COVID-19 study visa information for parents and tertiary students

There was numerous uncertainty across the validity and renewal of visas throughout South Africa’s lockdown. We’ve observed that folks and tertiary college students particularly are involved about research visas.

We all know how irritating it may be to not know what’s occurring together with your visa, so we’re going to clear issues up.

1. You submitted a research visa renewal previous to lockdown

Most research visa candidates who submitted renewals previous to lockdown have now obtained outcomes on their functions. Nonetheless, there’s a small variety of people who’re nonetheless ready on the choice of the Division of Residence Affairs.

In the event you fall within the latter group, please relaxation assured that it’s authorized to review in South Africa with the proof of software.

2. The research visa expired throughout lockdown and it hasn’t been potential to submit an extension

There may be excellent news – the DHA has prolonged all South African visas till the thirty first of January 2021 so research visa holders could proceed finding out in South Africa. The situations of the visa stays the identical and the visa holder should proceed adhering to them.

This does imply that it’s essential to submit a renewal earlier than January 2021 if the visa holder should proceed finding out in South Africa subsequent yr.

If there isn’t a additional finding out required, the visa holder should depart South Africa earlier than 31 January 2021. There gained’t be a penalty on this case for leaving South Africa’s borders on an expired visa.

3. Revoked visas have been reinstated

The South African Authorities determined to revoke the visas of short-term residents who had been exterior of South Africa earlier in the course of the lockdown. Fortunately they’ve performed a turnaround on this determination and reinstated the visa standing of short-term residents.

Research visa holders can thus enter South Africa on their short-term residency research visas. That is true even in the event you’re travelling from a high-risk nation.

It is going to nonetheless be obligatory to point out a unfavorable COVID-19 check no older than 72 hours on the port of entry in addition to proof of medical assist or insurance coverage cowl.

4. VFS has reopened for submissions

VFS, South Africa’s visa facilitating centres, reopened for submissions on 22 September making it potential as soon as once more to submit renewals for research visas and all different visas.

5. Embassies are accepting new short-term residency functions

Anybody who needs to review in South Africa can as soon as once more apply for research visas from overseas. South African Embassies overseas reopened on the first of October and is accepting new functions for short-term residency visas.

Name us in the event you want help with a research visa renewal or software

Our recommendation is to have an immigration agent by your facet if you wish to apply for a research visa, particularly now. Issues have stabilised however there isn’t a telling if extra modifications are heading our means. COVID-19 has thrown the entire world for a loop!

The Intergate Immigration staff can be very happy that can assist you. You’ll have a devoted immigration advisor and administrator to see you thru your software from begin to end.

You possibly can attain us at +27 (0) 21 424 2460 or ship us an e-mail at information@intergate-immigration.com. Alternatively, ship us a call-back request and a member of our staff will contact you as an alternative.

Right here’s what certainly one of our most up-to-date purchasers needed to say after coping with us:

Thanks on your most informative letter to myself, this has given me nice peace of thoughts for which I’m actually grateful.

I attended VFS yesterday and the entire process went very easily.

I might additional like to say the service, assist, data, kindness, and so forth proven to myself over the previous few months which Sumaya has offered, she has been a fantastic assist and I can most definitely commend her to your self, she is a credit score to your organization.

Thanks once more,
Ken Grey

We sit up for serving to you too!