Hi, I'm planning on obtaining a "Partners of Belgian Residents" visa so that I can move to Brussels to be with my boyfriend. However, no one (embassy included) has been able to tell me whether or not I'll be able to work in Belgium while holding this visa. In other words, will I be able to obtain a work permit on top of this visa? Does anyone have any experience with this?
Thanks!
Becca
Full Version: Cohabitation visa and work permits
Hi Becca,
I can definitely sympathize--been there, doing that! I also searched this site when I was in your shoes and no one had the answers for me. Tell me more about your situation. Where do you live? Where exactly in Belgium does your boyfriend live? Have you ever lived together with your boyfriend anywhere in the world?
This is a complicated situation because the "domestic partner visa" and rights are fairly new. It is still not the law, but an article/circular. I actually first came to Belgium in Jan '06 on a work permit B. (I'm American) The lawyer I consulted told me that it would be unlikely that they would grant me a cohabitation/partner visa since we had actually never lived together (even though we were together for a year, and had known each other for 6 months before dating and saw each other every 4-8 weeks either in the USA or Europe). So, I first came over by getting a work permit B, and in December of last year, I applied for the cohabitation visa. I got it pretty quickly (Feb 2nd!) but there are LOTS of hoops to jump through!!! I am now in the process of asking for my work permit C. This is valid for all Belgian employers.
I can give you the details of this process, but after going through all of the things I did, I would recommend that you come to Belgium to study at a university and live with your boyfriend. You can do a Master's program in English or you can do a year of Dutch or French study. The fees are so low in Belgium for university and you will be able to work part time! And let me tell you, I speak fluent French but it is not enough in Belgium. You really have to speak Dutch also in order to hold a good job (in my profession anyways). Then, after you have lived with your boyfriend for some time (I would wait at least a year), you can then ask for your partner visa. If you start the process now, I think you could be in Belgium by July. My town commune told me that we had to be together for at least two years and had to live together for at least one year to get this visa. At the end of last December, we just made this requirement.
I can recommend a university language program that starts in August. It's funny because I also started thinking about my move in March but I did not get here until the following January.
I have also heard that you CAN get this partner visa without ever having lived together, but the attorney I spoke to told me not to risk it. She said a denied visa looks really bad in your passport and for future visa requests. Like I said, I have heard/read a lot of conflicting information on this subject but that is because it is new and not yet law. And don't forget there are 6 different levels of government in Belgium--kind of like the USA state and federal governments.
And most simple of all, you could GET MARRIED!!!! I didn't want to "have to" get married in order to be with my boyfriend, but after all of the headaches, time, money, and worry of going through this process I think I would have done it that way if I could go back in time. And you will have many more rights by doing it this way. But if you have only had a long distance relationship (like I did) I know that is way too scary and risky...but hindsight is 20/20.
I would be happy to talk to you if you want more information. Good luck to you. I wish someone would have had these answers for me in the past!!!
I can definitely sympathize--been there, doing that! I also searched this site when I was in your shoes and no one had the answers for me. Tell me more about your situation. Where do you live? Where exactly in Belgium does your boyfriend live? Have you ever lived together with your boyfriend anywhere in the world?
This is a complicated situation because the "domestic partner visa" and rights are fairly new. It is still not the law, but an article/circular. I actually first came to Belgium in Jan '06 on a work permit B. (I'm American) The lawyer I consulted told me that it would be unlikely that they would grant me a cohabitation/partner visa since we had actually never lived together (even though we were together for a year, and had known each other for 6 months before dating and saw each other every 4-8 weeks either in the USA or Europe). So, I first came over by getting a work permit B, and in December of last year, I applied for the cohabitation visa. I got it pretty quickly (Feb 2nd!) but there are LOTS of hoops to jump through!!! I am now in the process of asking for my work permit C. This is valid for all Belgian employers.
I can give you the details of this process, but after going through all of the things I did, I would recommend that you come to Belgium to study at a university and live with your boyfriend. You can do a Master's program in English or you can do a year of Dutch or French study. The fees are so low in Belgium for university and you will be able to work part time! And let me tell you, I speak fluent French but it is not enough in Belgium. You really have to speak Dutch also in order to hold a good job (in my profession anyways). Then, after you have lived with your boyfriend for some time (I would wait at least a year), you can then ask for your partner visa. If you start the process now, I think you could be in Belgium by July. My town commune told me that we had to be together for at least two years and had to live together for at least one year to get this visa. At the end of last December, we just made this requirement.
I can recommend a university language program that starts in August. It's funny because I also started thinking about my move in March but I did not get here until the following January.
I have also heard that you CAN get this partner visa without ever having lived together, but the attorney I spoke to told me not to risk it. She said a denied visa looks really bad in your passport and for future visa requests. Like I said, I have heard/read a lot of conflicting information on this subject but that is because it is new and not yet law. And don't forget there are 6 different levels of government in Belgium--kind of like the USA state and federal governments.
And most simple of all, you could GET MARRIED!!!! I didn't want to "have to" get married in order to be with my boyfriend, but after all of the headaches, time, money, and worry of going through this process I think I would have done it that way if I could go back in time. And you will have many more rights by doing it this way. But if you have only had a long distance relationship (like I did) I know that is way too scary and risky...but hindsight is 20/20.
I would be happy to talk to you if you want more information. Good luck to you. I wish someone would have had these answers for me in the past!!!
Hi,
Thanks so much for responding. Right now, I'm living in Washington, DC, as does my boyfriend (also an American). He'll be moving to Brussels at some point in April, and I was hoping to join in June, probably as a tourist at first and then as a resident once my visa is processed (will return to the US at this point for a week or so, allowing me to re-enter Belgium legally).
Unfortunately, we've never lived together, which I foresee as being a problem. The Embassy told me it was possible that my visa would be approved, though she thought this seemed unlikely. Right now, I'm trying to find a job from the US so I can more easily obtain a work permit/res visa, but if I can't, and my cohab visa is denied, I'm hoping I'll be able to find work once I'm in Brussels. This would again necessitate the leaving/re-entering bit. Annoying.
What do you think of these plans? Also, what exactly is a Work Permit B, and how difficult was it for you to obtain? Did you need to be sponsored by a company in order to receive this?
Thanks so much!
Becca
Thanks so much for responding. Right now, I'm living in Washington, DC, as does my boyfriend (also an American). He'll be moving to Brussels at some point in April, and I was hoping to join in June, probably as a tourist at first and then as a resident once my visa is processed (will return to the US at this point for a week or so, allowing me to re-enter Belgium legally).
Unfortunately, we've never lived together, which I foresee as being a problem. The Embassy told me it was possible that my visa would be approved, though she thought this seemed unlikely. Right now, I'm trying to find a job from the US so I can more easily obtain a work permit/res visa, but if I can't, and my cohab visa is denied, I'm hoping I'll be able to find work once I'm in Brussels. This would again necessitate the leaving/re-entering bit. Annoying.
What do you think of these plans? Also, what exactly is a Work Permit B, and how difficult was it for you to obtain? Did you need to be sponsored by a company in order to receive this?
Thanks so much!
Becca
Hi again,
Well I am glad I can help a little. How long have you and your boyfriend been together? If it has been a while, I think you should be able to get the cohabitation visa. And more good news--I think you will be able to work! I just talked to a girl in a similar situation today. I thought that if your partner is a non-Belgian, you would NOT have any working rights. But she made a phone call to the Flemish work ministry and they told her she will be able to get a work permit. Problem--will you be living in Brussels or outside? In Brussels, that is another government...so the answer could be different.
And what profession do you work in? Getting the work permit B is really difficult and yes, this is a company specific and company initiated process. And no companies want to do it for you. If you are in IT or accounting (from a big 4 american firm), you may be able to find a job via this route more easily. But you are in D.C. too--work for the government by chance? Or an international company? Look for a transfer to Brussels or go through the Foreign Service as a specialist.
But from the info I have so far, I really think going on a student visa is the best, cheapest, easiest, least risky solution for you. And you will be able to work part time. And you could be there as early as July. Like I said, if you are going to live here, you really do need to know French and Dutch anyways.
So, you have a few options to think about...
Well I am glad I can help a little. How long have you and your boyfriend been together? If it has been a while, I think you should be able to get the cohabitation visa. And more good news--I think you will be able to work! I just talked to a girl in a similar situation today. I thought that if your partner is a non-Belgian, you would NOT have any working rights. But she made a phone call to the Flemish work ministry and they told her she will be able to get a work permit. Problem--will you be living in Brussels or outside? In Brussels, that is another government...so the answer could be different.
And what profession do you work in? Getting the work permit B is really difficult and yes, this is a company specific and company initiated process. And no companies want to do it for you. If you are in IT or accounting (from a big 4 american firm), you may be able to find a job via this route more easily. But you are in D.C. too--work for the government by chance? Or an international company? Look for a transfer to Brussels or go through the Foreign Service as a specialist.
But from the info I have so far, I really think going on a student visa is the best, cheapest, easiest, least risky solution for you. And you will be able to work part time. And you could be there as early as July. Like I said, if you are going to live here, you really do need to know French and Dutch anyways.
So, you have a few options to think about...
Hello heinz86!
I have a similar problem as the founder of this thread
I like the idea of going to Belgium as a student and join my bf there, but I didn't find any courses that I would like to do. However, I am very much interested in learning Dutch...so can u give me any more info on where to look for these language courses... the only university language courses that I found are for students who are accepted to another university course and want to do preparatory year of dutch. So, any details are greatly appreciated. Thanks!
I have a similar problem as the founder of this thread
I like the idea of going to Belgium as a student and join my bf there, but I didn't find any courses that I would like to do. However, I am very much interested in learning Dutch...so can u give me any more info on where to look for these language courses... the only university language courses that I found are for students who are accepted to another university course and want to do preparatory year of dutch. So, any details are greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Hey there yogureta,
I'm going through the same thing that you're going through right now. I'm also interested in being with my bf and trying to get through the red tape is not easy. Neither he nor I have lived together. But we have been dating for a year and a half, and are ready to start our lives together. Fortunately this site helped a great deal. I was able to find the name of a great immigration lawyer based in Brussels. And when I asked him about my options this was his response:
"...If you have not been living together in the past, a cohabitation visa will indeed not be issued.
As a US citizen, you are entitled to reside in Belgium for maximum 90 days (per 6 month period).
A legal residence for more than 90 days can only be obtained through a visa type D, to be obtained with the Belgian consular authorities in the US. Unfortunately, such a visa can only be issued on the basis of
a) a work permit type B (applied for by a Belgian employer on your behalf)
b) a registration with a university..."
I've also been told that it looks bad if you apply for a visa and are rejected, so I would not try to go down the cohabitation visa path if you haven't lived together. :(
We also spoke to some people at the language school of Ghent (a very good school in the Flanders region), and they told me that due to immigration misuse, the country is very reluctant to issue student visas based on learning the language alone.
Now, the letter of the law hasn't changed; you'll find documentation that will give the impression of being to come over just to learn a national language (French, Dutch, or German). And you can come to learn the language, but only in conjunction with getting a higher degree.
Check out the universities in your BF's area, and see if there are any courses you've always wanted to take. Give yourself the chance to reinvent yourself.
...Or just get married. Heinz86 is right. I also don't want to feel forced into marriage because of red tape. I think we should be allowed to live in the same place at the same time together; if only to figure out if we live well together. But if you think of it the same way as a visa, (like a necessary piece of documentation that let's you stay in the country) it will cut through a lot of the red tape. I know me and my bf are starting to think that's not such a bad idea. ;)
Here's more info I think can help: http://www.vub.ac.be/english/infofor/prosp...ormalities.html
http://www.hvngent.be/Werking/Beruzen/tabid/112/Default.aspx
http://www.diplomatie.be/en/travel/visa/vi...sp?TEXTID=43169
I'm going through the same thing that you're going through right now. I'm also interested in being with my bf and trying to get through the red tape is not easy. Neither he nor I have lived together. But we have been dating for a year and a half, and are ready to start our lives together. Fortunately this site helped a great deal. I was able to find the name of a great immigration lawyer based in Brussels. And when I asked him about my options this was his response:
"...If you have not been living together in the past, a cohabitation visa will indeed not be issued.
As a US citizen, you are entitled to reside in Belgium for maximum 90 days (per 6 month period).
A legal residence for more than 90 days can only be obtained through a visa type D, to be obtained with the Belgian consular authorities in the US. Unfortunately, such a visa can only be issued on the basis of
a) a work permit type B (applied for by a Belgian employer on your behalf)
b) a registration with a university..."
I've also been told that it looks bad if you apply for a visa and are rejected, so I would not try to go down the cohabitation visa path if you haven't lived together. :(
We also spoke to some people at the language school of Ghent (a very good school in the Flanders region), and they told me that due to immigration misuse, the country is very reluctant to issue student visas based on learning the language alone.
Now, the letter of the law hasn't changed; you'll find documentation that will give the impression of being to come over just to learn a national language (French, Dutch, or German). And you can come to learn the language, but only in conjunction with getting a higher degree.
Check out the universities in your BF's area, and see if there are any courses you've always wanted to take. Give yourself the chance to reinvent yourself.
...Or just get married. Heinz86 is right. I also don't want to feel forced into marriage because of red tape. I think we should be allowed to live in the same place at the same time together; if only to figure out if we live well together. But if you think of it the same way as a visa, (like a necessary piece of documentation that let's you stay in the country) it will cut through a lot of the red tape. I know me and my bf are starting to think that's not such a bad idea. ;)
Here's more info I think can help: http://www.vub.ac.be/english/infofor/prosp...ormalities.html
http://www.hvngent.be/Werking/Beruzen/tabid/112/Default.aspx
http://www.diplomatie.be/en/travel/visa/vi...sp?TEXTID=43169
And to make things worse I'm not an American citizen, but one of Serbia.. so I even need visa for short stays. With that in mind I have no idea how we managed to last for this long (over 1.5yrs)
I searched around a bit but found no courses that I would actually take.. at least not in english... so I thought maybe a preparatory year of dutch is not a bad idea. I can apply for a master course in Ghent and always sign out if I dont want to go through with it, right?
But now I dont know whether I would have a student status during this language learning time which would enable me to work part time and help support my stay.
Oh so many questions...
I thought about marrying.. which really is the most obvious solution, but since I dont want this to be my reason to marry... I want to check all the other options available first
I searched around a bit but found no courses that I would actually take.. at least not in english... so I thought maybe a preparatory year of dutch is not a bad idea. I can apply for a master course in Ghent and always sign out if I dont want to go through with it, right?
But now I dont know whether I would have a student status during this language learning time which would enable me to work part time and help support my stay.
Oh so many questions...
I thought about marrying.. which really is the most obvious solution, but since I dont want this to be my reason to marry... I want to check all the other options available first
Hi all,
I saw your post for Cohabiliation visa's to belgium and I thought I'd put forth my question to you.
I'm an Indian Citizen (Software Engineer) on a work permit living in NY , My Girlfriend is a Belgian Citizen and we have been dating for 14 months now. She read about the Cohabitation visa and wants me to apply for it. When I was in India she lived with me for 3 months and after I moved to NY we have been visiting each other in EU and the US and India. Would it be possible to apply for a Cohabitation Visa at the Embassy in NY, I have emails, photos and telephone bills to support that the relationship has been going on for long.
Also will I be able to work in Belgium (Antwerp) on a Cohabitation visa or would I have to find an employer who can sponsor my work permit or can I get a work permit on the basis of my cohabitation from the local town hall. Sorry but I dont know anyone else who could help me out here, hence I'm sending you this PM.
Would appreciate any help.
I saw your post for Cohabiliation visa's to belgium and I thought I'd put forth my question to you.
I'm an Indian Citizen (Software Engineer) on a work permit living in NY , My Girlfriend is a Belgian Citizen and we have been dating for 14 months now. She read about the Cohabitation visa and wants me to apply for it. When I was in India she lived with me for 3 months and after I moved to NY we have been visiting each other in EU and the US and India. Would it be possible to apply for a Cohabitation Visa at the Embassy in NY, I have emails, photos and telephone bills to support that the relationship has been going on for long.
Also will I be able to work in Belgium (Antwerp) on a Cohabitation visa or would I have to find an employer who can sponsor my work permit or can I get a work permit on the basis of my cohabitation from the local town hall. Sorry but I dont know anyone else who could help me out here, hence I'm sending you this PM.
Would appreciate any help.
QUOTE (Maskey @ Apr 5 2008, 01:07 AM) 
Hi all,
I saw your post for Cohabiliation visa's to belgium and I thought I'd put forth my question to you.
I'm an Indian Citizen (Software Engineer) on a work permit living in NY , My Girlfriend is a Belgian Citizen and we have been dating for 14 months now. She read about the Cohabitation visa and wants me to apply for it. When I was in India she lived with me for 3 months and after I moved to NY we have been visiting each other in EU and the US and India. Would it be possible to apply for a Cohabitation Visa at the Embassy in NY, I have emails, photos and telephone bills to support that the relationship has been going on for long.
Also will I be able to work in Belgium (Antwerp) on a Cohabitation visa or would I have to find an employer who can sponsor my work permit or can I get a work permit on the basis of my cohabitation from the local town hall. Sorry but I dont know anyone else who could help me out here, hence I'm sending you this PM.
Would appreciate any help.
I saw your post for Cohabiliation visa's to belgium and I thought I'd put forth my question to you.
I'm an Indian Citizen (Software Engineer) on a work permit living in NY , My Girlfriend is a Belgian Citizen and we have been dating for 14 months now. She read about the Cohabitation visa and wants me to apply for it. When I was in India she lived with me for 3 months and after I moved to NY we have been visiting each other in EU and the US and India. Would it be possible to apply for a Cohabitation Visa at the Embassy in NY, I have emails, photos and telephone bills to support that the relationship has been going on for long.
Also will I be able to work in Belgium (Antwerp) on a Cohabitation visa or would I have to find an employer who can sponsor my work permit or can I get a work permit on the basis of my cohabitation from the local town hall. Sorry but I dont know anyone else who could help me out here, hence I'm sending you this PM.
Would appreciate any help.
On a completely unrelated note, are you absolutely certain you want to move from NY to Antwerp? Unless you're working with a really big company in Belgium (and in Antwerp in particular, there are very few big software companies) to be able to work here requires knowing Dutch(Antwerp)/French.
The Dutch KM visa might be a better option for you. I reckon you would be better off taking some time off from your job and surveying the market here. If you get lucky, you'd find an employer who'd be willing to sponsor a work permit directly for you (rather than have to go through the supposedly bureaucratic process of applying for a cohabitation visa). And the Indian passport doesn't really help your case. I would know :-D
If u find out anything please share.. 
Hi
I am so greatful to come accross this site,its helpful and all you guys seems very helpful,and thats great......
I am so greatful to come accross this site,its helpful and all you guys seems very helpful,and thats great......
I'm not sure about the present EU law, but there was a move some years ago to require EU Member States to allow foreign (non EU) nationals who had a right of residence in one Member State that same right in their own. It may be that if you have right of residence in NE, you can transfer residence to another MS.
I ownder whether there are 'bedroom police' anywhere in the EU who actually check whether people have been 'cohabiting'?
If Monsieur A and Mevrouw B claim that they've been cohabiting in any given place, then providing it's not an obvious physical impossibility (they could readily be proven to have been thousands of Km apart at the time) who's going to disprove it? And how?
(I'm not suggesting that anybody should tell 'porkies', but since politicians are renowned for being 'economical with the truth', would anybody be surprised if mere mortals were less concise than they mght possibly have been?)
I ownder whether there are 'bedroom police' anywhere in the EU who actually check whether people have been 'cohabiting'?
If Monsieur A and Mevrouw B claim that they've been cohabiting in any given place, then providing it's not an obvious physical impossibility (they could readily be proven to have been thousands of Km apart at the time) who's going to disprove it? And how?
(I'm not suggesting that anybody should tell 'porkies', but since politicians are renowned for being 'economical with the truth', would anybody be surprised if mere mortals were less concise than they mght possibly have been?)
Hello,
I have been reading the ongoing blog, and I'm hoping someone will be able to help me figure out what is our best move. My girlfriend and I have resided in the US for the last 3 years together. She is a Belgian citizen and we would like to move back to Belgian so she can be close to her family. What is the best route for us to go. She has not resided in Belgian since she was 3, but she is still a citizen and has her Belgium passport. Any advice or guidance would be great.
Thanks
Hi everyone!
I'm new to this forum, and have some questions about cohabitation in Belgium. I was hoping to find some more clarity on the procedure in Belgium, and about any possible events/requirements that will come up in the process, to be prepared to handle these things.
Let me explain my situation first.
In december 2005, I met my girlfriend, Mirela Mellone, a Brazilian girl. Since that time we have a long disntance relationship, and we are trying to get together. For me, going to brazil and work there was too hard, according to Mirela (I am Belgian, i speak perfect english, but i don't have the experience or enough knowledge of Portuguese to go there and make it work).
Anyway, in the end of 2007, we made an application with the Belgian Foreign Affair department, for a Cohabitation contract. In our city hall, in turnhout, they explained us some things, what was required from documents, emails, pictures, airtickets and so on... So we sent all these documents. They told us it would take 3 months, maybe more for them to evaluate our file, and send us some feedback.
Since that time, i haven't heard anything about our application anymore. Some weeks ago, i sent an email to a helpdesk address from the Foreign Affair dept. and i got a reply (from a student!), that said that the documents we sent for the file, showed that we don't have a relationship for 2 years yet.
So, they probably forgot to mention that to us in the city hall, and i probably wasn't asking enough questions to be sure everything was ok with the application.
Anyway, the student advised me to restart the procedure again, when Mirela comes to Belgium (which will be next year somewhere), and to insert enough pics and stuff...
So, we made the application in the beginning of December 2007. In belgium the tourist visum is only valid for 3 months. So, in the logic of all this, she should definitely get an answer within 3 months from Foreign Affairs, otherwise she would be illegal in Belgium, right? We told them that too in the email, and they couldn't answer that one.
We also do not knkow anything what is coming for us, after we get feeback that our cohabitation file is accepted. This is my big question here: we heard that we will be interviewed and stuff, and that there would be a psychologist and stuff. I would like to know exactly what all the things are that they expect from us down the line.
People can see, we have had huge headaches getting all the paperwork ok, and still, over a silly thing (the 2 year relationship requirement), we have to stay separate from each other, and it's getting really really hard. We really want to get this over with, and do it right all the way.
Can anyone help me with my questions?
Thanks in advance!
Greetings
Kris Stoops.
I'm new to this forum, and have some questions about cohabitation in Belgium. I was hoping to find some more clarity on the procedure in Belgium, and about any possible events/requirements that will come up in the process, to be prepared to handle these things.
Let me explain my situation first.
In december 2005, I met my girlfriend, Mirela Mellone, a Brazilian girl. Since that time we have a long disntance relationship, and we are trying to get together. For me, going to brazil and work there was too hard, according to Mirela (I am Belgian, i speak perfect english, but i don't have the experience or enough knowledge of Portuguese to go there and make it work).
Anyway, in the end of 2007, we made an application with the Belgian Foreign Affair department, for a Cohabitation contract. In our city hall, in turnhout, they explained us some things, what was required from documents, emails, pictures, airtickets and so on... So we sent all these documents. They told us it would take 3 months, maybe more for them to evaluate our file, and send us some feedback.
Since that time, i haven't heard anything about our application anymore. Some weeks ago, i sent an email to a helpdesk address from the Foreign Affair dept. and i got a reply (from a student!), that said that the documents we sent for the file, showed that we don't have a relationship for 2 years yet.
So, they probably forgot to mention that to us in the city hall, and i probably wasn't asking enough questions to be sure everything was ok with the application.
Anyway, the student advised me to restart the procedure again, when Mirela comes to Belgium (which will be next year somewhere), and to insert enough pics and stuff...
So, we made the application in the beginning of December 2007. In belgium the tourist visum is only valid for 3 months. So, in the logic of all this, she should definitely get an answer within 3 months from Foreign Affairs, otherwise she would be illegal in Belgium, right? We told them that too in the email, and they couldn't answer that one.
We also do not knkow anything what is coming for us, after we get feeback that our cohabitation file is accepted. This is my big question here: we heard that we will be interviewed and stuff, and that there would be a psychologist and stuff. I would like to know exactly what all the things are that they expect from us down the line.
People can see, we have had huge headaches getting all the paperwork ok, and still, over a silly thing (the 2 year relationship requirement), we have to stay separate from each other, and it's getting really really hard. We really want to get this over with, and do it right all the way.
Can anyone help me with my questions?
Thanks in advance!
Greetings
Kris Stoops.
QUOTE (kmdixon @ Aug 12 2008, 08:44 PM)
Hello,
I have been reading the ongoing blog, and I'm hoping someone will be able to help me figure out what is our best move. My girlfriend and I have resided in the US for the last 3 years together. She is a Belgian citizen and we would like to move back to Belgian so she can be close to her family. What is the best route for us to go. She has not resided in Belgian since she was 3, but she is still a citizen and has her Belgium passport. Any advice or guidance would be great.
Thanks
I have been reading the ongoing blog, and I'm hoping someone will be able to help me figure out what is our best move. My girlfriend and I have resided in the US for the last 3 years together. She is a Belgian citizen and we would like to move back to Belgian so she can be close to her family. What is the best route for us to go. She has not resided in Belgian since she was 3, but she is still a citizen and has her Belgium passport. Any advice or guidance would be great.
Thanks
Hi,
Since you have lived together for 3 years, You should be able to file for a cohabitation visa in belgium and get it--no problem. Just contact your nearest belgian embassy to do this.
QUOTE (kaleidoscope8 @ Mar 8 2008, 06:44 PM)
...Or just get married. Heinz86 is right. I also don't want to feel forced into marriage because of red tape. I think we should be allowed to live in the same place at the same time together; if only to figure out if we live well together. But if you think of it the same way as a visa, (like a necessary piece of documentation that let's you stay in the country) it will cut through a lot of the red tape. I know me and my bf are starting to think that's not such a bad idea. 
Is getting married really so easy in Belgium?
My partner lives in Austria, and I live in the United States. By the time he moves to Belgium we will have know each other for a year, but we only lived together for one month in the summer of 2008. We have flown to each other about every three weeks, and we talk on Skype multiple times a day. Would we have any chance at a cohabitation visa if I moved over?
I am desperate to marry the man I love, so if getting married would really make this whole process easier, I'm all for it! What is the process for getting married if I am American and my partner is an EU citizen?
QUOTE (heinz86 @ Mar 9 2007, 01:45 PM)
And most simple of all, you could GET MARRIED!!!! I didn't want to "have to" get married in order to be with my boyfriend, but after all of the headaches, time, money, and worry of going through this process I think I would have done it that way if I could go back in time. And you will have many more rights by doing it this way. But if you have only had a long distance relationship (like I did) I know that is way too scary and risky...but hindsight is 20/20.
What benefits do you feel you would have received by marrying him that you are now missing or lacking in simple cohabitation?
In other words, what are the benefits of being married over simply cohabitating?
hi everyone!
I'm Filipino and I have a relationship with a Belgian. We met exactly 4 years ago (September 2005) when we were both on an Exchange Program abroad. We knew each other for 3 months and we were together as a couple for the last 3 months but had to separate to finish our studies in our home country. We had a long-distance relationship for a 1.5 years but would talk at least ones a week through skype. We then met up again upon graduation where we first met and decided to pursue our relationship. He then moved to Shanghai to be closer to the Philippines. We went back and forth for 1 year. When his contract in Shanghai was ending and he was going back to Belgium, I got accepted in a Business School and did a 1-year post-graduate masters there. I have therefore been in Belgium for a year now. He came back from Shanghai last November 2008 and we have been living together since then. The thing is, we havent been officially on paper been domiciliated in the same address from November 2008 - May2009. It was only official June 2009.
Is this enough to get a cohabitation visa? 4 years of being in a relationship, and living together for 3 months 4 years ago then started living together 9 months ago. Will the fact that we were unofficially registered under the same address for the first 6 months be a problem? How to we prove this stay together without the registration in the city hall?
It would be really nice if someone can answer =)
Thanks a whole bunch everyone!
Bea
I'm Filipino and I have a relationship with a Belgian. We met exactly 4 years ago (September 2005) when we were both on an Exchange Program abroad. We knew each other for 3 months and we were together as a couple for the last 3 months but had to separate to finish our studies in our home country. We had a long-distance relationship for a 1.5 years but would talk at least ones a week through skype. We then met up again upon graduation where we first met and decided to pursue our relationship. He then moved to Shanghai to be closer to the Philippines. We went back and forth for 1 year. When his contract in Shanghai was ending and he was going back to Belgium, I got accepted in a Business School and did a 1-year post-graduate masters there. I have therefore been in Belgium for a year now. He came back from Shanghai last November 2008 and we have been living together since then. The thing is, we havent been officially on paper been domiciliated in the same address from November 2008 - May2009. It was only official June 2009.
Is this enough to get a cohabitation visa? 4 years of being in a relationship, and living together for 3 months 4 years ago then started living together 9 months ago. Will the fact that we were unofficially registered under the same address for the first 6 months be a problem? How to we prove this stay together without the registration in the city hall?
It would be really nice if someone can answer =)
Thanks a whole bunch everyone!
Bea
QUOTE (heinz86 @ Mar 9 2007, 01:45 PM)
Hi Becca,
I can recommend a university language program that starts in August. It's funny because I also started thinking about my move in March but I did not get here until the following January.
!!!
I can recommend a university language program that starts in August. It's funny because I also started thinking about my move in March but I did not get here until the following January.
!!!
Can yoou please suggets some langauge course or some otherr diploma/certificate courses...
I am on work permit visa and want my beloved to join me
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