Question 1

What are the visa requirements for immigrating from South Africa to America?

Accepted Answer

To immigrate from South Africa to America, individuals typically need to obtain a visa that aligns with their purpose of entry, such as a work visa, student visa, or family-based visa. The specific requirements and processes vary based on the type of visa sought.

Question 2

What is the process for obtaining a work visa for immigrating to America?

Accepted Answer

The process for obtaining a work visa for immigrating to America involves securing a job offer from a U.S. employer, who will then sponsor the visa application. The applicant needs to meet specific eligibility requirements and go through the application process set by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Question 3

What are the essential steps for moving to America from South Africa?

Accepted Answer

Moving to America from South Africa involves several essential steps, including obtaining the necessary visa, securing accommodation, arranging transportation, transferring finances, and familiarizing yourself with the local laws and customs. It's crucial to plan ahead and ensure all legal requirements are met for a smooth transition.

Question 4

What are some tips for finding a rental property in America as a newcomer from South Africa?

Accepted Answer

When searching for a rental property in America as a newcomer from South Africa, it's advisable to research different neighborhoods, set a budget, work with a local real estate agent, review lease agreements carefully, and consider factors like proximity to amenities, transportation, and safety. Additionally, understanding rental laws and tenant rights can help ensure a smooth renting experience.

Question 5

Do you need a social security number to open a bank account in America?

Accepted Answer

Yes, in most cases, you need a Social Security number to open a bank account in America. However, some banks may offer alternatives for individuals who do not have a Social Security number.

Question 6

What is the difference between emigration and immigration?

Accepted Answer

Emigration refers to leaving one's own country to settle in another, while immigration is the act of entering and settling in a foreign country.

Question 7

What is the EB-5 visa for South Africans?

Accepted Answer

The EB-5 visa program allows South Africans to obtain a U.S. green card by investing in a U.S. business and creating jobs for American workers. It is a popular option for those seeking permanent residency in the United States.

Question 8

How does one obtain an EB-5 visa?

Accepted Answer

To obtain an EB-5 visa, individuals must invest a certain amount of capital in a U.S. business that will create or preserve at least 10 full-time jobs for qualified U.S. workers. The investment amount varies depending on the location of the business, with the standard minimum investment being $1.8 million, or $900,000 if the business is located in a targeted employment area.

Question 9

Should you undergo tax emigration if you live abroad but still have assets in South Africa?

Accepted Answer

Many South Africans find themselves straddling two worlds – their new country of residence and the one they left behind. While many emigrated with no intention of returning, some left undecided. As such, many expats with assets remaining in South Africa now ask: should you complete tax emigration if you live abroad but still have assets in South Africa?
Let’s answer this question with a scenario and then unpack tax residency in South Africa, and its impact on remaining assets.
Scenario: Werner lives and works in the Netherlands, obtaining residency around 2019. He has purchased property there and has no plans to return to South Africa except for family visits. However, Werner still owns property in South Africa that is being rented out and holds money in a fixed deposit, earning interest. Should Werner go through the tax emigration process, or can he continue submitting tax returns on his South African income?
Werner’s situation is typical for South Africans who have relocated abroad. While he may have established residency in the Netherlands, his continued ties to South Africa, mainly through property ownership and financial assets, make his tax situation complex.
Understanding tax residency in South Africa
South Africa has a residency-based tax system. This means that individuals are taxed on their worldwide income if they are considered tax residents of South Africa. Who is a tax resident in South Africa? This gets a little complicated since you don’t have to live in South Africa full-time to count as a tax resident.

SARS uses two tests in determining tax residency in South Africa:
1. Ordinary residence test: This is a subjective and complex legal concept that considers various factors to determine the individual’s “real home” or the country to which they would naturally and habitually return.
Factors considered:
Family ties
Property ownership
Employment
Social and economic ties
Intention to return
2. Physical presence test: This objective test counts the number of days spent by an individual inside the borders of the Republic.
91-day rule: If an individual spends more than 91 days in South Africa in the current tax year and each of the previous five years and more than 915 days over those five years, they’ll be considered a tax resident.
330-day rule: However, if you spend 330 consecutive days outside of South Africa, you’ll cease to be a tax resident from the start of that period.
A tax resident meets either requirement of the two residency tests used by SARS. However, no longer meeting the residency test requirements does not automatically mean that an individual is a non-resident. An individual is still considered a tax resident until they have officially changed their status with SARS by completing tax emigration. As such, an individual can only become a non-resident for tax purposes after successfully ceasing tax residency with SARS through tax emigration.
The implications of tax emigration from South Africa
If Werner were to cease tax residency in South Africa, it would have several implications:
Deemed disposal of assets: Werner would be considered to have disposed of all his assets, except for immovable property situated in South Africa. This could trigger capital gains tax (exit tax) on the deemed disposal of these assets. The property is unaffected by tax emigration as SARS will collect their cut when the property is sold.
Read more: Selling your property in South Africa – the guide to expat Capital Gains Tax implications.
Non-resident tax status: Once he ceases to be a tax resident, Werner would only be liable for tax on his South African-sourced income, such as rental income from the property and interest from the fixed deposit.
Read more: How are residents and non-residents taxed in South Africa?
The exchange control implications of not completing tax emigration
Werner must comply with South Africa’s exchange control regulations when transferring funds out of the country. It gets tricky because exchange control regulations require that individuals provide proof of tax residency when making international transfers.
For expats, this proof must be in the form of a SARS Non-Resident Confirmation Letter. Without this letter, he will find it challenging to sell his South African property or cash in the fixed deposit account and transfer the proceeds out of the country.
As such, it is in Werner’s best interest in this scenario to choose tax emigration sooner rather than later. Thereafter, he can continue to file non-resident tax returns and pay tax only on his South African-sourced income as long as he holds those assets.
FinGlobal: tax emigration specialists for South African expats
Are you confused about your South African tax residency? Let FinGlobal help! Our team of expert cross-border financial planners and tax advisors can guide you through the complexities of South African tax emigration. Whether you’re looking to clarify your tax residency status, streamline your tax affairs, handle tax clearance and tax refunds, or execute your retirement annuity withdrawal – we’ve got you covered. We can even help you get your SARS Non-Resident Confirmation Letter!
Ready to take the next step? Leave your contact details below, and we’ll contact you to discuss your specific needs.

Question 10

What does President Trump's Executive Order to Provide Humanitarian Relief to Certain South Africans mean?

Accepted Answer

On February 7, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order titled “Addressing Egregious Actions of the Republic of South Africa” in response to South Africa’s recently enacted Expropriation Act 13 of 2024. This Expropriation Act purportedly enables the South African Government to seize ethnic minority Afrikaner’s agricultural property.

President Trump said this Executive Order is in response not only to South Africa’s new land law but also because of South Africa’s international court case accusing Israel of genocide.

Read the full story here -

https://www.novahomelovers.com/post/president-trump-signs-executive-order-to-provide-humanitarian-relief-to-certain-south-africans

Question 11

What are the new 2025 visa requirements for Namibia?

Accepted Answer

The new 'Visa on Arrival (VOA)' procedure, which will apply from 1 April 2025, is intended to "simplify travel logistics" when entering Namibia. This was announced by the Federation of Namibian Tourism Associations (FENATA) in a letter to the travel industry.

Read more about the specific requirements of the visa and how to apply here -

Question 12

Do I automatically lose my South African citizenship if I emigrate? How can I reinstate my South African citizenship?

Accepted Answer

South Africans residing in the United States who previously believed they had forfeited their South African citizenship now have a clear path to verify and, where necessary, reinstate it. The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has launched a new digital platform designed to simplify and accelerate this process for South Africans abroad.

The Citizenship Reinstatement Portal, announced by DHA Minister Leon Schreiber, provides an accessible and secure online solution enabling South Africans in the diaspora to confirm their current citizenship status and complete any required steps to restore it. This development is particularly significant for dual citizens who, for decades, risked losing their South African nationality through the acquisition of another citizenship.

Implementation of the Constitutional Court Ruling

The introduction of this system follows the Constitutional Court’s landmark ruling in May 2025, which struck down Section 6(1)(a) of the South African Citizenship Act. For nearly three decades, the provision resulted in the automatic loss of South African citizenship for individuals who acquired a second nationality without prior ministerial approval.

The Court found this provision unconstitutional and confirmed that all individuals who had lost their citizenship under this clause since 1995 must be recognized as South African citizens. This judgment brought long-awaited clarity and certainty to thousands of South Africans living abroad, many of whom had been concerned about the implications for their identity, rights and heritage.

To ensure effective implementation, the DHA developed a modernized verification and reinstatement portal, allowing affected individuals to complete the required administrative steps efficiently.

A Streamlined Digital Platform for Citizens Abroad

The newly launched portal offers a user-friendly interface designed to support South Africans around the world. Key features include:

• Secure digital authentication
• Biometric and document verification
• Direct integration with the National Population Register
• Real-time application tracking

South Africans can begin the process by visiting myhomeaffairsonline.dha.gov.za, creating an online profile, and confirming their contact information. Once registered, users may verify their citizenship status by entering their South African ID number. Individuals whose citizenship remains valid will receive immediate confirmation, while those affected by the former legislation will be guided through a structured reinstatement procedure.

Minister Schreiber noted that the initiative demonstrates the Department’s commitment to providing accessible, efficient, and dignified digital services to South Africans globally. For the South African community in the United States, this represents an important advancement in ensuring the protection of citizenship rights and strengthening ties with the broader South African nation, regardless of geographic location.

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