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We did it! AIC is extremely proud to announce that PIBA has accepted our arguments, and officially confirmed that partners of Israelis who are permanent residents will be exempt from the new requirement mandating a one-year wait period before eligibility of naturalization.
Today, March 6th 2025, PIBA’s head of citizenship department, Mr. Ronen Yerushalmi, has formally responded to AIC’s official inquiry regarding the discriminatory amendment to Protocol 4.4.0001. In their response, PIBA acknowledged the issues we outlined and confirmed our arguments. In a decisive move, they amended two key sections of the protocol to explicitly exempt partners of Israelis from the one-year wait condition that was imposed in December on permanent residents who wish to naturalize. This update directly addresses the concerns raised by AIC and rectifies the undue burden that had been placed on many international couples in the last few months.
AIC has been the only organization to actively advocate for the exemption of international couples from this harmful policy, that mainly affected same-sex international couples and non-married international couples, as these segments must obtain permanent residency before eligibility for citizenship.
Without AIC’s organized advocacy for international couples, this policy change would have forced affected couples to legally challenge PIBA on their own. AIC’s quick response secured a favorable response from PIBA, sparing hundreds of international couples from costly legal fees or long delays in their path to citizenship.
For couples who experienced the impact of the previous amendment, this development represents a critical and much-needed correction in policy. AIC remains dedicated to continuing the fight for fair and just treatment for all international couples.
In case you face difficulties exhausting your rights as per the newly amended protocol, please contact AIC.
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This victory shows the power of advocacy and AIC’s crucial role in protecting international couples. But our work isn’t done. We rely on community support to keep fighting unfair policies and driving change that benefits all of us.
Donate today to help us continue this vital mission! Every contribution makes a difference.
