Immigration during tough times!
I was a bit hesitant to write this story at first, because I think our circumstances are different from most others and we were very fortunate with our immigration. But maybe some of it could help others.
It all started in January 2020, when hubby and I had a conversation about maybe moving back overseas for the sake of our 2 teenage daughters and their future. (we lived in the UK about 18 years ago and our eldest was born in Bristol). We decided to put his CV out to a couple of recruitment companies in the UK. Hubby is on a British passport, as well as our eldest, myself and youngest on SA passports. (we have applied for our youngest daughters British passport also and should receive this soon).
Hubby received feedback from the recruitment agent within 2 weeks with 2 Skype interviews lined up. One company in Malta and one in Ireland for mid February 2020. He was offered both positions.
We weighed out the options and decided on the Ireland position. Ian accepted the position on the 28th of Feb 2020. He was a partner in a business and had to give notice for the month of March in order to severe ties, close accounts, have provident fund and shares paid out etc. I was working from home so no issues there. Girls had just finished term 1 of school. We were set to fly out on 4 April 2020.
We already had all our marriage certificates, unabridged birth certificates etc as we needed these a couple of years ago for the British passport applications.
Then lockdown happened... we were unable to fly (luckily we hadn’t booked any tickets as we were planning on doing that last minute anyway). This actually turned out to be a blessing.
Ian started working at the start of April remotely and invoiced the Irish company as a contractor. We managed to open a “coming to Ireland” bank account with Bank of Ireland with only a phone call and had the salary paid into this, without needing to touch it.
So we waited it out for 2 months...
When the announcement from SA Home Affairs came that we were able to travel, (with proof for purposes of work, study, permanent settlement etc.) we decided it was time to get to Ireland... (we had sold all our furniture and belongings for the departure in April and had been living with the bare essentials in an empty house for 2 months now).
I sent an email to the Irish embassy on Friday 29 May with copies of Ian’s employment letter, British and SA passports, proof of address etc. They came back to us the same day with info regarding repatriation flights and letters/forms we may need. KLM was leaving on 5th June and Air France on 7 June. We chose the 7th. (about R23000 per ticket) We had 1 week to pack and get ready.
And then we were in Ireland!
I had done so much research and had every possible form and certificate ready from what I could gather on this site. Health questionnaires, Transit forms, leaving SA forms, Air France letters, embassy letters etc.
A week before we left, I managed to enroll the girls in school and apply for PPS numbers for Ian and both girls remotely from SA. (these should arrive in the post this week)
The travel/flight was brutal. We had to meet at a designated area at 8:00am on Sunday, to be taken to OR Tambo by bus and police escort. We did our checkin online the day before online. We booked in with all SA passports. We boarded the plane and left JHB at about 13:30. We flew via Reunion and had a light lunch on the plane. The layover at Reunion island was about 2 hrs without leaving the plane. Then off to Paris. We had hot dinner (no choice; chicken and potatoes) Here we had a 9hr transit. We were not asked for any paperwork, merely walked through with our boarding pass and waited at the boarding lounge. Only one coffee shop was open at CDG Airport and we were able to get something to eat and drink during this time. Then from there a quick 1hr20min hop to Dublin Ireland. 36hrs since leaving “home” in JHB.
We went through to the non-EU queue at immigration. Ian and Jade went through first with their British passports and then Amber and myself followed on our SA passports. The immigration officer was very friendly and made a few jokes. He said that if Amber receives her British passport within the 90 days no need to put in an application for her. I have 90 days to apply for my stamp. The only other paperwork he asked for was the Covid-19 passenger locator form. (They hand these out everywhere along the way)
We had a lot of baggage. I mean a lot, as our whole life had to fit into what we could bring along on the flight. Luckily SA only charged us for 1 extra bag of luggage on check in. But it was a mission to cart it all around. We got a taxi van at the airport to bring us to Blanchardstown - €29
The company has sponsored an apartment and car, set up a few minutes walk from Ian’s office, for us to use for 3 months while we find our feet. Ian has a work cellphone, we will organise a sim card for the rest of us. All amenities are set up incl. Wifi (we are able to phone home via watsapp in the interim), Netflix and a fully stocked fridge and grocery cupboard. This means we can save another 3 months worth of euro for a deposit as we can live off of our rands for the time being.
Now we self isolate for 2 weeks, which is great because we were exhausted and jet-lagged, with a bit of air sickness, and after 2 days of rest is only now starting to feel “normal” again.
Important links:
#MapMyMove- Our coaching Services - Confused or lost and need some direction, book a session with us to help untangle the confusion and work out your route of immigration
All family members are Irish, British and/or European Union passport holders
Irish passport holders and South African family members
British passport holders and South African family members
European passport holders and South African family members
All family members are South African Passport holder
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