Home Affairs: a production-industry partner

Source: CPA, 28/09/2017

RSA visa applications just got easier for foreign production stakeholders
If you’ve ever brought a foreign client or production specialist into
the country for a shoot, you know how complicated visa acquisition can
be. And in the fast-paced production industry, with specialists
constantly on the go, you don’t always have the time or the means to
meet the requirements, like regular travellers do.

The CPA and its partner organisations have worked closely with Home
Affairs to make the visa application process easier. And we’ve come a
long way. This is what we’ve done and what it means for you…

Where it all began

Late in 2014, after intense lobbying by the CPA and two partner
associations, Home Affairs granted a special concession to the film
industry. This enables clients working in a supervisory capacity to
enter South Africa on a visitor’s visa, rather than having to apply
for a Section 11(2); a visa that requires the applicant to pre-apply
in their country of residence.

For most clients who come from visa exempt countries, a visitor’s visa
is easy to obtain and there is no pre-approval process - the
endorsement is made in the passport upon entry into South Africa.

This doesn’t apply to all stakeholders, however. A specialist group
(including directors and DOPs) still had to pre-apply, but their
requirements were reduced and their visas processed within five days.

All applicants needed to leverage this concession is a letter issued
by the CPA and its partner organisations. So the Film Industry Visa
Assistance (FIVA) office was formed to handle the admin. Today, FIVA
processes about 12,000 letters per year, providing a life-line to
local companies that wouldn’t otherwise be practical partners for
foreign stakeholders.

Persistent issues

Until recently, despite these concessions, challenges remained that
made filming difficult for production companies and their
international clients.

For instance, as directors and DOPs fall into the specialist group,
they were required to pre-apply for visas in their country of
residence. This was inconvenient because, as they often travelled and
worked in remote locations, it was difficult to visit embassies at
short notice.

Another problem was that each visa was made out in the name of the
company that had applied, meaning that the only work the specialist
could undertake was for that company. If the specialist wanted to work
on another job while in South Africa, they’d have to return to their
country of residence and reapply each time.

The latest updates

After many discussions with the CPA and our associates, Home Affairs
has recently agreed to allow all production-related applicants to
apply for a three-year visa that’s processed within 10 days. This
allows applicants to move between jobs without reapplying for a visa
each time. The only condition is that the local company apply to FIVA
each time, so that an accurate record can be maintained of the work
the specialist is doing in South Africa.

Home Affairs is also issuing extensions on 90-day visas, so that the
Section 11(2) permit can be extended to 180 days. This enables
directors and DOPs to obtain one visa for the entire summer season.

Embracing change

Making use of these special allowances is easy. Just follow these four
steps:
1. Register with FIVA on www.fiva.tv. All applications are made via
the local service provider on behalf of their foreign clients. Do this
as soon as you can, so you’re ready to apply when you need to.
2. Apply for a letter from FIVA. The local service provider must apply
on the client’s behalf and it can all be done online (you’ll find
instructions on the site).
3. Hand in your letter to the South African Embassy, along with the
other required documents, at the visa appointment. FIVA can advise on
these procedures and assist in making emergency appointments, if required.
4. Allow at least five working days for your application to be
processed. Apply as soon as a job is confirmed, to be on the safe side.
Looking ahead

Going forward, the CPA hopes to streamline this process further. For
instance, we think the biometric testing (a process that’s currently
carried out at the South African Embassy appointment) can be done at
the airports. This could make pre-application unnecessary, as visas
could be issued on entry into South Africa.

With our communication channels open and strong, Home Affairs’
recognition of our legitimate and economy-boosting industry is
growing. It’s an exciting time to be a part of it. Until the next
update, may your international production projects thrive!