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Watch LIVE: Knesset discussion starts at 13:00, Monday, March 16th
Since the outbreak of the war with Iran on February 28, the Israel Population and Immigration Authority (PIBA) has once again suspended visa services across Israel – a measure that has also been taken during previous periods of conflict and heightened security tensions. However, despite the gradual easing of security restrictions by the Home Front Command, and the reopening of schools in several parts of the country, visa departments remain closed with no clear timeline for resuming operations.
During a parliamentary discussion held last week, PIBA defended the continued shutdown by stating that a digital visa extension had been introduced to address visa-related issues during the emergency period. The authority also clarified that it has chosen to prioritize services for Israeli citizens, particularly matters related to identity cards and passports.
At the discussion, AIC’s chairwoman, Adv. Lior Beres, raised significant concerns regarding the impact of the shutdown on international couples. She highlighted that many of the cancelled appointments were not related to routine visa extensions – the only issue addressed by the digital solution – but rather to essential procedures such as visa upgrades or applications for invitations to Israel. These services remain completely unavailable. In addition, visa holders who were abroad when the war began and therefore did not receive the automatic digital extension have been left without any practical solution.
The chair of the parliamentary committee, MK Gilad Kariv, expressed support for AIC’s position and signaled to PIBA that a prolonged shutdown without reasonable alternatives for essential visa services would not be acceptable.
Today, March 16th, AIC returns to a follow-up parliamentary discussion to continue advocating for the immediate resumption of visa services.
In preparation for the meeting, and at the request of MK Kariv’s office, AIC collected and submitted 13 personal cases from international couples across Israel whose visa appointments were cancelled due to the war. These cases are mere examples of many Israeli citizens and their partners who urgently require visa services that the digital extension does not address.
By presenting these personal stories, AIC aims to help the committee better understand the real impact of the shutdown and increase pressure on PIBA to resume visa services – at the very least for appointments that involve procedures beyond routine visa extensions.
The discussion will begin at 13:00 and can be watched here: Knesset TV.
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