# File lawsuit and skip the queue? **URL:** \ **Category:** Portugal Golden Visa\ **Tags:** portugal, golden-visa\ **Created:** [February 8, 2024, 6:15pm UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/file-lawsuit-and-skip-the-queue/62879 "2024-02-08T18:15:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![porto\_lisbon](https://community.nomadgate.com/user_avatar/community.nomadgate.com/porto_lisbon/32/7143_2.png) [@porto\_lisbon](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/porto_lisbon)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2024, 6:15pm UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/file-lawsuit-and-skip-the-queue/62879/1 "2024-02-08T18:15:51Z")
I saw this public timeline where an applicant has submitted their application on Jan 31, 2023. I see their status in the biometrics stage and with a comment “Filed and won lawsuit that resulted in the biometrics appointment.” Does this mean that anyone who files a lawsuit get to have their file advanced? If so, can someone please suggest me a lawfirm/lawyer that does this? And i want to seriously do this? Public timeline link - [Main view — Crowdsourced Golden Visa Timeline Database by Nomad Gate](https://nomadgate.com/portugal/gv-timeline/main/?publicId=lone-flexibility) My questions 1. Is this a reliable strategy to move the application forward? 2. What would be the rough estimated cost? 3. Should I be physically present in Portugal (or in the EU) to file this lawsuit? Any ideas would be much appreciated ---
**Author:** ![garrett](https://community.nomadgate.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/g/3e96dc/32.png) [@garrett](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/garrett)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2024, 7:40pm UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/file-lawsuit-and-skip-the-queue/62879/2 "2024-02-08T19:40:20Z")
It’s at least possible, and many people seem to do it from the post-biometrics to final approval step. I’m not sure about from first application but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work My lawyer (who I generally recommend) AGPC investments, filed my lawsuit for something like 800 EUR. This is from post-biometrics waiting for the final approval, it seems to have been successful though I am waiting on details For the price, totally worth shooting your shot ---
**Author:** ![Calpoidog](https://community.nomadgate.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Calpoidog](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/Calpoidog)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2024, 9:16pm UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/file-lawsuit-and-skip-the-queue/62879/3 "2024-02-08T21:16:54Z")
I filed action (post biometrics) and mine was denied so it’s not a automatic win. There is a thread here that others have experienced denials as well. I get the impression their administrative courts are beginning to see a lot of them so maybe that’s the reason for denials? You have a chance at advancing and the cost is relatively low (my firm charged 500 euro) so why not give it a shot? May also depend on where it gets filed. The whole process seemed pretty mysterious to me and according to my attorney they don’t rely on “precedent” in ruling on these, just the language in the Constitution. If you have a law firm already, ask if they have an immigration litigator on their team (if they don’t, ask for a referral - not sure what the cost would be at that point). They will file on your behalf. No need to be present in PT. My other question would be if you succeed and say advance to biometrics, do you need to file another action when they don’t act on your application after biometrics (I had been waiting 17 months post biometrics for action on my application and just wanted to get to approval)? ---
**Author:** ![garrett](https://community.nomadgate.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/g/3e96dc/32.png) [@garrett](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/garrett)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2024, 10:22pm UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/file-lawsuit-and-skip-the-queue/62879/4 "2024-02-08T22:22:34Z")
Yes, civil law systems like portugal don’t have precedent as a thing, that’s a common law system thing. ---
**Author:** ![CTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/97f17d/32.png) [@CTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/CTC)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2024, 12:36am UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/file-lawsuit-and-skip-the-queue/62879/5 "2024-02-09T00:36:57Z")
See this thread on the same topic: > [@Is it Lawsuit time? (Processing times)](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/is-it-lawsuit-time-processing-times/58634): > > Given the excessive waiting times encountered by applicants for the Golden Visa in Portugal, some have resorted to legal action against the SEF. There have been instances where the courts have ordered the SEF to expedite the process, addressing delays deemed unreasonable (Source: [Court Orders SEF to Grant Appointment to Golden Visa Investor Within 10 Days Following Unreasonable Delays - IMI - Investment Migration Insider (imidaily.com)](https://www.imidaily.com/europe/court-orders-sef-to-grant-appointment-to-golden-visa-investor-within-10-days-following-unreasonable-delays/)). Considering the inherent differences in the Golden Visa’s… ---
**Author:** ![anonymous80](https://community.nomadgate.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@anonymous80](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/anonymous80)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2024, 12:37am UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/file-lawsuit-and-skip-the-queue/62879/6 "2024-02-09T00:37:33Z")
Is this the moral equivalent of people who speed through the lane of traffic at a merge and cut in at the last minute just because they can, knowing that it will put other drivers further behind? ---
**Author:** ![CTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/97f17d/32.png) [@CTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/CTC)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2024, 12:42am UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/file-lawsuit-and-skip-the-queue/62879/7 "2024-02-09T00:42:12Z")
Perhaps in some respects but not in others. I did my biometrics in Lisbon in Sept 2022, still waiting for final approval. Meanwhile, others who did their biometrics months later than me in other offices already got their cards. Not sure where that situation fits in your car merging analogy. ---
**Author:** ![goner00brained](https://community.nomadgate.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/g/7bcc69/32.png) [@goner00brained](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/goner00brained)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2024, 12:46am UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/file-lawsuit-and-skip-the-queue/62879/8 "2024-02-09T00:46:41Z")
Not at all. You have no moral obligation to not file suit against another party that has violated your rights. ---
**Author:** ![ohbee](https://community.nomadgate.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/o/977dab/32.png) [@ohbee](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/ohbee)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2024, 3:43am UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/file-lawsuit-and-skip-the-queue/62879/9 "2024-02-09T03:43:32Z")
You’re supposed to zipper, they’re doing it right. ---
**Author:** ![tommigun](https://community.nomadgate.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/898d66/32.png) [@tommigun](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/tommigun)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2024, 2:32pm UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/file-lawsuit-and-skip-the-queue/62879/10 "2024-02-09T14:32:59Z")
Following that logic we should not be investing in Portugal’s GV because we should be considerate of all others who did not. 🤣 ---
**Author:** ![fairhsa](https://community.nomadgate.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/f/919ad9/32.png) [@fairhsa](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/fairhsa)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2024, 8:41am UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/file-lawsuit-and-skip-the-queue/62879/11 "2024-02-10T08:41:21Z")
I got my final approval and paid my fees in July last year. Still waiting for the actual residency card. My lawyer said he had filed for other customers and got their cards issued. He was planning to charge me about 2000 Eu which seemed excessive so I said no. ---
**Author:** ![MadMartinB](https://community.nomadgate.com/user_avatar/community.nomadgate.com/madmartinb/32/6611_2.png) [@MadMartinB](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/MadMartinB)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2024, 4:37pm UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/file-lawsuit-and-skip-the-queue/62879/12 "2024-02-10T16:37:03Z")
I did it to speed process since my children will age out at the current pace. I’m a March 23. Court case is pending response form Portuguese government (doubt they will respond ) and then it moves forward. Money well spent especially since I started a company there and it’s a pain for the 90/189 rules and applying for visas etc ---
**Author:** ![MadMartinB](https://community.nomadgate.com/user_avatar/community.nomadgate.com/madmartinb/32/6611_2.png) [@MadMartinB](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/MadMartinB)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2024, 4:52pm UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/file-lawsuit-and-skip-the-queue/62879/13 "2024-02-10T16:52:58Z")
No it’s like a toll road. You can pay to pass roadblocks and traffic ---
**Author:** ![ohbee](https://community.nomadgate.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/o/977dab/32.png) [@ohbee](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/ohbee)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2024, 8:19pm UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/file-lawsuit-and-skip-the-queue/62879/14 "2024-02-10T20:19:59Z")
Other than toll roads dont usually slow down all the other roads! Presumably every lawsuit pushes back another application while AIMA deals with the lawsuit. I filed a lawsuit too so no judgement, but lets not kid ourselves into thinking its a “victim”-less action. ---
**Author:** ![caswell.mark](https://community.nomadgate.com/user_avatar/community.nomadgate.com/caswell.mark/32/7488_2.png) [@caswell.mark](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/caswell.mark)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2024, 9:20pm UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/file-lawsuit-and-skip-the-queue/62879/15 "2024-02-10T21:20:07Z")
> [@Awaiting Final Approval (Stage 4)](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/awaiting-final-approval-stage-4/45969/1408): > > Hello, everyone. I had a good call with my lawyer yesterday and just wanted to update you all. Context: My biometrics appointment was in September 2022 (family in March 2023). They requested final documentation for me in December 2023, which indicates they are in the final stages of looking at my file. My lawyers recommended filing a lawsuit late last Fall, but I decided to wait. Yesterday we had a call to update each other. The Conclusion: My lawyers now advise me NOT to file a lawsuit.… The link above shares the latest information from my lawyers. In short: if you can’t demonstrate urgency, it won’t help you. If you can, it will take approximately 3 months to get a ruling and then another 2 to 3 months to get your card. So, it’s no panacea. ---
**Author:** ![porto\_lisbon](https://community.nomadgate.com/user_avatar/community.nomadgate.com/porto_lisbon/32/7143_2.png) [@porto\_lisbon](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/porto_lisbon)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2024, 9:32pm UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/file-lawsuit-and-skip-the-queue/62879/16 "2024-02-10T21:32:30Z")
thank you ! ---
**Author:** ![Starts](https://community.nomadgate.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Starts](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/Starts)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2024, 4:30am UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/file-lawsuit-and-skip-the-queue/62879/17 "2024-02-11T04:30:31Z")
> [@caswell.mark](#): > > it will take approximately 3 months to get a ruling and then another 2 to 3 months to get your card That’s far better than the 26 months it’s taken so far just to get to biometrics…then another indefinite wait following that. Being proactive & filing a court case has given me a feeling of agency and participation in the process, previously I felt my case could have been forgotten or neglected. ---
**Author:** ![ohbee](https://community.nomadgate.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/o/977dab/32.png) [@ohbee](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/ohbee)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2024, 6:32am UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/file-lawsuit-and-skip-the-queue/62879/18 "2024-02-11T06:32:32Z")
Plenty of people seem to have gotten lawsuits through without showing urgency. It appears to depend on which judge hears your case. ---
**Author:** ![lxbruss](https://community.nomadgate.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/b9e5f3/32.png) [@lxbruss](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/lxbruss)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2024, 7:06am UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/file-lawsuit-and-skip-the-queue/62879/19 "2024-02-11T07:06:11Z")
A year and 5 months and you still sit without final approval? It’s just shockingly bad. So sorry - hope the magic wand glances over your application. ---
**Author:** ![richn4](https://community.nomadgate.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@richn4](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/richn4)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2024, 10:53pm UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/file-lawsuit-and-skip-the-queue/62879/20 "2024-02-11T22:53:28Z")
> [@caswell.mark](#): > > it will take approximately 3 months to get a ruling and then another 2 to 3 months to get your card. So, it’s no panacea. For us, AIMA was notified to provide a defence a few days after we filed the summons and we received a positive judgement within six weeks of that date. AIMA now has 30 days to issue final approval and we’re in that process now. While we shouldn’t have to get a summons to force a government department to do its job within its own timeframes, we want to be in Portugal from July 1 - about three years after we embarked on the GV decision-making process - and the summons has brought more certainty to that as I’m confident we will have our cards around March/April so well worth it in this respect. [Next page](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/file-lawsuit-and-skip-the-queue/62879.md?page=2)