Status for Israeli spouses from post-Soviet states

A large number of applications for status regularization in Israel are submitted by spouses from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), primarily from Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova. These applications have unique characteristics that are important to understand. It is also crucial to be aware of asylum requests by citizens of these countries and the risk of their deportation from Israel. In this article, attorney Michael Decker, an immigration law expert from our firm, will explain some of the specific features of status regularization in Israel for spouses from the former Soviet Union countries.

Our law firm in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv specializes in and has extensive experience in Israeli immigration law. We provide comprehensive legal assistance, including representation and support in the legal status regularization of foreign spouses, including citizens of Ukraine, Moldova, Russia, and Georgia.

Status Regularization in Israel for Foreign Spouses from the CIS

The community of former Soviet Union immigrants in Israel comprises nearly one million individuals among the country’s citizens. Many of them have friends and family members who remained in their countries of origin. As a result, frequent visits take place between Israelis and these countries, and citizens of the CIS visit Israel regularly. Consequently, many romantic relationships are formed, and a significant portion of status regularization requests for foreign spouses in Israel originates from residents of these countries.

The process of regularizing the status of spouses from Ukraine, Moldova, Russia, and Georgia is similar to that of foreign nationals from other countries. As we have detailed in other articles on our website, there are differences between regularization of status for married couples and that of common-law partners. In both cases, the first step is to open a joint life file with the Ministry of Interior.

As part of this process, the couple must present various documents (including a foreign passport valid for at least two years, an explanatory letter about the relationship, and a signed declaration by both partners). Additionally, the couple will be asked about their background. If they meet the requirements set by the Population and Immigration Authority for married and common-law couples, they can move on to the gradual process and gradually establish permanent residency in Israel.

Why Might These Applications Be Delayed More Than Usual?

The procedures of the Population and Immigration Authority in Israel, as mentioned above, stipulate that if the foreign spouse is from the CIS or Eastern Europe, the couple will be referred for an opinion from the Nativ Liaison Bureau. This means that the couple’s documents will undergo an additional review beyond the numerous checks already conducted by the Ministry of Interior. Moreover, our practical experience shows that the examination of the relationship and the documents provided may be more stringent. All these factors can lead to prolonged processing times for status regularization.