This was a standard American visa credit card? Trying to figure out what arrangements I’ll need to pay the fee once biometrics is finally scheduled. The ability to use an American credit card would simplify greatly.
@benjamin.hatten - I was able to pay with an American Visa credit card in person for my dependent’s DUC in Lisbon, immediately after they took his biometrics. My DUC had to be paid with a Portuguese bank account via the link provided by my attorney.
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Yardley, thanks for posting this awesome information. Based on what you’ve previously posted, as I understand it, you had to pay your DUC under the old system. Your husband was under the new system and you were able to pay it with a pure US credit card (not a debit/credit card combo). If that’s correct, it eases a lot of stress for me because I might have to pay between 24k+ on a debit card in one sitting - not something US debit card issuers are used to or (in most cases) even allow. Congrats to you and your husband!
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Hello Coffeman -
I think I am under the old system as I had to pay via link. The payment for my husband was immediately requested following his biometrics in the Lisbon office.
The card I used is definitely not a debit/credit card, but a basic Marriott Visa. I could have used my Jet Blue MC, but tried to use Delta Amex and that was a no go. 
Hopefully, you can put all 24k+ on one or two credit cards and earn the points/miles.
Thank you for you for the kind congrats.
I would be happy being able to pay. Earning points/miles would just be gilding the lily.
Right?! I was shocked when they said I could pay one with my credit card!
Do you mind sharing how the charge is listed on your statement?
It’s just listed as “SEF” nothing else.
Hey all! AIMA gave us a biometrics appointment in response to our lawsuit and we got one coming up July 16 in Portimão!!! 
There is one thing that has me terrified though: Under the new procedures, we submitted all new documents a few months ago (before our lawsuit got heard at the court). Normally, we just show up with the hardcopies of what we submitted then, even if they would now be considered out of date, and supposedly they’ve already analyzed them and processing should be quick(er) now right?
HOWEVER… FedEx lost the hardcopy of my FBI criminal background check in the mail:woman_facepalming:
. My lawyer said to just get a new background check that will be less than 3 months old at the time of our biometrics appointment, which I’ve already done and apostilled. Basically just to show up with all the hardcopies I do have, plus a new, valid version of the lost document.
How screwed am I? This is basically uncharted waters right? Which we all know AIMA tends not to do so well with, or just completely ignore indefinitely:/ Any advice or thoughts? Is just getting a new version of the one lost document enough, or should i get refreshed versions of ALL the documents? Any chance that since the new document differs with the old one only in the date stamped on it that they will be chill? 
god i hate the guessing game, so damn close to being in the clear:/
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I would trust your lawyer on this. You are providing a valid version of every document, that should be enough.
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hey so when we have our biometrics appointment, apparently we’ll have to pay for it in person with a card. Do they accept credit cards, or only debit cards? Did they accept Apple Pay where you tap your phone? (just worried that a bank might deny such a big charge, and want to have backup methods)
We paid with NovoBanco debit card from our Portuguese account! Others have paid lawyer and they in turn use their cards.
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There is a whole thread on that topic, please use that:
Also if you search you’ll find:
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Just popping in to say pending since September 2022, two lawsuits (first one denied in April 2024; second one was filed in October 2024 after a favorable superior court ruling would apply to me), submitted updated documents April 7, 2025…
still no biometrics appointment.
Add another credit card one:
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who was your lowyer
Just got a n appointment in Porto at march. Applied at 30/12/21
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Same here! Applied on 12/31/2021 and got a biometric appt for March 16, 2026! It’s been 5 years?!? I should get a citizenship by now.
Do you know what documents are required for us to bring to the appt?
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In the new AIMA process, does getting biometrics appointments mean that our application is pre-approved? I applied in mid 2022, biometrics appointment in April 2026.
My agent Harvey Law’s asking me to pay the 2nd installment of their fee (to be paid when the application gets approval in principle, according to the contract). Stating that with the biometrics appointment, my application’s now pre-approved.
When I asked them for screenshot of the official status in the AIMA portal, they went silent. LOL
AIMA combined the preapproval and biometric stages so yes, you’re pre-approved and have your biometrics scheduled.
The portal won’t show this but they should be able to forward you the AIMA email with your name and biometrics appointment information.