Zim applicants called to collect permit outcomes

APPLICANTS in Kimberley and the Northern Cape who have applied for Zimbabwean Exemption Permits (ZEP) must collect their outcomes from the local Visa Facilitation Service (VFS) Global permit centres.

The Department of Home Affairs announced that it had completed the adjudication and printing of 178 172 applications for the ZEP.

The opening of the new ZEP was announced on September 8 2017, following the expiry of the Zimbabwean Special Permit (ZSP).

“The application process for the ZEP project, which started on September 15 2017, is meant to regularise the stay of Zimbabwean nationals in South Africa for work, study or legal business,” the department said in a statement.

A total of 180 188 Zimbabweans applied for the ZEP permit, and 180 104 completed the application process.

“The remaining 84 applicants’ fingerprints need to be retaken. VFS has been trying to contact these applicants to no avail. A list of these applicants will be made available on the VFS website as from November 19 2018,” the department said.

The department added that a total of 147 574 had already been dispatched to VFS and 108 485 had been collected.

“The balance of 39 089 is in the process of being collected or sent to the various VFS collection offices. The remaining 30 598 is currently being updated on the department’s system and will be dispatched to VFS. This process will be completed by November 30 2018,” the department explained.

The department also announced that of the 178 172 completed applications, 1 932 applicants had expired passports and therefore could not be processed.

Applicants, who have submitted passports that were about to expire are encouraged to contact the Zimbabwean Consulate to obtain new passports.

The department said it had met with the Zimbabwean Consulate who undertook to expedite the passport applications of those who had applied.

ZEP applicants are encouraged to collect their outcomes from the various VFS offices. The office in Kimberley is Unit 3, Building 2, Agri Office Park, N12, Kimberley.

The closing date to submit new passports is December 15 2018.

– Patsy Beangstrom