₦airaland Forum

In response to your questions:
1) The letter should be addressed to "The South African High Commission
2) its N18,500.00 for visitors visa
3) it is still in order and won't pose any problem provided the copies are certified by the host.

All the best

godownson:
hello house.
please i got 3 questions;
1- whom should an invitation letter be addressed to (at VFS or the appropriate body)?.
2- whats the current visa application fee (visit visa)?
3- if the documents (signed and dated) sent from a host to an a visa applicant is delayed for 4-5 days before submition for visa application, will it cause any issues.?

It is well my brother. May God guide and protect us all (Amen)

samtol4:
YES TYPOP thanking you for your care .We are safe by grace .Tension has reduced now .Malawi government has started repatriation of her Citizens,Mozambique has followed suit .The High commissioner of Nigeria was with us few days ago to see situation on ground .We are safe but all foreigners have closed their shops .

Yes they do. The port health dept runs 24hrs a day, 7 days a week.

godownson:
Please does the health dept at MMIA ikeja open on saturdays (today). My brother wants to go and get his yellow card.
Urgent answer pls.

They don't normally ask but being a first timer, he may be asked certain questions which relates to BTA, hotel bookings e.t.c. Even if his host will bear the expense, he is expected to have a reasonable amount with him. Hence, my advice is that he sorts it out before leaving so as to avoid being interrogated unduly.

- Of course yes but he should still hold some cash. The debit card can even be used here for withdrawals and payments.
- The yellow card does not need to be certified. Normal copies are ok but ensure that you hold d original.
- The letter of invitation can either be handwritten or typed but duly signed.
- Its okay. They won't have problems with it.

godownson:
Hello house, pls I got Few questions to ask.
- a host is inviting my brother For a 2-weeks
holiday, will the SA immigration ask For BTA
from my brother at the airport (since the
invitation letter states that all expenses would
be covered by the host)?.
-can a person carry a debit bank card (having
enough cash) instead of dollars as BTA.
-will the the photocopy of yellow card that is
needed for visa application need to be
certified.
-should a letter oF invitation be hand-written
or typed.
Thanks.
- if a person has a 2-weeks return ticket and
books a hotel reservation for 1 week (paid), will
the immigration have problems with it?.
@ yinksob002 and other experienced peeps
here. Pls I need answers on these questions.
Thanks.

Whilst fast track option enables you to have your visa application processed much faster than it should be, it does not give you an automatic 100% guarantee that your visa will be issued. The fact that some people had their visas issued in d past via the fast track option does not necessarily imply that it was approved based on that.
The visa approval decision lies squarely at the consular's discretion who may or may not approve the visa based on how your application is assessed and the documents provided. All the best

abnice2004:
pls i nid explanation abt the fast of sa embassy. i was told they always issue the visa if someone uses fast track. pls does anyone has info abt it?

You can't be so sure of what will happen in d nearest future cos if d rate at which people rush to Lesotho and abuse d system is not checked, it will get worse than south Africa in no time. SA's immigration rule was so flexible in d past but due to abuse by a lot of foreigners, they had to tighten their borders.

HumbledbYGrace:
As much as I love S.A I prefer to remain a citizen of Lesotho, South African immigration rules and regulations aren't fair to most African countries. Even us those who are inside it still suffer like we are from the faraway countries.

I say good riddance to bad rubbish to it not getting free visas to UK and Kenya. For us its still free and will remain so to both countries, many people have faked Lesotho passports but never got away with it and Lesotho has never limited the foreigners previlages.

We treat people with respect not like in S.A

I agree to your last part though, unfortunately most people go to the townships because its cheaper to live there but it isn't, its the worst place a foreigner could possibly settle honestly. Rascism is @ its peak there, as for theft, you'd want to pack before even month end.

And lastly people shouldn't just think of coming to S.A without a plan on ground already, if not your going to spend more than you bargained for.

You will need to provide the following docs:
1) International passport
2) Complete a visitors visa application form with 2 passport photographs (White background)
3) Obtain a yellow fever vaccination card at d port health dept@ the Intl airport in Lagos
4) Paid Hotel booking
5) Flight reservation for a round trip
6) Duly signed letter of invitation to the said conference (Hard or scanned copy)
7) Bank statements
Letter of Introduction from employer or self introduction letter if you are self employed
9) Payslips(if any)
10) Any other supporting document

Since your intended travel date is July 1st, you can apply around 3rd week of may to forestall any delay in your application. All d best quote author=omoarole post=32229095]Hello. I recently recieved an invitation for a 6 week medical observership in Cape Town, and I want to apply for a visa. What are the protocols for applying for a short stay visit visa, for conference, non work, non study purposes?
How soon should I send the application if my travel date is July 1st 2015?
Thank you.[/quote]

I don't know the address for the port health dept in Abuja. However, u can check at d Intl airport overthere. There should be a port health dept at the abuja intl airport where u can obtain d yellow card. Just try and find out. All d best

Babechemist01:
. Thank you for your reply. but what is the address of the immunization/ yellow card office in Abuja

The address is Plot 371, Diplomatic Zone, Central Business District, Abuja.

Babechemist01:
Hello house.Pls I need the full address of where I can get yellow card in Abuja and the address of South Africa embassy for study permit. I actually did mine in 2013 . I need to put a brother through the process but I have forgotten these importance adresses.

It takes an average of 2weeks but it could take longer than that sometimes. Let's just say between 2 to 4 weeks.

olanikemercy:
Pls ,how long does it take the south Africa high commission to issue out visa to people[sub][/sub]

You can go ahead. Its fine

Upgermany:
Pls can someone tell me can if I can apply for South African visitor visa with an expiring passport remaining 9 month or I will have to renew before applying for the visa

For SA visa application, ensure you do a paid hotel booking to enhance your chances of getting d visa.You can try agoda.com, its reliable and you can get relatively cheap hotels as well.

flowales:
Hello house, I want to submit my application next week. I intend to travel in May during my leave period. I want to know if I can use bookings.com for my hotel reservation.

Hi bro, You can follow this link to get the info required http://www.wits.ac.za/postgraduate/11574/postgraduate.html However, note that the fees shown are not final as you may still be asked to pay additional fees which varies from one faculty to another. Should you require other info, let me know. All the best

cutieme:
@Yinksob002,bro please I'd like to know the tuition fee range for a pdg programs in wits,thanks in advance.

The right response has already been given by Uzhi earlier on this thread. The online status or text message from SA embassy only indicates the status of your application and will not specify if your visa is successful or not until you pick up your passport and check it. My advice to you is to go the application centre to pick up your passport after which you will know if your visa application was successful or not. All the best

katesmith362:
Does that show that my visa is ready when I scan it and the status says the visa application processed is ready for collection.but my uncle told me that am going to receive an sms that says visa application successful that the scan status message does not signify that the visa is ready...pls I need an expert to put me trough..

You can visit www.vfsglobal.com/southafrica/nigeria for info on d correct address and how to download the visitors visa application form. For the yellow card, all u need is a copy of d front page and all d stamped pages. However, take your original card along in case they might want to sight it.

godownson:
Hello house, I have 3 questions:
-what is the correct address of the visa application center (for visit visa) in lagos?. I see different addresses online.
-can the visa application Form be downloaded online, filled and then taken For submission at the application center?
-should be entire yellow vaccination card be photocopied and submitted during application?

I will advise you to send a mail to your school of choice so as to get an updated info on tuition fees & other misc fees. The fees shown on the website do not fully reflect the total cost of tuition as it varies from one programme to another. All the best

NellyGhenghen:
Hello house,

For all those studying in South Africa, i'll like to know how much it ll cost on the average to pursue undergraduate studies in SA (Medicine) from first year and the cheapest universities for international students.

Done some research on my own, but its not too clear to me. Currently, considering university of pretoria and Nelson Mandela metropolitan university, whilst university of pretoria isn't so clear about international fees on their website, NMMU from what ive seen so far has lots of miscellaneous fees which when added up is an outrageous sum, though i'm not sure if I have to pay all those fees. I'd appreciate if someone could shed more light.

Thanks

Welcome to SA. Wish u all the best in your studies in Durban.

Shine1177:
I got to Durban on Wednesday and it was so stressful because I missed my connecting flight from Jo'burg and I was asked to pay R1440 (SAA that's too much) to get on the next. flight. I felt bad because the old woman (a relative) I helped had a load of pomo in her luggage. All the same I got my student number yesterday.

I just replied your mail.

chemenger:
@Yinksob, I just sent you a pm now. I need info about wits

Let me assist in addressing the issues raised below:

1) i will advise you to put in your application early probably July cos the SA embassy's processing time for visa varies and could take between two to six weeks though you might be lucky to have it processed quickly. However, submitting early will help to forestall any delay as experienced by some applicants in the past.
2) Pls ensure that your letter of invitation is signed by the organisers cos it could be a valid reason for refusal.
3) Ensure you do a paid hotel booking so as to boost your chances
4) In addition to the docs listed, you can include evidence of previous trainings attended (i.e cert. of attendance) and other suporting documents and your hotel booking as stated above.
5) You don't need a police report due to the nature of your application
6) Yes you do. A letter of introduction from your employer is needed. They can as well state that you will be on leave during the period
7) You can visit www.vfsglobal.com/southafrica/nigeria/ to download the visitors visa application form and get other info for your visa application

I hope this info will assist in a long way.

I wish u all the best.

esosa4real:
Hello, I have been here before to express my fears for applying for a visit visa for a conference on DIY because of things I hear from colleagues about SA visa(dat agent is best).
Well I feel a little relieved reading the above because truth is my UK, Brazil and Tanzania visas, I got thru nairaland's guide on DIY basis! Thanks to justwise n co.

I am a medical doctor who is a member of a WHO-affiliated group who organise medical conferences in diff continents yearly. Lastyear I was invited to brasil and attended.
This year, it's in SA by September, will be invited soon and I really want to attend and apply by sticking with the genuine DIY basis, afterall am going for a just cause/legitimate cause.

I need some answers brothers!

1. Conference is in sept, when is the best time to start considering sending an application?
2. I hear the embassies could deny visas if letters of invitation don't follow a format, pls what's this format, so I tell the organisers in time to personally tailor mine as the lagos embassy wants it.
3. We would definitely be staying in recommended hotels, how do I handle this to avoid probs! Must I pay for a nite b4 visa application?
4. What r the other documents needed? I guess they are same as other countries (passport, p.photos, bank statement+covering letter, yellowcard, flight booking)? Pls advise on any other I ve missed. + can I include certificate of last attendance? Does it even help here?

5. Is a police report needed for me?
6. Apart from letter of invitation, do I need a letter of introduction from work? + letter of leave absence as well?
7. How do I start the whole application process online? I need links to their application form + checklists. And how do I submit when it's time? VAC?

Please I have been elaborate, pls assist ur brother with necessary answers/advise/additional comments, I am sure I can pull this off on DIY basis.
God bless you all, it is well.

Check Hotel 224 or Holiday Inn express. They are cheap and good as well.

eluquenson:
Pls house, i need a list of cheap hotels in pretoria where my younger brother could stay for a week, i will appreciate.

He needs to book as soon as possible.

influential01:
@ samtol4,justwise
Pls what are the documents required for the visiting visa. I want to apply with a virgin passport and I have no one in SA. Pls kindly put me thru.

influential01:
@ samtol4,justwise

To apply for SA visitors visa, the following basic docs are required:

- International passport (you will need to make two copies of the Bio data page as well)
- Duly completed visa application form with two passport photographs (white background)
- Yellow fever vaccination card
- Personal Bank Statement or Sponsor's bank statement (whichever is applicable to you)
- Hotel Booking
- Flight reservation
- Letter of Introduction from your employer or Self letter of introduction in case you are self employed
- Payment of prescribed application fee for visitors at the VFS office
- photocopies of previous visas (if any)

All the best

No. Am at Wits university in Jo'burg. Wish u all d best in your studies.

Shine1177:
I will land in DUT for my Masters next week. It's cool reading this report. Yinka, are you in Durban?

I did mine at a notary public in Igbosere, lagos island close to the high court. However, u can do it at any notary public close to your area. All d best

cutieme:
@yinksob002,Bro please where can one get the copies of his result certified before submitting it to any school you applied for a Msc program or so.

Yeah you should cos teaching is one area where hands are seriously needed in SA and a lot of nigerians teach here especially in Durban, Johannesburg. SA is a nice place to stay provided you are focused, maintain a moderate lifestyle and avoid distractions. They've got lots of tourist attractions and places where you can have fun.

cutieme:
@yinksob002,OK.Well I studied Chemistry, with this can I get a teaching job or something?

The living standard is okay but jobs are hard to get esp whilst studying. However, in terms of infrastructural dev., they are better than us. For students in d science & Engineering field, it is relatively easier to get a job but all depends on luck and God's favour. Their weather is okay but can be unstable at times .

cutieme:
@yinksob002,How is generally?I'm terms of living standard, economy,weather and every other thing including their sholly.

I can assist you pay into their bank account here in SA and forward the copy of the deposit slip to you thereafter. You can send me a mail if need be.

All the best.

olabanji88:
ow do I make payment for saqa I was at the bank they said need to have domiciliary account before I pay am sure I can use my debit master card but how please if its for to go through online banking and get that there useless token once and for all and use it for futher transactions

I think Samtol4 is right cos one thing i know for a fact since i joined Wits is that they hardly joke with deadline for resumption.

As you suggested, let him still push and see if they will take him in.

sultan003:
my friend registered late in april last year at faculty of Engineering wits.. anything can happen, wits sent his admission letter very late, so he should email the faculty secretary. if he gets there april he can still register, otherwise he has to wait till june/july to register

No, you can't. The new immigration law does not allow you to do so. You have to apply at the SA embassy in your home country. All the best

BOWOTO:
can I apply for student permit in south Africa while I'm there on a tourist visa? I already have my admission letter, please I need help.

Kentrasso:
I just collected my visa.
Thanks so much everyone, with you i am the best .
Btw Visa application for undergraduate and masters end this month. I saw it on the notice. Only doctoral students are accepted now.
Repatriation also ends on 28th.

Congrats. I wish u the best in your academic pursuit

I just sent you a mail.

iyiolami:
Good day,

Any wits or uj student looking for accommodation!!!
I want to share my apartment at Broadway building opposite wits university.
Email me dotun44king@yahoo.com.
Space is available from March 2015.

Am currently at wits for my masters. Which programme are u coming in for? However, am surprised that d admission came late and getting d study visa will obviously take some time. Try and e-mail your postgraduate officer or better still, your faculty officer and explain d situation of things to them. All d best

samtol4:
Once you got admission on 28th you should submitted your application earlier .However contact your school international office /postgraduate officer to seek for any assistance irrespective of your situation ,nevertheless it is not automatic that there will be positive response .

The requirements do not really differ. Just provide d basic documents viz a viz: Duly completed visa application form, hotel booking, flight reservation, yellow card, bank statement, letter of introduction, copy of previous visas e.t.c. Pay d visa fee and submit. The fact that you spent six days wiuld even work in your favour and not against you. All the best

uzhi:
Hello guys, kindly help me on this, I travelled to SA last year june from Nigeria and stayed there for just 6days b4 I returned to Nigeria. Even though my visa was 1year multiple entry. I applied for d visa in Ghana with my ghana residence permit. Now I want to apply again from Nigeria, do I need to apply normally or there is a diff way to go by it ?
My old visa expired last August. Hope they wont complain that I didnt spend more than 6days in their country ?