As a result of the Coronavirus pandemic, many questions have arisen regarding the status of foreigners residing in Israel.

On April 5, 2020, our office petitioned the Ministry of Interior (MOI) on behalf of international humanitarian non-governmental organizations working in Israel and the occupied Palestinian Territories (oPt).  These INGOs employ local and international staff, residing in Israel according to the Ministry of Interior’s policy regarding INGO workers.  The policy mandates a two-step process, in which the INGO worker must first receive an approval from the Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs and Social Services (MOLSA) to work in Israel and the oPt, after which the employee requests a B/1 visa (work visa) from the MOI.

In our query, we requested that the MOI clarify its policy regarding the extension of visas for INGO workers holding B/1 visas during the Coronavirus emergency.  We also requested clarification regarding those INGO workers who while having already submitted their applications to MOLSA had not yet received B/1 visas and were residing in Israel on B/2 visas (tourist visas).  Lastly, we requested clarification regarding the B/2 visas held by the family members of INGO workers.

On April 7, 2020, we received the following response from the MOI:

  1. INGO workers holding B/1 visas are included in the automatic extension until June 30, 2020 announced by the Minister of Interior.
  2. Family members of INGO workers who are holding B/2 visas must approach one of the MoI offices open at this time and submit an application for renewal in accordance with MoI policy [regarding INGO workers and families, L.B.].  In cases where visas expired in the past few weeks, and the applicants weren’t able to submit applications for renewal, such period will not be taken into account as a period in which the applicant resided in Israel illegally.
  3. In order to convert a license from a B/2 to a B/1, an application must be submitted in accordance with the policy [regarding INGO workers and families, L.B.] and on condition that an approval was issued by the Ministry of Welfare.  In cases where the visa expired and the [Ministry of Welfare, L.B.] approval letter was not yet received, this period will not be used to classify the applicant as someone residing in Israel illegally.

Our office will continue to track the implementation of the MOI guidelines regarding INGO workers and their families.

You are welcome to contact the Law Offices of Bechor & Ben-Hillel with any questions regarding the guidelines.

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