Asked by the Customer on 13-04-2015 15:44:05
Question posted in the Immigration Law category relating to Gauteng
Question posted in the Immigration Law category relating to Gauteng
HY I AM ZIMBABWEAN RESIDING IN SA I WAS USING REFUGE CARD ID IT EXPIRED WHEN I WENT TO RENEW IT I WAS 2 MONTHS LATE AND ASKED TO PAY R3000.00 THAT TIME IT WAS 2012/06/08 HOW MUCH MUST I PAY NOW PLEASE HEALP NEED MY PAPERS TO BE IN ORDER
Message from the Attorney
Posted by Att. Patrick on 15-04-2015 09:15:37
Hi there and thank you for your question,
First, I am of the opinion that when you paid the R3,000.00 to renew your refugee card, that payment was actually a bribe of sorts that the official asked you for. That money went into his pocket.
The entire process of applying for refugee status is free. 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 refugee office Centre Manager and/or to the nearest police station. Anyone caught paying or accepting a bribe can be arrested and put in jail.
Was your asylum application approved? Were you given a “Section 24 permit” (also known as a “Refugee Permit”) which officially recognises you as a refugee in South Africa.
If so, that permit is only valid for a period of four years and you must renew it upon its expiry date.
If your permit has expired, then you are unfortunately going to have to renew your refugee card again.
You will need to go back to the office [Pretoria (Marabastad and Tirro)] in order to apply again!
Refugee Reception Office; the Johannesburg Refugee Reception Office is at 31 Planet Avenue, Crown Mines.
If there is a part of the answer which you need more advice on, or clarity please continue in this same thread instead of opening a new question.
Att. Patrick
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First, I am of the opinion that when you paid the R3,000.00 to renew your refugee card, that payment was actually a bribe of sorts that the official asked you for. That money went into his pocket.
The entire process of applying for refugee status is free. 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 refugee office Centre Manager and/or to the nearest police station. Anyone caught paying or accepting a bribe can be arrested and put in jail.
Was your asylum application approved? Were you given a “Section 24 permit” (also known as a “Refugee Permit”) which officially recognises you as a refugee in South Africa.
If so, that permit is only valid for a period of four years and you must renew it upon its expiry date.
If your permit has expired, then you are unfortunately going to have to renew your refugee card again.
You will need to go back to the office [Pretoria (Marabastad and Tirro)] in order to apply again!
Refugee Reception Office; the Johannesburg Refugee Reception Office is at 31 Planet Avenue, Crown Mines.
If there is a part of the answer which you need more advice on, or clarity please continue in this same thread instead of opening a new question.
Att. Patrick
Please remember this is a dialog if you have follow up questions please use the REPLY button and ask. If I did not answer the question you thought you were asking, please respond with the specific question you wanted answered. I hope you found my answer helpful, and you have finished asking your questions, please click on the GREEN ACCEPT button in order to mark the question as closed.
Message from the Customer
i was given refuge status and applied for refuge id and i got it the date on my refuge id and the one on my refuge status hard different expiring date .formal recognition of refugee stetus end date 04/03/2012 id card expired 06/182012 when i went to renew it iwas using my id card date not aware that i should use the date on the on refugee status certificate not the date on the red refugee id card so i was told to go and pay that penult for late payment by the police station which was R3000.00 i was not working that time so let me know what to do now coz i am working
Message from the Attorney
Posted by Att. Patrick on 15-04-2015 15:42:03
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.
Currently, this permit is valid for a period of four years and you must renew it upon its expiry date.
If your permit has expired, your only option is to go back to the Refugee Reception Office; the Johannesburg Refugee Reception Office is at 31 Planet Avenue, Crown Mines and ask them to extend your refugee permit. All you need to take with you is a letter asking them to extend it.
I assume that you went for your interview in 2008 and your application was approved.
Currently, this permit is valid for a period of four years and you must renew it upon its expiry date.
If your permit has expired, your only option is to go back to the Refugee Reception Office; the Johannesburg Refugee Reception Office is at 31 Planet Avenue, Crown Mines and ask them to extend your refugee permit. All you need to take with you is a letter asking them to extend it.
I assume that you went for your interview in 2008 and your application was approved.
Message from the Customer
what letter should i take to them.it 3 years expired and i am failing to renew it please be mo specific about the letter
Message from the Attorney
Posted by Att. Patrick on 17-04-2015 10:40:13
Hi there and thank you for your question,
If your permit has expired, you will need to go back to the offices to have it renewed.
It doesn't matter if the permit expired 1 day ago, or 3 years ago, the renewal process is still the same.
Your letter must be simple, and simply ask that your permit be renewed.
e.g. Dear Sirs,
Please find attached a copy of my refugee permit. My permit expired on ________. I wish to renew my permit. Please can you assist in the renewal of my permit.
Kind regards
If there is a part of the answer which you need more advice on, or clarity please continue in this same thread instead of opening a new question.
Att. Patrick
Please remember this is a dialog if you have follow up questions please use the REPLY button and ask. If I did not answer the question you thought you were asking, please respond with the specific question you wanted answered. I hope you found my answer helpful, and you have finished asking your questions, please click on the GREEN ACCEPT button in order to mark the question as closed.
If your permit has expired, you will need to go back to the offices to have it renewed.
It doesn't matter if the permit expired 1 day ago, or 3 years ago, the renewal process is still the same.
Your letter must be simple, and simply ask that your permit be renewed.
e.g. Dear Sirs,
Please find attached a copy of my refugee permit. My permit expired on ________. I wish to renew my permit. Please can you assist in the renewal of my permit.
Kind regards
If there is a part of the answer which you need more advice on, or clarity please continue in this same thread instead of opening a new question.
Att. Patrick
Please remember this is a dialog if you have follow up questions please use the REPLY button and ask. If I did not answer the question you thought you were asking, please respond with the specific question you wanted answered. I hope you found my answer helpful, and you have finished asking your questions, please click on the GREEN ACCEPT button in order to mark the question as closed.
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