For anyone applying for a South African visa, the VFS Global tracking page quickly becomes the most visited site on their browser. You refresh it in the morning, at lunch, and before bed, hoping for a change.

Then, it happens. The status updates to: "Received at Operations Centre."

And then... silence. For weeks.

This ambiguity drives applicants to panic. Does "Operations Centre" mean it is being looked at? Does "Processed" mean it is finished? Why has it been "Dispatched" three times?

The VFS tracking system uses internal logistical terms that are confusing to the average applicant. Here is your expert glossary to decode what is actually happening to your application.

 

The "Black Hole": What "Operations Centre" Actually Means

 

When you see "Received at Operations Centre" (often abbreviated as Pretoria OC), it simply means your application has arrived at the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) adjudication hub in Pretoria.

This is the "Black Hole."

  • The Reality: Your file is now in a massive queue waiting to be assigned to an adjudicator.

  • The Panic: It is normal for the status to stay on this message for 8 to 10 weeks (or longer for Permanent Residency) without a single update.

  • The Advice: Do not panic. Silence here is standard procedure. It does not mean your application is lost; it means it is queuing.

 

VFS Tracking Glossary: From "Submitted" to "Ready"

 

Here is a translation of the most common status updates from "VFS-speak" to plain English.

VFS Tracking Status What It Actually Means Action Required
Application Submitted at VFS You have successfully handed in your documents and biometrics at the VFS branch (e.g., Cape Town or Sandton). None. Relax.
Forwarded to Operations Centre Your physical file has been packed into a secure bag and is on a courier truck/flight to the Head Office in Pretoria. None.
Received at Operations Centre The Waiting Game. Your file has been scanned into the DHA building in Pretoria. It is now in the adjudication queue. Wait. This is the longest phase.
Adjudicated A decision has been made by the DHA official. Note: The tracker will never tell you if it is Approved or Rejected. Get ready. It is moving back soon.
Dispatched from Operations Centre The decision (your passport and letter) has left Pretoria and is on its way back to the VFS branch where you applied. Watch your phone.
Received at VFC (Visa Facilitation Centre) The decision has arrived back at your local branch (e.g., Cape Town VFS). Go! It is ready for collection.
Collected You (or your agent) have picked up the envelope. Open it and celebrate (hopefully).

 

The "Processed" Confusion

 

Sometimes, you might see a status like: "Processed application has been dispatched."

Many applicants have a heart attack thinking "Processed" means "Approved." It does not. In VFS terms, "Processed" just means the administrative action is complete. It is a neutral term. It implies nothing about the success or failure of your visa.

 

Realistic Timelines for 2025

 

Ignore the "6-8 weeks" often printed on old forms. Based on our current daily tracking of client files at savisa.nac-travel.org, here are the realistic wait times for "Received at Operations Centre":

  • Visitor Visa Extensions: 12 - 16 weeks.

  • Critical Skills / General Work Visas: 8 - 12 weeks.

  • Spousal Visas: 10 - 20 weeks.

  • Permanent Residency: 8 - 18 months.

 

How NAC Travel Keeps You Sane

 

The hardest part of the visa process is the uncertainty. When you apply through NAC Travel, you don't just get a tracking number; you get a filter for the noise.

  • Daily Monitoring: We track your application so you don't have to obsess over it.

  • Escalations: If your application is stuck at "Operations Centre" far beyond the standard processing time, we have the channels to escalate inquiries directly with the DHA to trace the file.

  • Collection: We monitor the "Received at VFC" status instantly and can often collect the decision on your behalf (with a Power of Attorney), scanning the outcome to you immediately.

Stop refreshing the page. Let us manage the anxiety while you manage your life.