American Husband joining Belgian National Family Reunification

It would be difficult for you to become a Belgian resident as your Belgian partner does not have an income.

Belgium is a welfare country and they really want to make sure that foreigners and not coming to live in the welfare. This means she must have steady and stable income to support you in Belgium.

My recommendation is she needs to move first and reestablish herself in BE.(Establish residency, Mutualiteit, find a job, etc.) Once she is settled back then you can just obtain an marriage certificate from US authorities(needs to be appostiled, translated in local language FR or NL). Having the marriage certificate you can fly to Belgium and initiate the reunification procedure. Please note that you cannot leave Belgium/Schengen borderless space for about six months until you F card(Belgian equivalent of Green Card) is approved.

Regarding taxes, I guess some taxes needs to be paid in BE as well as you will be considered BE resident.

People here get taxed based on residency and not nationality. So better to check with a professional.

Another option would be to open a limited company in BE and then bill your employer in US.

@Edigj Thanks so much for taking the time to write and share your advice! From what I understand, I could also arrive on a tourist visa, and apply for the Family Reunification visa while in Belgium. Would another option be for us to arrive, have her find a job, and then submit our application before 90 days?

Yes you can, but if she does not find work within 90 days, you will have to leave Shengen space.

You can only stay up to 90 days every 6 months.

Thanks, this is helpful!

@mcdylan18 Hi Dylan, just had to say Hi!

My name is Elvira, I'm a Belgian citizen, moved to New Orleans to join my American husband. We have a 2.5yo and we are moving back to Belgium in 2023. The years I lived here I worked for the American mother company and upon my move back, I will transfer back to the Belgian daughter company.

In terms of a visa, I was told by my consulate that I, as a Belgian, married to my husband, can just get on a plane with him and upon arrival he starts the petition for "family Reunification". Where are you at in the process?

Which moving company are you using to relocate to Belgium?

Have you been able to figure out how to get public health insurance in Belgium? If you don't work for a Belgian employer, can you still get on the Belgian public health system?

Looking forward to hearing back from you, seems our cases are quite similar.

Hello everyone,

just to inform you that I have added the post of #Elvijfje to this thread of the Belgium forum as questions are not really fitting on the New Members thread.

All the best

Bhavna