Life Partner Visa Going to Expire

[2fargone]

I hope someone can help me!!

I have a life partner visa. It will expire next year in October. I was granted one for 2 years.

I have been in South Africa since 2007.

I was on a study visa then I came and left quite a few times on a 90 day visa and I would sometime renew it. I never overstayed.

2 questions.
1. When can I apply for PR?
2. If I can't apply for PR has anyone had trouble applying for a Life Partner Visa a second time? Was your application denied for whatever reason?

Many thanks!!

[Saartjie]

Originally Posted by Poopsie23

I hope someone can help me!!

I have a life partner visa. It will expire next year in October. I was granted one for 2 years.

I have been in South Africa since 2007.

I was on a study visa then I came and left quite a few times on a 90 day visa and I would sometime renew it. I never overstayed.

2 questions.
1. When can I apply for PR?
2. If I can't apply for PR has anyone had trouble applying for a Life Partner Visa a second time? Was your application denied for whatever reason?

Many thanks!!

Hi there. On what basis would you apply for PR (which section of the Immigration Act)? I am only asking so that I can try to answer your question.

I dont see a reason why you should not be able to get a new Life Partner permit. I have heard of many who have had new Spousal Permits because they still do not qualify for PR and they have had no problem at all and I would assume that there is really no difference when applying for a Life Partner Permit for a second time.

[2fargone]

Originally Posted by Saartjie

Hi there. On what basis would you apply for PR (which section of the Immigration Act)? I am only asking so that I can try to answer your question.

I dont see a reason why you should not be able to get a new Life Partner permit. I have heard of many who have had new Spousal Permits because they still do not qualify for PR and they have had no problem at all and I would assume that there is really no difference when applying for a Life Partner Permit for a second time.

I don't know the immigration act really. I guess I was asking how long you live in South Africa before you qualify for PR? I thought I read it was five years? Do the years count that I was on a visitors visa or a study visa?

[nkall]

I am a non-EU. I got PhD in Swiss. I am married and I want to take along my spouse with me. I would like to know whether my spouse would be given work permit in swiss.

[Saartjie]

Originally Posted by Poopsie23

I don't know the immigration act really. I guess I was asking how long you live in South Africa before you qualify for PR? I thought I read it was five years? Do the years count that I was on a visitors visa or a study visa?

The five year rule only applies in two circumstances, either you must have been married to SA spouse for five years or you must have held a work permit for five years and been offered further permanent employment.

Depending on your circumstances you can also get PR if you have been offered a job that only you can do (that is the company need to have advertised the position and ascertained that no SA citizen can fill your position). Alternatively if you possess a skill that is considered scarce for the time being in SA you can also get PR.

Otherwise the Act only gives PR to people who wants to establish business in the Republic (but I think you need a certain amount of net worth, or people who wish to retire (again net worth is important) or to children and some relatives of SA citizen.

You can check out the Act if you want more info. Its the Immigration Act of 2002, sections 26 and 27 deals with PR.

[Johanna]

Originally Posted by nkall

I am a non-EU. I got PhD in Swiss. I am married and I want to take along my spouse with me. I would like to know whether my spouse would be given work permit in swiss.

Where?

[Jujube]

Hi Saartjie,
I have just submitted my PR application a month and half ago on a basis of an 'exclusive relationship' for 5 years, i.e. you don't have to be 'married' for 5 years but prove that you were/are in an exclusive serious relationship with your SA partner in order to apply for it.

Heard other people do the same...so I just wanted to let you know.

Regards,
Julien

Originally Posted by Saartjie

The five year rule only applies in two circumstances, either you must have been married to SA spouse for five years or you must have held a work permit for five years and been offered further permanent employment.

Depending on your circumstances you can also get PR if you have been offered a job that only you can do (that is the company need to have advertised the position and ascertained that no SA citizen can fill your position). Alternatively if you possess a skill that is considered scarce for the time being in SA you can also get PR.

Otherwise the Act only gives PR to people who wants to establish business in the Republic (but I think you need a certain amount of net worth, or people who wish to retire (again net worth is important) or to children and some relatives of SA citizen.

You can check out the Act if you want more info. Its the Immigration Act of 2002, sections 26 and 27 deals with PR.

[2fargone]

Originally Posted by Jujube

Hi Saartjie,
I have just submitted my PR application a month and half ago on a basis of an 'exclusive relationship' for 5 years, i.e. you don't have to be 'married' for 5 years but prove that you were/are in an exclusive serious relationship with your SA partner in order to apply for it.

Heard other people do the same...so I just wanted to let you know.

Regards,
Julien

I had heard that too but I didn't know if that was true. Did you do it from the time you moved in? Or the time you began your exclusive serious relationship?

Any other info would be great!!

Did you have to get statements from your friends like you did for your Life Partnership Visa?

[Jujube]

Hi Poopsie23,
just to be clear: I'm not saying that this will be approved (although very confident) but rather that my application was submitted & accepted on that basis.

The delicate part is around the 'serious exclusive' relationship: they're looking for proof that you were already committed to each other so leases, bank accounts, health insurance, contracts, property under both names...and for 5 years.

I have been with my -now- wife for more than 6 years, living together for 5 & 1/2 but only had leases as far back as 4&1/2 years, bank accounts for 4 years, health insurance for 2 - I also supplied my marriage certificate (4 months old) along with a proof of property ownership (2 months old).

I have tried to submit letters from friends/family, pictures, travel receipts but got told that this does not prove a 'serious' relationship.

Now it's wait & see...heard on this forum that PR can take up to 24 months to be processed. :-(

Originally Posted by Poopsie23

I had heard that too but I didn't know if that was true. Did you do it from the time you moved in? Or the time you began your exclusive serious relationship?

Any other info would be great!!

Did you have to get statements from your friends like you did for your Life Partnership Visa?

[2fargone]

Originally Posted by Jujube

Hi Poopsie23,
just to be clear: I'm not saying that this will be approved (although very confident) but rather that my application was submitted & accepted on that basis.

The delicate part is around the 'serious exclusive' relationship: they're looking for proof that you were already committed to each other so leases, bank accounts, health insurance, contracts, property under both names...and for 5 years.

I have been with my -now- wife for more than 6 years, living together for 5 & 1/2 but only had leases as far back as 4&1/2 years, bank accounts for 4 years, health insurance for 2 - I also supplied my marriage certificate (4 months old) along with a proof of property ownership (2 months old).

I have tried to submit letters from friends/family, pictures, travel receipts but got told that this does not prove a 'serious' relationship.

Now it's wait & see...heard on this forum that PR can take up to 24 months to be processed. :-(

Thanks Jujube. I submitted for Life Partner in the USA and they wanted 4 friends not family to submit a letter that I was in a serious relationship. I was just curious if I reapplied in SA if it would be the same.

Hope all goes well with the PR!!