Yes - itās the last line in that email.
Thanks! I guess we shall continue to wait then.
Yup, mine had it as well. Hopefully, thatās the case then. Iād hate to have to start the document collecting process for the third timeā¦
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I got some good news (for a change). My application was approved, I got an email from the lawyer yesterday. Quite surprised actually, end of December and AIMA is working!! It has been a long journey, now will pay the big bucks and start waiting for the card.
Happy Holidays.
application: 9 November 2021
pre-approval: 19 May 2022
biometrics: 4 January 2023 (Lisbon)
final approval: 16 December 2024
No lawsuit.
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2023 from Lisbon! Congrats - did they ask for any updated docs?
nope. the approval came out of the blue.
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@servettasman- Two questions: (1)Would you happen to know what your status was before you received approval, and (2) did you or your lawyer receive this new email from AIMA? Curious because they state in their email that "those that are in the āacceptedā state will also move to the āwaiting for submissionā state. So wondering whether yours was in the āacceptedā state, or not, before your approval. Many thanks and congratulations!
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good question. unfortunately, I donāt have access to the online portal. all I know is that I got to pay 6,045.20 Euros now. Iāll ask.
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Many thanks!
The key would appear to be the interpretation of the word
If even those that have been āacceptedā but not āformalizedā must reapply, then many will be in troubleā¦
Iām baffled what to do with this new AIMA email as well. Logically I can ignore it because of the following - but this is Portugal and AIMA where logic does not apply!
- We did our Biometrics on 17-Dec this year (i.e. 10 days ago) - along with shiny new apostilles, etc.
- Shortly after our Bios the status on the SEF/AIMA portal changed to āAguarda Envio,ā which I now see everybody pending for ARI got (so not related).
- Today 27th I get this confusing āPlano de RecuperaĆ§Ć£o de PendĆŖncias ARIā email. Indeed it does say āIf the application for the granting of an ARI has already been formalized, you must disregard this notification.ā - but does Bios with no acceptance yet = formalizado?
Again Iām torn between obvious logic and AIMAās trademark senselessness 
I would guess yes, it does.
Do you have all your paper receipts from the bio appointment and also your status on the portal as āattendedā (ācompareceuā)?
If you do, I canāt see how any crazy email can invalidate this, legally speaking.
Well, my lawyer just emailed me to say that AIMA will be asking for new documents and new biometrics appointments for Golden Visa applications in process. I will forward you the email.
Wendy
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Thatās one way to winnow people out!
Just got a reply from my lawyers saying that this is a routine update of the system and does not effect my application since Iāve already submitted the biometrics. Not sure I trust them, or AIMA at this point, so it would be good to get some confirmation from the community. But, thatās one datapoint in favour of āsafely ignoring the emailā I guess.
I got the AIMA email, but my status on the portal hasnāt changed (Candidatura Aceite). I did my biometrics in December 2023 in Faro (status for the biometric appointment never changed from āAgendadoā). My dependentās status hasnāt changed either (Aguarda AnĆ”lise). They havenāt had a biometrics appointment yet. So I think this means I donāt need to submit new docs (but my dependent will, when they go for biometrics). We are nearly at 3 years since original application (end Dec 2021 for me, Mar 2022 for my dependent). I have forwarded the AIMA email to my lawyer with questions but not heard back yet.
Hi. One paper receipt for each of us from the Bios appointment, yes.
Portal status never changed from āUnder analysisā (āEm anĆ”liseā) when we were offered appointment dates. Perhaps a product of our lawsuit, or just general AIMA disorganisation.
Portal does not (yet?) acknowledge that weāve attended Bios on 17-Dec. (ācompareceuā). It just went to this odd āAwaiting application submitionā state, as it has for many of us the past few days.
I might be reading too much into this firmās choice of words, but to them āformalisedā is a step before completion (so like Bios?):
āThese changes primarily impact investors whose applications are pending biometric appointments. Investors with applications that have already been formalized or completed remain unaffected by this update.ā
For others whoāve already done their Biometrics but are now in this weird āAwaiting application submitionā stateā¦
fwiw, our lawyers looked at that AIMA email today, and said:
ā¦you have already submitted all the documents required and duly updated at the day of the appointment for the biometrics. Therefore, we are now at the final stage, just missing the final approval and the payment of the remaining fees. The notification does not apply to your case.
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Perhaps SOME DAY AIMA will prioritize those of us who did our biometrics years ago with no progress to date. I have been waiting since January 2023.
Iāve just seen an approval in a whatsapp group for Jan 2023 biometrics in Lisbon, no lawsuit.
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