The easy way of aranging status for a foreign partner

Tips to make the process of regulating your status easier, shorter, more efficient, and even more fun

Have a foreign spouse and are interested in regulating his/her status in Israel? Some points you should pay attention to in order to facilitate the status adjustment procedure.

Before you start – take a deep breath!
The procedure for regulating the status of an Israeli citizen is a complex procedure that may take more than five years.
True, there are couples who manage to have a lightning-speed process of less than a year, we have also seen those, but if you want to make sure that you do not run out of air on the way, you should prepare for a longer duration of the process.
Choose a lawyer that you connect with personally
The lawyer who will accompany your status settlement procedure will have a regular presence in your life throughout the procedure, so it is important that you make a good choice. Meet your lawyer before starting work, make sure you trust him on both the professional and personal level and get going successfully!
All documents were born equal!
In the process, the Ministry of Interior Affairs will require many documents from you. You will need to produce them all to complete the process. Be sure to handle each document request efficiently and quickly and make sure that the document reaches the Ministry of Interior Affairs as soon as possible.

Please note: Among the documents that the couple must submit to the Ministry of Interior Affairs for the purpose of arranging status are: birth certificate, honesty certificate, bachelorhood certificate, marriage certificate (if exists), photos, and evidence proving the sincerity of the relationship between the couple and more. Often, the documents are required with an “apostille” stamp, which is given in the countries of origin of the couple or from the embassy in Israel, depending on the circumstances of the case.
Prepare well for the interview
The interview phase is extremely significant to the success of the process. A good impression of a representative of the Ministry of Interior Affairs will make it easier for you later in the process and will make sure you avoid unnecessary delays. Therefore, it is very important to prepare well for the interview, talk to your lawyer and get as much information from him as possible that will prepare you better for the interview.
During the interview
Come prepared. After eating and some rest and in full concentration. Listen to each question, understand its meaning, and give a true and complete answer. If you did not understand a question – ask the interviewer to phrase the question differently (“I’m not sure I understood the question, can you phrase it again?).
It is important that you convey to the interviewer the message and understanding that you have a real relationship and partnership in life.
Keep your finger on the pulse, and conduct an orderly process
Write down in your Google Calendar any interaction with the Ministry of Interior Affairs. Document every document you sent and every answer you received, and if more than 3 months have passed between communications, consult your lawyer. A short procedure is one in which the intervals between its interactions are as short as possible.
Pay attention to your visa
The Ministry of Interior Affairs is committed to a sequence of visas from the moment you receive the first visa, until the end of the procedure. Note that this sequence is indeed maintained, meaning that your spouse will always have a valid visa.
Do not go abroad without an entry visa
Are you going to visit a family or a vacation abroad? Before each departure abroad, do not forget to check that your foreign spouse has an up-to-date entry visa.
Married? Your gain
The procedure for arranging status with married couples is significantly shorter: if you have submitted all the documents as required, and the foreign spouse is legally residing in Israel, the spouse will be entitled to a B/1 visa at the first meeting of the submission of the documents. Visa B/1 is a tourist visa with a work permission valid for six months, and at the end, if you had a successful interview, you will receive a type A/5 visa that gives the foreigner all the health and social rights (temporary residency).
Submit the application for permanent citizenship / residency on time
Towards the end of the procedure, and as early as possible, submit the forms required for granting citizenship / permanent residency. Like all stages of the procedure, the final stage can be extended, and submitting the application for permanent citizenship / residency at the right time will ensure that you carry out the procedure as short as possible.

Click for more info on citizenship for a foreign spouse in Israel

Good luck!