BRIEFING THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON HOME AFFAIRS: VFS CHALLENGES AND RECOMMENDATIONS

1. BRIEFING THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON HOME AFFAIRS: VFS CHALLENGES AND RECOMMENDATIONS 21 April 2015 1

2. CONTENTS Purpose of the Presentation Background VFS Process Flow Challenges upon VFS inception Impact of VFS Partnering with DHA Key Recommendations 2

3. PURPOSE OF THE PRESENTATION To provide feedback about Challenges and Recommendations on VFS application Processes 3

4. RATIONALE FOR BUSINESS PARTNERING WITH VFS • Swift intervention in managing applications • Paperless environment leading to automation of processes • Bringing-in efficiencies • Improve security through taking biometrics and photographs of clients • Deploy the necessary infrastructure at no cost to the state (offices, staff and technology) • Address capacity challenges through innovative business partnering • Address Auditor-General’s issues – performance audit and lack of files • Put South Africa in a better position to compete for skilled migrants – cut turn around times • New Immigration Amended Act, 2011 • Personal appearance by clients in lodging applications and collecting outcomes • DHA being able to take biometrics of applicants as part of a security measure • DHA offices are not ready for clients to personally present themselves • There is a need to establish centres suited for clients, including VIP facilities • Cost Benefit Analysis • All set-up costs are borne by the service provider, therefore no financial implications to DHA • The service provider collects revenue due to the State & provide daily reconciliation • Less administration burden on DHA side as the service provider is doing daily reconciliation • DHA and the service provider agreed on a handling fee charged to clients (R1350) 4

5. VFS STANDARD FLOOR PLAN 5

6. VISA & PERMIT FACILITATION CENTRE 6

7. VFS BUSINESS SOLUTION – Web-based Application Solution 7

8. VIDEO STREAMING DHA/VFS APPLICATION PROCESS 8

9. Impact of VFS Partnership • Reduced turn-around times and attainment of annual target of 62% 9

10. Challenges upon VFS inception • Designing of DHA Visa Adjudication System (VAS) • Data interface between VAS and VFS • Switching from manual to electronic adjudication (Change management) • Client not used to electronic lodging of applications • VFS system adaptability and resilience to high volumes of applications • Over crowding in centres like Brooklyn (Pretoria) and Rivonia (Johannesburg) • Access to VFS services in East Asia • Abuse of the VFS Appointment System 10

11. Recommendations • Designing an End-to-End Application and Adjudication System • Continued monitoring of agreed data transfer protocol between DHA and VFS • Consolidate positive impact of change management programme • Establishment of VFS accredited business kiosks • Weekly VFS and DHA Steerco to monitor performance and intervene decisively • Opening of new VFS centres in Gauteng Province • Rollout of additional VFS centres in China and India • Reform of the VFS Appointment System to combat abuse 11

12. Thank you 12