Entrance to Israel for Ukrainians due to the War with Russia — 2022
Joshua Pex
Joshua Pex
Наталья Мажуга
Great lawyers Joshua Pex and Nechama and Michael Deker who really want to help you and I have very trustful relationships with them. All my cases they took they won. Thank you and let’s keep working together
Israel iluz
We were very satisfied with the service of Nehama. She was very professional in all her dealings and kept us informed all the way.
We highly recommend this law firm. They proved to be reliable, efficient and pleasant to work with.
Alexander P Gutterman
EU PASSPORT ! Big news! Thanks to Michael Decker and the other good people at the law office, as well as to the virtue of my ancestors, the cruelty of the Inquisition, reparations issued in the Iberian Peninsula, and etc, I am delighted to be on track for Portuguese and European Union Citizenship! A truly incredible development and one which brings me deep joy.
Prima Lorenzo
I admire the Austrian citizenship team in Tel-Aviv branch! They deserve more then 5 stars!! They are very friendly and professional. I've got Austrian citizenship in 4 months for all family members which consists of 12 people! The entire team is very friendly and responsive. They are always answering questions and support during the process. I recommend to everyone. Was 100% satisfied.
Lilian Granovsky
I can highly recommend these services!
Every time we turned to Joshua we always got a professional quick and helpful respond.
Shaltiel Devorah
Mr. Joshua Pex is knowledgeable and Professional. I really appreciate his courteous and direct approach.
Stuart Safft
I am delighted to report that my wife and I have just obtained our Israeli citizenship. We will be forever grateful for all of the help, guidance and support which Ariel Galili of Decker, Pex & Co. provided through this process.
I am a Jewish, 80-year-old American, and my wife is not Jewish. We had started the process on our own back in November 2020 via the Jewish Agency and Nefesh B’Nefesh, but soon became entangled in the delays and often-changing regulations due to Covid-19. The pandemic also caused delays in obtaining the required apostilles for various documents from various state agencies and the US State Department.
We found Decker, Pex & Co. On the internet and began working with Ariel in late November 2021. Ariel did a superb job of leading us through the process, helping us to understand which documents were essential, which would most likely be required, and which, though included on the list of required documents, were rarely required. He helped us several times to understand what was likely and unlikely to occur as “the next step.” Helping us manage our expectations was extremely useful to us.
Besides his knowing the laws, regulations and procedures, Ariel also made us feel that he was truly interested in helping us to successfully work through this process in as smooth, timely, and frustration-free manner as possible.
My wife and I strongly recommend anyone planning to go through this process seriously consider hiring Decker, Pex, Ofir & Co. and, specifically, Ariel Galili.
Greg Olson
We highly recommend Adv. Mike Decker and have know him for many years. He has helped our family with many battles over the years. We recently received our permanent residency after 23 years in Israel. We so much appreciate Mike’s representation of us.
TarcisioePotira Freitas
I really recommend the law office's services. The service is very professional and efficient, the price is right. I am satisfied with the services I needed and happy to have known them.
Michael and Ariellah Waizman
For Advocate Joshua Pex.
We were in a devastating situation when my wife received an order from the immigration office to leave Israel within 30 days, without any explanation, after we have been married and in the process for six and a half years. We heard of Advocate Pex through a friend of a friend. We contacted Mr. Pex and he was ready to help us when he heard of our situation.
The service is amazing! Always ready to assist without regard to the time it takes. The advice Mr. Pex gave us was great, such as what to do, he gave useful links, and advice about which officials to contact. The price for the service was great!
The process until we received the extension for another year for my wife was not long (3 months). Things started moving once Mr. Pex came into the picture.
We highly recommend Advocate Joshua Pex! We achieved our goal and the fear of deportation has been lifted!
Andreas Kelling
We have been working with Decker, Pex & Co - Law Firm in Tel Aviv for many years very well. Because we appreciated their lawyers services, we recommended businesses and individuals again and again to go there as well.
Lauma Zariņa
This is definitely the best lawyer I know!!! very honest and super helpful he really helped me a lot dealing with immigration issues in Israel and it was very successful!
I highly recommend
Sophie Cooperman
Oded Ger did an excellent job by reviewing a modeling contract I was offered. Explained the bad clauses in the contract, and their possible consequences. Thank you for your amazing job, your professionalism, your consultation and honesty. You showed me from your experience how it can be done differently. It was the best decision choosing you as my lawyer.
I highly recommend this firm, especially Oded Ger.
Morgan Jones
The team at Decker, Pex & Co have been awesome to work with in helping our US company establish banking in Israel and in providing counsel for legal needs in Israel. I highly recommend!
Joshua Pex was both an amazing human being and an inspiring human rights attorney. I reported directly to him for various activities I performed as in intern. I was impressed with his incredibly solid character. He is trustworthy, fair, and goes above and beyond to advocate for the vulnerable. He is completely trustworthy and high caliber in his work. His partners and employees are very blessed to work with him. I am honored to know them.
Heather Lebrun
Dumitrascu Cristina
Best lawyer house from Israel! I couldn’t dealt with my situation without their professionalism and effectiveness. Their dedication to every legal aspect and their drive it’s how a true lawyer house can be!
Working in European market and international now, I couldn’t dare to let myself wide my wings on countries unknown to me. Definitely they’ll be the lawyers representing me, my business at every international aspect and on personal development.
When you hear Decker,Pex,Ofir &Co, you hear 10+ class services, luxurious professionals, confidentiality and exclusive attention to your needs.
Eden Weiss
Extrmely friendly, professional and helpful. A big thank you to Irina especially from the Jerusalem office. Highly Recommended.
Schruuf
We were very pleased and content with the services of this law firm. They supported us 100% and solved our case successfully, we couldn't be happier.
Sergei m Vashkevich
We came to Mr. Joshua with so many questions (and most of all, with so many concerns and worries) …
When we explained our case to him, first of all, he calmed us down and helped us to see the big picture, which took away our fears;
Then he presented us with a detailed explanation and a few options to explore, and a timeline, how things work and necessary steps to undertake on our part,
We thank and highly recommend Mr. Joshua for showing us so much empathy, care and professionalism (!)
David De La Rosa
Very friendly, professional, and effective, highly recommended
Genaan Abdelall
I cannot recommend Nechama enough! Her expertise, professionalism, and dedication to her clients is unparalleled. From the moment I reached out to her, she provided clear and concise communication, and helped me navigate through a complex legal issue with ease.
Throughout the entire process, Nechama went above and beyond to ensure that I was informed and comfortable with every decision. She demonstrated a deep knowledge of the law, and was able to offer sound advice that ultimately led to a positive outcome.
What sets Nechama apart is her compassionate and empathetic approach to her clients. She truly cares about the well-being of her clients, and it shows in the way she handles every case.
If you are in need of a lawyer, I highly recommend Nechama.
Yossi Montrose
Very knowledgeable and professional
Kfir Cohen
We were searching for a law firm that will be honest with us and really work hard for a satisfying result, it wasn't an easy task
We found them online; they were the only law firm from all of our searchings which were completely honest and NOT gave us just what we wanted to hear
Using them guaranteed honesty above all. A legal team that is friendly and cares for a superb result
They really care about helping their customers without any other interest
Nadia gave us service behind what we expected; she was professional which lead to fast and easy process with great result
We definitely recommend using them
Tomer Hila Birnbach
I received a recommendation from friends about the firm, and indeed every word is correct, a service team, professional, welcoming, a fair price for the work I requested, I am satisfied
Dongdiet & Nellie
We are very happy with the services. Somehow they managed to translate the law lingo into language we actually understand 😉 and their outstanding YouTube videos helped us to have a better grasp of what process we had to go through. Their patience, clear explanation and experience are very valuable. It's also very nice to know that you will receive response promptly; it made us feel we can really trust their services. We recommend all those looking for immigration lawyers to get in touch.
Esty A
I had a consultation with Batya and she was very helpful. She made sure I understood all the information I needed, and was patient with me in gathering documents I needed.
Priscilla Moses
competent consulting, fast processing, reliable, warm & good team. highly recommended
Shurouq Hajyassin
We were very satisfied with the consultation we had.
You were very straightforward with us , You tried to help us in every way you could . we really appreciate that.
And of course the fast reply we got from you on our emails and the appointment you gave us .
You deserve more than 5 stars????
Arielle Bosch
Incredibly knowledgeable, approachable, accessible, and evident across the board that they truly care about the people they are helping. They are quick to respond, engaged, and obviously top-notch lawyers. I couldn't recommend them highly enough. Thank you, Joshua and Itamar for your help with our Joint Life Application. You were a calming energy during a storm - always breathed a sigh of relief after speaking with you. It is so difficult to get straight answers from the Misrad Hapnim, but you guys are straight shooters. I appreciate your candor and evident integrity. Hope to work with you in the future, and will send everyone I know in need of legal aid your way. Thank you for your guidance and support.
YK C
We had a pleasure of working with Irena Rosenberg who assisted in getting our two U.S. born children registered in Israel and supported visa process for my wife in 2021. During the pandemic, my wife and I decided to move to Israel where I am originally from after living in the U.S. for over 20 years, but we had no idea how to go about securing visas before and after arriving in Israel. Irena is knowledgeable, reliable and competent lawyer who always had answers to all our questions which made us feel confident that everything would be fine with her assistance. We are now happily living in Israel and are so grateful to have Irena who is a genuinely nice person as our lawyer.
Paul Prince
The team of lawyers and assistants are incredibly professional. Aiming to give their clients the advice possible regarding the normative and the law of Israel. With well trained and professional secretary at the front desk to the lawyers team, I could say that I had one of the most professional services possible. I'm super glad of choosing Joshua Pex of Law office for immigration solution, lawyers to advise in my case, to me, it is remarkable.
Matthias Oppliger
I have been receiving services from this Law Firm for several years now and I want to say THANK YOU to the team, especially Joshua Pex. They are doing outstanding work. The services I have received for both our Israeli non profit association but also our social business have helped us solve many issues at hand and provided solutions in complicated situations. Personally, I am grateful for support in visa issues as a foreigner living now in Israel for many years.
Adi Katina
Great Team. With no doubt, this office is actually thee best-leading office in Israel. Simply put, if you want your case to win, just join them, hand in your documents, and celebrate the victory.
Kindest regards,
Adi k.
Gáspár Erőss
If you need to solve any complicated legal issue in Israel, don't hesitate to contact them. Otherwise you will loose hours/days/weeks with things that they can solve in minutes. They helped me to obtain my expert working visa in Israel and even after that they responded further questions and gave me advices related to administrative issues in Israel which saved me a lot of time. Irena Rosenberg and Michael Decker worked on my case, they are very professional and helpful. They will not let you down, feel free to contact them.
Michelle Long
Josh has been helping me on and off for a few years now. I have needed legal advice and assistance with immigration due to a complex situation of mine, and he has been extremely available and responsive, honest and clear about my route and how to proceed. Very much recommended!
Michael Soffer
I would like to recommend Attorney Yehuda Elcharar. He assisted both me and my company in a complex lawsuit. He handled negotiations that led to a favorable outcome much quicker than expected.
I am extremely pleased with choosing Attorney Elcharar. Many thanks also to the office team, Oz and Chaya, for their assistance throughout the entire process.
Thanks again ????
Josh W-S
The firm had a quick response to my last-minute needs, they were helpful in communicating with me in English, and they fulfilled my needs in a timely fashion.
Jacob Newberry
A really excellent firm. They knew exactly how to handle my situation effectively and efficiently, and we got the result I needed without much fuss. Adi Berger was a wonderful advocate for me and I am deeply grateful for her help!
Sveta Vashkevich
We (myself and my husband) came to Mr. Joshua Pex – for his professional advice – and we received such human warmth and caring attitude, that our hearts melted …
His attention to our details and our situation peculiarities, combined with his professionalism and knowledge, helped us to map out what needs to be done on our part: we appreciate and recommend You, Mr. Joshua!
Amir Abt
The best lawyer firm I’ve had dealt with. I would like to thank Anat Levi and Ariel Galili from the Jerusalem branch for all of their efforts and patience, we could not have been Able to reach to where we are now without them
Halvor Ronning
Courteous, clear, efficient service.
Marce Ruth St. Rey
Party time in the heart, my beloved husband received his residence after so much time of battles and faith. Gratitude, God has blessed us with wonderful beings who have accompanied us, including a "precious angel" who touched our hearts, our excellent and fantastic lawyer: Maria Chernin Dekel, sweet and wonderful human being, who has guided us and stayed On our side. side in this intense legal transit whom we bless on every occasion. God bless you dear Maria, you have exceeded your professional duty by containing us and collaborating with us in hard times, very hard, for that we want to thank you publicly, you are unique!!!
We bless and thank the entire team at Decker Pex Tal Ofir Law Firm.
lynn vonne
Excellent service, very friendly and helpful, fast responding and very patient. Highly recommend. I will choose them again next time if needed.
How do Ukrainians enter Israel since the beginning of the war? Israel’s immigration authorities are issuing almost daily updates to the policy for Ukrainians entering Israel, due to the Ukrainian refugees arriving in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. As of March 2022, those eligible for aliya, and their families, can come to Israel via an accelerated process. A relative who is not eligible for aliya requires an invitation by an Israeli. It is also possibly to invite Ukrainians who are not relatives, subject to a formal invitation procedure. If you need help in depositing a guarantee or are experiencing difficulties with the aliya process, contact us for legal assistance.
A certain sector of Israeli society, particularly those from the CIS, supports unrestricted entrance to Israel for any Ukrainian seeking asylum in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This desire has moral and historical justification, but it is unreasonable to expect that Israel would open its gates to everyone seeking asylum. Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked, who is responsible for the immigration policy, has already expressed the opinion that Israel cannot absorb unlimited numbers of Ukrainian refugees. The consolidation of a policy on entrance to Israel for Ukrainian citizens is a sort of compromise which enables Ukrainian citizens with Jewish roots to find refuge in Israel without bureaucratic foot-dragging, and also enables Israeli citizens to invite friends and relatives not eligible for aliya to stay in Israel temporarily.
Our law offices specialize in aliya, immigration, and visas and entrance to Israel. A previous article on our site explained the issue of asylum seekers, tourists, and foreign workers from Ukraine who are permitted to stay in Israel even though their visas expired. In this article we explain the conditions under which Ukrainians can enter Israel, whether they are eligible for aliya for themselves and their families or whether they are invited by an Israeli citizen or resident.
It is important to emphasize that anyone entering Israel – olim and their family members, or those receiving a tourist visa — are required to undergo a Corona test before boarding the plane and after it lands. In certain cases the requirement for a pre-flight test is waived for someone fleeing the Ukraine, but the requirement to undergo the test (at a cost of 120 ILS) before entering Israel has not changed. Anyone found to be positive must go into quarantine in a motel at his or her own expense for a minimum of 5 days, and then until a negative result is obtained.
Accelerated aliya process for Ukrainians and Russians
The Interior Minister, Ayelet Shaked, announced that those eligible for aliya from Ukraine and Russia can make aliya to Israel via an accelerated process, which exempts them from the requirement to present a certificate of good conduct or to obtain an apostille on documents before beginning the process.
In addition, since many Ukrainian men are required to enlist in the army in order to fight the Russian invasion, spouses and children of those eligible for aliya can make aliya to Israel while the husband remains in Ukraine. Even in terrible cases when the person eligible for aliya is killed in the fighting, the widow/widower can make aliya with their minor children.
Those with Jewish roots who never initiated the aliya process or proved their eligibility for aliya in the past, are evaluated by “Nativ” when they arrive in Israel. Note that according to the Law of Return, those eligible for aliya to Israel include Jews, children of Jews, grandchildren of Jews (of course any child with a Jewish mother is a Jew himself or herself), spouses of those eligible for aliya, and finally, minor children of someone eligible for aliya or the spouse of someone eligible for aliya. Thus, for example, minor children of a grandchild of a Jew are eligible to make aliya with their family, but not as adults.
Someone who is not eligible for aliya himself or herself, but has a first-degree relative who is Israeli, can come to Israel and obtain a tourist visa. Their entrance to the country is subject to the Israeli relative’s official guarantee that the newcomer does not intend to settle in Israel – to seek asylum or apply for any other status – and that he or she will leave when the war ends. This is the required solution, for example, for someone who obtained Israeli citizenship as the spouse of an Israeli, but whose parents have no Jewish roots and are not eligible for aliya. Under normal circumstances, in such a case, only one parent can come to Israel – after the death of the other parent, and under the condition that the parent does not have any other children living outside of Israel. If they are invited to Israel, the parents do not have to endure the horrors of the war in Ukraine, and can stay in Israel until it is over. It is also possible to invite siblings and adult children from previous marriages.
In the invitation process, the behavior of the Israeli citizen and the invitee will be taken into consideration – attempts to settle or applications for asylum in Israel, age differences, etc. If the Interior Ministry officials decide that there is a reasonable chance that the invitee will try to work illegally or remain in Israeli on an expired visa, the invitee may be asked to deposit a surety with the Interior Ministry, which will be confiscated in the case of his or her inappropriate behavior.
The spouse and children of an Israeli citizen, if they have not received citizenship themselves or are in the process of obtaining legal status for a foreign spouse, can enter Israel as tourists on presentation of a marriage license/birth certificates of the children. Children of a foreign spouse from a previous marriage must obtain permission of the other parent during their stay in Israel, if it was not obtained before they entered Israel.
It is reasonable to assume that the unmarried partner of an Israeli citizen is also eligible to enter Israel as a tourist, but the assistance of an immigration lawyer may be required to clarify the eligibility. Interior Ministry regulations state that each case shall be examined on its own merits, and the Interior Ministry will consider requiring the deposit of a bank guarantee at Ben Gurion Airport.
Inviting Ukrainian citizens who are not relatives of the person inviting them
Anyo Israeli who wishes to invite a Ukranian individual family to Israel must sign an invitation form on the Ministry of Interior website, confirming their obligation to provide a residence and compensate the general expenses of the invitee. The Ukranian invitee has to fill out a request form and attach the Israeli inviter’s approved invitation.
Ukrainians who are not invited by an Israeli and not eligible for aliya can enter Israel as tourists, but only as long as they are not suspected of wanting to settle in Israel. Of course as the number of asylum seekers entering as tourists increases, the number of those denied entrance will also increase.
Bringing in cats and dogs of olim and Israeli residents
Of course one must not forget the most helpless family members that refugees bring with them. In normal circumstances, pets must obtain a license in advance before entering Israel. Since many families are forced to come to Israel under emergency conditions, bringing only what they managed to take in a car or carry themselves, any document certifying that the animal received a rabies shot is taken to be adequate. If no such document is available, the pet will be placed in quarantine and will be required to get a rabies vaccination.
Contact us:
If you need assistance in depositing a guarantee with the Interior Ministry in order to bring a Ukrainian into Israel, or you have run into difficulties in the aliya process, we are at your service. Contact us to get help from an immigration attorney in Jerusalem or Tel Aviv with experience in dealing with entering Israel and obtaining legal status.
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