Three new South African Visa Facilitation Service centers (VFS) opened in London, Manchester and Edinburgh on August 7, 2015. The new centers provide eligible applicants with expedited processing, shorter waits, extended working hours and a new online tracking system.
The expected processing time for visa applications submitted to VFS centers can range from seven to 30 business days, depending on the type of application, including the day of submission and the day of collection. Actual processing times may change over time. Visa applications can be submitted and passports collected from 8am to 4pm on weekdays, except for public holidays. Passports will be kept at the VFS center during processing.
The South African High Commission in London will no longer accept any applications – all visa applications must go through one of the VFS centers.
Tracking System and Helpline
Applicants can check the status of their applications online and can register to receive text messages informing them of the status of their application at an additional cost. A helpline is also available from 8am to 4pm, which applicants can use to obtain assistance with their applications.
Applicants can utilize a Premium Lounge at an additional cost, where they can be assisted by dedicated staff to complete their applications in a separate lounge to expedite the time spent at the center.
Locations
- The London center is located at 66 Wilson Street, EC2 A2JX London.
- The Manchester center is located at No. 50 Devonshire Street North, M12 6JH Manchester.
- The Edinburgh center is located at 1 Rennie’s Isle, EH6 6QT Edinburgh.
What This Means for Foreign Nationals
Eligible applicants should benefit from more options for visa application submission and passport services, from faster processing and a helpline available for assistance with submission.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].
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