The first step to making Aliyah is not an action, it is an intention. It is like in the science fiction or self-actualization movies. You have to get to the point where you decide that you really WANT it more than you want to stay with your current life situation. It is not an easy decision and like all important steps, there are going to be consequences on many people around you, not to mention yourself. At the same time, if this is something that you are strongly considering, waiting has NO value in my opinion, it only makes it more difficult and reduced the opportunities to be contributor in Eretz HaKodesh.
Step #1: File your formal intention on the Nefesh B’Nefesh Site. It is an interesting process where each time you update your information, a login password is emailed to you. As part of the step, also make sure you have are aware that there are fees and payments scattered throughout the entire process. And it starts here! 😉
Recommendation: If you do not already have a FedEx account, set one up. Just makes life easier, especially since you’ll often need to print return receipts. Note: I found the staff at the Pack and Ship on Brown Dr Road to be most helpful (side benefit, a few blocks from Friendship Circle Cafe).
Apostille: What is it and why do I have to have one?
Let me simplify it as — you remember when you used to get a little gold star put on your test in 2nd grade and how excited you got? Well, this is kind of the same thing, only bigger and you have to bribe the teacher (aka: pay for it)! Here is what it looks like on one document:
(smudging added to gold sticker just in case not allowed to upload official version)The apostille is actually a higher level authentication than a Notary Public stamp. Actually, with almost all of the documents, they need to Notarized and then sent for an Apostille (this where the FedEx part comes in handy).
Documents that require an Apostille start from the moment of your birth, yes the Birth Certificate FROM THE STATE WHERE YOU WERE BORN. If that is in the midwest, this should be a somewhat straight-forward process. Unless you were born in 1 of the Burroughs of NY. That has its own extra hurdle. However, it isn’t as difficult as if you were born outside of the US (yes, NY may seem to fit that status at times, but not for official purposes. 😉 )
Your wedding certificate also needs and Apostille (and in the case of remarriage, divorce documents as well). If you are doing a split aliyah, then the declaration needs to be notarized and then sent for the apostille. I think only the letter from the Rabbi did not require the apostille. More on that in the timing section. Likewise the FBI background check. Yep, full search! Just kidding, but you did get fingerprinted and a ride in the back of a police car. Just kidding again.
US Passport: Duh, I almost forgot. You are not going to pass go until you pay the near $200 to have a valid passport that is good until something like at least 1 year past the actual date of aliyah.
When? When? When?
That is an important question — when will I get to go on that Nefesh B’Nefesh flight? It doesn’t sound like anyone has been able to do it from outside of Israel (yes, if you could actually get there, you can do the process from within Israel — they say it is easier, but at this point I’m not going to believe it) in less than 3 months. Like I said, the process started for me 3 1/2 months ago and I’ve been persistent — still waiting for travel Visa. The recommendation is to start a solid 8 months before your intended flight day. SO, DON’T WAIT ANOTHER DAY!
Documents for Nefesh B’Nefesh Application
Get ready to upload to the Oz behind the curtain a slew of personal documents — not an easy prospect, but I don’t know of another way in the current bureaucratic world.
First, the NBN (Nefesh B’Nefesh) application (along with $120 fee) is going to require a number of pieces of personal information, including (and of course not limited to):
- Mom & Dad’s birthdays and full names
- Everyone’s Hebrew name
- Youth camp activity
- Profile statement about yourself and why you want to make aliyah
Documents to actually upload (and send to Chicago rep):
- Apostille needed on:
- Birth Certificate (this is NOT the one from the hospital, but a different one that I had never seen before)
- Marriage Certificate
- Declaration if making a split aliyah
- Waiver of confidentiality document (yikes)
- Get new passport photographs to upload (and eventually send a couple of times in mail) — need to be official ones
- Current passport photos
- Proof of Judaism letter from the Rabbi (needs to be less than 1 yr before aliyah)
- Health declaration document
- Entry and exit form for when & why you’ve been to Israel in past
- FBI background check (less than 6 months before aliyah)
And did I mention that there is a fee associated with everything? I took the simple way for the Birth Certificate document w/Notary and Apostille and paid a handling company (something like $98) to do it all at once. For me, I consider that to have been a good move since I don’t have many hairs on my head left to turn gray with stressing to figure it all out.