She wasn’t asked for a refreshed copy, and the last time we submitted documents was during our initial application back in March.
Thank you very much for this!
Thanks so much! My biometrics are in March and you’re wife is the first I’ve seen make it to the biometrics in this new wave (I’m glad she was able to get it done). I’m very curious as to what the timeline for the actual card issuance looks like, and if they ever follow up for dependents.
Appt on Wed Jan 7th and my atty said today that the rumor is that dependents will be receiving appts by the end of the first semester of this year. Rumor only.
My atty asked for a new FBI check and it still hasn’t arrived. She didn’t feel it was a problem tho.
My understanding from my atty is that AIMA would inform us in the first quarter about appointments to take place in the first quarter, so likely not a lot of notice?
Very helpful. Many thanks! 
I’m currently sitting in AIMA Cascais waiting my turn for biometrics. There’s no way they will take dependents. They are only allowing people with appointments, and only about 30 minutes prior to the appointment.
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Do you visit AIMA with your lawyer togetger? If yes, did your lawyer try to negotiate with AIMA ?
Yes, I had an attorney with me, and no, at this time there isn’t a way to take dependents in. It’s clear that this AIMA office is very understaffed for the number of scheduled appointments. Remember that it’s not just GV applicants that are being served.
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AIMA Cascais biometrics appointment, 6 Jan 2026 -
Appointment was scheduled for 11:30am. As I needed to complete some paperwork and my attorney was in the AIMA office already, I was allowed in before 11am (they only allow people in 30 minutes before the appointment). My attorney said that today was a lot calmer than yesterday.
My attorney started working on my case around noon. I was called in for biometrics, then after more waiting was out by quarter to one.
Although I had an updated criminal background check with me, I wasn’t asked for it.
Now comes the wait for the residence card and scheduling for my husband’s appointment. My attorney states what others have said - there is a rumor from a reputable source that dependent appointments will be scheduled in the first semester of this year.
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To clarify-did your attorney say that dependent appointments will be released this semester for sometime farther on in 2026 (or later) or that the dependent appointments will both be released and scheduled for the first half of 2026?
Thanks of sharing your experience. One more question, Can you share the actual way of making your payment? Does AIMA take credit card from other countries?
I don’t believe it’s clear, to be honest.
I transferred funds to my attorney so that she could pay on my behalf. It seemed to be the least stressful way to handle it.
This really helps set expectations for next week. Many thanks. For what it is worth, just this morning our attorney in Lisbon said dependents might be scheduled in the “second semester of this year”. So, after June? 
I think it means that noone really knows. 
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There’s a dedicated thread for that question, which has been going on since April. Please use…
AIMA announced they were going to schedule appointments by the end of 2025, and the big biometrics dump did exactly that (for lucky primaries …) but the appointments themselves were in 2026. I’m betting the dependents will be the same - the appointment notification is provided in first semester, the appointment itself will be second semester. But since there’s nothing to do but wait either way, I don’t feel like I can afford to get too invested in any particular timeline. For what it’s worth, my lawyer says she is generally seeing cards issued 30-60 days after biometrics. Of course, your milage may vary.
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The spreadsheet disagrees with your lawyer. Of the 2025 biometric appointments under the new system, no cards have been issued from any appointments starting in June and going forward. Q2 is also light on cards received.
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