How do we get started?
Make an appointment to open the file at the Ministry of the Interior, i.e., submit documents. It is unnecessary to physically arrive at the Ministry of the Interior office to set the appointment. You can fill out an online form on the Population and Immigration Authority website or send an email/fax to the visa department of the relevant bureau (on the Population and Immigration Authority website, you can find the form and contact details of the visa department). Mention the names of the spouses, the ID number of the Israeli, and the passport number of the foreigner. Make sure that the address in the Israeli ID card is the updated residential address. You should request in a return email the list of documents required for submission. You are not required to present any documents to make an appointment.
The foreigner is currently in Israel. Does he have to leave the country to start the procedure?
No. The foreigner can stay. The procedure can be done when both spouses live together in Israel.
The foreigner is abroad. How long will it take before he can enter Israel?
The main wait is until the appointment to submit the documents. Then, if no completion of forms is needed, the application is examined, and a decision will be made within a few weeks. If the decision is positive, the foreigner will be given a certain period to enter Israel.
In which bureau should I do the procedure?
The procedure should be performed at the office closest to your place of residence. Keep in mind that if you choose to live in Tel Aviv, Holon, or Bat Yam, you will have to wait many months between appointments, as these are bustling offices. Residents in cities outside the center (Jerusalem, Haifa) will shorten the waiting time for the first visa, temporary residence, and permanent status.
Can we get to the first meeting even if we do not have all the documents?
You must not give up the appointment. It is possible to submit only some of the documents, and a 45-day extension is given to complete all the rest. If the 45 days for completing the forms are not sufficient, another short extension is usually granted. But, if you think the 45 days will not be enough, it is better to postpone the appointment in the first place. (If the foreigner holds a visa, do not forget to extend it until the date of the new appointment).
Must I submit original documents?
The original documents from the foreigner’s country of origin must be presented. Please bring a copy of all the required documents and submit only the copy.
The foreigner has no visa. Is he considered illegal?
You should make the first appointment while the foreigner’s visa is still valid, and then the Ministry of the Interior is obligated to extend it until the first visa of the procedure is issued. If the foreigner does not have a visa, you must set the first appointment as soon as possible. Formally, immunity from detention will be granted only upon submission of the documents.
When and how does the interview take place?
After the documents’ submission, a separate meeting will be scheduled for the interview. Each spouse is asked the same questions individually to see if their answers match. If the interview were successful, a decision would be made to grant a one-year visa.
Can the foreigner leave and enter Israel even before the first visa in the procedure is approved?
The foreigner can leave and enter Israel only if he has a valid visa (tourist, student, expert worker, etc.) and an entry visa to Israel which must be applied for separately.
Will conversion speed up the procedure?
No. A person can perform a formal conversion in Israel only after receiving permanent status and completing the procedure.
This article was written by Adv. Tal Sahar – an expert in counseling, accompanying, and representing mixed couples in the process of regulating status in Israel.
