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The South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) will be closing their application portal from the 8th of December 2023, and end year closure will take place from the 15th of December 2023 for existing applications. The SAQA offices will resume operations on the 8th of January 2024. With this calculation, applicants have less than a month to lodge their final applications for the year. It is important to be mindful that the end year closure period will lengthen your turnaround by a further 3 weeks, if no issues are found with your application. For more information on the SAQA closure dates and evaluation process, please reach out to us via our Contact Form on www.movingsouthimmigration.com. Alternatively, we are available on +2773 5357 534 or sue@movingsouthimmigration.com

When applying for a South African visa, there are a few things applicants or travelers need to be aware of, before lodging a visa application. Only machine-readable passports are permitted to be used for a visa application. Handwritten passports are no longer accepted. Passports must have at least two (2) blank pages for the endorsement of visas or permanent residence permits and for entry into South Africa. The validity of the passport must not be less than thirty (30) days after intended departure from the Republic of South Africa. Passports must include the full name and surname, date and place of birth, a clear photograph of the applicant, the gender as well as the nationality of the passport holder. Lastly, the passport must include the following of the holder - travel document type; name of the issuing authority; place of where passport was issued; passport number; and issue and expiry date Should you require any further information about the Passport requirements for a South African visa, please contact us via our Contact Form on www.movingsouthimmigration.com. Alternatively, you may contact us on +2773 5357 534 or sue@movingsouthimmigration.com

VFS Global in South Africa announced their final year end closure dates. Please see these dates below for ease of reference - Last day for submissions - 20th December 2023 Open for collections - 21st, 22nd, 27th and 28th December 2023 Closed- 29th December 2023 Resumption of Full Operations - 2nd January 2024 Should you wish to still submit your visa application, please do so urgently as appointment slots are filling up at a very quick pace! Should you have any questions regarding the closures or visa process, you may contact us via our Contact Form on www.movingsouthimmigration.com. Alternatively, can be reached on +2773 5357 535 or sue@movingsouthimmigration.com

Critical skills work visa holders, who have at least five (5) years post qualification work experience may apply for permanent residence (PR) in South Africa. The applicant’s skills must be confirmed by a relevant professional body as recognized by SAQA. Foreign qualifications must be evaluated by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA). Unlike the temporary residence visa application counterpart, the applicant must obtain a MIE report confirming the post qualification experience and same will be vetted by MIE with previous employers. The current employer must confirm, in writing, permanent and continuous employment of the applicant and same will be verified by the Department of Home Affairs once they have received the PR application. Lastly, the same personal documents apply with the inclusion of an unabridged birth certificate. For more information on the permanent residence process, please reach out to us via our Contact Form on www.movingsouthimmigration.com. Alternatively, we are available on +2773 5357 534 or sue@movingsouthimmigration.com

With 2023 almost at its end, we are hopeful that it has been an amazing year for most. The immigration industry was certainly on a roller coaster ride with frustration and disappointment, but yet full of joyous and elated moments as well. Big congratulations to those who received their temporary residence visas and permanent residence permits. I bet the thought of not having to go through a visa process anytime soon is anyone's highlight. To the individuals whose applications are still pending, hang in there just a little bit longer - considering the Department of Home Affairs endeavors to clear the backlog by June 2024. From the bottom of my heart, I wish to thank each and every client and supporter for your wonderful support during 2023 and I look forward to continuing our journey and relationships in 2024. I would like to wish each and every one, who celebrates, a most blessed and wonderful Christmas from the South and New Year. Enjoy the time with family and friends and enjoy making these precious memories. If you are travelling, please do so safely and we will see you in 2024!

The Department of Home Affairs, once again, extended its blanket waiver to applicants who are currently awaiting their outcomes of submitted visa, appeal and waiver applications. This is really good news to individuals who, submitted their applications prior to 30 November 2023 and whose visas expired already. These individuals are now covered until 30 June 2024. This further means applicants may travel, if required, from South Africa between now until 30 June 2024 on expired visas without being declared undesirable. They will be required, however, to present their original VFS receipt upon their departure from and entry into South Africa. Visa exempt nationals may simply enter South Africa again on their usual 30-90 day visas to collect the outcomes of their visa applications. Unfortunately, nationals from visa-restricted countries must apply for and obtain a port of entry visa in order to be re-admitted into South Africa. Blanket waiver extension applicants who applied for their tourist visa extensions and who did not receive their outcomes yet until 23 February 2024, may leave South Africa by latest 29 February 2024 without being declared undesirable. Further good news is that individuals who appealed and who did not receive their outcomes yet by 30 November 2023 are now included and covered under the blanket waiver as well. These individuals must also produce a copy of the rejection letter in addition to the original VFS receipt should they travel outside of and into South Africa. Please note that ONLY the conditions stipulated on the current visa are permissible. A pending change of conditions application does not grant the applicant permission to conduct the new activity yet. It is important to note that this blanket waiver ONLY covers applicants who submitted their visa, appeal and waiver applications within South Africa and who have been legally admitted into the country. Please feel free to reach out to us via our contact form on www.movingsouthimmigration.com to discuss. Alternatively, you may contact us on +2773 5357 534 or sue@movingsouthimmigration.com

Australia is a popular destination for tourism and holidays and given the magnificent and breathtaking landscapes, we have to agree that this country certainly earned this status! The Subclass 600 visa is a tourist visa and has a validity of 1-3 years, issued based on discretion from the Australian immigration government. It is also usually issued as a multiple entry visa with a condition that each visit does not exceed ninety (90) days or three (3) months. The Subclass 600 tourist visa comes with various conditions attached though. Typical conditions would be - No work is allowed on this visa; and Maximum three months studies would be allowed on this visa As part of the tourist visa application, you will be required to book an appointment with the relevant stakeholder agency to provide your biometrics before your application is finalized and, if successful, your e-visa is issued. Always obey the laws of the Australian government otherwise your visa will be cancelled. Lastly, the e-visa must be presented at immigration control in Australia and the airlines might ask for this notice so they can carry out checks to allow you to board their aircraft. Should you require more information on the Subclass 600 Australian visa, you may contact us via our Contact Form on www.movingsouthimmigration.com. Alternatively, you may reach out to us on +2773 5357 534 or sue@movingsouthimmigration.com.

International assignments between countries are extremely beneficial and for South Africa it is no different. Scarce skills, which cannot be found readily available in South Africa, are often needed and companies often seek these skills outside of our borders. One option would be to seek these skills within a branch, subsidiary or affiliated company which shares a relationship with the South African entity. In the event that these skills are found in possession of an individual who is employed with the 'sending' entity abroad for at least six (6) months, both companies may look at applying for an intra company transfer work visa. The benefit of an intra company transfer is that the South African company can have their staff members trained for the duration of the foreign employees' assignment. The idea of the transfer of skills segment is that the nominated staff member/s take over the role once the assignee departs from South Africa - retaining the skills within the Republic. It is important, though, that the skills training be imparted to a South African citizen or permanent residence holder. The South African company may request an intra company transfer work visa for a maximum period of four (4) years, leaving sufficient training time for the staff member/s, but also supervision to ensure all training components have been met. To know more about the intra company transfer work visa process, reach out to us via our Contact Form on www.movingsouthimmigration.com. Alternatively, you may contact us on +2773 5357 534 or sue@movingsouthimmigration.com

South Africa's new Immigration Amendment Regulations have been Gazetted on 20 May 2024 - two (2) months after the initial Amendment Regulations have been withdrawn. I must admit, we expected a complete overhaul of the Gazetted version, but nothing much changed since April 2024. A bit of a long description on key changes, but worth the read below - Police Clearance Certificate Requirement: As with previous regulations, a police clearance was required from every country where an applicant resided for 12 months and longer since the age of 18. With the new Regulations, only a police clearance with the same condition, but for the last 5 years, is required. Radiological Report: With this requirement, the Department of Home Affairs officially implemented Directive 05 of 2023 in the Regulations. This means, a radiological report is no longer required for any long-term visa or permanent residence application. Applicants would still be required to submit a fully completed medical certificate though. Immediate family of SA citizens or Permanent Residence holders: Directive 07 of 2019 was also officially implemented in the Regulations and it simply means that spouses and children of South African citizens or Permanent Residence holders may apply for a change of status or conditions in South Africa from a tourist visa without the need for a waiver. A very pleasant surprise is that this courtesy has now been extended to the parent/s of a South African citizen or permanent resident child as well. I do think many children will welcome this change as their elderly parents are often alone and require the care of their children. Remote worker visa: The much sought after 'remote worker visa' remained included in the Gazetted Immigration Amendment Regulations, but it certainly comes with an additional load of questions on the practicality of applying for this visa. For instance, applicants applying for this visa must conduct work for a foreign employer or derive a foreign source income of at least R1,000,000.00 (one million South African rands) per annum. How must this be proven? What will the South African missions abroad ask for? How do you prove foreign source incomes? If the visa is issued for less than six (6) months within a 36-month period, the visa holder may apply to be exempted by the South African Revenue Services (SARS) from registering as a taxpayer. What does 'may' mean? Can SARS still insist on them paying tax? If the visa is issued for a period longer than six (6) months within a 36-month period, the visa holder must register with the South African Revenue Services (SARS). Will the SA missions abroad issue these visas with tax-related conditions? Unfortunately, there are still no clear guidelines on how anyone can or must approach these visa applications and our guess would be that it's going to be trial and error for the first few applications. Hopefully we receive clarity from the Department soon. Critical skills work visa applications: Critical skills work visa applicants may now submit their visa applications again with only proof that a professional body membership registration has been applied for. This means, however, that if the visa application was successful, only a 12-month visa will be issued. For those individuals who submit the actual membership certificate and skills letter, a work visa may be issued for a maximum period of five (5) years. We would, of course, strongly recommend that applicants rather wait for their membership certificates and confirmation of skills letters before they submit their critical skills work visa applications. Point-based system: All work visas in terms of Section 19 must now be adjudicated according to a point-based system as determined by the Minister of Home Affairs. For clarity, these visas would be the intra company transfer work visa, general work visa as well as the critical skills work visa. The Minister may consider the following when determining the point-based system - Age; Qualifications; Language skills; Work experience; Offer of employment; Salary; and Any other relevant factor Hopefully the guidelines or brackets for the point-based system will be released very soon. The above are but key factors included in the new Immigration Amendment Regulations, and we invite anyone who still requires clarity to be in touch with us via our Contact Form on www.movingsouthimmigration.com. Alternatively, we can be contacted via email or telephone on +2773 5357 534 or sue@movingsouthimmigration.com. We look forward to being of assistance!

From 01 February 2023, the submission process at VFS with regards to spousal visa and permanent residence applications will change. The South African citizen or Permanent Residence holder spouse must attend the submission process in person together with the foreign applicant. As part of the submission process, the following must be recorded - The South African spouse must sign the Letter of Support in front of the VFS official at the Quality Check counter to ensure authenticity of the spousal relationship; The visa and permanent residence application must include passport photos of both spouses; and The spouses must sign a declaration to confirm they were both present at VFS on day of submission. Please note the applications referred to are Relatives visas (spouse), Section 11 (6) visas, Permanent Residence and Appeal applications based on South African or PR spouses. Should you require any further information about the new submission process, you may contact us via our Contact Form on www.movingsouthimmigration.com. Alternatively, we can be reached on +2773 5357 534 or sue@movingsouthimmigration.com

This brief notification about transfer of visa applications is based on what we have been advised by the VFS office. The following conditions are ONLY appliable to ensure the acceptance of a transfer of visa application - A valid visa in a stolen or lost passport. An affidavit from the police station must be submitted as part of the application. A valid visa in a passport that has been damaged; or A valid visa in a full passport (no blank pages for further endorsement). In this instance, the VFS office will verify this claim at the time of submission of application at VFC. The applicant must already be in possession of a newly issued passport. In all other instances, the applicant will be required to submit an application to renew his or her visa and this will come at a full VFS and Home Affairs fee, where applicable. For further information regarding the transfer of visa application process, please contact us via our Contact Form on www.movingsouthimmigration.com. Alternatively, we may be contacted on +2773 5357 534 or sue@movingsouthimmigration.com

A foreign individual who needs to conduct academic research in South Africa for more than three (3) months and maximum three (3) years must apply for a research visa. A research visa must be applied for at a South African mission abroad and some of the quintessential documents required are as follows - A valid machine-readable passport valid for no less than (30) days after the expiry of the intended visit with two (2) blank pages Completed medical and radiological reports Police clearances from all countries where applicant resided for twelve (12) months or longer since the age of eighteen (18) Yellow fever certificate if applicant travelled to or through a yellow fever country Comprehensive Curriculum Vitae and proof of qualifications / testimonials A letter from the organization or institution in South Africa, confirming enrolment and a current certified copy of the host's Identity document A letter from the foreign academic institution, confirming same enrolment Proof of sufficient funds by means of recently stamped bank statements for the last 3 (three) months - indicating a closing balance the equivalent of ZAR 3000 per month Copy of travel reservation Proof of accommodation in South Africa The research visa, if approved, is issued as a long-term visitor's visa and the conditions will be stipulated as research activities. Should you require any information about the research visa, please reach out to our team via our Contact Form on www.movingsouthimmigration.com. Alternatively, we may be contacted on +2773 5357 534 or sue@movingsouthimmigration.com