How do I pay for Training? Can't get my money through customs.

[frert]

I just found out today that when I go to South Africa all my rand except 5,000 will be taken of me by customs.

I bought 60,000 rand of a the uk's largest currency sellers (won't name them) and went to pick the money up today. Was told today that I can only bring 5,000 into the country and the rest would be seized, but they would be happy to buy the rest back of me today at todays exchange rate. Would have been nice if they told me this on the phone when I bought them. B*$t&ards!

I would appreciate it if anyone who has been to South Africa before could tell me how you payed for your training?

I can't use credit cards. Can't get credit cards. Never signed an electoral register form so my credit rating is screwed.

Was thinking of wiring the money to them. I know this is not wise, but seems like the only option.

I'm due to fly out on Saturday. Tickets have been bought, so I can't back out. Any help would be appreciated.

[BarryW]

i'm planning on doing a telegraphic transfer, takes about the a week for the money to get to its final destination. Apparently you can buy insurance.

Could not find any limitation to carrying foreign currency, but you would take a loss twice, converting to $ and then again to R.

SARS is your friend:ugh:

http://www.sars.co.za/ce/Brochures/Customs/Quick%20Reference%20Guide.htm

[dickyd737]

Sounds improbable to me, why limit cash coming in, if i was you i would bring the cash. What you should have done is brought pounds, you prob would have got more for them here by selling them to someone who wants forex, like me. seriously if you can bypass the banks or currency traders, you save a fortune.:ugh:

[dickyd737]

sounds like your money traders are trying to pull a fast one on you, bring the cash, its highly unlikely that you will have trouble. R60000 is less than our (SA) allowed travel allowance. They blowing smoke uo your butt, whoever told you.

[cavortingcheetah]

:uhoh:

I think that SAR 5k is the amount of cash you can bring in in rands to ZA. You will be given a form on the aircraft and you have to delare on that form what local and foreign currency you have. It does state on the paperwork, the maximum amount of rands you are permitted to bring in in cash, so I am afraid that ignorance is not an excuse. This must be handed to customs. Obviously, if you have lied on the form and you do get caught, you will be at serious risk of havng the money confiscated.
Having said that, I go in and out all the time and the form is usually just casually handed to a customs sort of officer as you go through the green channel. But, they do have stooges in the baggage arrival hall who watch for nervous passengers. Perhaps it would be best to be roaring drunk on arrival and just stagger through?
But you do want to be most frightfully careful carrying that amount of cash with you down there. Travellers have been murdered for much less. In fact the other day a bunch of tourists, I forget of which nationality, were held up on their way out from the airport. The bandits knew exactly how much foreign cash these chaps had on them and the only way that they could have known that would have been from access to that customs form. Still, on request, the armed robbers did leave the tourists their return tickets.:{

May I suggest, as an after thought, that you don't reveal to the currency dealer any details concerning your flight. It is none of their business anyway.

[dickyd737]

Does it say R5000 limit on the form? I dont recall having seen this, i always fill the form in illegibly, because of the gangsterism, pass through intl at joburg 25 times a year.

[cavortingcheetah]

:hmm:

I'm pretty sure that it does although I don't remember whether it was three or five. I regret that I don't have a spare form to hand. I know that the last time I can down I was a little concerned because I had more rands with me than I shoud have had. Personally I wouldn't worry about it too much. No one is going to expect anyone to bring in that much cash in rands.

However, this should clear matters up nicely:

Currency rules
Currency Import regulations:
Allowed RESIDENTS: local currency (South African Rand-ZAR): ZAR 5,000.- in S.A. Reserve Banknotes; foreign currencies and traveller's cheques: unlimited, provided declared upon arrival. NON-RESIDENTS: local currency: ZAR 5,000.- in cash. foreign currencies and traveller's cheques: unlimited, provided declared upon arrival.

It came from this website:

https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/page/customrules/ZA/rules.htm


That, is that, or so it would appear.:eek:

[Contract Dog]

i would not declare it, read the post about corrupt officials giving details to thugs who rob guys as they leave the airport. Put it in your top pocket, walk through the "nothing to declare" line, if they ask what you are doing there, tell them flight training and say you wired the cash to the school, and if they press for proof, tell them you do not carry statements on you that can give your personal bnking details. and DONT go dressed as crew because thy LOVE to search crew for laptops, cameras, watches, gold, diamonds, drugs and other value items. :E

Dog

[The777dream]

Options :

1) Stash it in your jock's :}
2) hit the customs line running and hope they dont catch you
3) bring travellers cheques

All the best i would go with no 3 !!!

cavortingcheetah looks like he has it all cover for you though !!! :D:D:D

[Gigajoules]

It's NOT WISE to even contemplate walking around with that amount of cash on you in good ol' SA. Travellers cheques travellers cheques travellers cheques!!!!

[cavortingcheetah]

:hmm:

I don't know what frert has decided to do but if I were he and carrying the big bucks down there, I wouldn't mention coming in to the country for training at all. I'd just fill in the form -purpose of visit-as a holiday tourist and that is what I would masquerade as, always provided of course that he travels on an EU passport and thus has not had to obtain a 'study type' visa.
Get yourself into the mindset of a tourist coming down for a whoopy drunken holiday and thus walk straight through the green in a relaxed and happy fashion.
I have to say that I have never been asked a question by customs down here and have often gone through the green channel, on my own, with seriously large amounts of luggage. Not smuggling, you understand, just consignments of reflective blow up dolls for the local market now that the Albanian trade at Teasers is drying up!:ooh:

PS: Contract Dog... Thank you for your help, much appreciated. Part 61 is now in the Law and Procedures paper but it poses no problem and a satisfactory download is available from the CAA/SA website.:)

[FatFrank]

Carrying that amount of cash anywhere in the world is dangerous. Buy travellers cheques. I think Marks and Spencer even sell them now !

[ScorchedSue]

Put it on your VISA card before you leave the country - when you arrive at destination - withdraw the money.

Did this several times over my life - with some pretty big sums.

Never had a problem.

No such thing as borders when it comes to credit cards. Every country and every business loves to use them.

SC

[dnk]

You could just transfer the money into my account.
I will give it all back to you, minus the cost of a case of imported beer (and maybe a packet of pretzels), on your arrival!

[birdlady]

I will do one better than dnk and you can transfer it into my account and all for the measly price of a case of amstel. (no teasing its just one of those things you miss like missing sand when you leave the dessert)

Best solution.........go to a bank that recognizes flight training as a formal qualification and under your student visa you should be able to set up an account and then get trusted family member to wire you the money. Not everyone will want rands but this is where major nashing of teeth comes in handy hence family..........;)