A program installed by the IRN is unable to identify a series of information from citizens who are applying for Portuguese nationality. Lawyers who follow cases say that clients are being harmed.
The government wanted to put an end to the expression of interest, which allowed people to come to Portugal as tourists and apply for a visa later, because this would lead to illegal immigration. The order was to close the doors. But with many PRR projects halted due to a lack of workers, and with other sectors experiencing a labor shortage, the government presented a new plan that employers did not like to hear: they can recruit whoever they need, the government will facilitate their arrival and visas, but contracts, training and housing must be guaranteed.
There are more than 420,000 applications for Portuguese citizenship stuck at the IRN, say lawyers
Two months ago, the Institute of Registries and Notaries changed its procedures for analyzing applications for granting Portuguese nationality. But not even artificial intelligence is speeding up the evaluation.
Immigration was one of the topics discussed in the biweekly debate with the Prime Minister in Parliament this Wednesday . Luís Montenegro once again stressed that he does not want a model of "wide open doors", under criticism from the opposition leader.
The PS secretary-general, Pedro Nuno Santos, attacked the Government for ending the “expression of interest” regime , which allowed immigrants to enter Portugal without an employment contract .
The government wants to ensure that labour immigration in Portugal is "regulated and responsible". Luís Montenegro's government has proposed a cooperation protocol to employers' confederations, which aims to speed up the hiring of foreign citizens with employment contracts, according to a statement from the office of the Minister of the Presidency released on Monday.
Inês Subtil, research coordinator at Amnesty International Portugal, believes that many of the immigrants whose applications were rejected by AIMA will remain in Portugal, but "condemned to clandestinity".
Three months ago, an AIMA mission structure was created because there were more than 400,000 unanswered residency applications. Since then, 113,000 processes are in progress and 108,000 have been rejected.
The first position to be opened by AIMA within the task force to resolve the more than 400,000 pending residency applications, the Hindu Center points to progress, but there are many obstacles to be overcome.
Experts say that, to avoid this situation, immigrants should appeal administratively, or even judicially, against the agency's decisions, which have already rejected 108,000 cases.
In Parliament, Joaquim Barbosa, PSD deputy elected by Braga , drew attention to problems that affect thousands of immigrants in Braga and in Portugal.
Among the obstacles highlighted are prolonged delays in renewing residence permits, difficulties in obtaining social security numbers without employment contracts and obstacles in opening bank accounts, complicating the regularization and integration of these citizens.
Minister Leitão Amaro makes first assessment of the 400 thousand pending applications. The government will propose to companies that will be responsible for the accommodation and training of new immigrants.
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