uabb domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /var/www/sites/lawfirmbackup_200125/wordpress/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6131The relationship sincerity interview is a critical stage in the procedure of obtaining legal status for foreign partners in Israel<\/a>. What do you need to know and how can you prepare for the interview? In this article, attorney Michael Decker, an expert in Israeli immigration law, answers these questions.<\/p>\n Our law offices specialize in immigration to Israel<\/a>. Our office is experienced in accompanying couples through the stages of obtaining legal status for foreign partners, and representing them before all the legal and administrative courts.<\/p>\n Couples in which one partner is a foreign citizen, are required to arrange legal status for the foreign partner in order to live in Israel together. Regulations differ for married couples<\/a> and common-law couples<\/a>. However, in both cases the couple must undergo an interview which examines their relationship closely. The interview, known as the \u201crelationship sincerity interview\u201d, is a crucial stage in the procedure of obtaining legal status in Israel. It is important to be informed about it, because it can be the deciding factor in whether a joint-life application is accepted or not.<\/p>\n For more information on the interview at the Interior Ministry, sometimes known as a hearing, see this article<\/a> on our website.<\/p>\n The Entrance to Israel Law<\/a> grants the Interior Minister broad discretionary powers in deciding who can immigrate to Israel. The official stance of the government authorities is that a marriage or a romantic partnership is only a starting point for proving the sincerity of the relationship. The procedure set out by Population and Immigration Authority regulations is meant to filter applications based on a “fictititous” relationship. Consequently, the interview is a central method for the Authority to verify the relationship is real, and the feelings between the couple “sincere”.<\/p>\n Despite the use of the singular term, do not be confused: Interior Ministry officials generally hold a series of interviews. In general, the partners are interviewed separately, and the interviews are held in a language that they understand (or alternatively, with an interpreter present). The interviews are sometimes held several months apart. Afterwards, the partners\u2019 answers are compared, in order to identify contradictions. Contradictions may be, for instance, answers that turn out to be wrong or inconsistencies in answers between different interviews, even when the contradictions are caused by a partner\u2019s misunderstanding of the questions.<\/p>\n The questions fall into two categories. The first type of questions are technical and concern the life stories of the partners and their families. The couple may be asked questions regarding professions, names of family members, shared pastimes and the like. The second type of questions are more fundamental, and often build on previous answers. The partners may be asked about a shared experience, what occurred after it, what friends attended the event, etc. Questions may range from \u201cWhat do you love about each other?\u201d to the nature of the relationship between the partners. There is no set or prepared list of questions, and the questions may sometimes be experienced as highly invasive to the couple\u2019s privacy. For more information on contradictions in relationship sincerity interviews in the Interior Ministry, see this article<\/a> on our website.<\/p>\n Many couples who read the above questions may realize that they themselves do not know how to answer them. It is perfectly legitimate to occasionally give answers such as \u201cI don\u2019t know\u201d or \u201cI don\u2019t remember\u201d. Mental preparation is no less important. Some people may feel stressed by the interview and by the invasion of their privacy. Under stress, people may become confused or even forget answers. Therefore, it is important to prepare oneself mentally and to arrive at the interview as calm and confident as possible.<\/p>\nThe relationship sincerity interview \u2013 a crucial stage in obtaining legal status in Israel<\/strong><\/h4>\n
What does the interview look like in practice?<\/strong><\/h4>\n
<\/strong><\/h4>\nCommon questions in the Interior Ministry relationship sincerity interview<\/strong><\/h4>\n
How can a couple prepare for the interview?<\/strong><\/h4>\n
What can be done if the application is denied based on contradictions in the interview?<\/strong><\/h4>\n