Extensions of Intra Company Transfer Work Permits

In June 2007 parliament passed ammendments to the Immigration Act. One of the ammendments was that Intra Company Transfer Work Permits could now be extended for a further 2 years (making it a total of 4 years that Intra Company Transfer Work Permits could now be extended for).

Unfortunately neither President Thabo Mbeki (who was President at the time) nor the new President Kgalema Motlanthe (who became President in September 2008), have signed the ammendments.

Therefore, even though Parliament has passed the ammendments more than 18 months ago, allowing Intra Company Transfers to be extended, the office of hte President has still not come around to sign it.

Many companies are desperate for hte ammendment to become active once the President signs it, since this would allow qualified staff that have been in SA for two years to remain and contribute to the economy and train South African staff.

It seems very strange that it takes 18 months for a signature to be put under a piece of paper.