We want to give you an update on what happens to applications that you have submitted at the South African mission overseas, when the centralization was still in place.
There is a very important directive that has been issued and signed on the 31st of October, Immigration Directive Number 15 of 2022.
This directive basically says that the missions are supposed to now process the applications submitted from January 2022 until the end of August 2022 themselves. There is one formulation in paragraph 3 which is a bit strange: it says there, “and, have not forwarded these applications to head office as yet.”
As lawyers, when we read this, we see the directive as being generally useless, because they would assume that a lot of missions haven’t forwarded any applications they received in June or July to South Africa. We will likely give you another update in two weeks saying: “Forget Directive 15.”
The purpose here is to address the massive backlog of the applications submitted while the centralization was in place. The rest of the directive has very clearly worded that the missions are now supposed to now adjudicate them, and then report on them.
We hope it’s not a literal interpretation, but rather are looking at the purpose of the Directive 15 of 2022. That means that if you submitted until August 2022, at one of the South African missions, they should now process this application themselves without the interference of Pretoria.
Written by: Andreas Krensel
Edited by: Simon Carletti
Stay updated by signing up for our newsletter HERE.
Want to speak to an expert regarding your immigration needs, contact us!
