Business permit via VFS

Hallo medebewoners,

ik wil eens rondvragen wie nog meer zoveel moeite heeft om de verblijfsvergunningen via VFS in Zuid-Afrika te verlengen? Wij zijn begin september met onze hele papierwinkel naar VFS geweest ivm de verlenging van business permit —> afgewezen, want er zat geen brief bij van departmen of Industry. Geen probleem, die zijn bij ons geweest en hebben direct een mooie positieve brief afgegeven. Wij 21 december 2016 weer naar VFS geweest voor de appeal in te dienen, in de tussentijd dus ook mijn spouse en 2 van onze kinderen hun studiepermit afgewezen, dus alle 4 tegelijk ingediend. Via de website te zien, 26/12 aangekomen bij DHA en dat was het…. er gebeurt gewoon helemaal niks daar. Als je belt of emails stuur, krijg je enkel een reactie, kijk maar bij track and trace…. Dat doen we dus al de hele tijd, waar niks verandert, inmiddels is het bijna einde mei en nog geen verblijfsvergunning. Wel in de tussentijd een letter of good cause gekregen bij Home Affairs in Bloemfontein.

Wie sukkelt er nog meer met verlengingen???

Ik ben Ingrid en woon sinds augustus 2005 met man en 3 kinderen in het mooie Bethlehem in de Vrystaat! Wij boeren hier met schapen en appels, pink ladies en royal gala's. Tot op heden hebben wij het nog steeds zeer naar ons zin hier, als niet nodig is gaan we niet meer terug, behalve om misschien een beetje vakantie te houden in Nederland.

=14pxINTRODUCTION

Much water has gone under the bridge since our last newsletter.

In brief the White Paper on International Migration has been presented to Cabinet and it looks like it will now form the basis of the “new” immigration policy for South Africa.

The next practical step that will take place after approval of the White Paper is that draft Regulations and amendments to the legislation will be passed through parliament.

We will endeavour to update you as things happen.

The next important happening has been the worldwide phenomenon of tightening up visa requirements in order to probably inhibit the relaxed flow of migrants globally.

It is expected that similar provisions will come forward in the anticipated amended Immigration Regulations and legislation in South Africa.

OUTSTANDING PERMANENT RESIDENCE VISAS

A problem that has been plaguing applicants for permanent residence and specifically in certain categories, in South Africa taking far too long has been written about in prior newsletters.

Interesting news is that the Department of Home Affairs recently made a media release which indicates that their “track and trace” system for these applications has technically failed.

The media release states that 4616 applications do not even appear on the track and trace system.

In respect of applicants for permanent residence who applied prior to the 2nd of June 2014 a dispensation has been made that if such persons electronically submit proof of lodgements of the applications prior to 2nd June 2014 and also submit a copy of the application that was lodged within 60 days from the date of the media release by the Director General of Home Affairs then those applications will be “fast tracked”. Hopefully this will ease the burden on the Department and bring to finality what must be rather stressful for the applicants, when the applications are finalised.

This does not detract from the fact that many applications continue to be refused on spurious or incorrect grounds and then an applicant who wishes to appeal or review that decision gets caught in the quagmire that exists in the adjudication of appeals and reviews.

Any clients who fall into the category of lodgement prior to 2nd June 2014 are free to contact the office for assistance.

The Department of Home Affairs has undertaken to endeavour to finalise these backlogged cases by the end of December 2017.

The date of deadline for the submission is 30 July 2017.

Yip, it's me

Ingrid uit Bethlehem

Siener