Hi Maj, you can work once you receive an Orange Card if your boyfriend is a Belgian or an EU citizen. You can check the post here.

Hi Ama, kindly read this article when you declare a cohabitation at the commune. They will not issue an Orange Card when you first visit the place. Additionally, you may have to go through 1 or 2 interviews at the city hall or a police visit first before signing the contract. Things are getting a bit more strict and difficult now as compared to my time. You will also not get a declaration receipt on the spot. The legal cohabitation approval will be sent to you by post a few weeks later after you sign the paper.

Hi Joan, yes, you will still get an Orange Card no matter what because you have already received the legal cohabitation paper. It should come quite soon since you have already got the approval in April or May. If you have 1.5 years of relationship, you will still stand a chance to get the residency. There are quite a few people that I came across, who did not have a full 2-year relationship when they applied, they still get the F card.

Thank you for your information. I wanted to add that I am aware I don’t fulfil all the requirements to get a positive answer (to get the F card) as the only obstacle is that I know my partner for only 1.5 years already. But as you keep on saying, even if I get a negative answer from them, I can apply again. And by then, I will fulfil all the requirements. My only concern now is, will they at least grant me an orange for applying now or it can also be a negative decision about it? I also live in Antwerp, by the way. Thank you.

Hi Joan, the first step of legal cohabitation approval was at the district level, approved by the mayor. At the second step, the decision of the family reunification, which you will get an F Card is by Brussels Immigration Office. When you get an Orange Card and Annex 19ter later, they will ask you to submit more documents as proof of relationship in that paper. So, you have not come to that stage yet.

In Antwerp where I live, applicants would be asked to submit the proof of relationship two times – one before the legal cohabitation approval and the other when receiving the Orange Card. Whereas for other cities, most people will only submit the proof of relationship once. The evidence that you will present at the second stage will go to the Immigration Office for their decision. In conclusion about your case, it is not an indicative sign of whether it is positive or not even if your first step ended faster than others.

Hello,

An update to my situation: My partner and I requested for cohabitation in March and in April. It was accepted. I must say that it was pretty simple. We just had to send the proofs they needed. The police visit was only 5 minutes. We didn’t even have to go for the interview. So now, after living together officially for 3 months, we decided to apply for the family reunification.

Today, I got the email. They just asked me to send them my passport and the approved cohabitation paper. To me, it is a bit strange as I have read your blog and at least to you, they have asked for more proofs. In any case, I was just wondering, is this a good sign that the process will go fine or you think is not a good sign. Thnx.

Hi I2I, sorry. It seems like I have missed a couple of comments here without my knowledge! I am not sure whether I have replied to you before. But as to your question, You have to go to the Districtshuis of where your boyfriend lives and ask to apply for the legal cohabitation. From there, the staff will guide you on the procedure. You may have to undergo police visit and also interview before you can sign the paper. I hope you have already passed this stage when as of now.

Hi Kaycee, you can continue to live in the same address if the legal cohabitation is cancelled legally, provided it is also agreeable by your partner. If your partner wants you out of the house and the ownership or rental is under her name, then you have to move out of the house. It is more of a personal arrangement between the two of you.