18 Nov Permanent Residency Application Opening 1 January 2022
With the coming of a new year comes new opportunities – permanent residency opportunities, that is. After almost two years, the Department of Home Affairs will officially accept permanent residency applications starting from the 1st week of January 2022. This announcement is a great relief to interested parties who have been waiting patiently since the application block was announced in March 2020.
However, with good news comes the bad. Due to the immediate halt on all applications in 2020 due to Covid-19, the Department of Home Affairs is now facing an unprecedented backlog of applications to work through as well as the upcoming influx of new applications. When considering the Department of Home Affairs unfortunate reputation of ineffective procedures and extreme waiting periods with little to no feedback, would-be permanent residents are advised to remain patient.
With the expectation of long delays in receiving outcomes, we at June Luna Immigration Attorneys would advise all people who are eligible to apply for permanent residency to do so as soon as possible. Our expert team can guide you through the process, explain in detail what will be required from you and advise you on which category to apply under. A benefit of working with an immigration attorney is that we will ensure a correct application is submitted the first time and even force an outcome through litigation if your application remains pending for longer than appropriate. Considering the expected delays, litigation may undoubtedly be your best way forward.
While there is no doubt that the March 2020 lockdown was admirable and saved countless lives, it also meant that thousands of individuals – approximately over 30 000 – were left vulnerable regarding their future in South Africa. If you are ready to begin the process of achieving permanent residency in South Africa, our dedicated team can help you. For more information on the permanent residency process, or how we can assist with a pending application, please contact us.