I discussed with attorney earlier but they discouraged it as they were not sure if we would be successful. Then there was a flurry of successful lawsuits. I talked to them again and they agreed to file as they had started to see success. Even with this case the attorney withdrew case when it was assigned to a judge who has a history of denying cases. They waited a month and resubmitted. The case then went to a different judge who decided in our favor.
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they are my application lawyer. I paid extra 2500. actually they also asked me to pay more 500 euros for the appointment out of Lisbon.
This was just posted in another forum from a respected lawyer
“
ACTUALIZAÇÃO AIMA alterou a sua política de análise de registo online bem como de agendamento quanto às candidaturas ARI (Golden Visa) no sentido de priorizar os pedidos mais antigos e tramitar eletronicamente os pedidos de concessão.
O procedimento passará por convidar todos os requerentes e representantes legais a completarem as candidaturas a AGUARDAR ANÀLISE junto do respetivo registo online no Portal ARI, que precede o pedido de concessão de Portal autorização de residência. Para o efeito, a situação das candidaturas no referido Portal que se encontravam em estado “EM ANÁLISE” foram automaticamente colocadas no estado “AGUARDA ENVIO”, o que permite a atualização dos documentos da candidatura. Também as que estavam no estado de “ACEITE” passarão para o estado de AGUARDA ENVIO, permitindo-se assim que os processos que ainda não tenham sido formalizados no atendimento, possam proceder, também, da forma infra indicada.
A partir do momento em que for recebida uma notificação, será possível submeter novos documentos, atualizar a validade dos já submetidos e corrigir formalidades.”
“ UPDATE
AIMA changed its online registration analysis policy as well as scheduling regarding ARI (Golden Visa) applications in order to prioritize older applications and process concession requests electronically.
The procedure will involve inviting all applicants and legal representatives to complete the applications that have the status AWAIT ANALYSIS with their respective online registration on the ARI Portal, which precedes the application for granting a residence permit. For this purpose, the status of applications on the aforementioned Portal that were in the “UNDER ANALYSIS” status were automatically placed in the “WAITING TO BE SENT” status, which allows the application documents to be updated. Those that were in the “ACCEPT” status will also move to the WAITING TO BE SENT status, thus allowing processes that have not yet been formalized in the service to also proceed in the manner indicated below.
From the moment a notification is received, it will be possible to submit new documents, update the validity of those already submitted and correct formalities.”
Hope this means things will start moving again. Fingers crossed 2025 will clear the backlog!
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I can confirm my status has moved to ‘Awaiting application submission’, and indeed there are options showing for upload of documents on the portal for my application.
I couldn’t quite follow the translation above - does it mean that the legal representative can upload fresh copies of documents (e.g. police clearance certificates, birth or marriage certificates) in anticipation of a pre-approval?
If this is true, it’s an interesting approach to clearing a backlog.
Let’s send everyone to square zero, and see how many would want to repeat the experience.
Even the already pre-approved candidates have been ‘zeroed out’ apparently…
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For over a year, AIMA’s never been able to produce good old SEF-style (SEF was good now??) monthly GV statistics. With this blanket status reset, have they also blown away the datapoints required for detailed stats?
tbh I’d be happy if AIMA could produce anything definitive w.r.t. GVs - e.g. how many new applications, and how many final approvals/month.
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I got the same email from my lawyer that status is changing to “waiting to be sent” which does sound like they are taking us back to square one. I have asked my lawyer whether this means we have to start over or if it just means we need to get new documents or what.
My hope, and common sense assumption, is this allows applicants to update expired documents (criminal, birth, marriage) to streamline the preapproval process and avoid the step of AIMA asking for the updated documents and the delays (and scramble) that causes.
At a minimum this shows they’re moving things forward so I’m hopeful 2025 will see the restart and accelerated pre-approval and biometrics.
I think the good faith interpretation is they’re more or less saying “yeah we’re way behind, please update your docs and submit again, that’ll make things easier for everyone instead of picking a file to review, seeing everything expired by 2+ years, and asking people to renew individually”
Good luck everyone
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Is the understanding that AIMA wants document updates for those awaiting final approval, as well as those awaiting preliminary approval?
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the good faith move would be: the documents were valid when submitted, many like birth certificates do not need to expire at all, just process the applications to make up for the delay.
making everyone apply again is a bad faith move intended to make applications disappear.
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same happened with me last week, that mean AIMA finally seen my appeal ?
No I think it’s those waiting for pre-approval and waiting for biometrics. Anyone waiting for final approval will have provided updated documents during their biometrics appointment, or shortly after.
Doesn’t make sense for someone waiting for biometrics though, they just need an appointment date…
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But what about second updated documents?
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As per my lawyer, you need to upload/ update already submitted documents only after your legal representative receives a mail from AIMA. Anyone else with info in this regard?
same here…
What happens when you try to submit it before receiving notice?
Nothing. While more details are awaited, AIMA plans to invite applicants for biometric in chronological order. So, if you upload any documents now without any communication from their end, these newly uploaded documents may also have their validity expired in the meantime.
The right question to ask now would be whether anyone awaiting pre-approval or their legal representative has received such a mail from AIMA?
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I have received an email from AIMA moments ago asking me to upload updated documents on the portal. I applied in March 2023, and have my biometrics in Jan 2025 (having filed a lawsuit earlier this year). The applications will be processed in chronological order, and appointments for biometrics will begin from Jan 15, 2025. Importantly, the payment of all fees inherent to the application will have to be made at the appointment itself via TPA (automatic payment terminal of EFTPOS in other countries).
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Should we updating our criminal background checks now?