Archive for the ‘South African Immigration’ Category

There were about 61,000 successful applications made for the Working Holidaymaker visa in 2006/ 07.

About 1,000 of those were from South Africa.

In two weeks time the door to the Working Holidaymaker program will be permanently shut when the Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) kicks into practice and South Africans will have to find alternative and more difficult and less flexible visa entry to experience life in the UK.

In all fairness the South African government has known for an adequate amount of time that to qualify as a participating country they must have a reciprocal program running for British 17-30 year olds.

For reasons only they know they have not done this. I have put in calls and sent emails but am still waiting for a response.

The current Working Holidaymaker scheme allows people under thirty to work in Britain for up to one year of a two year visa. The Youth Mobility Scheme allows the participant to work for two. Previous participants of the scheme can not reapply for the YMS.

A spokesperson for the British High Commission in Pretoria has confirmed South Africa will not be participating from the ‘outset’.

“We made the South African government aware of the introduction of the new scheme some time ago but they have not, as yet, expressed an interest,” says Apsara McNaught, spokesperson for the British High Commission.

“In order to become a participating country, South Africa would be required to meet certain criteria, including the establishment of a reciprocal scheme for young British nationals to come here.”

Robbie Ragless, regional manager of Global Visas (South Africa) said, ‘This will have a huge impact. Young South Africans will not be able to do what every other young South African did in the past. The only other alternatives are student permits or work permits.

Despite the short-comings I’m hopeful they’ll get a reciprocal program up and running soon. If it is to be believed high unemployment levels are being blamed for the flip-flopping around, it could be argued jobs should be created to develop and manage a reciprocal program and letting a similar number of young people out of the country in exchange for letting a similar amount in surely isn’t going to threaten local levels of unemployment significantly.

I know over a dozen south africans living in London and the south-east. I’m putting together their thoughts and opinions over the next couple of days for a story I’m writing on the subject.

If you have comments on the subject leave them here. I’m interested in hearing your experience – did you come here on a working holidaymaker visa? How did it change your life, what opportunities presented themselves to you? Did you take that knowledge back to RSA or did you stay on in the UK? The story will be picked up by national newspapers and the issue will be highlighted.

I’m sure South Africa is a great place but today I think a lot of South Africans have been robbed, I don’t think I entirely care whose fault it is, I don’t think that’s the point, but I believe not seeing a springbok about Soho is a loss for me and a loss for Londoners and I want others to know to what’s going on.

Almost 20 years safter being released from prison and about 14 years since the advent of democracy in South Africa, Nelson Mandela is finally able to loose the tag, ‘terrorist’.

The US Congress has finally passed a bill to remove the name of Nelson Mandela from the list of terrorists.

Since the 1980s a stigma has remained that relates to the African National Congress (ANC), the current South African ruling party and the party which Mandela led. When applying for a US visa those with ANC membership have, until now, had to endure additional investigation.

The US has strict immigration laws that attempt to curb terrorist or potential suspicious entry into the country. However “old legislation such as this that is outdated and not needed should be removed,” says Colin Romberger of www.globalvisas.com, this new bill has therefore been welcomed.

“Congress finally stands ready to rid US immigration law of this anachronistic blight,” said Howard L. Berman, the bill’s author.

This legislation, decided upon on Thursday, now needs to be signed off by President George W Bush. (TB)