Getting a Visa for South Africa for Mission Trip

[Hccaldwe 12]

Hello,

 

My wife is an LPR (should have been a citizen at this point but life getting taking that $725...) and we have a mission trip in South Africa next March. She is a citizen of Honduras and thus needs a visa. What is the best way to go about this and how much is it? It seems to be difficult to just find the cost. 

 

Is it best to go tourist or voluntary work? I know some countries (India) you have to choose tourist.

 

Thanks

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

Visa fees are here https://www.southafrica-newyork.net/homeaffairs/consularfees.htm , either $36 or $127 depending on what type of visa she ends up getting, if she is going on missionary work why isn’t her church advising/organizing the visa?

 

There is some information on what visa types are needed for what here https://www.southafrica-newyork.net/homeaffairs/visitorsvisa.htm , I haven’t looked at it in detail. Worse case call the consulate and ask them - you have to apply in person anyway so can always ask at the time even I guess? Phone numbers are on the page linked here too. Don’t bother emailing, you probably will never get that answered.

 

(note that despite the dodgy looking url these are official SA government websites)

Edited December 8, 2019 by SusieQQQ

[Hccaldwe 12]

6 minutes ago, SusieQQQ said:

Visa fees are here https://www.southafrica-newyork.net/homeaffairs/consularfees.htm , either $36 or $127 depending on what type of visa she ends up getting, if she is going on missionary work why isn’t her church advising/organizing the visa?

 

There is some information on what visa types are needed for what here https://www.southafrica-newyork.net/homeaffairs/visitorsvisa.htm , I haven’t looked at it in detail. Worse case call the consulate and ask them - you have to apply in person anyway so can always ask at the time even I guess?

Have to apply in person? Well that just ruins my day. Now I have to figure out how to get to DC.

 

She is the only one and they assumed everyone was a US citizen never crossed their minds, but the in person things makes all that moot.

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

24 minutes ago, Hccaldwe said:

Have to apply in person? Well that just ruins my day. Now I have to figure out how to get to DC.

 

She is the only one and they assumed everyone was a US citizen never crossed their minds, but the in person things makes all that moot.

 No they don’t make it easy. Sorry...

Edited December 8, 2019 by SusieQQQ

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

31 minutes ago, Hccaldwe said:

Have to apply in person? Well that just ruins my day. Now I have to figure out how to get to DC.

 

She is the only one and they assumed everyone was a US citizen never crossed their minds, but the in person things makes all that moot.

Also, are you saying USCs don’t need visas to do mission work in SA? I’m not sure that’s accurate by the way. 

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

Quick search seems to say you do need a visa for missionary work. Or am I misunderstanding what you mean by mission?

 

https://south-africa.travisa.com/VisaInstructions.aspx?CitizenshipID=US&CountryID=ZA&TravelerTypeID=MIS&ResidenceID=US&PartnerID=TA

 

Also found some church specific pages where they detail their procedures for this too (like getting people to a consulate for the visa)

[Hccaldwe 12]

12 minutes ago, SusieQQQ said:

Also, are you saying USCs don’t need visas to do mission work in SA? I’m not sure that’s accurate by the way. 

Unless I misread USC are visa exempt less than 90 days for tourism and that would be my guess the route they go since its only a week. So much information. Thanks for all this. Glad to have the official webpages even with the nonlegit names. So tired of being told the visa fees in rupees.

 

 

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

20 minutes ago, Hccaldwe said:

Unless I misread USC are visa exempt less than 90 days for tourism and that would be my guess the route they go since its only a week. So much information. Thanks for all this. Glad to have the official webpages even with the nonlegit names. So tired of being told the visa fees in rupees.

 

 

Missionary work is not tourism, though, no matter the length of time. That was why I asked if I misunderstood what you meant by “mission trip”. 

[kris&me 572]

you do need a missionary work visa not tourist visa for South Africa

note this from missionary work site in south Africa as you have to report to a missionary training center

there are other requirements also concerning the flight

Will missionaries travel alone to the MTC?

Each missionary is flying from their home state and will connect in major airports such as Atlanta. Missionaries will meet up in major connecting points and continue travel to the MTC together.

When will missionaries get their passport back?

They will receive their passport and itinerary via FedEx about two weeks prior to their travel to the missionary training center.

FBI clearance letter is also needed plus 6 blank visa pages 

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

5 hours ago, kris&me said:

you do need a missionary work visa not tourist visa for South Africa

note this from missionary work site in south Africa as you have to report to a missionary training center

there are other requirements also concerning the flight

Will missionaries travel alone to the MTC?

Each missionary is flying from their home state and will connect in major airports such as Atlanta. Missionaries will meet up in major connecting points and continue travel to the MTC together.

When will missionaries get their passport back?

They will receive their passport and itinerary via FedEx about two weeks prior to their travel to the missionary training center.

FBI clearance letter is also needed plus 6 blank visa pages 

What you quoted above is the arrangements for a specific church regarding flights. I believe that was the LDS page, I did come across it. It does have a lot of general info about what is required for the visas too though.

 

Edited December 8, 2019 by SusieQQQ

[Hccaldwe 12]

I also think we are confusing mission trip with missionary. They are not the same thing.

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

45 minutes ago, Hccaldwe said:

I also think we are confusing mission trip with missionary. They are not the same thing.

I asked that question twice, but you ignored it both times.

 

For the uninformed among us, can you explain the difference? (Wikipedia says it’s the same thing, just that the mission trip is the short term version. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short-term_mission )

Edited December 8, 2019 by SusieQQQ

[Hccaldwe 12]

Well to put it easiest to be a Missionary in the truest sense does require a whole lot of extra stuff. Training, Visa, Support, More Support, Sponsors, Etc. They live in the country and are doing it as a living really.

 

Mission Trips as most people think is really a tourist that volunteers. 

[mich923 23]

21 hours ago, Hccaldwe said:

Hello,

 

My wife is an LPR (should have been a citizen at this point but life getting taking that $725...) and we have a mission trip in South Africa next March. She is a citizen of Honduras and thus needs a visa. What is the best way to go about this and how much is it? It seems to be difficult to just find the cost. 

 

Is it best to go tourist or voluntary work? I know some countries (India) you have to choose tourist.

 

Thanks

I would just call or email the embassy or consulate that you have to go to and explain what you are doing and ask what documents they need. That will probably be the most accurate way to get the information for your situation. They might have a special visa category for what you are doing 

[HRQX 4,145]

21 hours ago, Hccaldwe said:

Have to apply in person?

Yes. "voluntary or charitable activities" is allowed with a visitor's visa: http://www.dha.gov.za/IMMIGRATION_ACT_2002_MAY2014.pdf Page 22