A humanitarian visa to Israel (also known as a B/2 visa) is granted to individuals who do not fall under the standard immigration or citizenship categories, but who have compelling reasons for temporary residence in the country on humanitarian grounds. This visa allows for a limited stay in Israel for a limited period of time, which can be extended under certain conditions.
Grounds for obtaining a humanitarian visa
1. Medical reasons:
– Treatment for serious illnesses that cannot be obtained in the applicant’s country of residence.
– Accompanying a sick family member in need of medical care in Israel.
2. Family Circumstances:
– Reuniting with close relatives, such as grandparents, who need care.
– Staying with a spouse, children or parents who are citizens or permanent residents of Israel, in situations where deportation would cause serious disruption of family ties.
3. Refugees and stateless persons:
– Persons who cannot return to their country because of the risk of persecution, discrimination or war may apply for temporary asylum in Israel.
4. Other Humanitarian Circumstances:
– Situations requiring temporary stay in Israel for the safety or welfare of the applicant or his/her family.
– Emergency cases that require the intervention of the Israeli authorities to protect life and health.
The process of applying for a humanitarian visa
1. Document Collection:
– The applicant needs to gather a complete package of documents including:
* Completed visa application.
* Passport or other form of identification.
* Documents confirming humanitarian grounds (medical reports, certificates of kinship, letters from lawyers, human rights organizations, etc.).
* An invitation letter from an Israeli relative (if available) with a commitment to provide financial support.
2. Submission of an application:
– The application is submitted to the Department of Visas and Population Registration (Misrad Apnim) in Israel. If the applicant is outside Israel, the application may be submitted through the consular section of the Israeli Embassy.
3. Application Consideration:
– During the application process, Israeli Ministry of Interior officials carefully check the documents provided and assess the grounds for granting the visa. Additional interviews with the applicant or his/her Israeli relatives may be required.
4. Solution:
– After reviewing the application and verifying all the facts, the Israeli Ministry of Interior decides whether to grant or deny the visa. If the visa is approved, the applicant is authorized to enter Israel for a certain period of time (usually up to 3 months).
5. Visa Extension:
– A visa can be extended locally if the circumstances that gave rise to the visa are still valid. The applicant must submit a new application for extension with updated documents.
Difficulties in obtaining a humanitarian visa
Obtaining a humanitarian visa to Israel can be complicated due to strict requirements and the need to convincingly justify humanitarian reasons. The application is open and is not subject to any specific guidelines or legislation. A request for a humanitarian visa is considered by the Minister of Interior at his personal discretion, depending on the nature, circumstances and details of the case.
Major challenges include:
• Strict criteria: the Home Office scrutinizes humanitarian grounds to avoid abuse and to ensure that visas are only issued in genuinely needy cases.
• Lengthy Process: The application process can be lengthy, especially if additional documents or interviews are required.
• High rejection rate: If the documents are not sufficiently convincing or the grounds are not recognized as sufficient, the application may be rejected.
• Need for legal assistance: Complex cases may require the assistance of lawyers or human rights organizations, which can also increase the cost and time to obtain a visa.
Conclusion
The Israeli humanitarian visa is an important mechanism that allows people in difficult life situations to temporarily stay in the country. However, obtaining this visa requires careful preparation and justification, as well as a willingness to undergo a lengthy and complex application and processing process.
Our advice
The Israel Inter-Ministerial Committee deals with the issues described in this article. It is it that analyzes the request and makes a decision in the field of issuing a special visa for humanitarian reasons. Every month the agency reviews dozens of cases. If the committee makes a negative decision and refuses to grant a humanitarian visa, the decision can be appealed.
We recommend that you contact a qualified lawyer to file an appeal. Your chances of success will increase dramatically!
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Below you will find a handy navigation box on the topic Family Reunification in Israel.
- Reunification with elderly single parents in Israel
- Law: “Granting status to elderly single parents in Israel”
- Husbands, wives, and same-sex spouses of Israeli citizens (STUPRO procedure)
- Status for parents of soldiers in Israel
- Children from previous marriages in Israel (STUPRO procedure)
- Inviting grandparents to Israel
- Israeli citizenship for minor children of non-Jewish spouses of Jews
- Israeli citizenship for widows or widowers of Jews
- Israeli citizenship for children born out of wedlock
- Humanitarian visa for Israel
