News / National
No visas for Zimbabweans yet?
30 Jan 2014 at 07:07hrs | Views
Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi has refuted claims in some sections of the media that South Africa wants to re-introduce visas for Zimbabweans travelling to that country.
"The Home Affairs ministry is yet to receive such a report from the immigration authorities of South Africa. I am not aware of that. I still have to find out," he said.
He also said if there were any developments concerning the introduction of visas, the ministry would notify the public. There was similar speculation last year when some sections of the private media, smarting from the drubbing the MDC-T got in the harmonised elections, claimed South Africa was reintroducing a visa for Zimbabweans to stem immigration.
Ronnie Mamoepa the Deputy Director-General of Communication in the Department of Home Affairs in South Africa, dismissed the claims saying the visa regime between Zimbabwe and South Africa remained unchanged.
The South African government is expected to introduce new Immigration Laws and Regulations in the coming few days according to nwivisas.
On the 23rd of January 2014, a presentation was held describing what is likely to be a certain change in the Immigration Act of South Africa. In approximately 30 days, the announcements will be made and published for PUBLIC COMMENT and based on the response over this period, Gazetted and inscribed into South African Immigration law.
Major changes being discussed:
- Categories initially termed as "permits" will now be called "visas". The only category that will make use of the word "permit" will be the Permanent Residency Permit
- One will not be allowed to Change their status from a visitor visa to another type of visa. One will need to return home and make application in their home country. This is a major change and will drastically change the way the Immigration Industry has traditionally worked. Anyone reading this who is currently on a visit visa and is making plans to change to another type of visa, you must do so immediately
- Study permits will be granted for as long as the course is. There will be no need to renew every year.
- All Business Permit applications will need to be approved by the Department of Trade and Industry before being sent to Home Affairs for assessment.
- The Quota and Exceptional Skills permit will be repelled and replaced with a new Critical Skills Visa.
- The Intra Company Visa will now be a four year visa.
- All Temporary Permit applications will no longer be submitted at a Regional Department of Home Affairs, but rather through a Visa Facilitation Service Centre.
"The Home Affairs ministry is yet to receive such a report from the immigration authorities of South Africa. I am not aware of that. I still have to find out," he said.
He also said if there were any developments concerning the introduction of visas, the ministry would notify the public. There was similar speculation last year when some sections of the private media, smarting from the drubbing the MDC-T got in the harmonised elections, claimed South Africa was reintroducing a visa for Zimbabweans to stem immigration.
Ronnie Mamoepa the Deputy Director-General of Communication in the Department of Home Affairs in South Africa, dismissed the claims saying the visa regime between Zimbabwe and South Africa remained unchanged.
The South African government is expected to introduce new Immigration Laws and Regulations in the coming few days according to nwivisas.
On the 23rd of January 2014, a presentation was held describing what is likely to be a certain change in the Immigration Act of South Africa. In approximately 30 days, the announcements will be made and published for PUBLIC COMMENT and based on the response over this period, Gazetted and inscribed into South African Immigration law.
Major changes being discussed:
- One will not be allowed to Change their status from a visitor visa to another type of visa. One will need to return home and make application in their home country. This is a major change and will drastically change the way the Immigration Industry has traditionally worked. Anyone reading this who is currently on a visit visa and is making plans to change to another type of visa, you must do so immediately
- Study permits will be granted for as long as the course is. There will be no need to renew every year.
- All Business Permit applications will need to be approved by the Department of Trade and Industry before being sent to Home Affairs for assessment.
- The Quota and Exceptional Skills permit will be repelled and replaced with a new Critical Skills Visa.
- The Intra Company Visa will now be a four year visa.
- All Temporary Permit applications will no longer be submitted at a Regional Department of Home Affairs, but rather through a Visa Facilitation Service Centre.
Source - chronicle
