Embassy closures may affect access to certain services for SA expats

NEWS | EMBASSY CLOSURES MAY AFFECT ACCESS TO CERTAIN SERVICES FOR SA EXPATS

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Moeketsi Seboko, Immigration Manager at Xpatweb, says under normal circumstances the most common headaches South African expatriates are experiencing relate to civic affairs.

It includes services that relate to applications for unabridged birth certificates, death certificates, police clearance certificates and passport and identification documents.

The introduction of safety measures to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 disease makes it near impossible to access these services, says Seboko.

There are several checks and balances and security measures to ensure that when someone applies for a birth certificate, or for an identification document they comply with all the stringent verification processes.

This is needed to safeguard the systems and to satisfy the South African government that the person is indeed a South African.

“That is why the process (even under normal circumstances) tends to be more protracted when applying for these documentation,” notes Seboko.

The general practice for South Africans living abroad is to visit the South African embassy in the country they are living in. They submit the applications through the embassy to the Department of Home Affairs in SA for issuance.

“We have received notifications that most of the embassies in foreign countries are closing due to the spread of the COVID-19 decease and the safety measures taken in those countries to contain the spread of the virus.”

Seboko says this has exacerbated the situation. However, if people find themselves stranded most embassies will have emergency numbers where South Africans can call on for assistance.

He says they have found that it is generally impossible to get an application that is currently pending through the system. However, where there is a compelling case to be made Xpatweb is able to engage with the relevant embassy to request intervention.

In terms of the applications for unabridged birth certificates we have advised our clients to complete the forms and to send them to us.

“We will facilitate with the submission of the documents in SA. Once they have been issued we can courier it back to them. The same applies to applications for police clearance certificates.”

However, in terms of passports and identification documents the process requires the individual to have their fingerprints and photos taken.

If these applications have already been submitted at the embassies and send to the department’s head office, we can laisse with the department to request them to expedite an application, or we can follow up on where the applications are in the process.

“We are all being affected by the impact of the coronavirus and this has interrupted many people’s livelihood. Where possible, people should stay put and not make any travel arrangements, unless it is an emergency,” advises Seboko.

It is important to stay healthy and to observe the protocols issued by the different countries. If there is the need for more clarity or urgent assistance, we are available to assist, says Seboko.

President-Nation-Address-South-Africa-21-Day-Lockdown

NEWS | UPDATE: PRESIDENT NATION ADDRESS – SOUTH AFRICA ON 21 DAYS LOCKDOWN!

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Inter-alia with the lockdown of the country from midnight 26 March 2020 up until midnight 16 April 2020, he has strengthened the precautionary measures of South African residents and other foreign travellers who are travelling, or have been travelling through South Africa prior to his initial announcement –

1.South African Citizens and residents arriving from high-risk countries will automatically be placed under quarantine for 14 days.
2.International flights to Lanseria Airport have temporarily been suspended.

3.International travellers who arrived in South Africa after 9 March 2020 from high-risk countries will be confined to their hotels until they have completed a 14-day period of quarantine.

 

Those who are still intending on arriving in South Africa on flights from high-risk countries, can expect to be turned back and will not be allowed to enter South Africa.

There will an inter-ministerial meeting on the morning of 24 March 2020 to discuss and outline the President’s additional measures.

“The nation-wide lockdown is necessary to fundamentally disrupt the chain of transmission across society.” – President Cyril Ramaphosa

More updates will be shared in due course.

Corona-Virus-Mozambique

NEWS | CORONAVIRUS MOZAMBIQUE CLOSES SCHOOLS, SUSPENDS VISA ISSUANCE – PRESIDENT

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The President also announced that the country will close all private and public schools, suspend visa issuance and revoke previously granted visas and ban public or private gatherings of more than 50 people except those of national interest, such as parliament sessions.

The mandatory home quarantine was previously applied only for citizens, Mozambicans or foreigners,  arriving  from designated countries but it  now applies to any traveller entering the country.

Meanwhile, a technical-scientific commission to advise the Government in making decisions about the pandemic, will be created.

The government will also strengthen  monitoring.

The closure of schools cover all educational establishments in the country, from kindergarten to University.

The President further  informed that no confirmed cases have been recorded so far in Mozambique, adding that there is no record of confirmed cases among Mozambicans in the diaspora either.

President Nyusi underlined that prevention is key in a country with our characteristics, calling on all, namely the Press, to support and convey these measures and other related information supplied by the health authorities.

Although no cases of the respiratory disease Covid-19 have yet been detected in Mozambique, the government has decided to step its preventive measures, notably by shutting down all the country’s schools.

Addressing the nation on television and radio on Friday afternoon, President Filipe Nyusi said all schools, whether publicly or privately owned, and teaching all levels of education, from pre-school up to university, must close for 30 days as from next Monday.

The restriction on meetings has been tightened, on Saturday the government announced a ban on all gatherings of more than 300 people. Nyusi’s Friday announcement brought this limit down to 50.

He made it clear that this restriction applies to all meetings, including religious services. AIM is aware of some churches in Maputo which disregarded the earlier ban.

There will be exceptions from the ban for state events, such as the forthcoming sitting of the Mozambican parliament, the Assembly of the Republic, which is due to begin on 25 March.

Nyusi said the government will ban the issuing of entry visas, and cancel visas that have already been issued. He said nothing about citizens of countries who do not need entry visas (mostly other members of the Southern African Development Community, SADC).

All travellers entering Mozambique must go into quarantine for 14 days. Previously, this only applied to travellers arriving from countries with high rates of Covid-19 infection. By Thursday, the list of such countries had reached 20, namely: China, Italy, Iran, South Korea, Germany, France, Spain, Switzerland, Denmark, United States, United Kingdom, Holland, Sweden, Norway, Portugal, Greece, Belgium, Pakistan, Austria and Canada.

The Health Ministry had promised to update this list every day, but that will hardly be necessary, if everybody arriving in the country is to be quarantined.

Nyusi said that preventive measures must be taken in all public and private institutions. Many institutions are already obliging their employees and workers to wash their hands, and are regularly disinfecting surfaces.

The President also announced the creation of a technical and scientific committee, headed by Health Minister Armindo Tiago, which will accompany the development of the pandemic and advise the government. The commission will include not only health experts, but other scientists, and media professionals.

Nyusi announced that 35 suspect cases had been tested for the coronavirus and all proved negative. Similar there have been no reports of any Mozambicans living in the diaspora becoming infected.

To keep Mozambique free of the virus, “prevention remains the best strategy”, stressed Nyusi.

Source: Club of Mozambique

Foreign Nationals are Urged to Make Use of Visa Concessions To Remain Compliant in SA

NEWS | FOREIGN NATIONALS ARE URGED TO MAKE USE OF VISA CONCESSIONS TO REMAIN COMPLIANT IN SA

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The department issued a directive that allows for the extension of all Chinese nationals in SA whose visas are about to expire to remain in the country until 31 July.

The department this week issued a further directive which covers foreign nationals from all medium and high-risk countries, allowing them to extend their visas until 31 July. This is also applicable to foreign nationals who will have to travel through a high-risk country to their country of origin.

Marisa Jacobs, director at Xpatweb and head of immigration and mobility, encourages foreign nationals to apply for the extension or renewal of their visas to remain compliant. “Do not use the coronavirus as an excuse not to take the necessary measures to remain compliant. There are concessions – make use of them.”

She says their client base is largely multinational companies with foreigners working in SA. This include critically skilled or executive level individuals as well as technical project-related foreign nationals. They have been concerned about their position should their visas expire. “They would normally have travelled back to their home countries, but with the ever-increasing travel bans this is not an option at this stage.”

Jacobs says there are also several instances where companies have resources that are due to enter SA to start on projects or assignments. “Many are not able to enter the country anymore due to the travel bans, or they are no longer able to obtain a visa.”

Several embassies where visa applications for entry into SA have been pending, have in recent days sent out notices that they will be closing their offices and they will no longer process applications. People have been asked to collect their passports. The situation is completely fluid at the moment. An embassy that is open today, can be closed tomorrow, she says.

Xpatweb has received notices from embassies in the UK, Canada, Qatar and Sweden indicating that they will no longer process visa applications. However, the embassy in China has remained open.

“We are advising people who are due to travel to SA to submit their applications as soon as possible if their embassies remain open and they are processing applications,” says Jacobs.

In practice not all travel can be avoided. Jacobs says they have found the Department of Home Affairs to be quite sympathetic and has been willing to make exceptions when it is critical for people to travel to SA. Jacobs advises people who have to travel urgently to ensure their flight bookings and accommodation are open-ended or changeable.

“We foresee more restrictions in the coming weeks from everywhere. People need to be pro-active, and although most people will restrict their travel as far as possible there will be instances where travelling cannot be avoided.” People who have travelled and are stuck because of travel restrictions should contact their embassies.

The department of home affairs has been extremely helpful with information and their efforts to accommodate people, says Jacobs.

Civic Consular and Immigration Update SA Embassy Abu Dhabi

NEWS | CIVIC, CONSULAR AND IMMIGRATION UPDATE: SOUTH AFRICAN EMBASSY ABU DHABI

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Certification / Verification of Copies of Original South African Documentation

  • Deliver original documentation on Mondays – collect on Wednesdays
  • To submit relevant original South African documentation and applicants’ original passport as well as letter indicating purpose of the request in a sealed envelope with applicant’s full names, contact number and email address on the outside.

Civic Matters (application for birth certificates, ID’s, marriage certificates, passports, police clearance certificates)

  • ONLY Wednesday with prior appointments – email request to dha@dirco.gov.za – Embassy will respond with next available appointment.

Commissioner of Oaths – Authentication / Attestations

  • ONLY Mondays with prior appointments – email request to dha@dirco.gov.za – Embassy will respond with next available appointment.

End User Certificates

  • Deliver original documentation on Mondays – collect on Wednesdays
  • To submit relevant original documentation and original Company’s letter indicating purpose of requests.

Permits and Visas

  • NO applications will be considered for non-essential visits until further notice
  • EMERGENCY applications – applicant to email copy of applicant’s passport, applicants employer’s letter (NOC) and South African invitation to dha@dirco.gov.za – if approved applicant will be provided an appointment to submit documentation.

Travel Consent

  • ONLY Mondays – email copies of father, mother, children’s passports, children’s unabridged birth certificates and confirmed flight reservations to dha@dirco.gov.za – Embassy will respond with next available appointment.

Any Other Matters

  • Email requests to dha@dirco.gov.za – Embassy will respond by e-mail

The South African Embassy apologises for any inconvenience caused but has an obligation to adhere to the guidelines and instructions of the South African Government, the United Arab Emirates Government and the World Health Organisation.

15 March 2020  – Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.