Family Reunification with Ukrainian Wife

No priority but she can live here with no visa at the moment ...or she can get protection status within one week and u can parallel process all papers

@ievgenfeldmann

Thank you so much for your reply.

but we married after war began, I mean just last week. But we were living together for a year already.

I m afraid if we need to wait like 3-4 months for my visa approval. She will get his A card there as well and I will mention this detail for my visa application but still I don’t know ..

do you know anyone have their card in a week ?

@Mehmet Sahin

protection status she can get fast...but it will not change speed for you...at least half a year

@ievgenfeldmann

Ooh man that sounds too bad.

But thank you 🙏

@Mehmet Sahin

its December now I was in commune today its mess and hell lines of people ...screaming etc. Just apply and wait it is all you can do. But they will proceed it dont worry

@ievgenfeldmann

God bless you ! 🙏

@Mehmet Sahin

Hello,

First of all, everything mentioned above by other members is gibberish nonsense—I don't know why people write such obvious misconceptions. And I’m surprised no one mentioned the most critical detail: your partner cannot submit the application on your behalf. Since you are an adult and fully capable, you will need to submit the application yourself in Türkiye, at the Belgian Embassy.

However, there’s a significant challenge: Ukrainian citizens currently receive temporary protection, not full refugee status. This protection allows family reunification only for relationships that existed before the displacement event (in Ukraine’s case, February 24, 2022) and must be applied for within one year of that date. This also waived income requirements for such applications. Since you got married well after the deadlines for eligibility, this situation does not apply to you.

Now, regarding your specific case: the good news is that family reunification is still possible for you, but it will follow the standard procedure. Here's how it works:

1. Your wife must first obtain her temporary protection status in Belgium. Without this (A card), no application will be accepted.
2. She must prove she has suitable housing where she can host you in Belgium.
3. Most importantly, she must demonstrate that she has a stable income of at least €2,089.55 net per month.
4. In addition, you’ll need all required documents, with official translations and apostilles. For detailed guidelines, you can check this resource

The processing time for Reunification applications is six months from the date your complete file is submitted to the Belgian Embassy in Türkiye. In practice, it might take longer, but never less. Unfortunately, there are no special privileges for you as a Turkish citizen or her as a Ukrainian citizen under these circumstances.

Good luck with your application process! If you need more information, feel free to ask.

@Mia0210

Soo appreciated for your time and helpful answer 🙏

@Mia0210

For sure I will apply for that in Türkiye. I already got the appointment and I am collecting docs. But yea I was also wondering how it’s gonna affect the process that we got married after war began.  so if the standart procedure will apply for our family reunification:

1. better my wife doesn’t ask for any social support
2. she can speak English only so how she will find a job there without Dutch and French ?
3. you think my visa application will take too long or the process of family reunification after my arrival to Belgium? If so I can find job more easier and we can live with my income until she integrate.

@Mehmet Sahin

Hello,

The fact that you got married recently does not affect the possibility of submitting your application, as all the deadlines for her being able to bring you as a "spouse of a displaced person" have long passed. Therefore, your application will follow the standard procedure.

Whether your wife receives social support or not does not impact the process either. However, to initiate family reunification, she must hold a residence status allowing her to stay in Belgium for more than three months. This could be an A card based on temporary protection, an A card through employment, or any other valid residence permit.

Regarding her job prospects, once she receives a residence permit with work authorization, she can look for employment. I’m not deeply familiar with the English-speaking job market in Belgium, but I know many people whose native language is neither Dutch nor French—doctors, programmers, engineers, and others. English is widely used in Belgium, but beyond language, skills, competencies, and qualifications are crucial. Of course, jobs like working in a supermarket might require at least some understanding of the local language, even if fluency isn’t necessary.

As for timelines, as I mentioned earlier, this does not depend on your nationality, status, or similar factors. All cases are processed under standard rules. In practice, decisions are most often made in exactly six months (with the decision often announced on the last possible day), although there can occasionally be delays.

If so I can find a job more easily, and we can live with my income until she integrates

I’m unsure what you mean here. However, in any case, the Immigration Office only considers the income of the reference person—in this case, your wife. Your income usually will not be taken into account (with some exceptions)

@Mia0210

One more time big thanks for your helpful replies.

As for timelines, as I mentioned earlier, this does not depend on your nationality, status, or similar factors. All cases are processed under standard rules. In practice, decisions are most often made in exactly six months (with the decision often announced on the last possible day), although there can occasionally be delays.

my concern is that if “ 6 months “ means the time I should wait in my country to get my visa or i can get d type visa earlier and wait my result in Belgium.

@Mehmet Sahin

my concern is that if “ 6 months “ means the time I should wait in my country to get my visa or i can get d type visa earlier and wait my result in Belgium.

Yes, the 6-month period refers to the time required to process your application for a D visa for family reunification that you need to wait in your country. You will only receive the visa if the application is approved. If it is denied, you will not be granted the visa.

Since you are a Turkish citizen (and Turkey is subject to the Schengen visa regime), unfortunately, you cannot apply directly from Belgium, even if you were to enter on a tourist visa.

I recommend carefully evaluating your situation before applying. Based on what you’ve shared, it seems your chances of approval are currently quite low. Your wife needs to first obtain a legal status in Belgium and have sufficient financial resources to support you as her dependent. Without these key requirements, the application for family reunification will likely be denied.

@Mia0210

I’ve found some article from the website you shared above.

    1.    Flexibility in Income Evaluation:

If your net income is below the required €2,089.55, the authorities (DVZ) cannot reject your family reunification application outright. They must conduct an individual needs analysis. This means that you can submit additional documents to demonstrate your family’s financial stability, even if you don’t meet the exact income threshold.

    2.    Lower EU Standards:

While Belgium imposes a 120% income requirement, EU Directive 2003/86/EC allows for a lower threshold. The directive focuses on ensuring your family won’t depend on structural social assistance. This means that if your family situation aligns more with the directive than Belgian law, you could argue for a more lenient assessment.

    3.    Alternative Income Sources Can Count:

Although DVZ typically excludes certain income types (like unemployment benefits or temporary work), exemptions are possible, especially if you prove active job-seeking or continuous employment for at least one year. Case law supports the inclusion of income from family members (e.g., a partner’s contributions). This can strengthen your case if your income alone doesn’t meet the threshold.

    4.    Comprehensive Documentation Helps:

Providing detailed proof of income, expenses, and financial stability over the past 12 months can improve your chances significantly. Pay slips, bank statements, rental income, and even meal vouchers are considered valid proofs. Thorough preparation increases your likelihood of approval.

    5.    Legal Safeguards:

Case law, like the Chakroun ruling, emphasizes that family reunification rights should be applied in a way that prioritizes the family’s actual needs, not rigid income thresholds. If your application is unfairly denied, you could challenge it using EU law.

1. If you’re working on this application, focusing on documenting every source of income and showing financial stability should work in your favor.