Foreign nationals submitting work permit applications in India during the past two months have experienced significant processing delays due to the absence of the adjudicator of the Mumbai South African Mission in India. Additionally, because the South African Mission in New Delhi has been assisting with work permit processing, services at the New Delhi Mission are also delayed.
Processing times at both offices are over 100 days in some cases, and there are currently no expediting options available.
The delays are expected to continue until further notice as the Missions work through the backlog.
What This Means for Foreign Nationals
Employers should ensure that work permit applications are filed at least four months in advance of their planned start date, and should plan ahead in case the backlogs cause start date delays.
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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