Watch Now: AIC Brings Partner Visa Procedures to the Knesset
צילום: ערוץ כנסת
Last Wednesday, the Immigration and Absorption Committee held a discussion on the procedures for regularizing status for partners of Israelis, also known as the partner visa procedures. The discussion was requested by AIC and organized in full collaboration with AIC’s chairwoman, Adv. Lior Beres. MK Gilad Kariv, a long-time partner of AIC and chair of the committee, expressed strong support for the initiative and committed to holding follow-up discussions until real improvements are achieved.
Several government representatives attended, including two from PIBA – Adv. Moan Ben Or from the legal department and Mrs. Hedva Zada, head of the Family Reunification Department. Representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Jewish Agency also participated. Alongside AIC, the LGBTQ+ Coalition, a representative of the Israeli Bar Association, former MK Mossi Raz, and additional Zoom participants were present. Committee member MK Vladimir Beliak was also present and supported AIC’s cause.
AIC was given substantial space to present the main issues in the partner visa process. Adv. Beres highlighted unreasonable processing times and severe communication gaps with PIBA, which leave applicants without recourse. She also emphasized how these challenges contribute to negative immigration, as many Israelis hesitate to return with their foreign partners – especially in light of two recent legislative developments aiming to further tighten the process.
Watch the full session of the discussion on our Facebook Page:
Ahead of the discussion, AIC submitted four case studies illustrating unjust treatment in the process. One couple, Shaked and Guoste, attended the discussion in person and described how PIBA’s policies left Guoste unable to work for nearly 12 months and denied her a re-entry visa to visit family. They also explained that the Nativ procedure was inaccessible to them as they were required to read and complete documents in Russian – a language neither of them speaks.
Adv. Beres presented several solutions proposed by AIC to reduce extreme processing times and relieve some of PIBA’s workload without compromising relationship verification. These included streamlining embassy procedures so couples abroad do not have to restart the process upon arrival; extending visa validity to 18 months instead of one year; shortening the process for couples who marry after already spending significant time on a B1 visa; canceling the Nativ procedure; and additional measures.
PIBA’s responses during the discussion were limited and focused on justifying current policies. When questioned about processing times, they claimed applications are “usually not long,” attempting to present the cases raised by AIC as rare exceptions.
Chairman Kariv, familiar with the issues through his long partnership with AIC, rejected these claims. He demanded clear data on application processing times, especially for new applications, and criticized PIBA’s policy of denying re-entry to foreign partners with pending applications – calling for an urgent policy change. He also stressed the need to resolve the unclear and problematic involvement of Nativ. MK Kariv also directed the Knesset Research and Information Center to prepare an updated report on the gradual process, similar to its 2026 study, to allow an unbiased review of the data. A follow-up discussion will take place next month.
We would like to thank MK Gilad Kariv for his partnership and support for international couples, and we look forward to working with him in the upcoming follow-up discussions.
Unfortunately, a “thank you” is not enough! From traveling to Jerusalem to writing legal papers and advocating to policymakers nonstop — our fight for international couples costs money and takes time. Help us continue by becoming a monthly donor. Your support makes a difference.
