Immigration laywer Stefanie de Saude-Darbandi writes that changes to the critical skills work visa list are expected in March, in addition to changes to immigration and citizenship laws.  

She reports that in December stakeholders were invited to an immigration round table hosted by the Progressive Business Forum, at which home affairs minister Aaron Motsoaledi was the guest speaker.  Senior officials of home affairs also attended.  Prevalent in the discussions were the pending changes in immigration policy as well as issues plaguing the department, chief among them the delays besetting applications and the poor quality of decision-making.  The new home affairs minister committed to an immigration policy beneficial to the country.  This was indicated by his receptiveness to suggestions on improving the quality of adjudication within home affairs, which called among other things for the proper application of the laws to visa and permanent residence applications.  The hope is that the anticipated changes to the country’s immigration policy will result in a critical skills list in the next few months that is more inclusive of the skills the country so desperately needs to attract foreigners who will contribute to establishing a robust SA economy that can lead to a decrease in the unemployment rate and an increase in the number of skilled South Africans.  De Saude-Darbandi says that with Motsoaledi at the helm, there is cautious optimism that the anticipated changes in SA’s immigration and citizenship laws will result in a progressive immigration policy that benefits SA, its people and the economy.

• Read the full original of the article in the above regard at BusinessLive

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