Masa Visa process 2014
Frequently Asked Questions
The Zionist Federation of Australia (ZFA) Israel Programs office assists Melbourne and Sydney-based participants going on a long-term Masa Israel gap-year program by coordinating the collection of passports and completed visa application forms and sending them to the Israel Embassy in Canberra on their behalf. The ZFA Israel Programs office also coordinates the return of passports to participants once the Embassy has sent them back to Melbourne and Sydney.
Please find below a list of Frequently Asked Questions regarding the process.
Q1. Which Masa programs does the ZFA handle the visa for?
A. The ZFA will help to coordinate the visas for participants departing for Israel in January-February 2014 on the following Masa programs:
AZYC Shnat Youth Movement programs
AUJS Aviv
Israel By Choice (IBC)
Macabbi Sports Leadership Program (MSLP)
Q2. I live in Perth and I am going on IBC. Does the ZFA help organise my visa?
A. No. You will need to organise the visa yourself. The ZFA is only coordinating visas for participants living in Melbourne and Sydney. Please refer to the information sheet that clearly explains how to organise the visa on your own.
Q3. When do I receive the application forms?
A. Your program coordinator will email you the visa application forms in early October. If you do not receive them, please email and we will forward them to you.
Q4. What forms do I need to fill in?
A. You will receive the following forms which you need to complete. Please ensure you write CLEARLY.
1. If you are on an AZYC shnat program you need to fill in the document “Masa AZYC Visa Application form 2014”. If you are on AUJS Aviv, IBC or MSLP then you need to fill in “Masa Visa Application form Independent Participants 2014”
2. Visa application form (official form issued by The Ministry of the Interior, State of Israel)
3. Visa declaration form
Q5. What other information/material do I need to provide with the forms?
A. You will need to provide one (1) official passport photo. The photo must be recent and must also be 5cm x 5cm in size. Please do not affix the photo with a staple. Simply attach with a paperclip to one of the forms.
You must also send in your passport. Please check to see that there will be at least 6 months of validity on your passport after your return to Australia. If your passport will expire before then, then you must apply for a new one before you depart for Israel.
If the participant in under 18 at the time of applying for the visa then both parents must also provide a copy of photo ID (passport page showing their photo or Driver’s Licence).
If the participant is under 18, then both parents must sign the form (in the appropriately marked space) and the forms MUST be witnessed and signed by a Justice of the Peace (JP). The JP must also include their licence number. If the parents are divorced, the both parents must still sign, but the forms must be witnessed and signed by a Notary Public. In the event that a parent is deceased, then a copy of the death certificate must be included with the application forms.
Please note: These are requirements of the Embassy of Israel and no exceptions will be made.
Q6. When do I need to drop off my forms and passport?
A. Melbourne Participants
Tuesday – Thursday, November 26 – 28 from 8.30am – 6.30pm at Beth Weizmann Community Centre, 306 Hawthorn Rd, Caulfield South (Level 2, ZFA Israel Programs Office)
Sydney Participants
Tuesday – Thursday, November 26 – 28 from 8.30am – 6.30pm at the office of the State Zionist Council of NSW, Level 3, 146 Darlinghurst Rd, Darlinghurst (please ask for Joshua Sztajer)
Q7. I can’t drop off my passport and forms on those dates. Can I drop them off on another date?
A. If you are unable to drop off your passport and forms on the designated dates and times, then you will have to organise the visa yourself. Please refer to the information sheet that clearly explains how to organise the visa on your own.
Q8. I am Israeli. Do I need to obtain a visa?
A. No. You will need to enter Israel with an Israeli passport and army exemption certificate. Both documents can take time to organise, so it is very important that you make arrangements as soon as possible. A participant is determined to be Israeli if:
· They were born in Israel or made aliyah with their family at some point
· One or both of their parents is Israeli
· One or both of their parents made aliyah
Israelis that fail to travel to Israel on an Israeli passport may be prosecuted/penalized according to Israeli law. Obtaining an Israeli passport and army exemption is entirely the responsibility of the participant and their family.
Q9. I am turning 18 soon and want to travel to Israel on an adult passport. However, I will still be 17 when the passports and forms will be collected in Melbourne/Sydney. What do I do?
A. If you want to wait until you turn 18 in order to get an adult passport, that’s fine. However, if you can’t make the designated days to drop off your passport and forms, you will need to obtain the Masa visa on your own.
Q10. I’m missing some details in the application form. Can you assist?
A: These may help:
· Purpose of entry into Israel
o Masa Long Term Program
· Permanent address abroad
o Participant’s home address
· Countries of Transit
o Thailand
· Approximate duration of stay
o 1 year
· Anticipated date and place of entry to Israel
o 28 January 2013, Tel-Aviv Ben Gurion International Airport
· Address in Israel
o Kiriat Moriah, Ha’askan 3, Talpiot Mizrach, Jerusalem 91000
· Category of residence permit
o Visitor
· Relations/references in Israel
o Leave blank unless you have
Q11. When will I get my passport back?
A. Melbourne participants
Monday – Wednesday, December 16 -18 from 8.30am – 6.30pm at Beth Weizmann Community Centre, 306 Hawthorn Rd, Caulfield South (Level 2, ZFA Israel Programs Office)
Sydney participants
Monday – Wednesday, December 16 -18 from 8.30am – 6.30pm at the office of the State Zionist Council of NSW, Level 3, 146 Darlinghurst Rd, Darlinghurst (please ask for Joshua Sztajer)
Important note: Bnei Akiva participants will have their visas processed in early January so as to ensure that their visa will be valid until the end of their program (28 December, 2014). Participants will be able to collect their passports between Wednesday 8 – Friday 10 January, 2014 from 8.30am – 6.30pm.
If any participant requires their passport between the drop off and return dates, then they will need to organise the visa themselves.