Story of the A. Family, Haifa

In April 2002, Tatyana (a pseudonym) arrived in Israel on a tourist visa with the intention of joining her father and grandmother who had emigrated from the Ukraine in 2000 under the Law of Return. Tatyana, a fourth generation descendant of a Jewish great grandfather, had not arrived with her father and grandmother in Israel because she wanted to first finish her high school studies in the Ukraine. She arrived in Israel when she was 17 years and 9 months old, and began the process of trying to resolve her status through the Ministry of Interior.

The Ministry extended Tatyana's tourist visa for an additional three months, but after that her requests for additional extensions were denied, despite the fact that her father and grandmother are both Israeli citizens. Meanwhile, Tatyana was accepted to a bachelor's degree program at Haifa University and even applied for conversion to Judaism.

At the end of 2002, Tatyana approached AMF for assistance in receiving a legal civil status in Israel. Dr. Ludmilla Oigenblick, executive director of AMF, appealed to several authorities within the Ministry of Interior with regard to Tatyana's case and even met with the Deputy Interior Minister at the time, Victor Brailovski. At the end of 2004, towards the completion of her bachelor's degree, Tatyana received a temporary visa that allowed her to work in Israel.

Tatyana is currently living with her family, working, and hoping to continue her studies toward a master's degree. Tatyana's temporary visa, however, expires in January 2007 and the Ministry of Interior is refusing to renew it or grant Tatyana permanent status in Israel.