 950 4224



study visa information - home - monash south africa months • make sure passport is valid or apply...

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