The Department of Home Affairs decided to extend its blanket waiver to applicants who are currently awaiting their outcomes of submitted long-term visa and waiver applications. The surprising factor at play is that the blanket waiver has been extended for a further nine (9) months as opposed to the previous six (6) months.
These individuals are now covered until 31 December 2023. This further means applicants may travel, if required, from South Africa between now until 31 December 2023 on expired visas without being declared undesirable. A reminder though, that applicants will be required 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.
Shocking news is that short-term visa applicants, who have not received their extension outcomes until 31 March 2023, would have until 30 April 2023 to leave South Africa without being declared undesirable.
It is important to note that this blanket waiver ONLY covers applicants who submitted their long-term visa 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.