Reillusioned
South African looking for information about Romania
Forum posts
87
Contacts
12
About me
South African
Lives in Johannesburg
Speaks English, Afrikaans
Registration: 02 January 2013
Business etiquette in South Africa
In theory, South Africa shares a lot of the common British business practices, so all the basics apply: a lot of "Please and thank you's", and always arrive on time. Dress code tends to be more formal the higher your pay grade is ... ... Read More
Visiting Johannesburg by p2016
Dear all, Hope this finds you well. I am living in New Zealand and planning to visit Cape Town for a conference in June. I am really interested to visit Johannesburg as well. Could someone please advise me if 3 days would be enough to spend time in ...
That's an odd one Pouya ... you wouldn't really bother with Johannesburg unless you had existing business there (most national head offices are located there). It's true that there are a few 'touristy' game farms set up around ... Read More
Looking for South Africans in Romania by Reillusioned
Hey guys, as a South African I'm keen on networking with fellow South Africans who've managed to pull off an emigration to Romania. If you're one or know somebody you can put me in contact with, please drop me a message! Thanks :)
Thanks for the reply Flowers, I only got notified of it when I logged into the website, somehow didn't see the e-mail notification! I will be in Bucharest one day, that's where my wife owns an apartment (plus it seems all the good jobs are ... Read More
Looking for South Africans in Romania by Reillusioned
Hey guys, as a South African I'm keen on networking with fellow South Africans who've managed to pull off an emigration to Romania. If you're one or know somebody you can put me in contact with, please drop me a message! Thanks :)
Hey, thanks for the replies :) Flowers123, do you think your experience going through all the paperwork in Brasov will be the same as it might be in Bucharest? Although the legislation and national coordination centres would still be the same, I ... Read More
Looking for South Africans in Romania
Hey guys, as a South African I'm keen on networking with fellow South Africans who've managed to pull off an emigration to Romania. If you're one or know somebody you can put me in contact with, please drop me a message! Thanks :) Read More
Romanian Residence Card by bilalsheikh
Hi, I am Asian living in UK. I have married a Romanian girl. can somebody please tell me how can I apply for Romanian residence card and what documents I need for it? thanks
Thanks for the detailed answer @fcbayern84 I'm very surprised to hear that there is a home visit! I wouldn't have expected that - where on earth do they find the time for that, or are there just that few applicants? It wouldn't be a ... Read More
Whether johannesburg is safe to live and work by sujitha123
I like to know how safe johneesburg in south africa to live. I am going to deputed by IT firm to south africa for a year how safe johnessburg to live. I am hearing all negative feedback Can any one kindly give a actuals it will give me a good ...
Hi Brisbane. If you read older posts on this thread, you'll see a lot of practical advice I've shared that is still valid. I lived in Johannesburg for three years and was never a victim of crime, so I think I'm qualified to say that ... Read More
Best medical aid/insurance in Romania by Reillusioned
I know that expats are required to prove that they have private medical insurance as part of their application for Romania. Can you recommend any of the major medical aid/insurance companies which are most widely accepted by Romania's private ...
Nice one, thanks! I'm getting the feeling that Romanians aren't big into their medical insurance, and I guess it might have a lot to do with the salary levels. In SA, your car insurance and health insurance are right up there with your rent ... Read More
Representation During Permanent Residence Application? by Reillusioned
The good news is that my foreign wife (I'm South African) is finally ready to apply for her Permanent Residency in South Africa, but unfortunately Home Affairs' page on the process ...
Hi Alie30 ... in the end we unfortunately couldn't submit her application because we hadn't been married the full five years, so we had to wait until this year (we'll be doing the submission in a few months), so we just ended up renewing ... Read More
Best medical aid/insurance in Romania by Reillusioned
I know that expats are required to prove that they have private medical insurance as part of their application for Romania. Can you recommend any of the major medical aid/insurance companies which are most widely accepted by Romania's private ...
Would it be unreasonable to expect at least one small English insert (given that it IS the international language of business) in the starter pack, explaining how to change the language, without *all* of the instructions being in Romanian? I'm ... Read More
Decent Salary to Work in Cape Town by Vishal812
Hello Friends, I am from India and want to shift in Cape Town, South Africa. I have one offer from a multinational company of R30,000/month. Is this is a good salary for a couple to survive in Cape Town. I have heard the average living cost comes ...
You're welcome! If you have any other questions, I'll be happy to help. Read More
Decent Salary to Work in Cape Town by Vishal812
Hello Friends, I am from India and want to shift in Cape Town, South Africa. I have one offer from a multinational company of R30,000/month. Is this is a good salary for a couple to survive in Cape Town. I have heard the average living cost comes ...
Lol Shivaansh, somehow I seem to have become the resident 'emigrating to South Africa' expert, but I'm actually not. I'm just a South African who's lived in Johannesburg and now living in Cape Town. This thread is actually about ... Read More
Best medical aid/insurance in Romania by Reillusioned
I know that expats are required to prove that they have private medical insurance as part of their application for Romania. Can you recommend any of the major medical aid/insurance companies which are most widely accepted by Romania's private ...
Thanks for that extra info Emil. As for the language issue, what was I to think of Medicover, when the link to their main corporate homepage was only in Romanian, with no conventional language-switcher option in the top-right corner? I'm happy ... Read More
Best medical aid/insurance in Romania by Reillusioned
I know that expats are required to prove that they have private medical insurance as part of their application for Romania. Can you recommend any of the major medical aid/insurance companies which are most widely accepted by Romania's private ...
I believe private medical insurance is a requirement romaniac. When I applied for a short-stay visitor's visa the embassy requested me to provide proof of that (fortunately I could just use my current insurance provider), and for long-stay visas ... Read More
Best medical aid/insurance in Romania
I know that expats are required to prove that they have private medical insurance as part of their application for Romania. Can you recommend any of the major medical aid/insurance companies which are most widely accepted by Romania's private ... Read More
Whether johannesburg is safe to live and work by sujitha123
I like to know how safe johneesburg in south africa to live. I am going to deputed by IT firm to south africa for a year how safe johnessburg to live. I am hearing all negative feedback Can any one kindly give a actuals it will give me a good ...
Hi again ItalianMum1 ... Morningside is pretty much 'center of Johannesburg' already! When you look at the map of Johannesburg on Google Streetview, so long as you're living 'inside the loop' of the main circle highway (the ... Read More
Decent Salary to Work in Cape Town by Vishal812
Hello Friends, I am from India and want to shift in Cape Town, South Africa. I have one offer from a multinational company of R30,000/month. Is this is a good salary for a couple to survive in Cape Town. I have heard the average living cost comes ...
A lot of people prefer to pay a monthly subscription for access to a private armed response company (South Africa has many), which has armed guards who will respond in the case of emergencies. This is due to the country's police force frequently ... Read More
Whether johannesburg is safe to live and work by sujitha123
I like to know how safe johneesburg in south africa to live. I am going to deputed by IT firm to south africa for a year how safe johnessburg to live. I am hearing all negative feedback Can any one kindly give a actuals it will give me a good ...
You too Italianmum, let me know how it goes :) If you have any questions, I'm always around by messaging. Read More
Whether johannesburg is safe to live and work by sujitha123
I like to know how safe johneesburg in south africa to live. I am going to deputed by IT firm to south africa for a year how safe johnessburg to live. I am hearing all negative feedback Can any one kindly give a actuals it will give me a good ...
Furnished with three bedrooms? Italianmum, I have to advise against it. I've been down the 'furnished' road myself, and regretted every minute of it. The sheer headache of having to account for somebody else's furniture at all times ... Read More
Whether johannesburg is safe to live and work by sujitha123
I like to know how safe johneesburg in south africa to live. I am going to deputed by IT firm to south africa for a year how safe johnessburg to live. I am hearing all negative feedback Can any one kindly give a actuals it will give me a good ...
Hi Italian Mum I reckon that R50 000 *after* tax will be very good for you! It's well beyond the average household income in South Africa, so you'll easily be able to make it work if you live a 'non extravagant lifestyle'. My wife ... Read More
Romanian Residence Card by bilalsheikh
Hi, I am Asian living in UK. I have married a Romanian girl. can somebody please tell me how can I apply for Romanian residence card and what documents I need for it? thanks
Useful post Yfreaky! Can you elaborate at all on that insurance requirement? I have no clue about the popular medical aid schemes in Romania, and which is considered an 'average' monthly amount to budget for (that would give you something ... Read More
Moving to Johannesburg is it safe please advise
Hi Rishi and Mani, check out this post I shared on a similar forum here: https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=218867&p=2#2316356 There are two pages already to that forum, with a stack of responses from me with info you might find ... Read More
Whether johannesburg is safe to live and work by sujitha123
I like to know how safe johneesburg in south africa to live. I am going to deputed by IT firm to south africa for a year how safe johnessburg to live. I am hearing all negative feedback Can any one kindly give a actuals it will give me a good ...
I've got no clue of the clubbing costs, lol. I guess that depends how much you drink, right? It's not really my scene. As for travelling away, I think you're getting ahead of yourself a bit. My guess is that the average Bed n Breakfast ... Read More
Whether johannesburg is safe to live and work by sujitha123
I like to know how safe johneesburg in south africa to live. I am going to deputed by IT firm to south africa for a year how safe johnessburg to live. I am hearing all negative feedback Can any one kindly give a actuals it will give me a good ...
Medical insurance is to cover you in case you need to go into a private hospital. In South Africa - like most developing countries - the state hospitals provide a basic level of service, but you're much better off if you receive prompt treatment ... Read More
Whether johannesburg is safe to live and work by sujitha123
I like to know how safe johneesburg in south africa to live. I am going to deputed by IT firm to south africa for a year how safe johnessburg to live. I am hearing all negative feedback Can any one kindly give a actuals it will give me a good ...
Hi Mani If you're going to live in Midrand and travel to Sandton, you're going to have to get a car ... public transport is not an option. You *might* be able to take the Gautrain, but unless you're extremely lucky to be living and ... Read More
Home Affairs Lost my Application? by Senith
Greetings from a fellow Expat! Seven (7) months ago, I submitted an application for the renewal of my Temporary Resident Permit (Relative) here in Nelspruit and was told to make a follow-up after 3 months. Three (3) months later, I was told to come ...
That's great news Senith, well done! I'm South African, and my foreign wife and I have gone through a similar sort of dilemma each time she's renewed her visa. For the first four months after applying nobody at Home Affairs will really ... Read More
Decent Salary to Work in Cape Town by Vishal812
Hello Friends, I am from India and want to shift in Cape Town, South Africa. I have one offer from a multinational company of R30,000/month. Is this is a good salary for a couple to survive in Cape Town. I have heard the average living cost comes ...
Vishal, the answer to that question all depends on you. As a South African citizen living in Cape Town with my wife, I can assure you that R30 000 is just enough for a couple to get by with a relatively 'middle-class' lifestyle. Sure ... Read More
Whether johannesburg is safe to live and work by sujitha123
I like to know how safe johneesburg in south africa to live. I am going to deputed by IT firm to south africa for a year how safe johnessburg to live. I am hearing all negative feedback Can any one kindly give a actuals it will give me a good ...
No problem Arjun, I'm happy to help - and hopefully it helps others too. People always talk about 'Sandton' because it's the more prestigious commercial centre of Johannesburg, but I'd be a bit cautious about it. Like I've ... Read More
Whether johannesburg is safe to live and work by sujitha123
I like to know how safe johneesburg in south africa to live. I am going to deputed by IT firm to south africa for a year how safe johnessburg to live. I am hearing all negative feedback Can any one kindly give a actuals it will give me a good ...
Hi Arjun - I have known people who've relied entirely on live-in help, but you'll find that in urban centres the cost of rented apartments is so high that it tends to discourage that arrangement. Domestic workers also tend to not be too ... Read More
The Horrors of Obtaining a Traffic Register Number by The Fabulous Anon
Good morning my expat gumdrops, from the depths of my soul, I have come to humbly ask for your advice. I have no place to turn to anymore, due to varying answers from disapproving officials who do not care what happens to me or anyone else for that ...
I'm guessing you've seen this page? http://www.services.gov.za/services/content/Home/ServicesforForeignNationals/drivingforforeigners/trafficregisternumber/en_ZA#Process It doesn't really contain anything you don't know, and it ... Read More
Whether johannesburg is safe to live and work by sujitha123
I like to know how safe johneesburg in south africa to live. I am going to deputed by IT firm to south africa for a year how safe johnessburg to live. I am hearing all negative feedback Can any one kindly give a actuals it will give me a good ...
Lol Arjun, what is a non-IT person? A chef? A gardener? A stamp-collector? If you're asking whether there are jobs for somebody who doesn't like or isn't able to work with computers, then yes ... generally these would be unskilled ... Read More
Whether johannesburg is safe to live and work by sujitha123
I like to know how safe johneesburg in south africa to live. I am going to deputed by IT firm to south africa for a year how safe johnessburg to live. I am hearing all negative feedback Can any one kindly give a actuals it will give me a good ...
Hi itsvirgo Funnily enough I left Johannesburg for the coastal beauty of Cape Town at the start of this year, but I reckon I can still give you some useful advice. Like I think I've already stated here it's not so much about what suburb ... Read More
Representation During Permanent Residence Application? by Reillusioned
The good news is that my foreign wife (I'm South African) is finally ready to apply for her Permanent Residency in South Africa, but unfortunately Home Affairs' page on the process ...
Thanks for that, but it still doesn't clear up the main question: if it is only about a police clearance, is this submitted in a preliminary phase at a Home Affairs office, and if so why not with the rest of the application documents like usual ... Read More
Representation During Permanent Residence Application? by Reillusioned
The good news is that my foreign wife (I'm South African) is finally ready to apply for her Permanent Residency in South Africa, but unfortunately Home Affairs' page on the process ...
That's pretty tantalising, but where does one get hold of this questionnaire? Also I find it strange that Home Affairs' website is so explicit about all applications needing this permission from the Home Affairs, and yet you say it's in the form of ... Read More
Representation During Permanent Residence Application?
The good news is that my foreign wife (I'm South African) is finally ready to apply for her Permanent Residency in South Africa, but unfortunately Home Affairs' page on the process ... Read More
Cost of living in Romania by expat.com
Hi everybody, It would be very interesting and useful to exchange informations about the [b]cost of living in Romania[/b]. The idea is to help those who would like to live in Romania. Don't forget to mention where you are living Let's compare ...
What who thinks, AfricanRock? My experiences of Romania you can read about all on my blog which I've shared here (www.reillusioned.blogspot.com) ... it's a bit of a mixed bag, but that's life innit? Read More
Renewing Life Partner Visa South Africa
Can't help you with life-partner exactly, as it's slightly different for my foreign wife (I'm South African), but she's renewed a few times and it's always the same story: her current work contract (important so that her visa is correctly endorsed ... Read More
HOW TO GET MARRIED IN SOUTH AFRICA
The easiest and cheapest means of getting married, Emmanuel, is to visit your nearest Home Affairs office. There are no venue hire or catering fees, and all you need is a witness for both the bride and the groom. Just be sure to book the date in ... Read More
Cost of living in Romania by expat.com
Hi everybody, It would be very interesting and useful to exchange informations about the [b]cost of living in Romania[/b]. The idea is to help those who would like to live in Romania. Don't forget to mention where you are living Let's compare ...
Hi Expat-Bloggers There are a couple of important questions people haven't answered here yet: 1: What is the price range of private health insurance in Romania, and to what extent does this cover GP visits? 2: Do employers quote salaries as gross ... Read More
Whether johannesburg is safe to live and work by sujitha123
I like to know how safe johneesburg in south africa to live. I am going to deputed by IT firm to south africa for a year how safe johnessburg to live. I am hearing all negative feedback Can any one kindly give a actuals it will give me a good ...
You don't have to expect any problems - South Africa is 20 years into its democracy as of 2014, so there's no public taboo around interracial couples. Due to the differences in culture in South Africa (more so than overseas) these couples are still ... Read More
Any tips/advice for maximizing the experience of South Africa? by angiepangie
Hello friends, I am a young traveller planning on going to South Africa for the first time for work experience in the next year. I want to ask if any of you have any tips on how to make the most of a trip there? What are the differences in ...
Hi Angie It all depends what you're interested in. If you're interested in seeing the Big 5 animals (Elephants, Lions etc) then you'll want to visit a game reserve like Kruger National Park. If you like hiking, then you can't lose with a trip down ... Read More
Whether johannesburg is safe to live and work by sujitha123
I like to know how safe johneesburg in south africa to live. I am going to deputed by IT firm to south africa for a year how safe johnessburg to live. I am hearing all negative feedback Can any one kindly give a actuals it will give me a good ...
Hi Anil - you'll find that there aren't that many high-rises in Johannesburg. Most of the rich people live in standalone houses, while the upper middle-class prefer the security of apartments in security complexes (typically you're looking at groups ... Read More
Whether johannesburg is safe to live and work by sujitha123
I like to know how safe johneesburg in south africa to live. I am going to deputed by IT firm to south africa for a year how safe johnessburg to live. I am hearing all negative feedback Can any one kindly give a actuals it will give me a good ...
Hi Anil Hotels are too expensive for long-term stay. Generally a 'decent' hotel won't cost you less than R800 a night ... over 30 days you're looking at R24 000 a month then! Regarding Spartan, I'm not 100% familiar with the area, but generally ... Read More
Whether johannesburg is safe to live and work by sujitha123
I like to know how safe johneesburg in south africa to live. I am going to deputed by IT firm to south africa for a year how safe johnessburg to live. I am hearing all negative feedback Can any one kindly give a actuals it will give me a good ...
Sonata, the answer to that is obvious: it all depends on the hotel. If it's in Johannesburg South or Central, then it could be risky. If it's in Sandton, and has a formal star rating (e.g. three-star), then chances are it will be very comfy and safe ... Read More
Applying for a life partner visa while on a tourist permit? by elephants
Hello, I have been reading through the South African Department of Home Affairs website along with any material I can find regarding SA life partner visas on the web and I'm finding that a lot of the information is more confusing than anything else ...
elephants, I wouldn't worry about an over-stay fine if I were you. In South Africa Home Affairs is generally so slow (my wife's visa renewal application took five months instead of one month) that the deadlines are all pretty much moot. So long as ... Read More
Pinnacle Consults: is it real? by ChanTwo
I recently had a Skype interview with Pinnacle Consults for one of its clients. I received a letter offering provisional employment, but where I'm suspicious is in some of the additional information that came with the letter (the text of the letter ...
Guys, anybody offering easy employment in South Africa is immediately trying to scam you: there is no such thing. Secondly, there is no need to even try to hire the services of an immigration consultant - plenty of those willing to fleece would-be ... Read More
Spousal visa for foreigner by Manon Bechard
Hi. I am a mauritian lady marrying a south african guy. Please do you have any info about the spousal visa once we are married. I am in SA under a voluntary visa and this visa will expire in February 2014. We will be married before this but what ...
Hi Manon. I'm a South African guy, married to a European woman. We didn't apply for any special visa for her - just got her a standard six month visa, got married in her second month here (a straightforward affair at a local Home Affairs office - no ... Read More
Questions about shifting to Jo-burg by _castor
Hi, everyone. I've got a contract and will spend at SA next few years of my life. Can anyone - or all together answer few questions ? Thanks ! Let's start 1. What is the taxation scheme ? Should I pay any additional taxes after getting my ...
Haha LebanonAH, that's one of the sort of concerns you will only figure out when you get to Johannesburg. There is no concern about jogging, because most people don't jog - or if they do, they leave it to inside mega gyms (seriously, you've never ... Read More
Questions about shifting to Jo-burg by _castor
Hi, everyone. I've got a contract and will spend at SA next few years of my life. Can anyone - or all together answer few questions ? Thanks ! Let's start 1. What is the taxation scheme ? Should I pay any additional taxes after getting my ...
lebanonAH, I live in JHB and I feel that your experience of the crime is going to be directly proportional to the risks you take. If you... 1: Avoid entering areas you're not familiar (including skipping red traffic lights at night) 2: Keep an eye ... Read More
UK Spousal Visa
Hi Mary A few years ago I tried applying for the UK Spousal Visa and it was rejected (at great cost to me - that application fee isn't refundable!). The two reasons it was rejected was: 1) the official wasn't satisfied that we really intended to ... Read More
Working in England as non-EU spouse of an EU citizen? by Reillusioned
Background: a few years go I applied for a visa to join my EU fiance who was living in the UK with an Indefinite Leave to Remain as a non-EU (South African) citizen. That visa was rejected (at huge expense): apparently there wasn't sufficient proof ...
Hi Bob I'd already found the oisc website, but it's a bit silly because they don't seem to have advisers outside of the UK? At least, I tried the finder - http://oisc.homeoffice.gov.uk/how_to_find_a_regulated_immigration_adviser/adviser_finder/ - ... Read More
Working in England as non-EU spouse of an EU citizen?
Background: a few years go I applied for a visa to join my EU fiance who was living in the UK with an Indefinite Leave to Remain as a non-EU (South African) citizen. That visa was rejected (at huge expense): apparently there wasn't sufficient proof ... Read More
Questions about shifting to Jo-burg by _castor
Hi, everyone. I've got a contract and will spend at SA next few years of my life. Can anyone - or all together answer few questions ? Thanks ! Let's start 1. What is the taxation scheme ? Should I pay any additional taxes after getting my ...
Welcome to JHB Anton - hope it's all you were hoping it to be! Good luck with the car issue. Read More
Endorsement to spousal permit
Well guys, considering that my wife's existing two-year permit had been close to expiry, we filled in a BI-1738 to renew it. Home Affairs in Sandton accepted that, and said we don't need to fill in an extra form for a work endorsement: we just had ... Read More
Endorsement to spousal permit
To anybody who knows about these things, my wife is a foreign citizen living with me (a South African citizen) in Johannesburg. She has a temporary residence permit with a work endorsement, but we now need to apply to renew her TRP. My question ... Read More
Moving and Marriage?
Hi Rolpaha ... in terms of health benefits, I think your best bet is likely to be State healthcare. The fees are far cheaper than private doctors and hospitals, and are based on how much you earn: if you're likely to need regular treatment, you'll ... Read More
An American and new to the South African life. Few questions... by officialtaf
Hello! My name's Taf and I've been in SA for about a month now attending at University of Wits. It seems like people are a little "clique"-ish and not keen on conversation much on campus and I've been trying to understand why. Its been kind of ...
Well Taf, I dunno ... friends don't fall out of the sky. If it's only your first month here I wouldn't be too hard on anything: give it time. Put yourself out there, keep engaging people, and get to know enough about people that they're comfortable ... Read More
Questions about shifting to Jo-burg by _castor
Hi, everyone. I've got a contract and will spend at SA next few years of my life. Can anyone - or all together answer few questions ? Thanks ! Let's start 1. What is the taxation scheme ? Should I pay any additional taxes after getting my ...
Wow Charmedbytheblue, I don't think anybody's ever endorsed my opinions as completely - thanks! Grab a free fan t-shirt at the door, lol. Read More
Hi
"Fun and activities" implies that activities can't be fun, lol. I'd say it all depends how you do it, of course. Read More
Questions about shifting to Jo-burg by _castor
Hi, everyone. I've got a contract and will spend at SA next few years of my life. Can anyone - or all together answer few questions ? Thanks ! Let's start 1. What is the taxation scheme ? Should I pay any additional taxes after getting my ...
You're welcome Castor, I'll be happy to help. Maybe send me a direct message if I don't respond - sometimes the tracking function for updates on these threads doesn't work, so I wouldn't hear your reply. Read More
Questions about shifting to Jo-burg by _castor
Hi, everyone. I've got a contract and will spend at SA next few years of my life. Can anyone - or all together answer few questions ? Thanks ! Let's start 1. What is the taxation scheme ? Should I pay any additional taxes after getting my ...
You're welcome Castor. Yeah, there are entire communities which are behind a single wall and electric fence, with only one exit and permanent guards. Those would be the most expensive. A cheaper alternative is the idea of a 'gated suburb' - this is ... Read More
Questions about shifting to Jo-burg by _castor
Hi, everyone. I've got a contract and will spend at SA next few years of my life. Can anyone - or all together answer few questions ? Thanks ! Let's start 1. What is the taxation scheme ? Should I pay any additional taxes after getting my ...
Hi Castor. You'll find these sorts of questions (and a lot more) get asked and answered a lot on this forum. 1: The majority of working South Africans pay Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax on their salaries: this is deducted by your employer (the more you ... Read More
Residency? South African ID? by Silvana_Arocha
I am bit confused as in what to do next, here is my situation: 1. I am Colombian, with an exceptional skills work permit valid for 5 years, end date 2017. 2. Married in August 2012 to a South African. Now, I would like to know when I am suppose ...
Lol, what would I know? My wife only has regular skills. Lucky Silvana. Read More
Residency? South African ID? by Silvana_Arocha
I am bit confused as in what to do next, here is my situation: 1. I am Colombian, with an exceptional skills work permit valid for 5 years, end date 2017. 2. Married in August 2012 to a South African. Now, I would like to know when I am suppose ...
You're welcome Silvana. I think Home Affairs is so worried by illegal immigrants that anybody doing things completely by the book is a wonderful change for them - they granted my foreign wife a temporary residence permit when the UK rejected my ... Read More
Residency? South African ID? by Silvana_Arocha
I am bit confused as in what to do next, here is my situation: 1. I am Colombian, with an exceptional skills work permit valid for 5 years, end date 2017. 2. Married in August 2012 to a South African. Now, I would like to know when I am suppose ...
Hi Silvana As you're on an existing skills permit, there's no need to change. In my and my wife's experience, each time she renews her temporary residence permit it's renewed for only two years by Home Affairs, so you're better off for now staying ... Read More
Retirement Income
Aah, I see. As luck would have it the Home Affairs website is currently undergoing an upgrade which appears to be running late (it should have completed on February 1), but I'd say that your best bet would be to look at it once it comes back online: ... Read More
Retirement Income
Hi Bass511 The answer to that question is going to depend completely on you: will you be retiring to live independently in your own apartment, or are you looking at moving into a retirement village where some of your services are provided (like a ... Read More
Medicine in South Africa by JayGee
Hi all, I'm new to the site and hope you can help me out: I've been offered the opportunity to volunteer on a meerkat study in the kalahari desert for a year. The university I'm going with are helping me take care of the usual paperwork but the ...
When you google, remember to go to www.google.co.za - it will prioritise websites from South Africa for you in your search results. Read More
Cancellation of my life partner permit by hizlenry
Hi There! My boyfriend is threatening to cancel my life partner permit before I can get my new Visa through the TEOFL course I am taking. I was just wondering how long I will have till I will legally have to leave the country. My course is about 140 ...
Hello Hizlenry. Shouldn't that be 'ex-boyfriend'? Sounds like a nice guy, bringing you to a foreign country and then threatening you. I say it's an idle threat: is your boyfriend going to walk into Home Affairs, wait in a queue for an hour and then ... Read More
Medicine in South Africa by JayGee
Hi all, I'm new to the site and hope you can help me out: I've been offered the opportunity to volunteer on a meerkat study in the kalahari desert for a year. The university I'm going with are helping me take care of the usual paperwork but the ...
Hi JayGee. In South Africa we don't have medicine, although the local medicine man can grind up some lion bones for you to make you mighty strong. Seriously though, asking about cost of medicine when you don't specify what medicine you're looking ... Read More
Advice Needed by Victoria31
Im hoping I can get some advice on my situation. I am from the UK and My partner is from Cape Town. We have been together for just over a year after meeting whilst working on Cruise Ships. I have recently returned from a 6 week stay with him in SA ...
Hi Victoria. You should be able to find all the details you need on the Home Affairs website under Immigration Services and Temporary Residence Permits: http://www.home-affairs.gov.za/ Regarding the three month stay allowance, I'm pretty sure that ... Read More
Decent salary to live in Johannesburg by lebuman
Hello, I received an offer from a company based in Johannesburg of 30000 rand, I assure inhabited, I want to know if it is a decent salary to live there thanks
R30 000? Grab that once if it's a Sunday and twice if it's any other day of the week! It's enough to assure a very nice life - not Lamborghini nice, but middle class comfortable. Read More
Whether johannesburg is safe to live and work by sujitha123
I like to know how safe johneesburg in south africa to live. I am going to deputed by IT firm to south africa for a year how safe johnessburg to live. I am hearing all negative feedback Can any one kindly give a actuals it will give me a good ...
omg Sa11y, my mind boggles. I'm a magazine editor with a University degree and five years' professional experience, and I earn half that. Next time somebody turns down a R35 000 job, just give me a shout. I dance, sing and tell a half-decent joke ... Read More
Is 2000 euro after tax in Bucharest a good salary? by alexgeng
hello, Today my boss in Bucharest offers me a senior software engineer job there with 2000 euro after tax per month, is this a good salary in Bucharest? i am now in shanghai china and get a little bit more than this, so i am really confused, can ...
Alex, a gain of 30% (your 40% gain in cost of living will get diluted by the lower salary) is not a great reason to move countries. There's the culture, the language, the surroundings, the politics, the people (friends and family) ... all of these ... Read More
Whether johannesburg is safe to live and work by sujitha123
I like to know how safe johneesburg in south africa to live. I am going to deputed by IT firm to south africa for a year how safe johnessburg to live. I am hearing all negative feedback Can any one kindly give a actuals it will give me a good ...
Whaaaat? R20 000 before taxes, with only 1-2 year's experience? Is that while working as a surgeon, Sa11y? I've certainly never heard of any starting salary like that, but maybe multinationals pay a bit higher. Read More
Whether johannesburg is safe to live and work by sujitha123
I like to know how safe johneesburg in south africa to live. I am going to deputed by IT firm to south africa for a year how safe johnessburg to live. I am hearing all negative feedback Can any one kindly give a actuals it will give me a good ...
Honestly Sujitha, R12 000 isn't much by Johannesburg standards, although it is very good compared to what the average South African earns. It's just that Johannesburg is a big city, and with a big city comes big expenses! Remember, if your salary is ... Read More
Whether johannesburg is safe to live and work by sujitha123
I like to know how safe johneesburg in south africa to live. I am going to deputed by IT firm to south africa for a year how safe johnessburg to live. I am hearing all negative feedback Can any one kindly give a actuals it will give me a good ...
Hi Sujitha South Africa's mobile phone operators are: Vodacom, MTN, 8ta and CellC Data bundle rates are starting to get slashed across the board at the moment, but it's still very expensive compared to European standards. Like I've said already ... Read More
Learning Romanian in exchange for English tutoring
Yeah, I know a good club for that. It's called 'marriage'. Lol, no kidding - my wife's Romanian and she's a great coach. Read More
Whether johannesburg is safe to live and work by sujitha123
I like to know how safe johneesburg in south africa to live. I am going to deputed by IT firm to south africa for a year how safe johnessburg to live. I am hearing all negative feedback Can any one kindly give a actuals it will give me a good ...
Oh, that should be fine then Sujitha. It really depends on you and how comfortable you are with travelling, and the various shortcuts you manage to find. Personally, I prefer staying within 10km of where I work in Johannesburg - and if you both live ... Read More
Whether johannesburg is safe to live and work by sujitha123
I like to know how safe johneesburg in south africa to live. I am going to deputed by IT firm to south africa for a year how safe johnessburg to live. I am hearing all negative feedback Can any one kindly give a actuals it will give me a good ...
Randburg is a popular working-class suburb in Johannesburg, known for its cheaper rents but suburbs which are more rundown than the trendier parts of the city. You might also find that traffic poses a problem during rush hour, so it all depends ... Read More
Whether johannesburg is safe to live and work by sujitha123
I like to know how safe johneesburg in south africa to live. I am going to deputed by IT firm to south africa for a year how safe johnessburg to live. I am hearing all negative feedback Can any one kindly give a actuals it will give me a good ...
To use your own phrase, Angharad, "such is the consequences" of poorly choosing a landlady, and not staying somewhere you have a bit more independence. Because you made one bad decision, managed to unearth one relic of the past and got burned as a ... Read More
Canadian immigration to South Africa by margiepuffs
Hi all, I am a Canadian citizen, been interning in South Africa under a visitor's visa and am looking to apply for a life partner permit as I moving in with my South African boyfriend to Joburg. Any tips would be greatly ...
Hi Margaret Welcome to South Africa! My best recommendation for you would be to make use of the Home Affairs office in Sandton rather than the one in Germiston. If you've done enquiries you'll find that these are the only two which handle ... Read More
Whether johannesburg is safe to live and work by sujitha123
I like to know how safe johneesburg in south africa to live. I am going to deputed by IT firm to south africa for a year how safe johnessburg to live. I am hearing all negative feedback Can any one kindly give a actuals it will give me a good ...
Any time Sujitha, it's no problem! If there's anything else you'd like to know, just post the questions here. Moving to a new country is one of the biggest changes you can make. Read More
Whether johannesburg is safe to live and work by sujitha123
I like to know how safe johneesburg in south africa to live. I am going to deputed by IT firm to south africa for a year how safe johnessburg to live. I am hearing all negative feedback Can any one kindly give a actuals it will give me a good ...
Well Sujitha, your best bet is to look at these two sites to get an idea of the costs relevant to the area closest to your work. I recommend that you Google 'Privateproperty' and 'Gumtree Johannesburg'. If you're trying to make up your mind on a ... Read More
Whether johannesburg is safe to live and work by sujitha123
I like to know how safe johneesburg in south africa to live. I am going to deputed by IT firm to south africa for a year how safe johnessburg to live. I am hearing all negative feedback Can any one kindly give a actuals it will give me a good ...
Hi Sujitha I've lived in Johannesburg for almost three years, and just like everywhere else it's important to know where's safe and where's not, and to not take unnecessary risks. You soon get used to the simple things like checking that your doors ... Read More