Katya has been living in Israel since the age of 10. For years, her mother and her mother’s Israeli partner Igor have asked to add her as an accompanying minor to a gradual common law spouse proceeding, which they are about to end. Her parents could not get married since there was a stay of exit order against Igor due to execution. Igor, who is an Israeli, is not her biological father, but he is the one who has raised her. When Katya was 19, we approached the appeal court, which instructed us to transfer her case to the humanitarian committee and to examine the case as if she were still a minor, and as someone who has lived all her life in Israel. The case was returned to the committee over 3 years, during which nothing has happened. All these years, since the age of 10, Katya has been in Israel with a B/2 visa (a tourist visa).

Today, Katya is 22 years old and has met Daniel, a discharged combat soldier, they fell in love and are about to get married. Our office has applied for a visa in July 2023. They underwent an interview and converted to Judaism in the success route, and today, at the age of 22, after 12 years in Israel with no status, Katya has received a B/1 work visa with an inter visa. Now, the young couple can leave the country and get married!