New "event visa" to help process 2010 visitors faster

The dedicated counters will allow the department to process the thousands of tourists who are expected to arrive in the country ahead of, during and after the event, much faster.

On Tuesday, 9 December, Home Affairs Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula said this would be the first time that such a visa will be used by a country hosting a major world event. "These visas will be used for both the FIFA Confederations Cup [in 2009] and 2010 FIFA World Cup."

Available free of charge, foreigners will be able to go through a pre-screening and pre-clearance process at selected ports of entry.

This will take place both regionally and abroad, meaning tourists can receive the pre-clearance in their own country before they even arrive in South Africa.

South African immigration officials will be stationed at several of the busiest airports around the world, including Heathrow, Dubai, India and Hong Kong. They will be customer service-trained volunteers and able to speak various foreign languages.

Those passengers who have received pre-clearance by South African immigration officials will be able to arrive in South Africa and go straight through to baggage collection and then customs.

This will enhance the department's ability to facilitate the entry and exit process through the country's borders, resulting in a less-frustrating journey which will lead to a positive impression of the country as a whole.

Complaints in the past regarding immigration processes in South Africa have focused around the lack of speed and professionalism from officials.

The minister said this was an issue that had been given serious consideration and a recruitment and training programme had been undertaken to ensure enough officials are on hand at South Africa's ports of entry.

The minister attended the graduation ceremony of the first group of officials last week.

"They have finished their three month intensive training in Mafikeng at the South African National Intelligence Academy in Mafikeng. They will shortly be deployed to OR Tambo International Airport and Cape Town International Airport," Mapisa-Nqakula said.

More recruits will be trained and ready by January or February next year to add to the number of existing officials already on the ground, she said.

The immigration officials will also be equipped with high-tech devices. These devices will scan passports or travel documents, picking up certain words, and the information will reflect electronically on their computers. This will save time because the official will not have to type out the information.

Their recruitment and intensive training forms part of the department's turnaround strategy aimed at enhancing capacity and modernising immigration services. Key to the programme was the strict criteria used to select immigration officers. They needed to demonstrate that they have integrity and can execute their duties with a sense of pride and security befitting the occupation.

In the context of the turn-around, waiting periods for the first passport applications has been reduced from 41 to 27 days. For purposes of improving the security of documents, the department has procured a new state-of-the-art printing machine for passports which will enable the production of more secure travel documents from March 2009.

The department hopes to better the international best practice times of interaction between the traveller and immigration official which is between one minute and one minute and 30 seconds.

With regard to security, the department's immigration officials will be working with foreign governments and airline personnel to identify irregular migration patters during the course of the events.

Immigration officials will also be working with foreign governments to ensure that undesirable persons that may be a threat to national security do not enter the country, the minister said.

Programme manager for the department's 2010 programme, Morne Fourie said certain minimum requirements had to be met when issuing the special visa.

"You would need proof of purchase of your ticket for the match, meet certain health requirements like holding a yellow fever certificate, have a return ticket and a valid passport," Fourie explained.

The minister said the visas had been finalised and the Confederations Cup next year would be a good test to see how well they work.

Article published courtesy of BuaNews