Case Transfer to Jerusalem Worked! [merged threads]

[PaulMK 6]

As Rikko said, keep refreshing the page, appointments come up randomly. Keep in mind, you need to have a medical exam two weeks before the interview, and you should stay about 2-3 weeks after the interview as well. Stay on the Jerusalem side when picking a doctor. 

 

You can set an appointment before they physically receive your files. It takes them about a month for the physical files to show up in Jerusalem, and they will email you when it does, but again, make the appointment before that confirmation.

[BenNomad 88]

The embassy in Jerusalem opened up interview dates for December yesterday. Maybe they do that on the last Thursday of each month? Dates were available only on Tuesdays with a few slots (three I think) on each day. Got my wife's interview scheduled, yay!

 

Question on choosing the doctor and the potential issues with going to Bethlehem or Ramallah for the med exam. Who would have an issue with that? Israeli security? What I've read is that it's allowed and fairly safe for foreigners to travel to both places as long as you don't look like an Israeli. I'll try to schedule the med exam in Jerusalem, but if there is better availability in Ramallah, why not go there?

 

Also, do they send the results electronically? I had booked a med exam in Warsaw only 3-4 working days before the interview so I"m wondering why in Jerusalem they need two weeks. 

[rikko 80]

8 minutes ago, BenNomad said:

 Bethlehem or Ramallah

 

send the results electronically?

1. If you get AP and have to leave and come back they won't like if you entered west bank. I would avoid ramallah. Bethlehem is touristy and important to Christians, and the name is in Hebrew. If they ask why you were in Bethlehem I think they'd be more tolerant. Ramallah is like, Palestine proper, it's their defacto capital now. I would suspect issues. But yeah you'll be safe as long as you don't look Jewish (in west bank). 

 

2. Paper. We picked it up a few days after our medical. The Bethlehem doctor is very nice.

[BenNomad 88]

29 minutes ago, rikko said:

1. If you get AP and have to leave and come back they won't like if you entered west bank. I would avoid ramallah. Bethlehem is touristy and important to Christians, and the name is in Hebrew. If they ask why you were in Bethlehem I think they'd be more tolerant. Ramallah is like, Palestine proper, it's their defacto capital now. I would suspect issues. But yeah you'll be safe as long as you don't look Jewish (in west bank). 

 

2. Paper. We picked it up a few days after our medical. The Bethlehem doctor is very nice.

I looked up both places on Google street view and I see what you mean. Out of curiosity, does the Bethlehem one look right? Neither place looks like a doctor's office, especially the Ramallah one. The address is 100% accurate though, from the embassy contact info. The photo is 6 years old and I hope it doesn't still look like that! I can imagine the reaction I'd get if I told my wife, "yeah just go in there and I'll be back in an hour...."

[BenNomad 88]

3 hours ago, BenNomad said:

 Neither place looks like a doctor's office, especially the Ramallah one.

I didn't intend the previous post to be disrespectful in any way. It's hard to believe that really is a doctor's office, but if it is, that sadly says a lot about the Palestinians' situation 😞 

Glad to hear the good recommendation for Bethlehem doctor 👍

[rikko 80]

On 9/29/2023 at 7:12 PM, BenNomad said:

I didn't intend the previous post to be disrespectful in any way. It's hard to believe that really is a doctor's office, but if it is, that sadly says a lot about the Palestinians' situation 😞 

Glad to hear the good recommendation for Bethlehem doctor 👍

Bethlehem is right. The exterior is made of a local construction material, inside is as modern as it can get. The doctor in Bethlehem is a Palestinian Christian. It's walking distance from Manger Sq., which is also near an AirBnB. 

[rikko 80]

On 9/29/2023 at 3:08 PM, BenNomad said:

 I can imagine the reaction I'd get if I told my wife, "yeah just go in there and I'll be back in an hour...."

I was able to wait outside. There is seating but it was too hot at the time so I stood in the breezeway. Infrastructure is old but things are clean and I do think the city is low crime. I would feel safe walking around at night.

 

Bethlehem doc said he has seen pretty much only Russian patients. Israelis cannot enter west bank tier A zones, Jews shouldn't enter because they're at danger of being killed. Many Palestinian Christians have left due to international church support and resources, and the city population is becoming more and more Palestinian Muslim as people leave cities like Hebron. There are actually many Russian Jews in Israel so we had my fiance wear his cross to be safe, but it was probably unnecessary. Both Palestinians and Israelis try very hard to not involve foreigners if there ever is violence. Another reason I suggest Bethlehem over Ramallah is that Ramallah seems less stable. And this is if you cannot do the medical in Jerusalem. Assuming you have to leave and come back for a 221g or any other additional screening, I would absolutely 100000% recommend not setting foot in west bank. 

 

Bethlehem has an extremely tourist-driven industry which was hit hard by covid and recent legislation. They love seeing tourists. It is probably the only tourist-driven city I've been in that doesn't hate tourists.

 

Taxis will be hard to source but if you get an AirBnB they'll usually get fam from Jerusalem to drive you around for like $100 lmao, Israeli taxi drivers cannot take you to Bethlehem. Always have a backup plan or arrive 1-2 days before any appointment. There is a refugee camp in Bethlehem that can be raided, and raids usually mean you cannot enter or leave for a period of time.

 

Gunshots from 5-9 pm are locals, gunshots from 1-4 am are IDF (which we never heard). There will be a call to prayer every night at like 2-3 am, if you are a light sleeper, close the windows.

 

Jerusalem is nice too, but consider renting a car while there. All affordable accomodations for us in West Jerusalem was in surrounding suburbs, and as tourists we couldn't obtain bus passes. 

 

I did not enter East Jerusalem but from what I understand it can also be subject to raids and clashes. Cheap lodging though.

[BenNomad 88]

21 hours ago, rikko said:

I was able to wait outside. There is seating but it was too hot at the time so I stood in the breezeway. Infrastructure is old but things are clean and I do think the city is low crime. I would feel safe walking around at night.

 

Bethlehem doc said he has seen pretty much only Russian patients. Israelis cannot enter west bank tier A zones, Jews shouldn't enter because they're at danger of being killed. Many Palestinian Christians have left due to international church support and resources, and the city population is becoming more and more Palestinian Muslim as people leave cities like Hebron. There are actually many Russian Jews in Israel so we had my fiance wear his cross to be safe, but it was probably unnecessary. Both Palestinians and Israelis try very hard to not involve foreigners if there ever is violence. Another reason I suggest Bethlehem over Ramallah is that Ramallah seems less stable. And this is if you cannot do the medical in Jerusalem. Assuming you have to leave and come back for a 221g or any other additional screening, I would absolutely 100000% recommend not setting foot in west bank. 

 

Bethlehem has an extremely tourist-driven industry which was hit hard by covid and recent legislation. They love seeing tourists. It is probably the only tourist-driven city I've been in that doesn't hate tourists.

 

Taxis will be hard to source but if you get an AirBnB they'll usually get fam from Jerusalem to drive you around for like $100 lmao, Israeli taxi drivers cannot take you to Bethlehem. Always have a backup plan or arrive 1-2 days before any appointment. There is a refugee camp in Bethlehem that can be raided, and raids usually mean you cannot enter or leave for a period of time.

 

Gunshots from 5-9 pm are locals, gunshots from 1-4 am are IDF (which we never heard). There will be a call to prayer every night at like 2-3 am, if you are a light sleeper, close the windows.

 

Jerusalem is nice too, but consider renting a car while there. All affordable accomodations for us in West Jerusalem was in surrounding suburbs, and as tourists we couldn't obtain bus passes. 

 

I did not enter East Jerusalem but from what I understand it can also be subject to raids and clashes. Cheap lodging though.

Did you know about public bus 231 that goes to Bethlehem from Jerusalem? I read a recent blog post about tourists taking it and it seems like a good alternative to paying $$$$ for a taxi.

 

When you enter back into Israel from the West Bank, do the Israelis scan your passport into their system? Can't think of how else they'd know you had been there. Did your fiance have issues returning to Israel because of that?

[rikko 80]

2 hours ago, BenNomad said:

Did you know about public bus 231 that goes to Bethlehem from Jerusalem? I read a recent blog post about tourists taking it and it seems like a good alternative to paying $$$$ for a taxi.

 

When you enter back into Israel from the West Bank, do the Israelis scan your passport into their system? Can't think of how else they'd know you had been there. Did your fiance have issues returning to Israel because of that?

You need an app to use the bus and we couldn't get it to work. We boarded a bus and tried to pay with cash and the bus driver told us he'd call the cops and have us fined lmao. If you've ever been to New York City, Israel feels like it and then some at times.

 

Your passport is scanned and you're given a blue ticket upon arrival. No stamp. Many Arab countries will not let you in if you've been to Israel, so this is how they protect tourists. If you rent a car, you'll be checked when crossing checkpoints. If you take a taxi they might or might not check everyone's ID.

 

There is a chance you might be monitored, I think. We were told several times to expect an exit interview when leaving Israel, and every single person stressed to never lie about whether or not you visited west bank. They may even search your phones if they want. We were given an exit interview and cross-examined for 15 minutes. We were honestly prepared for 2-3 hours of this. But you have to understand that Israelis have to take the security of their country and people very seriously due to terrorism. We were physically scanned, patted down, and all of our carry-ons were swabbed for any traces of explosives before even boarding a CONNECTING flight to Israel. 

 

Also, we haven't been called back. We are in 221g administrative hell right now. 

[PaulMK 6]

You could also stay on the Israeli side of Jerusalem, it's a tad bit easier because you won't be caught up in their conflict between Palestine and Israel. It's expensive to live there, but again, no problems with crossing boarders and checkpoints. There is also a nice doctor in West Jerusalem, it's called Wolfson Medical, you can go there to do your medical exam.