Angolan permanent residency applications submitted without police clearance certificates

Download court order here.

All ACP permanent residency applications were handed in by Scalabrini Centre, to the Department of Home Affairs, on 15 February 2017. If your police clearance certificate arrived after 15 February 2017, this update applies to you.

The Scalabrini Centre has asked that Home Affairs does not make a decision on your application until your police clearance certificate arrives with Home Affairs. This will be addressed in the High Court on 22 June 2017.

Until the court date of 22 June 2017, there is a new court order that protects you. Please download this court order here. Like the last court order, this court order protects you against detention and deportation, and gives you the same rights as the previous court order – such as the right to be employed, study, access primary healthcare and access banks.

Please read the Frequently Asked Questions below. If you still have questions, please email us on acp@scalabrini.org.za.

I handed in my police clearance certificate to Scalabrini after the 15 February 2017. What do I do now?

Your permanent residency application is with Home Affairs. It is just missing the police clearance certificate. We are working out a way to submit this police clearance certificates to Home Affairs. In short, Home Affairs’ response to your permanent residency application is delayed.

You should download the court order, and print it and keep it with you. When Scalabrini goes to court on 22 June 2017, we are asking Home Affairs to wait until they get your police clearance certificate before taking a decision on your permanent residency application. You will not receive a response from Home Affairs to your permanent residency application on 15 May 2016. Your response from Home Affairs will be delayed. As soon as we have more information on when you can expect a response from Home Affairs, we will let you know.

I handed in my police clearance certificate to Scalabrini after the 15 February 2017. When will I receive a response to my permanent residency application?

You will not receive a response from Home Affairs to your permanent residency application on 15 May 2016. Your response from Home Affairs will be delayed. As soon as we have more information on when you can expect a response from Home Affairs, we will let you know via SMS.

I handed in my original police clearance certificate before 15 February 2017 – so my police clearance certificate was handed in to Home Affairs with my permanent residency application. So does this case apply to me?

No. If your police clearance arrived before 15 February 2017, and you gave it to Scalabrini Centre before 15 February 2017, then your police clearance certificate would have been given to Home Affairs with your permanent residency application. You can continue to use the court order until Home Affairs responds to your permanent residency application. If there are any changes or updates to your situation, we will SMS you.

Do I need to come to court on 22 June 2017?

No. You can just wait for updates from us. We will SMS you when we have any more updates for you.
My police clearance still has not arrived. What should I do?

Please find out what is happening with your police clearance application. You can call 012 393 3928 – the Police Clearance hotline, or check online at www.saps.gov.za/services/certificate.php to find out the status of your police clearance certificate applications. If it is still not clear what has happened to your application or you cannot find the certificate, please re-apply for a police clearance certificate. This should be done urgently and you must use a private courier. As soon as your Police Clearance Certificate arrives, bring it to Scalabrini.

I have more questions. Who can I ask?

Please email us at acp@scalabrini.org.za if you have more questions.