Moving to Cape Town

Lari · #1 (**permalink**) 8th June 2012, 05:10 PM

Hi Everyone,

I am getting married to my South African fiance in November and we are moving to Cape town in December.

I have a few questions I hope someone can help me with...
From what I have read the relatives/spousal visa takes quite a while, so it's probably worth it for me to go down on a normal tourist visa and apply as soon as we get there?
I have 5 year old twins (not my fiances biological children), I read somewhere that they can get a temporary residence permit if their step father is South African? Does anyone know how long/difficult that process is? I assume we need to apply for a student visa for them before we go so they can start school in January, and then once we are there get the relatives (?) visa application?

What is the difference between using a immigration company and using an immigration lawyer to help with the application? And is it worth it? Can anyone recommend a good one?

Thank you in advance!

Donne - NWI · #2 (**permalink**) 6th August 2012, 12:09 PM

Hi Lari

If you want assistance in getting the correct visas in time you can contact our inbound immigration lawyer and he will help you. You can contact him on +

Hope this can be of any help.

Olimpiaallin · #3 (**permalink**) 6th August 2012, 03:33 PM

Hi Lari,
I have been advised to proceed to applying for a visa before entering SA, and until December there's plenty of time. The processing time is 30 days according to the SA High Commission. You should check their site first. I find it very useful.
Don't know anything about lawyers.
Hope that helps.
Olimpia

Donne - NWI · #4 (**permalink**) 7th August 2012, 10:22 AM

Immigration lawyers assist you in the application process by doing all the admin work for you and dealing with home affairs.

Buney · #5 (**permalink**) 10th August 2012, 05:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Olimpiaallin

Hi Lari,
I have been advised to proceed to applying for a visa before entering SA, and until December there's plenty of time. The processing time is 30 days according to the SA High Commission. You should check their site first. I find it very useful.
Don't know anything about lawyers.
Hope that helps.
Olimpia

Hi. We applied for ours when we arrived from the UK. It still gave us plenty of time to get them.
Although we a used a local company to do the work, we have learnt that it is simple to do it all yourself and the savings are incredible.

Good luck
Mark

Olimpiaallin · #6 (**permalink**) 10th August 2012, 10:43 AM

Hi Mark
You might be right.

adambt · #7 (**permalink**) 9th September 2012, 01:54 PM

Hi Lari,
I've just moved to Cape Town from the UK with my wife 8 months ago, we found our Visa process to be pretty stressful, especially things like getting hold of medical reports, x-rays and police checks. I'm here on a student visa so your process may be different but I would start early as those kind of things took a lot of time. We managed it without any lawyers or companies helping us. Most of the stress came from getting the paperwork required which you would have to do whether or not a lawyer dealt with the actual application process.
Also look out because some of the info on the web is not quite right. We found when we got to the actual visa office there were extra things we needed. I'd make a trip to your local embassy soon to confirm exactly what you need to avoid stress later. Good luck!

redwolf · #8 (**permalink**) 15th September 2012, 03:28 AM

Hi.
To obtain an actual permanent residence visa there are many avenues. If you are going to apply for one as a spouse, then you have to have been married for 5 years prior to application. You also need to ensure that during that time, if you are living in SA, that you get a "temporary residence" visa, which is very straight forward. If you arrive on a visitors visa (if you are from the UK, just get on the plane and you get one stamped in on arrival), after 3 months, just apply for an extension or temp res permit. Home affairs are pretty jacked up now, so it is straight forward.
One thing you do need is A. Police clearance from your home country, B. chest xray and medical, and C. (if you have stayed in SA for more than 12 month) police clearance from SA. You dont need lawyers or agents, they are all well and good if you dont like ques, but otherwise DHA in Bellville, Barrack St or Paarl are all good.

chris rossouw · #9 (**permalink**) 8th November 2012, 11:01 AM

Hi

I am currently in Cape Town and would like to meet with as many expats as possible. Any contacts would be appreciated.

Best wishes

Chris

redwolf · #10 (**permalink**) 12th November 2012, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris rossouw

Hi

I am currently in Cape Town and would like to meet with as many expats as possible. Any contacts would be appreciated.

Best wishes

Chris

Chris.

I am presently in the Table View area,

Cheers

Paul