CoRMSA Refugee Status Application Procedure South Africa

Name of the Organization : Consortium for Refugees and Migrants in South Africa (CoRMSA)
Type of Facility : Apply For Refugee Status
Location :Johannesburg
Country : South Africa

Website : http://www.cormsa.org.za/

Related : DHA Application For Refugee Status & Asylum South Africa : www.statusin.org/1937.html

Applying for Refugee Status in South Africa :

There are many people in South Africa who come from many different places in the world for many different reasons. In order to get a job, go to the clinic or hospital or study you need to have documents to show that you are legally in the country.

The entire process of applying for refugee status is free.

If you have come to South Africa on holiday or for a job, you need to have a visa. If you came to South Africa because you were forced to leave your country, you might qualify for refugee status.

Refugee Status :
‘Refugee status’ means that a person has the protection of the South African government and can not be forced to return home until such time as it is deemed to be safe to go back. ‘Refugee status’ is designed to assist people whose lives have been in danger in their own country. If you get ‘refugee status’ you can access most of the same rights as South African citizens except the right to vote.

Eligibility :
According to South African law, people can qualify for refugee status if they can present evidence that their lives have been in danger due to being persecuted in their own countries because of their
** Race
** Tribe
** Religion
** Nationality
** Political opinion
** Membership of a particular social group (people persecuted on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender – such as circumcision – fall into this category).

Note :
** A person can also be granted refugee status if there is war in their country. If you apply for refugee status, you need to show how your life was in danger because of these reasons and why it would be dangerous for you to go back home.
** If you have not come to South Africa because of any of these reasons, you should not apply for refugee status but should apply for a visa.

Application Procedure :

If you have left your country because of persecution and fear for your life if you were to return there then upon arrival in South Africa, you are advised to declare yourself as an asylum seeker at the border. This will inform border officials of your intention and they will issue you with an Asylum Transit Permit. With this document, you can then apply for refugee status at one of the three Refugee Reception Offices. These are located in Pretoria (Marabastad and Tirro), Durban (Greyville), Musina. First you need to get an asylum seeker’s permit from a Refugee Reception Office. This is proof that you have applied for refugee status and are legally in the country. There are often long queues outside these offices so it helps to arrive very early in the morning. It is likely to take a number of visits before you can get into the offices because there are so many people there. Until you get into the Refugee Reception Office and receive your permit, you may still be arrested by the police or immigration officials. You must tell them that you have been trying to apply for refugee status and they must assist you to do this.

Refugee Reception Office
Once you access the refugee office, you are likely to have what is called a first interview. During the interview you should be assisted by a Refugee Reception Officer (RRO) to complete the Eligibility Determination Form.

In the process you will have to respond to questions including :
** Your name
** Your nationality
** Your ethnic group
** Your religion
** The number of people in your family
** Whether you have any identity or travel documents
** If you have been to South Africa before
** Education and work experience
** Whether you have done military service
** A brief statement of the reasons as to why you left your country
** A brief description of your country and place of residence
** Name of organisations/political parties that you have been a member of

Note :
** The answers you give in this interview are very important as the Home Affairs officials will use these to decide whether you qualify for refugee status or not. Later on, you will have a second interview and the officials will look to see that your story is still the same.
** Once you complete the application form with the Refugee Reception Officer, your fingerprints will be taken. A file will be created for you and with this you receive a case number and a file number. It is very important that you write down these numbers in case you lose your permit papers.

Application Cost :
If anyone (interpreter, Home Affairs official, ‘agent’, ‘broker’ or legal counsellor) wants money from you to carry out the interview, issue you with a permit or renew documents, this person is acting against the law and you should report them to the head of the refugee office and/or to the nearest police station. Anyone caught paying or accepting a bribe can be arrested and put in jail.

Documents Required :
Once you have filled in the application form and had your fingerprints taken, you will be issued with a ‘Section 22 permit (also known as an ‘asylum seeker permit’). Home Affairs might either issue the permit on the same day that you filled the application form or might ask you to return at a later date to collect your permit. This permit does not recognise you as a refugee. This is just proof that you have applied for refugee status. If you do not understand something about your permit, ask the Home Affairs official to explain it to you as that is their duty. Make sure you sign your permit and keep this on you at all times. Also make a copy and keep it in a safe place.

Section 22 Permit :
** Once you have a section 22 permit, you are entitled to most of the same rights as South African citizens except the right to vote. You can work, study and go to the clinics or hospitals in the same way South African citizens can.
** Section 22 permits are often valid for one or three months at a time. This means that you have to regularly renew your permit until you are asked to return for the second interview. You should know that this might take many months.

Second Interview :
** The second interview is called the Status Determination hearing and is conducted by someone called a Refugee Status Determination Officer (RSDO). During this interview the RSDO will look at the application form you filled in at the first interview and try to determine whether you qualify for refugee status. The RSDO may ask questions to verify your identity and the country that you claim you are from. You may be asked about streets, languages, cultures, opinion leaders, historical events, etc.
** At this interview, you have the right to be accompanied by a legal representative and an interpreter of your choice. However, the representative is not allowed to intervene in the interview; he or she can only observe. You are also allowed to bring witnesses, affidavits from witnesses or any other evidence that might be important to your case. It can be a good idea to find whatever information you can on the Internet or other places that might have evidence to support your claim.
** Once you have finished this interview, make sure that your asylum seeker permit is renewed and stamped. The RSDO will give you a date when you have to go back to the refugee office to get a decision on your application. This might take 60 days or more. If you are not sure of this date, ask the RSDO!

Application Status :
** When you return to the refugee office to renew your permit after your second interview, they may have already made a decision about your application. They will then give you a letter telling you that your application for refugee status has either been approved or rejected. If they have not yet made a decision on your application, renew your permit as usual and return again when it is about to expire and maybe they will have made a decision by then.
** If your asylum application is approved, you will be given a “Section 24 permit” (also known as a “Refugee Permit”) which officially recognises you as a refugee in South Africa. This permit is valid for a period of two years and you must renew this permit three months before it expires.
** Once you have been declared or recognised as a refugee, you are also entitled to apply for a refugee identity document and a travel document. A refugee identity document is a maroon booklet that will have your picture and details in. You need this to apply for your United Nations Convention Travel Document, which takes the place of your passport.

Appeal Against Rejection of Application For Refugee Status :
** The Refugee Appeal Board is an independent tribunal which offers asylum seekers, who have their applications rejected, a second chance to prove their claims. It is important to seek legal assistance in preparing for your appeal. This usually includes a written statement where you argue why your claim should be approved. There are a number of NGOs that offer free legal assistance to asylum seekers with their appeals.
** The appeal must be handed in to the refugee reception office where you received your letter of rejection. In turn, this office hands over the case to the Refugee Appeal Board. The Board will call you for an oral hearing where you once again are given the opportunity to present your case and reasons for applying for asylum. You will get your appointment for the oral hearing at the Refugee Reception Office when you go there to extend your asylum seeker permit. Note that you cannot phone to receive this information.
** It is important for you to be clear about the reasons why you left your country as well as the reasons why your life would be in danger if you were to return. This information is more important in this hearing than whether you have a job here or not or whether you are currently studying in South Africa.
** When you have finished your appeal hearing, you should expect a decision by the Refugee Appeal Board within 90 days. In the meantime, you must continue to renew your asylum seeker permit and ensure that it remains valid. You are still allowed to work and study as before until such time as you are required to leave the country.

For More Details : http://www.cormsa.org.za/

General Information :
5th floor, Braamfontein Centre,
23 Jorissen Street, Braamfontein,
Johannesburg, 2001,
South Africa.

Email : info@cormsa.org.za
Tel : +27 11 403 7560