NewStats: 3,262,192 , 8,176,433 topics. Date: Sunday, 01 June 2025 at 10:22 AM tm2l

Hi Everyone,

I have a quick question to ask. For those that submitted the sponsors bank statement other than their own and a letter of sponsorship stating they are the sponsor for a type of SA visa here in nigeria. Does the Embassy call these sponsors for verification or not, because I have heard cases whereby they won’t even call and they will just put unverifiable sponsorship as a reason for refusal.

Also if you’re not the one sponsoring your visa, is there a need to still attach your bank statement with the sponsor even if there are no sufficient funds in your own personal ?

Gernny:
Exactly as long as the expiration date isn't over one can travel.

Again if you are going to SA with E-visa, you will be stamped in until the expiration date stated on your E-Visa, don't say you weren't warned and arrive SA 3 days prior to the expiration of your E-visa, you will be stamped in until the exact 3 days remaining on the E-visa.

If you overstay on your E-visa you will be banned from entering SA for the next 1 year even if you overstay for just a day.

Be warned!!!

@tryhard regards your second question about the person submitting his own documents along side his sponsor bank acct,is very important to submit his personal statement of acct too,they want too also see that he has the financial means or capabilities to go to South Africa for any purpose he's intending to go for.He has to submit his own along side the sponsor acct

I feel to be on a safer side,is better the applicant should have enough funds in his acct also,this people can be very funny.you can't be very sure if they will accept insufficient funds in his personal acct despite submitting good statement o acct of his sponsor.

Exactly, cos they be thinking, what if the sponsor abandons them? How will they fend for themselves without fund?. Its good for your statement of to be well standing as well as your sponsor, to be on the safe side.

Anu24:
I feel to be on a safer side,is better the applicant should have enough funds in his acct also,this people can be very funny.you can't be very sure if they will accept insufficient funds in his personal acct despite submitting good statement o acct of his sponsor.

Please has anyone gotten their E visa today? My flight is on Saturday, I don't know if I should extend or wait? So confused. Please advise �

I haven’t gotten mine as well. Applied since 21st of December.

Jiol:
Please has anyone gotten their E visa today? My flight is on Saturday, I don't know if I should extend or wait? So confused. Please advise �

U got mine exactly on the 10th day of the working days I applied 22nd december.just know after that 10 working days you get a response

BiyiTudors:
I haven’t gotten mine as well. Applied since 21st of December.

Interesting - shouldn’t they be tackling the delayed processing of long term visa applications from Nigeria (study, work, retired person etc.)? I understand that the rest of the world is also gravely affected by this delay from DHA.

Most people who applied in 2022 between Jan and Aug have their applications stuck in the back Pretoria. None of the emails (IMSqueries, HACC, and Embassy/Consulate emails etc.) and helplines have proffered any helpful aside from the usual “it’s still in process” or even worse, they keep mute. The psychological effect of this delay on applicants is damaging - Spouses forced into long distance relationship, babies of foreigners born in SA without birth certificate, foreign-owned businesses unable to transfer or employ skilled staff, students with ission offers missing resumption dates and so on.

One cannot plan their life long term in SA particularly if they have to wait numerous months or years for long term visas and no one high up in our government is talking about it! The Nigerian press has reported a few but, it seems they have not done enough to draw the attention of our government to the problem or our government has simply ignored the issue or they have chosen to believe false reports or half truths.

It’s a seriously helpless situation - applicants are just stuck in limbo. It’s just not fair.

drmorphine:
Businessday NG -
South Africa to offer Nigeria’s business leaders 10-year visas
South Africa to offer Nigeria’s business leaders 10-year visas
By Our Reporter on January 9, 2023

South Africa carried its “We are open for business” message to Lagos Monday, saying it worked on easing the misery of Nigerians applying for visas into the country and that it will now issue long term visas of up to ten years to proven Nigerian businessmen.

Bobby Moroe, the South African Consul General announced this Monday at a roundtable with the Lagos business community, which was also addressed by Ntakuseni Lambani, head of immigration at the Consulate in the commercial capital. He said the offer places South Africa ahead of all other countries in Africa.

South Africa is also offering Nigerians immigration under the country’s critical skill work visa and those who get it and work for up to five years in the country will be given the opportunity to get full residency status thereafter.

Moroe said his country was keen to promote investment into South Africa by Nigerians and that visa applications under the country’s investor immigration category will be treated expeditiously.

The Consulate receives about 120 visa applications in Lagos daily, but business leaders have long been complaining about the dehumanizing treatment they suffer while applying for South African visas and it is expected that the new offer will ease that pain.


Read also: Visa Free Countries for Nigerians

“I am happy to announce to you that the government of South Africa has been reviewing its visa processes and a lot of improvements are being recorded. Today we can say that henceforth, we will be able to issue 10-year multiple entry visas to the business community in Nigeria.’” Said Moroe.

The Consul General acknowledged that mistakes had been made in the past, but said, “we have been listening and this session with you is a continuation of that process.

He also insisted that with the commencement of the issuance of visas for as long as three years recently, the has been good.

Monday’s dialogue was the first in the series which will also involve a dialogue with of Nigeria’s academia.

It is expected that with the offer of long-term visas, the number of applications will drop, and this should in turn cut the turn-around time for visa application
https://businessday.ng/amp/business-economy/article/south-africa-to-offer-nigerias-business-leaders-10-year-visas/

Please - how long did it take for you to get an outcome?

Domo1000:
I applied February, I have not gotten any response yet...

I have frnds who are still awaiting response...

@Ruchardeleke, Is your study a sponsored one, because I think some guys in March got response last 2weeks (I am not sure if they are under scholarship), although a frnd of mine who is under scholarship and applied in March didn't get response...

The silence here with respect to this study visa issue is too much...

Myself and some of my colleagues that are under the same scholarship already started following up....

We sent someone to the high commission in Abuja to make some enquiry on our behalf, it was then we realized that they had some internal issues but according to them it has been resolved....

If we can come together especially those for study visa, we could make some of our request known...

Myst77:
Please - how long did it take for you to get an outcome?

Did you apply for any ?

Tryhard:
Also if you’re not the one sponsoring your visa, is there a need to still attach your bank statement with the sponsor even if there are no sufficient funds in your own personal ?

I applied for Italy Visa and did not attach my personal statement apart from that of the sponsor, then got the visa.

Here's the thing.

1. Since someone is guaranting all your expenses throughout, then the need for personal state is not necessary
2. But you can't predict the mind of these people. If you don't submit, they may use that against you.
3. But submitting with insufficient funds is another thing, but the sponsor should guarantee you.

It's a tricky situation.

You can attach you statement, but in your letter, reaffirm that the sponsor which is not you would provide all cost

Please how can I apply for South Africa study visa with a baby?
Do I also need to submit my certificates with my application?
Thanks

Really? What date was yours approved?

Gernny:
U got mine exactly on the 10th day of the working days I applied 22nd december.just know after that 10 working days you get a response

It's heart breaking.... I applied since on the 5th of July, 2022 and until now, no outcome... all mails sent, no response. I am even at the verge of losing the opportunity. Just to approve a year Visa with all the documents, I submitted.

quote author=Myst77 post=119943033]Interesting - shouldn’t they be tackling the delayed processing of long term visa applications from Nigeria (study, work, retired person etc.)? I understand that the rest of the world is also gravely affected by this delay from DHA.

Most people who applied in 2022 between Jan and Aug have their applications stuck in the back Pretoria. None of the emails (IMSqueries, HACC, and Embassy/Consulate emails etc.) and helplines have proffered any helpful aside from the usual “it’s still in process” or even worse, they keep mute. The psychological effect of this delay on applicants is damaging - Spouses forced into long distance relationship, babies of foreigners born in SA without birth certificate, foreign-owned businesses unable to transfer or employ skilled staff, students with ission offers missing resumption dates and so on.

One cannot plan their life long term in SA particularly if they have to wait numerous months or years for long term visas and no one high up in our government is talking about it! The Nigerian press has reported a few but, it seems they have not done enough to draw the attention of our government to the problem or our government has simply ignored the issue or they have chosen to believe false reports or half truths.

It’s a seriously helpless situation - applicants are just stuck in limbo. It’s just not fair.


[/quote]

Hi house, I actually applied for a year study Visa to carry out my doctoral research work and here is a delay, I can't just wrap my head over.

Seeing update of back Pretoria, I am even more scared

Please, can I withdraw my application, and get all the documents again and file a fresh application which will be process here in Nigeria.

Rachyekong:
Hi house, I actually applied for a year study Visa to carry out my doctoral research work and here is a delay, I can't just wrap my head over.

Seeing update of back Pretoria, I am even more scared

Please, can I withdraw my application, and get all the documents again and file a fresh application which will be process here in Nigeria.

Well you can but it might take a bit long long, because people who applied in Oct/Nov are yet to receive a response from the consulate. The only solution now is to withdraw your application then reapply again. You might be lucky and get yours within or less than two months because it looks like they treat visa applications randomly.

Rachyekong:
Hi house, I actually applied for a year study Visa to carry out my doctoral research work and here is a delay, I can't just wrap my head over.

Seeing update of back Pretoria, I am even more scared

Please, can I withdraw my application, and get all the documents again and file a fresh application which will be process here in Nigeria.

I actually applied since 5th July, 2022

[quote author=Offsetdrip post=119953567][/quote]

9th

BiyiTudors:
Really? What date was yours approved?

Rands available, Rate is 43

Interesting

They sent me this reply today.

Gernny:
9th

BiyiTudors:
Interesting

They sent me this reply today.

Oh nooo. Does this mean no hope anytime soon? Since 22nd!

Gernny:
9th

You're so lucky oo. What documents did you submit please? Thanks

BiyiTudors:
Interesting

They sent me this reply today.

Did you apply using VFS eVisa website? Or you applied directly using the DHA route. It’s scary saying they don’t have info on your application if you actually used their platform to apply.

No idea

Jiol:

Oh nooo. Does this mean no hope anytime soon? Since 22nd!

VFS EVisa website

H100:



Did you apply using VFS eVisa website? Or you applied directly using the DHA route. It’s scary saying they don’t have info on your application if you actually used their platform to apply.

Yours is more than 10days sha.

Jiol:

Oh nooo. Does this mean no hope anytime soon? Since 22nd!

!

Withdrawing is an option to consider at this point but, factor in a processing time of 3-4 months at the embassy just for the sake of your own sanity.

As for long term visa applications submitted between Jan-Aug 2022 that are being processed in Pretoria, based on some private group forums on SA visa, the average processing time could be between 6-8 months, worst case 1 year. I think they may be giving priority to some countries, sadly while being slow with other countries like India and potentially, Nigeria.

According to this news report: https://www.businessinsider.co.za/amp/south-africa-home-affairs-visa-backlog-cleared-in-2024-2022-12, they have like over 56,000 pending applications to process by 2024 LOL, insane!

Rachyekong:
Hi house, I actually applied for a year study Visa to carry out my doctoral research work and here is a delay, I can't just wrap my head over.

Seeing update of back Pretoria, I am even more scared

Please, can I withdraw my application, and get all the documents again and file a fresh application which will be process here in Nigeria.

Applied via DHA since 27th JULY 2022, they just sent me a rejection mail this morning. (Reason: travel date has lapsed) when it's almost 6 months!