Being an immigration practitioner for Global Visas, I have noticed a huge trend in South Africans partnering up with Brits and moving back to South Africa.

Because most South Africans in the UK at the moment work in the hospitality industry, we have been inundated with enquiries from chefs and waitresses wanting to take their partners home with them.

Many of the UK visas that are available do not apply to South African working holiday makers and the options to extend in country are limited, therefore they must return home. This means that the Brit will have to follow the Saffa to South Africa if they want to pursue their relationship. 

In some cases it is possible for the South African to apply for a de facto Visa in the UK based on the existing relationship but 2 years of cohabitation is needed to apply for this and since the working holiday maker programme is only for two years, this is 99% of the time an impossibility as the partnership would only have started while the Saffa is in the UK. 

Another problem facing the couple is when applying for a life partner visa for South Africa, one has to prove cohabitation and often the couples do not live together. Compared to the Tier 1, spousal visas and business visas the life partner visa is relatively easy to get as long as you use an immigration practitioner. 

The South African High Commission are relaxed with approving life partner visas as long as there is proof that the relationship has existed for an extended period of time and the department is convinced that it isn’t a marriage/partnership of convenience. 

At www.globalvisas.co.za, we have recognised this trend and we go out of our way to reduce the hassles experienced. With our excellent relationship with the High Commission in the UK and the Department of Home Affairs in South Africa we are bale to apply for visas with great ease. 

We still maintain our 100% success rate for visas for South Africa and we are extremely proud of this feat.