Search Q&A
Long term residence card, which one to choose?
Please advise me if you have experience /knowledge:
January 2014 - I came to Belgium for work with a local contract, as a single, non-EU citizen
March 2015 - I started cohabiting with my partner who was non-EU citizen
April 2016 - I married in Belgium to my partner who was non-EU citizen
March 2018 - My husband became a Belgian citizen.
Option 1 :
--> I apply for a long residence permit in January 2019 (legal right due to working 5 years)
--> I get the long permit in 6 months, and I apply for a citizenship with it
-->I become Belgian citizen earliest in January 2020.
Option 2:
--> I apply for a long residence card (Card F) now (because my husband is now EU citizen and we legally reside together since 3 years.
--> I apply for a citizenship in January 2019 (Because thats the time I will legally reside in Belgium for 5 years)
--> I become citizen in around Mid 2019
Question 1: Is Option 2 valid? Can I apply to F card even though my husband is not born Belgian but became a Belgian?
Question 2: Is there a difference in the citizenship application, if I apply with F card, or with the first type of Card?
Question 3: What would you do?
Thanks a million!
Ask your commune which process is best for you. That's what I did, and they were very knowledgeable on the subject.
Either way, becoming Belgian for you will only be a matter of a few months, and you have security through being married to a Belgian already.
2
and you change now to F card.
Things won't actually happen that fast. Talk to your commune about the best route to follow - and the practical timescale.
In either way. You are safe in your path to citizenship. I would have chosen F card providing that your partner can support you financially for the F card. Even thought you are working its your Belgian partner that has to proof that he earns enough to support an non EU partner. Don't forget that if you apply for F card and provide all the required documents you receive a decision no latter than 3 months.
Normally is 6 months but its 3 months for the documents submission to the commune and other 3 months for decision from foreigners office.
Question 1: Is Option 2 valid? Can I apply to F card even though my husband is not born Belgian but became a Belgian?
Yes, you can. No problem here.
Question 2: Is there a difference in the citizenship application, if I apply with F card, or with the first type of Card?
No, there will be absolutely no difference in application just because of the
type of card. Apart from card A, all other types of residence cards are ok for Ctz application.
Question 3: What would you do?
F-card. 6 months waiting time but ensure that all documents are in place for the F card application. Even if you miss a document you will get rejected and you'll have to reapply and wait another 6 months. Ensure that all the husband's docs are included: salary slips, job contract, health insurance from mutualiteit, legalized proof of residence, police clearance (don't remember if this was necessary), legalized marriage certificate but confirm necessary docs required from your cityhall.
