In a session to mark the year of the agency's existence, Pedro Portugal Gaspar explained that “AIMA, this year, issued 250 thousand administrative acts, residence titles, support for international protections, family regulations or ARI”.
This year, AIMA “answered more than 560 thousand telephone calls” and provided “face-to-face assistance to more than 230 thousand people”, he said.
AIMA, created on October 29, 2023, following the extinction of the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) and High Commission for Migrations (ACM), has had a “difficult job” throughout this year, admitted Pedro Portugal Gaspar.
“The workers deserve a word of appreciation because they have really made a huge effort to fulfil their mission”, he said, highlighting that he decided to mark the first year of existence with an entrepreneurship fair and a protocol that authorises entry into Portugal of 600 refugees.
Glad to hear they are working hard to clear the backload.
My husband and I have been waiting over a year in madeira for an appointment with them. Hopefully it won't be much longer
By Lynne from Other on 29 Oct 2024, 21:58
Great job AIMA. Congratulations on successful first year. Wish you all the best for the upcoming days.
By Suhail R from Other on 30 Oct 2024, 12:35
Unfortunately cards have been not printed and taking 6-7 months to receive the cards. More problems than SEF used to do
By Ravi shrestha from Lisbon on 30 Oct 2024, 19:30
I'm not like aima. I have a lot of reason. 1st of all that aima not maintain sireal. I entry my documents on 02 November 2022. I'm still waiting for my biometric. One the other hand lot of people they entry there paper like ase 04 /2023 . Nowadays they finger but 04/ 2022 people are waiting now. How funny aima system. I liked sef system. It's better than Aima.
By MD sohan from Algarve on 30 Oct 2024, 22:59
I simply cannot believe this. I have tried multiple times in the last 11 months to call, email and visit AIMA without any response at all. They don't respond to emails or web forms. No residency appointments are available online. The tel line has a message saying refer to web site. On 2 visits to AIMA in Faro they declined to even consider booking an appointment. Where did you get this info? I heard 400, 000 people were waiting to be processed. Your article suggests a large fraction of these have been actioned, which I find incredulous.
By MR ANTHONY H TABOR from Algarve on 31 Oct 2024, 09:05
It's 4 years aima has not issued any processing for expired cards
By Ziauddin Samadi from UK on 31 Oct 2024, 09:35
I find this very hard to believe....been waiting since June 2022 for a biometrics appointment. Perhaps they consider making a cup of coffee to be a "process"?
By Mike H from Madeira on 31 Oct 2024, 11:06
AIMA is even worse than SEF. Many people can't get an appointment for renewing the residency card. My residence card expired in August, and there's No way for me to renew it. I called AIMA several times, and nobody answered the phone. I sent email to AIMA about making an appointment to renew the residency card, but they asked me to go to old SEE website and renew it there. I logged into to SEF account many times, but it said that I'm not allowed to renew it there. AIMA is absolutely a joke.
By Annie from Porto on 01 Nov 2024, 14:24
AIMA is even worse than SEF. It's absolutely a joke. My residency card expired in August, I tried to call AIMA several times for making an appointment to renew the residency card, but nobody answered the phone. I have been trying for months to login to the old SEF account and renew it there, but AIMA hasn't opened the online renewal since July. Then I emailed AIMA about the appointment for renewing the residency card, I got an email from them and asked me to renew it online. I don't understand how a government agency could work like this way? It's very frustrating.
By Annie from Porto on 01 Nov 2024, 14:59
I don't think this is a right information provided by the Aima because people of June 2022 still waiting for email for their biometric.
By Sat Pal Kainth from Porto on 01 Nov 2024, 21:43
My mother is unable to renew online due to age and her residency card expired in September. Numerous emails and phone calls go unanswered or better yet the staff hang up on you. We have traveled to the office only to be turned away and told to call a nonexistent phone number. This is an embarrassing situation for the government. I plan to file a complaint as it's just a circle of going nowhere to make a renewal if the statement says this person is not eligible for online services. I don't feel I should pay a lawyer for a public service.
By Anne from Lisbon on 02 Nov 2024, 14:49
I find it hard to believe any of the figures in the article. I and most others i have met and spoken with including lawyers, immigration consultants, citizens advice, have found no way to contact AIMA, no way to book appointments, no way to speak with them. The only credible advice was from a local portuguese lawyer visiting aima faro, who said they will not help you in faro (only lisbon can make appointments) and to take aima to court to force them to give me a residencia interview. This article appears a complete fiction.
By Anthony tabor from Algarve on 23 Nov 2024, 00:22