Record Numbers and Endless Wait in AIMA: What is the Real Picture of Family Reunification?

There is a fact that almost everyone who has crossed paths with the immigration office in Portugal knows very well: Collecting documents is a problem, finding an appointment and getting through the door is a completely different problem. AIMA (Integration, Migration and Asylum Agency), which was established to replace the old SEF, announced that it broke a new record with the data it shared recently. However, it is debatable whether things in the field are progressing as fast as the bright figures reported.

55 Thousand Appointments, 15 Thousand Leaves

According to the data announced by AIMA, the institution has made appointment plans for 55 thousand people within the scope of family reunification and has approved and delivered approximately 15 thousand residence permits to their owners so far. It is said that these figures are a record for the history of the institution, with a total of 32 thousand different services provided throughout the year.

When looked at on paper, it seems that transactions have accelerated and the system has finally shifted into gear. However, the stress experienced by families who have been waiting in front of doors for hours and trying to make an appointment by phone for months does not quite match these figures.

The Real Question on the Table: How Many Families Are Left Next?

Immigrant rights advocates and experts working in this field emphasize exactly this point. Although the announced 55 thousand appointments and 15 thousand approvals sound big, the other side of the coin remains in the dark: How many thousands of family reunification applications are waiting in line in the system?

The institution has not yet clearly announced the total number of pending files. Thousands of people have been counting the days in uncertainty for months, even years, to be able to bring their spouses and children to their homes. Therefore, these record figures announced without knowing the total demand are not enough to understand how much of the problem has been solved.

Reality on the Field

Family reunification in Portugal is not just a legal paperwork process; It is a situation that directly affects people's lives, children's school enrollment and families' right to live together. Although AIMA has achieved a certain level of activity, in order to say that the system is really working, all pending files must be disclosed transparently and appointment queues must be permanently dissolved.

Source: AIMA (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo) data and expert evaluations