fast-tracking at the expense of quality

The department is saying one thing, but the reality is something else - my attorney has advised that the department (Pretoria hub) is not talking to members of the public/attorneys.  The reports should also get input from applicants and their attorneys.  Fast-tracking applications will inevitably result in a compromise in quality of adjudications.  The question is how many of these applications are being rejected for reasons that are not in line with the immigration act, only to be successfully appealed at a later date...

Home affairs ‘making headway’ in permit backlogs

LOYISO LANGENI

Published: 2011/02/22 07:14:27 AM

CENTRALISING the process for foreigners to apply to the Department of Home Affairs for a variety of permits had reduced the backlog from 38039 to 13677 outstanding applications, the department said yesterday.

The delay in processing work permit applications in particular has in some quarters damaged SA’s reputation as an attractive destination for scarce skills from abroad. Permit applications lodged with the department’s regional offices took months, and in some cases years, to process due to the absence of a coherent and sophisticated IT system.

The applications — for study permits, work permits, business permits, and temporary and permanent residence permits — did not include applications by undocumented Zimbabweans under the special dispensation, which required them to apply before the end of last year.

"Through centralisation (in Pretoria), the d epartment has assumed full control and accountability over all permit applications submitted at all our regional offices across the country," department director-general Mkuseli Apleni said yesterday.

"In this regard we also have implemented a filing system where all permits are held according to provinces, offices, category and date."

Mr Apleni said the backlog should be completed by next month as the department dealt with 1600 applications a day on average . An in-house courier service has also been established by the department to accept and dispatch all permit applications in time to their recipients.

Other innovations include upgrading the department’s IT system to allow applicants to track their applications online.

The turnaround time for processing a temporary residence permit is now four weeks, and six months for a permanent residence permit.

So far, t he department has processed 66000 of the 275000 applications by Zimbabweans who have applied to legalise their status in SA. The department plans to address this deficit by the end of June.

Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma is meeting her Zimbabwean counterpart in Pretoria today to discuss the plight of undocumented Zimbabwean nationals in SA.

Ms Dlamini-Zuma will also give feedback about the special dispensation for Zimbabwean nationals to legalise their stay.

http://www.businessday.co.za/Articles/Content.aspx?id=135002