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A Guide to New Visa Regulations for South African Nationals The visa requirements for nationals of South Africa entering the UK are due to change on 3 March 2009 Q Where can I find information on these changes? You can find detailed guidance on the new visa requirements for South African nationals at www.vfs-uk-za.com or www.ukvisas.gov.uk Q Why have these changes been brought in? In March 2007 the UK Immigration Minister announced that all countries outside of the European Union would be subject to a Visa Waver Test. This test was applied in a systematic and objective way to number of countries. South Africa together has failed this test and the UK Border Agency (UKBA) has therefore introduced a limited Visa requirement for South Africans seeking to travel to the UK. Q What exactly are these changes? From 3 March 2009, South African nationals will require a visa to enter or transit the UK unless they fall under certain exemption categories. Q What exactly are these changes? If you have travelled to the UK recently and have evidence of your visit in your current passport (i.e. a UK entry stamp), you can enjoy a temporary exemption to the new visa requirements. This means you will not need a visa if you want to:
Q I've lost my passport but it had a UK visit visa/entry stamp in it. Will I be exempt from the new changes? No. To qualify for the exemption you must have a valid passport containing evidence of your visit to the UK. You will need to apply for another UK visit visa and submit your new passport. Q I've lost my passport but it had a UK visit visa/entry stamp in it and I have a copy of my old passport. Will I now be exempt from the new changes? No. The evidence of your visit to the UK must be in your current valid passport. Q I'm travelling with my family. Three of us do not need a visa as we have UK entry stamps in our passports. However one of us has never been to the UK before. Do we still need to apply for a visa for this person? Yes. The changes apply to all South Africans travelling to the UK even if they are travelling with others who are exempt. Q Does the new changes apply to children too? Yes. The changes apply to all South African travellers regardless of their age. Q When will this exemption apply for? This exemption will only apply until the middle of 2009. After this all South African nationals who wish to visit or transit the UK will require a visa. A further announcement will be given later in 2009 regarding this. Q I already have a valid UK visit visa. Will these changes affect me? No. Any South African passport holder who already has a valid visa or permission to reside in the UK will not be affected providing their reason for travelling to the UK has remained unchanged. Q When will this exemption apply for? There are several different types of visa which will allow you to enter and remain in the UK for up to six months (except where stated below). The visa you choose depends on your reason for visiting the UK and how long you plan to stay. You can apply for a visa under one of the following categories:
Whichever category you fall into, your visa application must be backed by evidence in the form of original documents. Please be aware that the type of evidence you provide will differ depending on your personal circumstances. Q How do I qualify for a visitor visa to the UK? The full details of the qualifying criteria for a UK visa can be found at www.ukvisas.gov.uk. To qualify for a visitor visa you will need to show that:
If you only wish to transit through the UK without visiting, or leaving the airport, you will need to apply for a Direct Airside Transit Visa (DATV). Q How do I qualify for a DATV? To apply for a DATV, you will need to show that:
You can find further detailed information at www.vfs-uk-za.com or www.ukvisas.gov.uk.
Clients who are travelling to the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand DO NOT need a transit visa. Provided they have a visa for the above countries, a valid return ticket showing their onward journey and they don’t have to leave the airport Holders of certain documents are, regardless of nationality, exempt from the requirement to hold a Direct Airside Transit Visa when transiting the UK. A transit passenger is not required to hold a transit visa if he holds or a person with whom he arrives in the United Kingdom holds on his behalf: a. A valid visa for entry to Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the United States of America and a valid airline ticket for travel via the United Kingdom as part of a journey from another country or territory to the country in respect of which the visa is held; b. A valid visa for entry to Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the United States of America and a valid airline ticket for travel via the United Kingdom as part of a journey from the country in respect of which the visa is held to another country or territory; c. A valid airline ticket for travel via the United Kingdom as part of a journey from Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the United States of America to another country or territory, provided that the transit passenger does not seek to transit the United Kingdom on a date more than six months from the date on which he last entered Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the United States of America with a valid visa for entry to that country; Transiting to the Republic of Ireland
Once your application is received at VFS it is securely forwarded to the Visa Section of the British High Commission. Each application is then assessed by a UK Entry Clearance Officer and your passport and any supporting documents will be returned to the VAC for collection. Q How long will all this take? The majority of visa applications are processed in less than five working days, but this process can sometimes take from 5–15 days. This is why you should apply for your visa well in advance of your planned travel date. Q How long will my visa be valid for? Your visa will normally be valid for up to six months and you can enter the UK as many times as you want during this period. Q I've never needed a visa before for the UK. What will happen if I just travel to the UK without a visa? If you cannot show that you qualify for exemption, failure to produce a valid UK visa will result in the airline refusing to carry you and/or you being liable to being refused entry to the UK and returned to South Africa. Q Where can I get more information? To find out more about entry clearance, specific guidance to help you apply and any other relevant information, go to www.vfs-uk-za.com or www.ukvisas.gov.uk. |
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