The Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum (AIMA) has confirmed that the registered letters recently received by immigrants in Portugal, demanding payment for overdue fees, are authentic. The letters were sent to 170,000 people, including some who already hold residence permits, leading to confusion among recipients.
Some of the documents contained errors, such as one batch listing the payment deadline as "2045" instead of "2025." These mistakes, along with the fact that some recipients had already paid the fee or received their residence permits, raised doubts about the legitimacy of the notices. AIMA did not address the typos or the reasoning behind sending notices to individuals who had already completed their applications.
Additionally, AIMA's own customer service representatives had cautioned a law firm that the letters might be a "scam," further fueling uncertainty among immigrants. AIMA stated that the 170,000 notifications were sent to those who had not paid the legally required fees for their immigration process. The agency clarified that recipients should disregard the letter if it did not apply to their situation.
The notifications are part of the country's Code of Administrative Procedure, offering a "final opportunity" for individuals to proceed with their regularization process before it is officially closed. Since September, over 440,000 people have been notified as part of an ongoing process to regularize immigrants who have been waiting for responses for several years.
The mission to regularize immigrant status is approaching its conclusion. In addition to those who have expressed interest or are part of the transitional regime, individuals with a Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) certificate are being urged to renew their status.
However, there have been criticisms, particularly regarding the delay in mailing residence permits. Some people who were served in September have yet to receive their documents, although the government asserts that the processing timeline, set at 90 business days, is being followed. Furthermore, AIMA does not offer a tracking system for citizens to monitor the progress of their applications.
In an exclusive interview with DN Brasil, Secretary of State Rui Armindo Freitas reassured the public that they would receive their residence permits in a timely manner and should wait calmly for their cards. Of the 235,000 people served since September, approximately 40,000 have received a decision, and 26,000 documents are already in the process of being issued, with the first cards delivered at the end of January.