In less than a week, visa applicants with pending waivers and appeal applications still stuck at the Department of Home Affairs (DHA), will find themselves in a precarious position to protect their legal stay in South Africa as the current visa concession is set to expire on 31 March 2026.

While the Minister of Home Affairs, Dr. Leon Schreiber, may once again grant a last-minute extension on the concession as has been done on previous occasions, immigration attorneys at Visa Litigation Services caution that any extension will offer only temporary relief. 

“It does not resolve the underlying uncertainty and risks facing affected applicants. It simply delays the moment when that protection may fall away.”

Desperate Applicants Awaiting Outcomes Should not be Misled

Even if the DHA extends the concession beyond March 2026, many anxious applicants, in their urgency to find a solution, may have already fallen victim to unscrupulous immigration vendors promising to resolve their issues but fail to deliver.

As anxiety grows, so too does the risk of exploitation, says Visa Litigation Services.

Across online forums, community groups and media reports, there has been many complaints about dodgy actors posing as immigration agents, or even impersonating officials from Home Affairs and VFS Global, who manages administrative functions for visa and passport applications. 

Using fake websites and messaging platforms to appear legitimate, these operators prey on urgency, offering false hope in exchange for large upfront payments.

Applicants under pressure to “fix” their status quickly may overlook the following warning signs, only to lose both their money and their legal standing. Red flags include:

• Charging high fees for fake visas or fabricated permits, or “fast-tracking” outcomes at an additional fee
• Promising “inside connections” at Home Affairs 
• Claiming that they can “fix” an overstay 
• Requesting payment in cash, cryptocurrency, or personal accounts 
• Using high-pressure tactics like “act now or face deportation” 

Legitimate immigration professionals will never operate this way.

Stay Vigilant: How to Avoid Dubious Immigration Services

Before engaging any immigration service provider, visa applicants should take steps to verify legitimacy.

Start by confirming that the business is registered with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC). Where legal advice is involved, ensure that the practitioner is registered with a recognised professional body in South Africa.

Applicants should independently verify a provider’s physical presence. There have been instances where individuals visit an advertised address only to find no trace of the business, while building management or security personnel confirm that the entities have vacated the premises months or even as long as two years ago. In some cases, contact numbers listed online are no longer in service, or enquiries go unanswered, despite the business continuing to appear active on websites or social media platforms.

It is also worth noting that, at certain addresses, different entities may appear to operate in succession, with varying registration statuses. This can make it difficult to determine whether a service provider is legitimately established or simply presenting itself as such. 

Applicants should insist on proper documentation, including formal invoices, written agreements, and valid receipts. Asking detailed questions is equally important, as a qualified professional should be able to clearly explain the relevant visa category, legal process, and realistic timelines. Vague or evasive answers should be treated with caution.

VFS Global has repeatedly warned that it does not sell visa appointments. Bookings can only be made through its official website. Any third party offering to secure or fast-track appointments for a fee should be approached with extreme caution.

Fraudsters often exploit this by creating fake websites or sending misleading links that closely resemble official platforms. Applicants should verify website details before making payments or sharing personal information.

The High Cost of Inaction

Despite multiple extensions since 2022, there is currently no certainty that the visa concession will be extended again beyond 31 March 2026.

According to Visa Litigation Services, foreign nationals caught in uncertainty – largely attributed to government processing delays – face limited choices: escalate their pending application through litigation or fly out of South Africa to avoid the serious consequences of overstaying their visa conditions.

Last-minute international travel is increasingly expensive, and departure does not resolve pending immigration matters. It may also disrupt families, employment, and long-term residency prospects.

Immigration lawyers note that escalating these cases and forcing attention on an application that has been pending for too long, may be cheaper than leaving the country in a hurry with skyrocketing oil prices and air fares amid the ongoing attacks in the Middle East. 

Visa Litigation Services maintains that, where delays remain unresolved, litigation through reputable and experienced immigration firms may be the most effective mechanism to compel a decision and protect lawful status before the situation escalates and the risks of falling outside of legal status intensify. 

Written by Visa Litigation Services