A new policy from the U.S. Immigration Authority aimed at Israelis seeks detailed explanations about military service, which could lead to the identification of engagement in warfare crimes or other serious crimes, according to counsel Liam Schwartz, mind of the work and business immigration department at the Tel Aviv-based law firm Goldfarb, Seligman.
” The U. S. Immigration Authority’s new policy is extremely worrisome”, Schwartz said. ” Its impact on Israelis could be broad, affecting areas such as relocation for work, academic studies, and family reunification”.
This policy extends beyond green card applications. Israelis who apply for visas at U.S. embassies outside Israel may also face stringent questioning. Yuval, a senior manager at a high-tech company in Silicon Valley, recently received a surprising letter from the U.S. Immigration Authority regarding his green card application, in Y Net News. Concerned about a potential shift in U.S. immigration policy toward Israeli applicants, the letter requested detailed information about his time serving in the Israel Defense Forces ( IDF) between 2005 and 2008.
A statement under the oath that addressed a number of specific inquiries regarding Yuval’s military service was required. These included queries about his participation in combat, command roles, guarding detainees, and the use of weapons or explosives. Within 87 days, Yuval must provide satisfactory answers to prevent deportation.
Yuval expressed shock at the breadth of the inquiries, noting that he had previously provided basic details about his military service when applying for a work visa two years ago. He remarked,” I feel as if questions were copied from the Office of the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court in The Hague.”
Although submitting visa applications or green cards requires negotiating with American authorities regarding military service, Schwartz brought up Israeli laws regarding military confidentiality. He suggested that applicants might find it more advantageous in some circumstances to consider leaving the U.S.
