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Photo: Noam Moskovich, Knesset Spokesperson
In the aftermath of the recent conflict with Iran and the nationwide suspension of visa services, the Israeli Association for International Couples (AIC) continues its active engagement with the Knesset’s Immigration Committee to ensure that the rights and needs of international couples are not overlooked.
Although a ceasefire agreement has been reached and visa services officially resumed on June 25th, AIC emphasized from the outset that simply reopening the offices would not automatically resolve the backlog and complications caused during the shutdown. In response to a direct request from MK Gilad Kariv, Chairperson of the Immigration Committee, AIC submitted a paper detailing the pressing issues now facing international couples in Israel.
Click here to read AIC’s paper
Key Issues Raised by AIC
The paper highlights the ongoing consequences of the visa service shutdown and the widespread digital visa extension. Chief among the concerns is the rescheduling of visa appointments that were canceled during the closure. AIC ran a poll among international couples and found that over 50% of applicants who emailed PIBA to reschedule – as instructed – received no response even after more than three days. Most who did manage to reschedule got new appointments over a month later. AIC presented these findings as part of a broader systemic issue: visa appointment scheduling remains slow, outdated, and largely inaccessible – leaving many couples unable to even make contact with PIBA.
AIC stressed that the burden must not fall solely on applicants and called on PIBA to take proactive responsibility for rescheduling appointments – especially those related to new visa applications, visa upgrades, and completion of the gradual process. Delays in these types of appointments significantly affect the rights and personal stability of international couples and their families.
The paper also draws attention to the urgent need to restore full visa services in the Haifa and East Jerusalem regions, where PIBA offices have remained closed beyond the national shutdown.
Another concern raised was the treatment of digital visa extensions within the partner visa process. AIC flagged the matter based on past cases where certain PIBA offices unlawfully refused to count digital extension periods toward the gradual process timeline. To prevent similar problems from resurfacing, AIC called for a clear directive confirming that digital extensions must count fully and continuously for all legal purposes.
AIC will take part in a follow-up committee discussion at the Knesset on July 2nd, where the issues outlined in our letter will be addressed, with the goal of advancing clarity and practical solutions.
Ongoing Commitment Beyond the Crisis
Throughout the war and its aftermath, AIC has actively monitored issues affecting international couples related to the conflict, using our Facebook Community and other networking platforms. As the only organization in Israel dedicated solely to this community, AIC has escalated a few urgent cases through the Immigration Committee to ensure swift attention.
We urge international couples to follow our social media outlets as well as subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed about policy changes and crucial information that affects their rights, and
Don’t forget: AIC is dedicated to representing your voice within government and parliament, but we can only continue this vital work with your support. Become a donor today – every small monthly contribution makes a real impact!
