1. 2017 National SAH Conference
The Operation of the Dar es Salaam Visa Office
Erin Brouse
Immigration Program Manager
May 30, 2017

2. Office Information Staff Resources: Area of Responsibility:
Immigration Program Manager
Two Canada-Based Visa Officers
Seven Locally-Engaged Support Staff
Area of Responsibility:
Burundi, Comoros, Rwanda, Seychelles, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia
Processing all lines of business (temporary and permanent resident applications in all categories)
2017 Refugee Resettlement Targets:
Privately Sponsored Refugees: 600 persons
Government Sponsored Refugees: 500 persons

3. Key Milestones July 2015 – December 2015: January – December 2016:
Office opening
Full staff complement hired and in place
Majority of inventory transferred from Nairobi
All permanent resident processing counted against Nairobi’s targets
January – December 2016:
Deputy Minister and Assistant Deputy Minister (Operations) visit and travel to Nyarugusu Refugee Camp, northwestern Tanzania
Separate office target assigned, including admissions targets of 350 Privately Sponsored Refugees and 475 Government Sponsored Refugees
January – May 2017:
Refugee selection area travel has taken place to all refugee referral countries within Dar es Salaam’s area of responsibility.
Strengthened coordination with key partners on the ground, including UNHCR, HIAS, and IOM.

4. Refugee Selection Area Travel
Kampala, Uganda
Each trip included two officers and one biometric collection assistant.
All interviews in Kampala are conducted out of the offices of Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS). HIAS provides interpreters and a secure, safe location.
October 2015: 72 cases
March 2016: 95 cases
June 2016: 125 cases
August 2016: 136 cases
December 2016: 143 cases
March 2017: 140 cases

5. Refugee Selection Area Travel (continued)
Nyarugusu Refugee Camp, Tanzania
Two officers and one biometric assistant
April 2016: 95 cases
Lusaka & Meheba Refugee Settlement, Zambia
One officer and one biometric assistant
September 2016: 116 cases
Bujumbura, Burundi
One officer who also collected biometrics
December 2016: 85 cases
Kigali, Rwanda
January 2017: 54 cases

6. Client Profile and Inventory: Government Sponsored Refugees
Total cases in process: 412
Nationality
Democratic Republic of Congo: 88%
Somalia: 5%
Burundi: 4%
Country of Residence
Uganda: 63%
Burundi: 15%
Tanzania: 12%
Zambia: 6%
Rwanda: 4%

7. Client Profile and Inventory: Privately Sponsored Refugees
Total cases in process: 448
Nationality
Eritrea: 33%
Democratic Republic of Congo: 26%
Burundi: 16%
Ethiopia: 12%
Somalia: 8%
Country of Residence
Uganda: 78%
Rwanda: 8%
Burundi: 7%
Tanzania: 4%
Zambia: 4%

8. Visa Office Processing Steps: Privately Sponsored Refugees
File Receipt
File received electronically at Visa Office
Physical file created and associated cross-reference files appropriately linked
Eligibility
Interview letter sent to client via with copy to SAH
Additional documents requested, if necessary
Security
Biometrics collected at interview
Security screening initiated, if required
Medical
Medical exam instructions prepared and sent to IOM
Client contacted by IOM to book medical exam with Panel Physician
Travel
Single Journey Travel Document and Loan Warrant prepared and sent to responsible IOM office, travel booked
Notification of arrival transmission (NAT) sent to Resettlement Operations Centre

9. Processing Challenges
Complexity of territory
Fraud and credibility concerns
Security concerns
Family composition and de facto dependents
Communications challenges

10. Contact Details
To contact our office with a case-specific question: