I just sent out an e-mail to everyone about getting started on the visa process. YOU WILL NOT BE APPLYING FOR A ONE YEAR TEMPORARY RESIDENT VISA, BUT A ONE YEAR VISITOR VISA. Here is a link to the website where all the information is located. It is a lengthy process, so you need to start working on it. Once everything is submitted, it should only take about a week to process, but getting everything together might take some time. If you live near an embassy, you can take your application and forms to the embassy in person. Take a look at the webpage and start getting the info together.
Here’s all that you will need:
- Applicaiton form BI-84
- Forms BI-811 and BI-806
- A police clearance check
- Copies of your flight itinerary (I will send it as soon as the tickets are secured)
- Proof of insurance
- Passport
- 2 Passport size photos
- Letter from Adventures in Mission (I will send out an updated one with more information in it)
- $72 money order or certified check
Chris and Christina Via (your leaders in Africa) are going through the process right now. They will be submitting everything this week and will keep us updated if you need anything else.
What about 2 passport photos to send in to the embassy?
Hey-
do you know if we need to get fingerprinted or if we just need to get a general police check for our visa application? Sorry for all the questions… I really appreciate you guys! =)
Hey, A few of us live in Canada and the provided link states that we are exempt for 90 days? That sound right?
In response to:
Sydney – You don’t need to get fingerprinted, just a general police background check
Blair – US citizens are exempt for 90 days as well, but you will be in South Africa for many more than 90 days.
I’m starting to fill out all of the paper work stuff now, but have some legal problems. I won’t be able to get police clearance until after July 7th. Let me know if thats a problem.
When you say “proof of insurance” are you talking about health insurance?
Can anybody give me ideas of who to use for international health insurance?
Meghan, I got my health insurance through NYIG, it cost under $300 for the whole trip. http://WWW.nyig.com
Thanks girl! I’ll check it out!
Do we send all this into AIM or do we need to send it somewhere else?
You need to send everything in to the Consulate office nearest you. They are listed on the webpage. However, you can’t send anything yet because you need to include the travel itinerary which I will get to you.
On the South Africa Visitors website, under the “Duration and Purpose of Stay”, it says the “Visitor’s (Tourist) Visas” is only for 90 days or less and if we exceed we need to get a temporary residence permit.
“If your visit would exceed 90 days or if you want to travel to South Africa to study or to work, you will need to apply for a temporary residence permit instead of a visitors visa. Requirements for temporary residence permit is not the same with visitor (tourist) visa.”
Or am I just looking at the wrong area of the website?
Loretta,
This is what we originally thought as well from what we read on the website. But when Chris called the embassy, they told him for what we are doing we don’t need a temporary resident visa, but a one year visitor visa. So go by what is on this blog page.
Do you know if a county police check would be alright? (I’ve lived in the same county my whole life…sad but true). And as far as I can tell, they don’t specify getting a “state check” on their website and so I wanted to make sure I did the right one.
Has anyone gotten a chest x-ray to test for TB? How much was it? Also, I work for a hospital and have a TB test every year would this count instead of the chest x-ray?
Hey Erin,
I had to get the technician to sign off on the form, so yes, I got an actual x-ray, it cost $83.00.
Okay I know I am a leader but i have a question. Where did you guys go for your police clearance check and how long did it take. Im having trouble figuring out where to go i went to my local police and they told me to do it online but online is saying to go to the police. Any help is welcomed i know you arent from michigan like me but maybe it will help me to figure this out. Thanks.
I just went to the police office. I had to fill out a few forms and then they gave me a clearance a few days later. Im from Canada so it might be different.Oh and it only took 2 days I think.
This may be a silly question… but who is this 72 dollar check made out to?!
Don’t send a check! They said it won’t work and now I need to send a money order! But I think it’s to the South African Consulate.
Important..If you live in Canada it is a $79 money order or certified check! I sent them a $72 and I had to mail out $7 to get them to start processing it. Oh and don’t forget a pre-addressed return envelope.
I hope it is all going well for everyone!
Just read on the website that the checks or money orders are to be made payable to SACG.
Prescribed fee of US$72.00 for processing. Additional $16.00 for mailing for out of state applicants ($88.00 in total for out of state applicants) in certified bank check or money order. No personal checks will be accepted.
That is from the website…so do I need to get a money order for $72 or $88?
Mary,
If you’re sending the visa app to a Consulate in your state then you pay $72. It’s $88 if you’re sending it out of state. That site has a link where you can click to find out where you send it based on where you live. That’s how you’ll know.
Thanks Beth! You are the bomb.com!
Haha, you’re welcome!
I went yesterday to get a police clearance check and there’s a county, city, state, and federal check which one do I need?
Erin, a state check is fine.
So, since we’re sending in our passport with the visa app, we’ll need to include a self-addressed envelope too? If so, regular envelope or a big one?
And my church ran a background check on me, because I’m a teacher. I haven’t seen it yet, I’ll pick it up on Friday afternoon. I’m assuming though that it’s the same thing as what the police run? (seems logically it would be..as the police do a background check to give you police clearance)
I have a question! How do we find out who to send it to and who do we make the check out to?
Click on the think up there where it says “website”. When you get to that page, there will be a link on the top that mentions something about where to send it to. Click on that and read down the page.
I’m really lost. Is the clearance we need just simply a criminal/background check? Would a county check work, because its MUCH easier for me to obtain? When I asked the police station they had no idea what a police clearance was and said I’d probably need a background check.
Background check is what it’s referring to. It would be good to do a state background check.
Did anyone ever answer Leahs question about the two pictures? Do we just use our passport pictures or should we go get them re-done?
You need two additional small passport pictures to send in with your visa. You can get them places like costco, kinkos, and i think walmart
Not sure if anyone has tried this yet but, there are actually visa companies that handle all of these questions and arrangements in one shot.
They answer every question, validate all of paper work and payments before mailing, they deal directly with consulates and they guarantee processing times.
Costs a little bit more depending on your desired processing time but it was so so simple.
Of course I used one here in Canada, but I’m sure a quick Google search would be all it took to find American outlets.
Just a thought.