The Portuguese Agency for Integration, Migrations and Asylum (AIMA) has said that it needs around one and a half years to resolve 350,000 pending residency applications filed by foreigners.
According to the president of AIMA, Luís Goes Pinheiro, the goal is to resolve the pending cases as soon as possible. However, taking into account the large volume of applications that have been filed so far, it will be unable to respond to all of them within a shorter period of time.
There was not always the capacity to respond in the time that we would all like; we are talking about almost 350,000 pending issues that the Agency faces.
Goes Pinheiro further stressed that once they resolve all cases, they expect to deal with “daily demand” only, thus avoiding creating a backlog of applications.
As the Portugal News explains, Goes Pinheiro said in order to be able to resolve the pending residency applications, many measures need to be taken. One of the most important is to increase the number of staff that process these applications.
There is also an immediate need for new equipment so applicants can be registered more easily and relevant authorities can issue documents without facing any challenges.
According to Portugal News, the Foreigners and Borders Service, which was previously responsible for taking care of these applications, faced criticism from unions and migrant associations regarding its structural IT problems.
For this reason, AIMA thinks it is of prime importance to invest in renewing technological equipment and other infrastructure.
It is absolutely essential to invest decisively in renewing the technological park in the digital transformation of this area in order to ensure that the human resources that are present today and those that will be added to them are more than sufficient to serve our users fully.
As for now, Goes Pinheiro stressed that the agency’s objective is to respond to the volume of information as well as find solutions to serve those applying for a residency permit or for a renewal in the best way possible.
While many cases need to be resolved, AIMA said that by the end of this year, the aim is to process applications of those who have filed for family reunification and regularise their situation.
Moreover, AIMA said that it will also increase the number of service points so that applicants can more easily and efficiently apply for and obtain a residence permit.
