Permanent residence issues

[claireduplessis]

Hello

I have applied for spousal permanent residency last July and am still awaiting my outcome. I have called numerous times and this week was informed there is a severe delay with permanent residence applications.

Is anyone else in the same situation and how long did it take to come through?

Thank you!
Claire

[Johanna]

Originally Posted by claireduplessis

Hello

I have applied for spousal permanent residency last July and am still awaiting my outcome. I have called numerous times and this week was informed there is a severe delay with permanent residence applications.

Is anyone else in the same situation and how long did it take to come through?

Thank you!
Claire

Saartjie has a lot of valuable information, hope she sees this, as she knows the ropes by now!

[Saartjie]

Originally Posted by claireduplessis

Hello

I have applied for spousal permanent residency last July and am still awaiting my outcome. I have called numerous times and this week was informed there is a severe delay with permanent residence applications.

Is anyone else in the same situation and how long did it take to come through?

Thank you!
Claire

Hi there, the waiting time for all PR applications at the moment is up to 24 months. They have recently changed the rules and each PR has to be considered by the Director General before it can be granted. As such a back log is quickly building up. I would not worry that you have not had an answer yet. I applied for mine last year as well and I am still waiting.

[2fargone]

Originally Posted by Saartjie

Hi there, the waiting time for all PR applications at the moment is up to 24 months. They have recently changed the rules and each PR has to be considered by the Director General before it can be granted. As such a back log is quickly building up. I would not worry that you have not had an answer yet. I applied for mine last year as well and I am still waiting.

Do you have to hand over your passport when you apply? What if you need to travel outside of South Africa?

[Saartjie]

Originally Posted by Poopsie23

Do you have to hand over your passport when you apply? What if you need to travel outside of South Africa?

No they just take a certified copy. When your permit is ready you have to go to HA with your passport and they will then insert your permit whilst you are waiting. You can therefore travel as much as you like (provided you still have a valid permit to enter SA in your passport).

[claireduplessis]

Originally Posted by Saartjie

Hi there, the waiting time for all PR applications at the moment is up to 24 months. They have recently changed the rules and each PR has to be considered by the Director General before it can be granted. As such a back log is quickly building up. I would not worry that you have not had an answer yet. I applied for mine last year as well and I am still waiting.

Ah thank you Saartjie. I wondered if this was the case when they told me 8 months was the time I should expect to wait and still nothing! They keep telling me to contact them every three weeks which I do but get told the same situation!!

Claire

[Saartjie]

Originally Posted by claireduplessis

Ah thank you Saartjie. I wondered if this was the case when they told me 8 months was the time I should expect to wait and still nothing! They keep telling me to contact them every three weeks which I do but get told the same situation!!

Claire

It's usually a waste of time to call as the information that they hold is normally not accurate. When the application is ready you will get your usual sms telling you that you can come and get the permit (usually 7 working days after receiving the sms). I would say, if you haven't heard anything after say a year and a half then you can start chasing but hopefully you would have heard something by then. You never know, I have heard of people getting their PR in less than 6 months but I have also heard of people who have waited over 2 years and who are still waiting. It's a lottery really and one needs to have a bit of luck for sure. Keep us posted if you get any news.

[Stevan]

Originally Posted by Saartjie

It's usually a waste of time to call as the information that they hold is normally not accurate. When the application is ready you will get your usual sms telling you that you can come and get the permit (usually 7 working days after receiving the sms). I would say, if you haven't heard anything after say a year and a half then you can start chasing but hopefully you would have heard something by then. You never know, I have heard of people getting their PR in less than 6 months but I have also heard of people who have waited over 2 years and who are still waiting. It's a lottery really and one needs to have a bit of luck for sure. Keep us posted if you get any news.

hi

I was a lucky one that got mine in 6 months. just so you are forwarned. your permenant residence stamp is not very impressive. it is just like the stamp you get as a tourist. the important peice of paper is the certificate which you should guard with your life, you will need this for everything else you will do. even when you have your id book. just a little bit of advice for you as well as you are in country already. your pr certificate will give you a date by which you must enter. when you apply for your id book they will want to see your entry stamp. if you are changing passport please make sure you keep your old passport so you can show them your entry stamp. if i were you guys the day you collect your pr i would go straight and apply for ID.

[Saartjie]

Originally Posted by Stevan

hi

I was a lucky one that got mine in 6 months. just so you are forwarned. your permenant residence stamp is not very impressive. it is just like the stamp you get as a tourist. the important peice of paper is the certificate which you should guard with your life, you will need this for everything else you will do. even when you have your id book. just a little bit of advice for you as well as you are in country already. your pr certificate will give you a date by which you must enter. when you apply for your id book they will want to see your entry stamp. if you are changing passport please make sure you keep your old passport so you can show them your entry stamp. if i were you guys the day you collect your pr i would go straight and apply for ID.

Thanks Stevan, that's excellent advise. Wow, six months is really not bad, very impressive. Just out of curiosity, where and when did you apply?

I will be changing my passport when I go 'home' in July as it runs out in October this year. I will however keep my old passport mainly because my Spousal TR is in there but I will now also remember to keep it for my ID book application. Believe you me I will walk straight over to the ID counter once I get my PR and make my application there and then. I can't wait to get an ID book, it will make life so much easier.

[Stevan]

Originally Posted by Saartjie

Thanks Stevan, that's excellent advise. Wow, six months is really not bad, very impressive. Just out of curiosity, where and when did you apply?

I will be changing my passport when I go 'home' in July as it runs out in October this year. I will however keep my old passport mainly because my Spousal TR is in there but I will now also remember to keep it for my ID book application. Believe you me I will walk straight over to the ID counter once I get my PR and make my application there and then. I can't wait to get an ID book, it will make life so much easier.

It was about three years ago Barrack Street in Cape Town. our agents office was right next to it. It shouldnt make a diffrence but it would seem the cape town office seems to be the one to use if you can. they seem fast and effcient.