We had to go to the VFS office in Pretoria (this was on the 24th March 2020) to have our visa’s extended. Our appointment was scheduled for the 1st of April 2020 but due to South Africa going on National lock down at midnight on the 26th of March 2020 we wouldn’t be able to make our appointment, so we decided that it would be best to go to VFS today and find out what was the best thing to do.

Our journey started with an online visa application on the VFS website here: https://www.vfsvisaonline.com/DHAFosOnlineVAF/Login.aspx.

You create your account and then apply for the visa service you require.

Our online steps were:

1. Create account
2. Create “New application”
3. Fill out required information in the application
4. Make payment (after payment it did take a few hours for the system to pick-up the payment)
5. Schedule appointment (this is a slow section of the site, so you need patience)
6. Print out documents (the ones you download after you have completed the application online, as well as the additional ones listed below)

Here is a link for the VFS Visa Requirements Information: https://www.vfsglobal.com/dha/southafrica/visitor-visa-section-holiday.html

You can also track your application online once submitted here: https://www.vfsvisaonline.com/DHAOnlineTracking/OnlineTracking.aspx

It was surprisingly quiet when we got there, we had been given adequate horror stories about how busy it would be and to be prepared for the worst, busiest time. Unfortunately we did not have all the required documents and getting them added some extra time to us getting processed, and based on that I have written this to help someone who finds it know what is needed and the process.

We got there late, apparently getting there early is good but thankfully there were not many people and we got our temperatures taken and then were directed to the counter. They had a look at our papers and called someone in who came and wrote today’s date on our appointment letter and signed it and just like that our appointment was right now.

We had tried to prepare everything for this and printed out everything that the website had said we would need, but it turns out there are additional documents needed that the website doesn’t worry about mentioning or clarifying.

The documents checklist said we needed:

• A valid passport which expires in no less than 30 days after the expiry of intended date of departure
• Application being submitted in person
• A statement or documentation detailing the purpose and duration of visit
• A valid return air flight ticket or proof of reservation thereof
• Poof of sufficient financial means

The documents we needed in the end where:

• VFS Appointment letter (you get this when you submit your application online)
• All other documents you are given to download once your complete your online application
• Printed copy of your payment receipt if you pay online (you will need to pay at VFS if you do not pay online, so make sure you have a the means to pay when you are there, I paid online so I am not sure what payment options are available in the VFS office)
• Application for renewal (this is one of the documents generated in your online application)
• Proof of financial means (I thought a bank statement would be ok, but they require 3 months bank statements)
• Proof of residence (they need proof of residence where you will be staying in South Africa, and a copy of that persons ID (I am not sure the requirements if you are staying at a hotel)
• Typed Document stating the reason (This is a letter saying why you wish to extend your stay in South Africa and until what date you would like to extend it. For SADC passport holders this cannot be more than 90 days, basically the duration cannot be for more than the initial time you would get on your visa)
• Copies of your passport
• Your original passport

Once our dates were changed we were told to go through to the main room, we were checked by the guard and his wand and then directed to the first counter where they check we have all the required documents, we had to go twice and get additional documents and both times when we got back we had to wait for another opening as someone else was now being attended to at our counter, so this greatly increased the time we spent there.

After they had checked that we had everything and were happy, we were then told to join the submission queue (the seating was a little confusing as it looks like it is just one set of chairs, but they are actually split up and there is a security guy walking around to assist with telling you were you need to be). Here we waited for our turn and then handed over the case our documents had been put in (apparently you should not open the case as one of the guys in front of us found out. If you are seen opening the case you are told to go back and have your documents checked again, they do not tell you this when giving you the case), they went through our documents again and entered them into the system. Once they had done that they printed a receipt for us to sign and gave them back to us along with the receipt and told us a to join the queue to wait our turn for bio-metrics. We then went in and had our photos and finger prints taken and handed over our folders to the guy in that office and we were done.

We did tick the option to pay an additional R20 for SMS notifications during the online payment, which apparently is a good thing as you then get notifications by SMS instead of having to check online all the time to see if there has been any progress. We did receive an SMS notification the next day informing us that the application had been received.

It was overall a painless and positive experience, I have heard they can be rather disastrous but your attitude also goes a long way in determining the kind of experience you have.

I think those guys are given a list of requirements they have to receive, and then they deal with dozens of people every single day who often do not have them all, I can imagine it would be pretty irritating continually having to explain what documents are required and waiting for people to return only to find they have not gotten them all again.

Anyway we are all in this game of life together and we can all try a little to make it a happier experience for everyone we deal with every day.

I hope this helps someone at some point, and if you know of any changes to this system your feedback would be greatly appreciated so that I can update the article.