Cabinet Decision To Revise The Immigration Amendment Acts and Regulations

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The Department of Home Affairs looks at the unintended consequences and mitigating factors relating to the implementation of the Immigration Amendment Act in May 2014. Changes include considering a long-term Multiple Entry Visa for a period exceeding 3 months and up to 3 years for frequent travellers (for business meetings), new VFS centres in Zimbabwe, United Arab Emirates and Botswana, consider a visa-waiver for India, China and Russia and opening two Business Visa Facilitation Centres in Durban and Port Elizabeth.

Click below to read the full statement issued by Cabinet.

http://www.home-affairs.gov.za:8087/index.php/statements-speeches/687-statement-on-cabinet-decision-on-the-immigration-amendment-acts-and-regulations

Cabinet Decision To Revise The Immigration Amendment Acts and Regulations

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The Department of Home Affairs has welcomed Cabinet’s decision regarding the recommendations of the Inter-Ministerial Committee the President had established in August 2015 to look at the unintended consequences and mitigating factors relating to the implementation of the Immigration Amendment Acts (2007 and 2011) and Immigration Regulations, 2014. The law, as amended, will remain with adjustments to be made in implementation, to make it easier for people to comply.

In terms of the decision, on the requirement for travellers to apply for visas in person, in countries where there is no SA mission, the Department of Home Affairs will receive applications, including by post, and capture biometrics of travellers on arrival at ports of entry. To address concerns around the geographical spread of countries like China, India and Russia, certain measures will be put in place to ease the process of application, in particular for tourists.

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Where Is The Best Country To Be An Expat?

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A new survey of 21,950 expatriates from around the world has crowned Singapore as the best place to be an expat. The Expat Explorer country league table, commissioned by HSBC and now in its eighth year, uses a variety of criteria including economics, experience and family life. Singapore received a 67% approval from expats living there, who reported being encouraged by the nation’s strong economy and the opportunities available to them for career progression.

In the individual pillars, Switzerland ranked first for best economy, New Zealand for experience (overall quality of life) while Sweden was ranked highest for family life.

Living abroad has benefits beyond career advancement. Over half of expat spouses said that they felt the experience had brought them closer together. Confusion and difficulty over managing finances in a foreign country was cited as the most challenging aspect of living abroad.

The report notes that while the allure of finding better jobs and experiences in other countries is a key factor in moving abroad, even in the top 10 nations, everyone’s experience is different. Potential emigrants should be sure they know that “the grass isn’t greener, just a different colour of green”.

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