schicbanj:
please i need gurus view on this

infofta:


Yes.
What you do and your account transaction for the past 4 months matters a lot.

abdullahi45:


Sorry Gurus but i just need to confirm this please.
I got a 6 months old SOA from my Uncle on 4th January and i wish to submit my visa application by next week 18th January. I hope i can still use the bank statement.
Please advice accordingly.
Please kindly reply i don't want to make any mistake with my application. Thanks.

infofta:


The bank statement is current.
Make sure you pay part of your tuition and get convincing letter of support from him since he is your uncle not your parent. Add his other supporting documents.

Not paying part of your tuition means you are not a genuine student but he is helping you to immigrate to SA.

abdullahi45:
hi,

Is anyone in Free state or Grahamstown or has info about those two places here. I want to know about those two places please (security, crime rate, racism, living styles and other things you think necessary).

Your response will really help in making a decision

Thanks

abdullahi45:


how do you mean by convincing letter? he only indicated he is my maternal uncle and wish to sponsor my postgraduate studies. any other thing to be included?

abdullahi45:

Manager007:


What exactly would you like to know about those places you mentioned?

To start with, Free state is but a province and not a city. You would need to mention a spefic city in FS so i can advise you adequately about life in that city.

Grahamstown is a small town in the Eastern Province. It's a very nice place and one or my favourite places in SA. The only thing(s) keepin that town bubbly are the Rhodes University and Thr Grahamstown annual Art festival. Its a university town so everythin is centered around that varsity. You will love livin there. Food is cheap. Weather is bearable but extremely cold in winter because its surrounded by mountains. But accomodation is not so cheap hey? Its only about one hour to Port Elizabeth which is the bigger city where you can buy lots of things includin naija foods. Grahamstown will offer you good security but nevertheless be cautious in some dark areas of that town. Racism is everywhere includin SA. There are good people black and white as well as bad folks too. But what i have found is that white folks in Grahamstown are generally more receptive than the ones in Free state and i think its bevause of the British influence dominant there.
Lots of beautitul girls there and you will think you are in paradise. I have good memories of that place.

Manager007:


What exactly would you like to know about those places you mentioned?

To start with, Free state is but a province and not a city. You would need to mention a spefic city in FS so i can advise you adequately about life in that city.

Grahamstown is a small town in the Eastern Province. It's a very nice place and one or my favourite places in SA. The only thing(s) keepin that town bubbly are the Rhodes University and Thr Grahamstown annual Art festival. Its a university town so everythin is centered around that varsity. You will love livin there. Food is cheap. Weather is bearable but extremely cold in winter because its surrounded by mountains. But accomodation is not so cheap hey? Its only about one hour to Port Elizabeth which is the bigger city where you can buy lots of things includin naija foods. Grahamstown will offer you good security but nevertheless be cautious in some dark areas of that town. Racism is everywhere includin SA. There are good people black and white as well as bad folks too. But what i have found is that white folks in Grahamstown are generally more receptive than the ones in Free state and i think its bevause of the British influence dominant there.
Lots of beautitul girls there and you will think you are in paradise. I have good memories of that place.

Manager007:


What exactly would you like to know about those places you mentioned?

To start with, Free state is but a province and not a city. You would need to mention a spefic city in FS so i can advise you adequately about life in that city.

Grahamstown is a small town in the Eastern Province. It's a very nice place and one or my favourite places in SA. The only thing(s) keepin that town bubbly are the Rhodes University and Thr Grahamstown annual Art festival. Its a university town so everythin is centered around that varsity. You will love livin there. Food is cheap. Weather is bearable but extremely cold in winter because its surrounded by mountains. But accomodation is not so cheap hey? Its only about one hour to Port Elizabeth which is the bigger city where you can buy lots of things includin naija foods. Grahamstown will offer you good security but nevertheless be cautious in some dark areas of that town. Racism is everywhere includin SA. There are good people black and white as well as bad folks too. But what i have found is that white folks in Grahamstown are generally more receptive than the ones in Free state and i think its bevause of the British influence dominant there.
Lots of beautitul girls there and you will think you are in paradise. I have good memories of that place.

Mmaobey:
Please anyone here in my shoes I submitted for study permit on the 10th of November at Abuja vfs, till now have not heard from them, been to the embassy twice but was always told to check next week. I seriously don't understand anymore. Please anyone with similar issue here please.....advice...from gurus on what I should do please.

Nadratan:
Hello Guys,

I want to confirm maybe I can use a marriage certificate issued by a Mosque for processing my relative or spousal visa... We did the Nikkah in Queenstown Mosque, Eastern Cape, SA and it's a recognised mosque

Manager007:




I can authoritatively inform you that if you submit just that Islamic marriage certificate for your Relative Permit, your application will be automatically rejected. The reasons being muslim marriages are not recognized under SA laws. Muslims in CapeTown are still trying to get this bill passed.

Under SA laws, you are both recognised as Life Partners. Which enjoys the same benefits of a Marriage visas as well

What you should do, is first to both sign an Affidavit before a lawyer or use the DHA form 1712-A , attesting that you are both over 18 and in a cohabitation, and in a relation that exclude other other parties and that you will or are already sharing bills. Sign that form and take to a lawyer or get it certified and signed before a police officer at a Police Station.

Thereafter, include a letter explaining why you married in the Islamic way and submit your application.

I can guarantee you, only then you will be issued a Relative Permit.

Very important to note, on any forms or the VFS, you are NOT applying for a Spousal Visa but a RELATIVE Visa. The are two different things. Spouse visas are for those who are married either in Court or under customary South African marriages e.g paying lobola etc. The issuance of a Marriage certificate in this case gives you full right to apply for Spousal permit.

If you want to work, study or conduct your own business with that Relative Visa, then include relevant documents which will come with conditions to either Work, or Study or Conduct Business

Spousal visas and/or Life Partner Visas are now called “ Visitor’s Visa ( 11(6)- To accompany spouse and work/study etc
If you have further questions, please feel to ask


Al the best

Nadratan:


Wow!!!... Thanks so much for this information. I am really grateful mehn. Unfortunately, I will be going back to Naija on Sunday but I will try and do the form option before I leave. Regarding the DHA form, does it have to be certified by both lawyer and police?

Do you have an idea how many years will be issued with the relative visa? I am trying to avoid the stress of applying for a visitor's visa everytimeI want to visit my wife. I just need a visa that will enable me move in and out of SA anytime I want.

abdullahi45:


Thanks so much for your response. I am only trying to compare between Bloemfontein, free state and Grahamstawn.

I am going to SA for my postgraduate studies.
I want be informed about security, people's lifestyle, opportunities for students there and other things necessary.

Thanks once again.

abdullahi45:

@Manager.

infofta:


Someone I know submitted also on the 5th of January 2018 at vfs Lagos and have not heard from them. People who submitted for visitors visa the same day has been processed and passport returned.
I think you wait till the end of January before contacting them.

infofta:


Someone I know submitted also on the 5th of January 2018 at vfs Lagos and have not heard from them. People who submitted for visitors visa the same day has been processed and passport returned.
I think you wait till the end of January before contacting them.

Manager007:


When you mentioned that you plannin on undertakin Postgraduate studes in those places, then University of Free State comes to mind and i assume that's where you are headed.

Bloemfontein is a very vibrant city and one advantage it has over Grahamstown (in your case) is that you could get part time jobs in Bloem. Grahamstown is very limited in that aspect.

I must bring to your attention, UFS is notoriously alleged for its language racism. My man, a UFS lecturer in some cases may render a class entirely in Afrikaans( similar to Dutch) knowing fully well there are non-Afrkaans speakers in that class. They even have English and Afrikaans lectures sepearately. But, this was some years ago and things may have changed.

When it comes to choice of where to study in these two cases, it depends largely on the type of person you are. If you are laid back, sociable and not wantin the city vibe then by all means choose Rhodes University.

Food is cheap in Bloem and you can access more economic opportunities there as compared to Grahamstown. When you get to SA you will understand

What else would you like yo know?

Manager007:



Actually, it's either of the two. But you will never know with Department of Home Affairs, so i would advise you to fulfil all righteousness and have both of you fill and certify that DHA form by a Police officer. Thereafter, you will have a lawyer draft a Notarial contract for Life Partners for you. You both swear and sign to that instrument and you are good to go.

Relative visas are normally always issued for 2 years.

Mmaobey:
Please anyone here in my shoes I submitted for study permit on the 10th of November at Abuja vfs, till now have not heard from them, been to the embassy twice but was always told to check next week. I seriously don't understand anymore. Please anyone with similar issue here please.....advice...from gurus on what I should do please.

Mmaobey:
Please house am really in need of the phone number of south african high commission Abuja. I submitted onĺ the 10th of Nov till now no reply. I was told at the vfs that it going to take about 20 working days please reply me. Thank u

Manager007:



Actually, it's either of the two. But you will never know with Department of Home Affairs, so i would advise you to fulfil all righteousness and have both of you fill and certify that DHA form by a Police officer. Thereafter, you will have a lawyer draft a Notarial contract for Life Partners for you. You both swear and sign to that instrument and you are good to go.

Relative visas are normally always issued for 2 years.

Nadratan:


I found this on home affairs website: "Proof that applicant has been the spouse of a citizen or permanent resident for five years. A notarial agreement signed by both parties attesting that –(i) the permanent spousal homosexual or heterosexual relationship has existed for at least two years before the date of application for a relevant visa or permanent residence permit and that the relationship still exist to the exclusion of any other person and (ii) neither of the parties is a spouse in an existing marriage or a permanent homosexual or heterosexual relationship"