FAQ timing of skilled visa process

1. How long will the whole process take? We DO NOT make any predictions on timing of the
process or parts thereof for the following reasons.

a. Each and every occupation, and visa application is different with different scenarios,
all affecting the processing times of a visa. Years ago DHA gave us processing times
that they adhered to. This has changed since 2012 and they now work according to
quotas which are kept confidential, making it impossible to predict or compare
processing times, even if the scenarios are exactly the same. To give you an
example, I had twins, with exactly the same occupation, both single, same work
experience and exactly the same points. One got her visa within 6 months after
lodgement, the other only after 18 months.

b. Sometimes they prioritise a specific occupation, and then those applications are
processed super fast. This applies to both how long it will take to get an invite and
how long it will take to get an approval. The timelines that we can predict, we will,
but once again, these are guidelines and due to the fact that we are dealing with
third parties, they may change their processing times at ANY time.

c. During December January holidays, most processing centres close for about 2-4
weeks and obviously then processing times are affected.

d. Usually from about March to June, processing will also slow down or come to a
complete halt, if DHA and the states have reached their migration quotas

2. How long will it take to get a response via email? We respond within 3 working days,
usually sooner.

3. How long will it take to get an initial assessment of my visa options? We take between 5-
10 working days.

4. How long will it take to receive my documentation lists after I have signed and paid the
contract? 3 working days from when we send you your receipt, usually sooner.

5. How long does it take to complete my skills assessment. The following are estimated
timelines for some of the approved skills assessing authorities we use. Please note these
times can change without warning. These are current ESTIMATES only.

a. Teachers – 6-8 weeks (usually 12 weeks but they have been fast tracking on
instruction from the government)

b. Trade occupations (excluding electricians and plumbers) – 6- 12 months at the

moment.

c. Electricians – 12-24 months depending on availability of assessors to visit South

Africa

d. Plumbers and air conditioning mechanics – 5- 8 months currently.

e. Engineers – 4 -6 weeks

f. Accountants – 5-10 working days

g. IT occupations – 12-16 weeks

h. General professions (Vetassess) – 5-8 months

 i. Quantity surveyors – 12-16 weeks

j. All other occupations – on average 12 weeks

6. How long will it take to do my EOI’s once I have completed skills and English? – 3-5
working days

7. How long will it take to get an invite? – 2 weeks to 2 years. This is impossible to predict due
to DHA and state quotas being kept confidential per occupation. Also invitation rounds are
not done on a regular basis. In the last financial year we had ONLY ONE DHA invitation round
(18 December). States are more regular.

8. How long will it take for the state to approve my state application? On average 2-4 weeks

9. How long do I have to lodge my visa once I get an invitation from DHA? 60 days but we
prefer to work on 50 days in case the system goes down.

10. How long does it take for my visa to be approved once lodged and all medical and other
requirements have been met? 1-24 months with the bulk of approvals being between 6-8
months. Currently teachers are being prioritised and they are taking about 6-8 weeks to be
approved.

11. How long do I have to validate my visa once approved? 95% of approvals get 12 months to
make first entry, but every now and again, we get a strange time such as 3 months. This is
few and far between and the norm is 12 months, but of course, we have to warn applicants
that it is not 100% guarantee.