Visa Facilitation Service centers South Africa
New Vfs visa facilitation centers are opened by South Africa!
To be able to streamline services for foreign nationals applying for visa extensions or changes in South Africa while stiffening the nation’s protection, South Africa is busy setting up 11 brand new visa facilitation centers, managed by international outsourcing and technology service specialist VFS Global.
Speaking to journalists in Pretoria latest week, Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba said the centers would economically enforce the nation ‘s new immigration rules, which came into effect endmost month, while making life easier for foreign tourists, business people, workers or students who need extended or adjusted visas in a brief space of time.
“This is a revolutionary deviation from the existing style of manual program procedures, which are liable for inefficiencies within the enabling surroundings,” Gigaba said.
Run and VFS Global, a specialist service provider for governments and diplomatic missions worldwide, has been contracted to automate the application process, including managing the call centre and the 11 facilitation centers spread across South Africa’s nine provinces.
Foreigners in South Africa, who, for example, need to extend their temporary residence visas for study or work, will have the capacity to apply online and also set up an appointment before visiting the closest facilitation center to submit their personal biometrics (fingerprints and photographs). Handling and visa fees will be paid electronically.
Although VFS Global will cause processing visa applications, the decision to approve or reject applications still lies with the Department of Home Affairs. “We will be able to exercise full control over the decision-making processes to ensure our national interests and security imperatives are served at all times,” Gigaba said.
The decision to set up the brand-new facilitation centers and contract their running outside to a private company had been notified “by none aside from our commitment to improve efficiencies and turnaround times,” he added.
Such centers have been already introduced by the section in several its own high-volume missions abroad – including its missions in China, Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria – where it had previously fought to cut down on extended queues and lengthy turn-around times, Gigaba said.
“We have visa facilitation centers at quite a few of our high-quantity assignments abroad, and they have been working fairly successfully … bringing, I might add, to the success of our tourism stats over the last couple of years. It’s this good practice that we aspire to roll out in South Africa.”
According to the Department of Home Affairs, the 11 visa facilitation centers will all be open and fully functional by the end of June. They comprise two centers in Gauteng province and also the Western Cape, and one in every one of the other seven provinces, as follows:
Eastern Cape – Port Elizabeth
Free State – Bloemfontein
Gauteng – Johannesburg and Pretoria
KwaZulu-Natal -Durban
Limpopo – Polokwane
Mpumalanga – Nelspruit
Northern Cape – Kimberley
North West – Rustenburg
Western Cape – Cape Town and George
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VFS Visa Facilitation Services South Africa
South Africa: SA Opens Visa Facilitation Service Centers (VFS)
All the immigration advice and data you will need for a fresh future.
Please note: Immigration South Africa is a private immigration law firm and not VFS. Please contact them on the details given below in the event you are looking for VFS.
The Department of Home Affairs spokesman, Thabo Makgola, said a private company, VFS Visa Processing SA Pty Ltd (VFS Global), was named to receive and manage visa and permit applications in South Africa. He said South Africa is taking immigration matters “seriously“.
VFS – Visa Facilitation Services (South Africa)
VFS Global so will not offer visa seeking immigrants any advice regarding the immigration rules and is a processing operation. Prospective immigrants will thus still need to consult with immigration lawyers or assemble the rules from the Departments website.
VFS won’t decide to grant or deny a Visa. This conclusion remains with the Department of Home Affairs.
South African immigration lawyers and specialists have recently expressed concern over its feeble migration policy saying the authorities would need to tighten laws to ensure security for the nation. Even once the new immigration regulations were printed, they around this were done and the organization was criticized to the point that particular immigration professionals are considering legal action against the Department of Home Affairs
The nation is home to tens of thousands of refugees from Somalia, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Pakistan, Rwanda, and Democratic Republic of Congo among others. Malusi Gigaba was recently named Home Affairs Minister.
The VFS South Africa site is already available at the following Internet address:
http:// www. vfsglobal . com/dha/southafrica/
Immigration South Africa strives to provide accurate and quick information to anyone wanting to immigrate to South Africa. Whether you require a permit, advice on finance, tax, how to buy a property, or anything relating to immigration and move to South Africa – Immigration South Africa is for you.
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VFS Visa and Permit Centers in South Africa
By Immigration South Africa
Visa & Permit Center open now
Department of Home Affairs has announced the launching of the VFS Visa & Permit Facilitation Centre in 11 cities and 9 states within South Africa.
Visa and Permit applications will be taken at 11 centres in South Africa. These applications will be assessed by Department of Home Affairs in Pretoria. Non-South Africans with a legal residency permit in South Africa can apply for a visa or permit at these centers.
Zimbabwe nationals on Special Dispensation for Zimbabweans Asylum Project and Refugee cases are directly handled by Department of Home Affairs.
Entry Timings: 08h00 to to16h00 Monday-Friday
Service fee
A service fee of R 1350 enclosed VAT has to be paid per application.
SIGNIFICANT: VFS operates a call centre to answer your questions about the application procedure but CANNOT provide immigration advice.
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VFS Global – Offices
LIST OF VISA FACILITATION CENTRES
City / Address
Durban
Suite 3, Silver Oaks, Ground Floor 36 Silverton Road, Musgrave
———————
Cape Town
21st Floor, 2 Riebeek Street, Absa Building, Cape Town 8001
———————
Port Elizabeth
Office 7D, 1st Floor Moffet on Main, Cnr 17th Ave and Main Road,Walmer, Port Elizabeth, 6070
———————
Johannesburg
1st Floor Rivonia Village, Cnr Rivonia Boulevard and Mutual Rd
———————
Pretoria
Cherry Lane Office Park, 1st Floor, 114 Fehrsen Street, NieuwMuckleneuk, Brooklyn, 0181
Rustenburg
Von Wielligh Rustenburg, 26, Bo Dorp
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Kimberley
Unit 3, Building 2, Agri Office Park, N12, Kimberley
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Polokwane
Shop 13, Thornhill Shopping Centre, MunnikAve & C/O Veldspaat, Bendor.
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Nelspruit
Office 30 Brown street, 5F, Nedbank building
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1George
5 Progress Street, unit 5, Royal Eagle
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Bloemfontein
Suite 4, The Park, 14 Reid Street, Westdene
Zimbabwean Special Permit Guide for online Filing – ZSP Guide
THE NEW ZSP
On 12 August 2014, the Minister of Home Affairs, Mr. Malusi Gigaba, MP, introduced the fresh Zimbabwean Special Dispensation Permit (“ZSP“).
DZP
The old dispensation of Zimbabweans Project (“DZP“) will officially close on 31 December 2014. The expiry date of all “DZP” permits which expire before 31 December 2014 is delayed until 31 December 2014. The expiry date of “DZP” licenses which expire after 31 December 2014 is being brought forward to 31 December 2014.
“DZP” permit-holders that wish to remain in South Africa after the expiry of their licenses can reapply for the “ZSP“.
THE CONDITIONS FOR THE ZSP
V A Zimbabwean passport that is valid.
v Evidence of employment/evidence of business registration/proof of registration from a learning association.
PROGRAM PROCEDURE
V Applications opened on 1 October 2014, and certainly will close on 31 December 2014.
V applications should be submitted online on www. vfsglobal .com/ zsp/southafrica.
V applicants will likely be required to utilize their “DZP” reference number (e.g. DBN8157/2011/DZP) when lodging the “ZSP” application online.
V applicants are advised that there is no demand to go to a police station to put in an application for a Police Clearance Certificate as that will be done electronically at the Visa Facilitation Services Centres (“VFS“) when they come for their interviews/appointments.
V The turnaround time to procedure “ZSP” applications is eight (8) weeks from the date of the interview. The “ZSP” will allow permit holders to reside, work, conduct business, study and fiscally transact in South Africa for the length of the permit. The “ZSP” is going to be issued valid until 31 December 2017.
V After submitting the application online, applicants will probably be given an appointment date from 01 November 2014 to submit supporting and biometrics files at the VFS Centers who are designated.
VFS CENTRES ARE THE FOLLOWING designated:
v Durban: 91-123 Cowey Road, Essenwood
V Cape Town: Whole Second Floor CCMA House – Darling Street
v Port Elizabeth: Office 7C, 1st Floor Moffet on Primary, Cnr 17th Ave and Main Road, Walmer
v Johannesburg: The Link, Old Pretoria Road, Halfway House Midrand (Entry Via James Crescent/Old Pretoria Road)
