17 Sep Application Forwarded for Adjudication: Meaning
Has your visa application been forwarded for adjudication, but you’re not quite sure what it means?
When you’ve received this message from the Department of Home Affairs (DHA), it usually indicates that your application has passed initial administrative processing and has since been forwarded to the relevant official who will make the substantive decision on your application.
Although this is generally a good sign, applicants will do well to remember that this does not mean that their application has been approved or that approval is guaranteed. The important distinction is that your application has reached the decision stage rather than sitting at an earlier administrative phase.
When reviewing your application, the adjudicator may consider factors such as:
- If the applicant meets the requirements for the particular visa
- Relevant supporting documentation
- Your stated purpose of stay
- Financial and any other eligibility requirements
- Relevant immigration history
- Any additional checks that may apply to your application
How Long is the Waiting Period?
For years, visa applicants had no official waiting period for their visa applications. However, that is no longer the case, as the DHA has recently published Immigration Circular No. 08 of 2026, signed by the Director-General of Home Affairs, which lays out set turnaround times for visa and permit-related services for the 2026/2027 performance cycle.
According to the Circular, these new timeframes will supersede all previously published processing times and apply to all applications submitted within South Africa.
Publicly announcing these new target goals can be viewed as a step towards transparency in adjudication. Not only does it set a clear expectation for the public, but it also creates a benchmark against which the DHA’s own performance can be measured.
However, what happens if a published time is exceeded? The DHA is still struggling with severe backlog issues, which could mean that actual processing times can take a lot longer than expected.
If your visa application has been in adjudication for months, exceeding the set processing time without any explanation, then it might be a good idea to consider reaching out to an immigration attorney to submit a mandamus application.
This is a form of litigation that specifically aims to compel the DHA to make a decision on your application. Applicants will do well to note that while this step will force the Department to provide an outcome, it does not guarantee that your visa will be granted.
When it comes to obtaining results, litigation is frequently the best course of action for effectively resolving concerns with an application that has been left pending for an unjustifiable period of time.
At June Luna Immigration Attorneys, our skilled and knowledgeable lawyers have a history of successfully obtaining timely, desired results for our clients through litigation. We will review your documentation to ensure everything is in order for your case and provide advice to increase your likelihood of obtaining a favourable outcome.
CONTACT US today to book a consultation with our immigration professionals.