Got it. Didn’t realize that it is finally upto the SEF agent to insist on any or none of these.
Trying to see if it makes sense to get all these documents refreshed to crunch the timelines or do the biometric and then see if anything is required 
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Note that you’d need the Tax and Social Security ‘no debt’ declarations for both yourself and partner, and any children over 18yo.
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October 25, 2021 application and application fee paid - our lawyer paid the fee of our children on December 09, 2021
February 21, 2022 pre-approval
And yesterday it was possible for me and my wife to make a biometric appointment, but I could not create a biometric appointment for my 7 and 14 year old children.
When I asked my lawyer how it would be, he said that you could possibly bring the children with you and try your luck or that we should wait for new appointments for the children to open. He said that we would not get an answer even if we made a written application from the SEF.
Is there anyone out there who has experienced this before?
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From my own experience at SEF Lisbon in July 2021, refreshed no debt declarations of tax and social security are definitely needed. My lawyer was not able to get social security piece done before my biometric appointment. SEF issued a letter stating this missing document at the end of appointment and I had to acknowledge it. It was subsequently submitted after a week. On expired criminal record, so far I heard one person got a pass at SEF Porto. Anyway all ‘missing’ documents can be submitted within 10 days after appointment which can be extended upon request.
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Your lawyer is correct. Be prepared that chance of SEF allowing additional family members to take biometric is slim.
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It is how SEF functioned things.
My case is: one member of my family already got cards and other members have been waiting for Biometric for years now. So be expected that if things come to worst case scenario, when the main applicant could reach 5 year mark and able to submit the application for citizenship, some dependents still have to wait for biometric.
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For some people its not possible. If their investment fund is closed after 6-7 years, they cannot renew anymore.
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Finally, there is movement on Biometric Appointment scheduling front:
- Applications Submitted: 10th Oct 2021 - Primary, 19th Oct 2021 - Spouse
- Pre-Approval: 8th Mar 2022 - Primary, 28th Jan 2022 - Spouse (yes, you are reading it right!)
- Biometric appointment notifications received: 16th Dec 2022 (Both Primary and Spouse)
- Biometric appointments scheduled: 18th Jan 2023 (Both Primary and Spouse), in Lisbon
Hopefully this will bring some renewed hope to my fellow co-sufferers of the infinite wait!
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My lawyer just mentioned TIN authentication. How do you get this declaration and will it take long to get? Thank you!
Thanks!
I am trying one of the FBI channelers and will have fingerprint tomorrow. Hope it also works.
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Congrats! Did your lawyer mention what documents to bring for biometrics?
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Updated criminal record only or nothing if i could not get it updated on time. Otherwise my lawyer can submit after biometric appointment, but will impact analyzing starting date.
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No, it is 18th of January, 2023. I have corrected my post. Thank you for pointing it out.
Not yet. I have an outstanding e-mail to her with list of documents known to me awaiting confirmation from her. I will update the forum once I know more.
TIN = NIF, but what do you mean by ‘Authentication’?
There are several documents related to NIF:
- tax authority ‘no debt’ declaration (you obtain this online on the Portal das Financas, search this forum or google for step-by-step instructions), validity 45 days
- your home country Tax ID official document, this needs to be translated to Portuguese with notarization
- Caderneta Predial if you are on the real estate option, this is obtained from Portal das Financas also.
I am trying to book the biometrics appointment, but the drop down for the SEF branch and the preferred date don’t open for me to choose any data. Has anyone been able to do this correctly?
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Have you received the invitation letter from SEF for biometrics appointment?
You have to wait until their notice to book.
Oh that could be why. I’ll wait for my lawyers to confirm this info then. Hope they got it.
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Oh, Thanks!
Then I think my lawyer meant the second item, my SSN card. I have it copied and notarized. Hope it will work.
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