The body that replaced the Foreigners and Borders Service, the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) continues to be the target of many complaints from immigrants. The organization is unable to respond to requests in a timely manner, which leads to some processes lasting more than two years. The queues start long before the doors open and the displeasure is visible, as shown by the SIC journalist who is at the door of one of the service counters in Porto.
Carlos, one of the faces of the indignation, is one of the many people waiting, this Tuesday morning, to be attended to by AIMA. He tells SIC that he has been waiting since March 2023 for his residence card, which he insists on not arriving. He reveals that he has visited the agency that deals with all issues related to immigration several times, however “the answer is always zero, none”.
“They don’t give any information, they say we can leave, only by making an appointment at AIMA. I try to make an appointment, but it’s never possible”, explains the Brazilian citizen residing in Portugal.
As it is not legal in Portuguese territory, due to the lack of response from the institution, he confesses that he plans to return to Brazil.
Protest with little expression on site
In the location where the SIC team is located, a demonstration is taking place, organized by an independent movement, which did not register the desired support.
“People are afraid to come and show their face. The reality is that we need to be heard, attended to”, explains the organizer of the action.
She also shares the situation of her husband, who applied for renewal of his residence permit last December, but has not yet received any response.
“We call AIMA and they say it’s with the IRN (Institute of Registries and Notaries), we call the IRN and they say it’s with AIMA. We are being harmed even by the bank, which does not accept our title, which already It’s overdue. Jobs can’t be found. It’s a chaotic situation, it needs to be resolved”, says the immigrant.
He adds that he has already paid everything required to renew his residence permit, but points out that “no one knows” where his documents are.
There are currently more than 500,000 pending applications for the granting of Portuguese nationality, which have skyrocketed over the last few years. In 2023 alone, more than 250,000 were registered.
