South African Home Affairs made a clerical error and V-listed me
I am a Zimbabwean citizen. I was denied boarding as I was getting on a plane to visit my family, and was told by airport staff that South African Immigration won't allow me to enter South Africa, that they "don't need to give a reason why" and sent me away. This made my life very difficult. I eventually was able to contact an immigration official OR Tambo who informed me that I was V-listed on 13 August 2016 due to a "fraudulent visa". (Please note that this while I was still living in South Africa on a study permit that was valid until 31 December 2019). I then realized upon further inspection of the visa in question, that my institution was listed as "Cape Peninsular University of Technology" by the Department of Home Affairs, when I attended Cape Town Creative Academy and provided the documents to show this. I assumed that they had done their job and read the documents I submitted when applying for the visa, so didn't read every word on it when I picked up my passport with my new visa from Home Affairs. I have been unable to contact anyone at Home Affairs or Immigration, and I remain banned indefinitely despite acquiring a study permit legitimately and legally and leaving a full year before it expired.
I would really appreciate any help or advice you could offer me as this has been a total nightmare. I have all the documents needed to prove this in about 30 seconds, but getting them in front of the right eyes is the tricky part. I believe I deserve compensation for this, in addition to my v-listed status being lifted ASAP. What do you think the likelihood is?
Thanks in advance
Best Answer
The Department of Home Affairs has a website that you can visit to appeal any entry prohibitions http://www.dha.gov.za/index.php/immigration-services/prohibition-appeals
When applying for upliftment after being found in possession of the following.
Fraudulent visas
Fraudulent Permanent Resident
Foreign nationals who were deported
Appealing deportation or order to depart from Republic of South Africa
Good cause rejections
Who has submitted fraudulent documents in support of their application to the Department
We require the following documents .
a detail letter / affidavit of representations
copies of passports
good Cause rejection letter
a copy of the document found to be fraudulent
any other supporting documents in support of the request for an appeal process
The following should be included in an appeal:
email address
contact details
and other references
The appeal must be e-mailed to: prohibitionappeals@dha.gov.za
I would stress that any request for compensation will be seen in a negative light by the South African authorities and your only alternative to the appeal would be to seek legal advice, at great cost and time. Ask any South African - dealing with Home Affairs is a nightmare - and we are their primary customers.
Remember, visa's are a privilege to foreign nationals, and not a right.
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How do I get rid of V list?
One of the most common grounds for being placed on the \u201cV List\u201d is that the individual was found in possession of a fraudulent visa, permit, passport or identity document. If this has happened to you, you may appeal to the Director-General of Home Affairs to overturn the decision and have the prohibition uplifted.How do I get off the V list in South Africa?
In order to overturn one's prohibited status and indefinite ban from South Africa, the affected individual will need to submit an application to the Director-General requesting that his/her prohibited status be waived.What does V List mean?
As far as we can establish, the \u201cV-list\u201d means a \u201cNo Entry\u201d list, which seems to mean that you are a \u201cprohibited person\u201d who is indefinitely banned from entering South Africa.What is the meaning of V list in South Africa?
PROHIBITED STATUS IN SOUTH AFRICA Usually, offending individuals are often told by Home Affairs that they have been placed on the \u201cV-list\u201d and no further follow-up of their prohibited status is ever communicated to them.ID Validation with the South African Home Affairs
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