Refugees and Asylum seekers –
Shemer Law Office specializes in various proceedings in front of the Interior Ministry, based on a variety of regulations, laws, permits, business needs, etc.
With the rising enforcement in regards to illegal refugees, undocumented workers and those whose visa has expired (even those with a solid chance of obtaining citizenship), it is more important than ever to get qualified assistance.

Some of the services we provide:

· Work permits to enter Israel.
· Family reunion.
· Obtaining Israeli citizenship.
· Legal consulting to refugees refused entry and expulsion decisions by the State of Israel.
· Regulating the status of the refugee’s mate.
· Filing court appeals.

Shemer Law Office has extensive experience and uncompromising professionalism.
The office staff provides personal service throughout the proceedings.

Professional Information:

Israel signed “The 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees” (which was amended in the 1967 Protocol) that allows anyone pursued in his country to reach Israel’s borders and to be protected. (Article 1[Article 1 (a)(2)] of the Convention, as amended by the 1967 Protocol, defines who is a refugee).

The refugees don’t receive the government protection in their country of origin, which is why the international community has taken to protecting their rights. The 1951 Convention and its amended Protocol of 1967 are the universal legal documents (plus International Human Rights Law[1]) that respond to most aspects of refugee life. Currently, 147 countries are signed on to one or both agreements. The State of Israel has signed both documents.

The basic condition of the Convention, which is ruled in Article 33 of the Convention, is that a refugee should not be returned to a country where danger to his life or liberty is expected. This condition is called the “Non Refoulement” principle and it is an obligation for all countries of the world, not just those that signed the treaty.

Also, the countries that the refugee comes to are responsible for protecting him, to provide him the protection he does not receive in the country from which he escaped. These countries are committed to ensuring that the refugee is granted basic rights, such as religious freedom, the right to work, the right to education, health services, social services, the right to relief of naturalization, non-discrimination, freedom of movement, access to passports, etc. At the same time, refugees must respect the laws and regulations of their asylum state.

However, the Interior Ministry brings many obstacles and difficulties to asylum seekers. Therefore, it is very important to have representation by an expert attorney, in order to present the case in the most correct way, in order to increase the chances of obtaining a status for them. Our legal team has experience and much success in this area. We view our role as a moral mission to assist asylum seekers from minority capacities, and we would be happy to assist at any stage of this sensitive process.

Humanitarian cases –
Professional Information:

As stated above, the law in the State of Israel allows settlements in Israel mainly for Jews and their families, for Israelis and their families and for recognized refugees. But unlike them, other foreign nationals don’t get permission to live in Israel simply because of their affection for the country or its residents.

However, in special cases where exceptional circumstances exist, a submission can be made for status in Israel for humanitarian reasons. The request is examined by a special committee (which includes representatives from The Ministry of the Interior, Welfare Health, the Police and others). The person who applies for status needs to convince the committee that if he doesn’t stay in Israel, it will cause him serious damage (and there is justification for his living in the country).

This is a complicated procedure and requires the guidance of an attorney specializing in the field, considering the fact that it’s difficult to prove the circumstance (and also the small number of applications that are approved by the committee). Our legal team have extensive experience with this kind of proceeding. We will be happy to help you in the process, examining the case and providing the best representation for you.

[1] Supplementing the refugee rights as provided for in the 1951 Convention.

Common-law couple –
Professional Information:

Under state law, Jews cannot marry a non-Jewish foreigner. An overseas wedding option could be frustrating and attached to separation from their spouses. Therefore, many couples prefer to give up the wedding and choose to live together as a common-law couple. The law in Israel is designed to ensure rights and obligations that the state grants to married couples that don’t want to / can’t be married properly, including the foreign couples, as well as same-sex couples.

This process requires the couples to be patient and get accompanied by professional counsel, which will help the couples to secure their rights in a legal document in the form of a contract or agreement.

Unlike married couples, when the common-law couple are physically separated, the cessation of living together ends the period of being known to the public. Today, many common-law couples prefer to end their relationship as part of a mediation process, especially in cases that involve children.

In many ways, common-law couples eligible the same rights as married spouses.

Our legal team specializes in drafting legal agreements for common-law couples who regulate all issues related to their lives. In addition, our firm has contacts with relevant entities in the Interior Ministry and assists interracial couples from the early stages of the process.

Marriage between interracial couples – As mentioned above, the process of obtaining a visa for a spouse who is not Israeli is complex and requires professional counseling. Our legal team helps the couples throughout the process, until the visa is obtained. We recommend you consult with an attorney before submitting your application to the Ministry of the Interior in order to increase your chances of receiving it.

Family Unification – There is no greater difficulty than a family living in a foreign and distant land. In the case where relatives are not Jewish, it requires a special visa. Our legal team take care of the approvals needed to bring your family together quickly and efficiently.