Optimistic! I think it would take at least a week to figure out systems and analyze the issue. I have to assume it’s a huge mess
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That was my first thought, but then I realized that the percentage of people who would walk away from a process for permanent residency/citizenship, that they plunked down hundreds of thousands of Euros to participate in, would be vanishingly small.
It is probably the best “reset” in the entire history of mankind. Just by requesting an update of documents, AIMA flipped up-side-down the situation. It was investors chasing AIMA for biometric appointments. Now it is a push from AIMA to investors to update. And it seems that everybody forgets completely how long they have been waiting until the update “reset”. I am just baffled and now with all due respect I have to say I admire AIMA. Words cannot describe how genius they are. 
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You might alternatively consider Hanlon’s razor.
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Can anyone please guide, about Pre-Approval stage from case submission till initial approval for VISA how long it will take ?
Hanlon’s razor refers to someone’s incompetence. I said the opposite i.e. genius-ness of AIMA. Hence Hanlon’s razor does not apply to my message. 
If you recall AIMA already did this to Manifestação de Interesse applicants last summer… demanding they fork over 388€ within 10 days or their application would be considered “abandoned.” That cut thousands off their “backlog” for a bit, but then AIMA admitted they were too harsh and are now giving the people who were dropped a 2nd chance… and the backlog numbers are back where they were (or even higher now).
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Ok guys, at this point we are becoming an echo chamber of depressing / defeatist posts. Is there something we can strategically do, to gain an edge over the situation? Or somehow lobby for a tolerable end result?
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It doesn’t appear to be entirely a pruning exercise because we have not been invited to update our documents. We applied in Jan 2023, but without an invitation to update our docs, they know nothing more about our intentions than we do about theirs.
The impact of Communism continues.
I’m trying to use some neutral descriptions in case it would be deleted.
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It has not worked even once for me.
“fool me once, shame on you ; fool me twice, shame on me”
https://iaservices.pt/en/news-insights/2025/03/05/update-in-aimas-fees
Great update!
The fees applicable to AIMA processes have been updated from €6,000 to €7,730.
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Great news! This means AIMA must be getting ready to process our applications and renewals. Unfortunately, renewals went from 177 to 4638. Any opportunity to screw ARI.
So we are funding asylum seekers, CPLP applicants and those already in Portugal on visitor visa. And what are the rewards we reap- an endless wait. Flag this post all you want but AIMA and the Portugal immigration are institutions without shame, without a shred of integrity.
This will go on for decades. A price increase every year without any accountabiliry on performance.
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Demanding a refresh of documents did not cull enough applications.
Our lawyer told us we dont actually have to submit updated documents now but to wait for the appointment to be scheduled first and they have updated our application on the AIMA site to state that the updated documents will be furnished during the interview. In the meantime we just need to send the digital versions to our attorney so they can take a look. Wonder why others are rushing to actually update everything online now?
Many, including me, received an e-mail from AIMA in December asking to update documents (criminal, marriage, birth) if they were expired and noted that if they were not updated then the application would be considered abandoned.
Biometrics completed today in Porto for myself and my wife. Appointment received through lawsuit. Paid 6179.40 x 2 onsite. Portal now says status is “transferred “
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