I am an American who fell in love with a Belgian. I'm trying to do the cohabitation visa, but it's so complicated, and I hear horror stories of people being rejected for minor errors... it's troubling. We've been together a bit over a year, and we talk for hours a day via webcam, but we were only able to spend about a month and a half together in person due to our jobs and such. To a bureaucrat, I'm thinking that's not going to sound very convincing, especially since we have no joint utility bills or anything. It's like a terrible Catch 22... you can't live together unless you have a visa, but you have to get a visa to live together.

So my question is, does marriage make this easier? I have looked all over and I can't find any clear information about what happens after marriage. In Belgium, under the current laws, am I allowed to live with my husband for more than the 3-month limit? It would seem like a silly question, but I really want to make sure. It would kill me to get out there and get our puppy and then find out three months in that I have to go back to America because my 90 days are up.

I know this guy is the one--I knew within only a few days of talking to him, and that feeling hasn't gone away over an entire year. I've been separated from him since January. It's unbearable. I miss him more than I can say. I am willing to do whatever it takes to start living permanently with him as soon as possible. We were planning to wait on getting married, but I honestly have no doubt about him. If it were easier, I'd be willing to do it in a heartbeat and just have a more romantic, informal ceremony with family and friends later on.

I'd really appreciate any help anyone can give.

Hi wynne,
We hope we're not too late in responding to you! Below is advice from one of our experts. We hope this helps you!

In case you want to apply for a visa on the basis of a 'stable, long-term relationship', you will need to submit the following documents to the Belgian Embassy of your place of residence:

• A copy of your passport;
• A copy of the Belgian ID-card of your boyfriend;
• A document which proofs that you are both not married;
• A legalized birth certificate;
• Proof that the relationship is stable and long-term (e.g. telephone bills, rental agreement, letters, electronic messages, etc.);
• Proof that you have sufficient means (e.g. a copy of your work permit, employment contract, payslips, etc.);
• A certificate of good conduct covering the 5 previous years;
• A signed pledge of financial support, to be obtained at the commune of the place of residence of your boyfriend and to be legalized by the commune of his place of residence;
Note that this is a very time consuming process. It can take several months before your application is treated and a positive outcome can not be guaranteed.

In case you would like to marry in Belgium, please note that you will not be granted the Belgian nationality automatically. You can apply for it after 3 years of cohabitation in Belgium by means of a declaration of choosing the Belgian nationality. This declaration should be done in person with the county clerk of the Belgian commune of your place of residence.
The documents to be submitted are:
• your birth certificate;
• a copy of the Belgian residence card;
• a copy of the Belgian ID-card of your boyfriend;
• the marriage certificate;

Note that you will be allowed to stay more than 90 days in Belgium once you are married as you will be granted a Belgian residence card once you are married. As a tourist, you are allowed to stay in Belgium for a period of 90 days in a six-month period on the basis of your US passport.