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Subject: New Passport Requirements for South African Entry Please be advised that according to Home Affairs Officials at the airport, as from 1st September 2008, the new minimum passport entry requirement for any travelers entering South Africa is a minimum of six blank pages in their passport (including the two endorsement pages in US passports) This means six visa pages for all non US passport holders and four visa pages plus the two endorsement pages for all US passport holders. We have also been advised that if a guest holding a US passport should be travelling to more than four African countries via RSA, then the traveler must have a minimum of one blank visa page for each country to be visited plus one extra blank visa page excluding the endorsement pages in US passports. i.e. a visitor holding a US passport who is visiting five countries via RSA must have a minimum of six blank visa pages on arrival. (Eight blank pages in all including the endorsement pages) Kathi kathi@wildtravel.net 708-425-3552 "The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page." | ||
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And a note from my mother giving me permission? _________________________________ AR, where the hopeless, hysterical hypochondriacs of history become the nattering nabobs of negativisim. | |||
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Kathi, what is the purpose for all the blank pages? just curious | |||
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No explanation was provided by the South African Government. Kathi kathi@wildtravel.net 708-425-3552 "The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page." | |||
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I have no real information as to the true purpose of the blank pages, but if the South African government develops their regulations like the US Government develops its regulations, I can guess how the requirement came to be: The bureaucrat with responsiblity for writing the rule sends out a note to all affected agencies asking for their comments and suggestions. The real requirement can be for a total of one blank page -- one page where a visitor's entry can be documented -- but, if the request for comment goes to six separate agencies, each agency will request one blank page - each documenting the single requirement, for a total of six pages. The bureaucrat writing the rule will never question the obvious duplication, he'll just include the need for six blank pages in the regulation. It's just the way that bureaucracies work -- or don't, if you will. When you get bored with life, start hunting dangerous game with a handgun. | |||
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The immigration folks write BIG and use those fat crayons --------  www.zonedar.com If you can't be a good example, be a horrible warning DRSS C&H 475 NE -------- | |||
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I think that is one of the best explanations of bureaucracy I have heard. Good Hunting,  | |||
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Kat: This is probably an obvious question, however, do these requirements also pertain to a tra veller just passing through: i.e. travelling from the USA to Zim? | |||
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Bryan, If you are "in transit" no. If you are getting your passport stamped (such as overnighting) yes. Kathi kathi@wildtravel.net 708-425-3552 "The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page." | |||
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And they are serious about it too. I was in Joberg when they denied a man entry because of it. This was before they upped it to the 6 page min. | |||
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...and a partridge in a pear tree... Did RSA rethink their initial requirement of a rifle's serial number stamped on all major gun parts? | |||
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Africa Wins Again. | |||
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Based on the times I went thru in 2005 & 2007, yes they have re-tought it. Gun only has serial number on the receiver and thru no problems. The SAPS form still has the spaces to put in serial number for the different parts of the gun But I only filled in the appropriate box for the one number. Good Hunting, | |||
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I second what Wendell said as one of my buddies was denied entry last year because he did not have 2 FULL Blank pages. He had about 5 half pages and they were not having any of it. He actually framed his SA rejection letter. The whole list of reasons to deny entry were (terrorist, criminal, drugs, etc) and then at the bottom was other:, where they wrote not enough pages. He is going to try again next season in Zim. The danger of civilization, of course, is that you will piss away your life on nonsense | |||
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Here's a link on where to send your passport to get new pages: http://travel.state.gov/passport/fri/add/add_850.html Says: "The visa/stamp pages in your passport are full or close to full (less than two (2) to four (4) blank pages)" So you might want to include a note explaining the RSA requirement for 6 pages. Either that or tell them that you're going to be traveling extensively. -------- www.zonedar.com If you can't be a good example, be a horrible warning DRSS C&H 475 NE -------- | |||
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They just ordered a lot of new rubber stamps and need to use them. | |||
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New Update from Napha: SIX PAGES NOT NEEDED IN PASSPORTS Most, if not all of you, will be familiar with the following correspondence that is doing the rounds. “Please be advised that according to Home Affairs Officials at the airport, as from 1st September 2008, the new minimum passport entry requirement for any travelers entering South Africa is a minimum of six blank pages in their passport (including the two endorsement pages in US passports) This means six visa pages for all non US passport holders and four visa pages plus the two endorsement pages for all US passport holders. We have also been advised that if a guest holding a US passport should be travelling to more than four African countries via RSA, then the traveler must have a minimum of one blank visa page for each country to be visited plus one extra blank visa page excluding the endorsement pages in US passports. i.e. a visitor holding a US passport who is visiting five countries via RSA must have a minimum of six blank visa pages on arrival. (Eight blank pages in all including the endorsement pages) “ Having spoken to officials at the South African High Commission in Windhoek, as well as the South African Home Affairs office in South Africa, the following has been advised: - Six blank passport pages is NOT a requirement for entry into South Africa - For Namibians entering South Africa, ONE blank page is required for the visa endorsement (the two-page requirement is for entry into Namibia – Namibian immigration requirement) - Passports must be valid for a period of six months extending beyond the date of entry - Passports must be in tact, reflecting no tampering or damage. Furthermore, such procedural changes must be communicated by the South African Home Affairs office with all airlines, our Manager Passenger Procedures and Facilitation having no knowledge of this apparent new requirement. James van der Westhuizen Acting Manager: Marketing and Customer Services South African Airways, Namibia Johann Veldsman Shona Hunting Adventures www.facebook.com/shonahunting www.AfricanHuntingNamibia.com www.conservation-hunting.com Mobile: +264 81 128 3105 P.o. Box 564 Outjo Namibia Africa | |||
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Considering the Customs officials and bureaucracy in South Africa, I'd hate to be going there right now without 6 blank pages. Some people may not have gotten the word, or the word may not be based in facts on the ground. Better safe than sorry, flying to SA and then having to turn around and fly back home would not be fun. JMNSHO. xxxxxxxxxx When considering US based operations of guides/outfitters, check and see if they are NRA members. If not, why support someone who doesn't support us? Consider spending your money elsewhere. NEVER, EVER book a hunt with BLAIR WORLDWIDE HUNTING or JEFF BLAIR. I have come to understand that in hunting, the goal is not the goal but the process. | |||
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No offence to Shona...but I would take Kathi's advice. She makes a living getting happy hunters to their destination. I am sure if she hears of an offical update she will post it. ****************************************************************** R. Lee Ermey: "The deadliest weapon in the world is a Marine and his rifle." ****************************************************************** We're going to be "gifted" with a health care plan we are forced to purchase and fined if we don't, Which purportedly covers at least ten million more people, without adding a single new doctor, but provides for 16,000 new IRS agents, written by a committee whose chairman says he doesn't understand it, passed by a Congress that didn't read it but exempted themselves from it, and signed by a President, with funding administered by a treasury chief who didn't pay his taxes, for which we'll be taxed for four years before any benefits take effect, by a government which has already bankrupted Social Security and Medicare, all to be overseen by a surgeon general who is obese, and financed by a country that's broke!!!!! 'What the hell could possibly go wrong?' | |||
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Further to the below e-mail send out to you previously , we have been trying to get a letter from Home Affairs but have not been able to obtain updated information in writing and have come across conflicting information in the past couple of weeks. Therefore until further notice, we feel that we should revert back to the original instruction that was discussed with Home Affairs officials on the 28th August 2008. At that meeting, we were advised that persons holding a US passport were being denied entry to South Africa on the grounds that they did not arrive in the Republic with the minimum requirement of two blank visa pages available in their passport. Apparently, the confusion arises from the fact that the last two pages in a US passport are not visa pages and are in fact endorsement pages which may not, under any circumstances, be used by any country outside of the United States for the purposes of entering entry and exit notations and / or Visa's. According to the officials, only pages in a passport that clearly contain the word Visa's at the top of the page may be used for the purposes of inserting entry and exit notations and visa's. At the time of the original meeting, the minimum requirement for entry into South Africa was not less than two blank visa pages. The immigration officials strongly recommended that where a guest intends to visit several countries whilst travelling, then the guest should plan to have at least one blank visa page for every country that they intend to visit, plus one extra visa page. This is because some countries will utilize an entire page for their visa inserts. Guests are to ensure that, before they depart from their country of origin, they have the minimum blank visa pages for each country that they intend to visit as not every African country has an Embassy that is equipped to insert extra pages or to issue travel documents at short notice. We do apologize for sending out some incorrect information but rest assured that we will always keep you up to date regarding visa requirements for the guests. Kathi kathi@wildtravel.net 708-425-3552 "The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page." | |||
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Anybody ever wonder why some countries dwell on such inane things like the number of blank pages in a passport? I guess they don't need a reason....it's their country. Africa is not unique in that aspect, either!  | |||
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Generally, but not always, the smaller the country, the greater the volume of paperwork required to enter it. | |||
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I am glad that after three trips africa is out of my system Mike Legistine actu quod scripsi? Never under estimate the internet community's ability to reply to your post with their personal rant about their tangentially related, single occurrence issue.  What I have learned on AR, since 2001: 1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken. 2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps. 3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges. 4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down. 5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine. 6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle. 7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions. 8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA. 9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not. 10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact. 11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores. 12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence. 13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances. | |||
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Michael Dettore!! You go stand in the corner for telling that big whopper!! And cut me a willow switch!! Rich DRSS Knowledge not shared is knowledge lost... nine more days... | |||
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The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Hunting Travel Forum New Passport Requirements for South African Entry-PLEASE READ
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