South African High Commission Reviews Summary

Staff Interaction

Pros:

• "Renuka Dodekar and Sarah Orfi they try to help me out, to make sure I will have my visa for weekend!"
• "The staff there were amazing and I would like to express my thanks for what turned out to be much less of a hassle than I had heard."
• "They were friendly, helpful and bent over backwards to ensure that my renewal application was correct."
• "Staff are actually VERY helpful and unfortunately as frustrated as we are - remember they just doing their job."
• "Staff were polite and efficient."
• "Everyone I spoke to was kind and efficient."
• "The staff were very friendly and helpful."

Cons:

• "Horrible and arrogant staff on phone."
• "Just plain useless! After two trips to London, costing over £150 i get home only to notice my visa hasn't been signed, therefore isn't valid!?"
• "Both the SA high commission and VFS Global provide way below a second class service."
• "Extremely poor representation of South Africa."
• "Phoned well over 30-40 times never answered. Once I got through to an incredibly rude woman who hung up after 30 seconds."
• "The lady at the reception was quite unfriendly in the manner of how she dealt with people."
• "The staff working at this embassy have no customers care skills, they are rude, they don’t answer the phones or reply to emails."

Service Efficiency

Pros:

• "After being told the process would take 4-6 months I was emailed just short of two months to say my passport was ready for collection and the collection process couldn't have been quicker or easier."
• "We paid, got our receipt, and were out of there by about 10:30, despite being 4th to be seen."
• "I received an email at the beginning of December that it was ready for collection."
• "Free service to get documents signed and notarised when selling property in South Africa. Grant was friendly, knowledgeable and service was very efficient."
• "Great service, exceeded my expectations. Thank you!!"
• "I've had a very positive experience. I collected my passport today and received outstanding service."
• "Today my new South African passport arrived. Delivered to me personally at my door through the mail."

Cons:

• "Do not provide any information about the status of visa."
• "Though South Africa partnered with VFS Global for their visa application, the processing time is ridiculously long and you don’t hear from them at all."
• "I’ve submitted my visa application about three weeks ago and haven’t heard anything ever since."
• "They don't answer the phone, respond to emails, tweets or Facebook posts."
• "We sent all the documents needed for renewal of his I.D card and passport in 2019. We have heard nothing back since."
• "Trying to make an appointment for an emergency travel certificate as passport will not be ready in time."
• "Applied for a passport in February and tried to collect it today - got told that they only hold passports for those who applied last year and this year's passports aren't there due to covid delaying the processing."

Communication

Pros:

• "Contrary to other reviews, the High Commission answered my phone calls and directed me to the appropriate people, and responded to my email on the same day it was sent with clear and useful advice."
• "I even called prior to us arriving and my call was answered and the right information given."
• "I emailed in November for an appointment and received one within 3 days."
• "Thank you to lovely Ida who processed my passport application in record time, professionally and kindly."
• "We arrived at our appointment time, were let inside and quickly assisted."
• "The person who assisted us with our application was patient, helpful and efficient."
• "The staff on duty were really helpful with our passport collection."

Cons:

• "Tried calling their offices several times, with no response."
• "They rang me from embassy asking for a document I already submitted. Then I heard nothing for 3 weeks."
• "No reply to phone calls or email."
• "Oh my god. This place is a joke. I applied for a new SA passport more than 6 months ago. I have emailed like 10 times, no response."
• "I have been waiting 9 months for a passport renewal. I email weekly, no response, I try calling, no answer or numbers don't work."
• "15 e-mails asking for appointment, no response."
• "Called 25 times with no answer and a few call declines."