Looong thread about that here: Wait time now counts toward 5 year residency?
Come on new pre-approval guy, we are all with you!!
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sorryā¦Thank you so muchā¦
Hey guys when was the last batch of biometrics scheduled? Trying to plan ahead hereā¦
It was for the last quarter of 2023. Congratulations!
You can now āgraduateā to this thread - I link to when biometrics were opened for Q4-2023:
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The new AIMA guidelines suggest they might skip biometrics if they already collected them e.g. at the Portuguese consulate.
I wonder if itās worthwhile preemptively applying for a Schengen visa just to get your biometrics in the system without having to travel farā¦
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Hey everyone,
Family of 4 just got pre-approval.
Submitted:12/30/2021
Pre-Approved: 01/24/2024
Patience and good luck to everyone who is still waiting! 
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Just how big was December 2021? itās been 3 years plus counting and itās still not completely finished
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Im wondering is there anyone who aplied in february to june 2022? I think the number of applications is very low
Congrats! And please update the tracker with your dates 
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I was ready to apply in January 2022 but the SEF portal was not allowing any new applications - I ended up applying on June 14th 2022.
Youāll notice a relatively minor surge in June 2022 on the tracker (nothing compared to the Dec 2021 volume though)
Only family reunification applications during that period.
It kind of seems like maybe all of China / the entire world bought real estate in Portugal in 2021 
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Just updated! 
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Family of 3. Applied 12.31.2021. Husband (main applicant) and 4 y/o son pre approved yesterday on 1.29.24. Wife (me) was not preapproved and AIMA asked to submit newly issued and apostilled marriage certificate.
I promtly got a certified copy of marriage certificate & apostilled it yesterday and DHLed it to our lawyers. Do you guys know what type of delays situations like this create? Am I now back of the line waiting for 2 more years or something behind the rest of my family?
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Husband/ādependentā submitted/paid Jan 22, 22 and no updates for him.
My biometrics were mid-April, 2023, submitted/paid December 16, 2021. I inquired with attorneys regarding lost file and told not possible due to online submission, so hopefully all submissions January, 2022 will be approved shortly. 
If your husband and 4yo get invited for biometrics before you, you should get your lawyer to petition AIMA to let you do your biometrics at the same time on the basis that your 4yo is too young to travel without his mother therefore youāll be there at the same time and they might as well do yours too. Managed to get my husbandās done in a similar way (heād missed his appointment due to work and fell in the black hole - managed to get him invited as our toddler needed to be accompanied when she did hers).
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Congratulation! Have you received Biometrics appointment offer?
Is there any data to provide details how many applications are pending.
I have a suggestion to collective approach to fast track the requirements.
That is the billion dollar question. SEF only ever reported on final approvals.