@cj807 broke the story of AIMA subcontracting work to Order of Solicitors and Enforcement Agents (OSAE) .
I figured this warranted a separate thread.
There is more information here but the link is currently broken:
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It’s hard to tell from the announcement what this actually means. Will be interesting to see.
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Link works here, in case it’s useful, here’s a copy paste of the google translate
A cooperation protocol between OSAE and the Agency for Integration, Migrations and Asylum (AIMA ) was signed today, at the headquarters of the Order of Solicitors and Execution Agents (OSAE), in Lisbon .
This protocol provides that OSAE can support AIMA:
- in the investigation of processes for granting extensions of stay, residence permits and renewals of residence permits, including the analysis of the supporting information collected, the promotion of the prior hearing and the preparation of the competent proposal for an administrative decision;
- in the initiation of voluntary or coercive removal processes;
- in training and the exchange of knowledge and experiences, particularly in specific training programs in the areas of migration.
The President of OSAE, Paulo Teixeira , and the Member of AIMA, Sónia Pereira , were present at this session .
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My attorney sent me this email update today.
There has been nonetheless the signing of a historic collaboration protocol between the Lawyers and Solicitors Bar Associations and AIMA. This significant agreement, finalized yesterday, paves the way for solicitors and lawyers to temporarily assess pending cases, thereby easing AIMA’s bureaucratic workload. Notably, this collaboration extends to processes related to granting residence with investment, including the golden visa.
This partnership signifies a pivotal moment in our ongoing efforts to address the backlog inherited from SEF and modernize legal processes. It underscores our unwavering advocacy and validates prior announcements regarding the government’s proactive stance on tackling the backlog.
Part of a larger initiative aimed at resolving the backlog, this collaboration represents a forward-thinking approach to managing immigration files, aligning with our advocacy alongside the government. While specific details of the agreement are still unfolding, its existence underscores our collective commitment to driving meaningful change and enhancing legal proceedings’ efficiency.
This announcement holds great promise for our clients, reflecting both the Government and AIMA’s dedication to alleviating the backlog and enhancing legal services. By leveraging technology and legal expertise, we anticipate significant progress in expediting processes, enhancing transparency, and delivering superior outcomes.
We shall in your case specifically send another email and letter to AIMA.
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Finally a tender process opens for this scheme announced more than 6 months ago.
Some highlights:
- applications for service provision tenders open until the end of the month
- for “the provision of services for the instruction of processes for granting residence permits and pending renewals of residence permits”, which “are being processed by AIMA”
- services, provided remotely, will be provided by lawyers, trainee lawyers or solicitors, who “will be part of groups and teams to be formed according to the type of cases”
- Service providers are “prevented from having any interests or links with the processes being processed or with their respective applicants” directly or indirectly, through law firms and colleagues with whom they share an office or with whom they “may have personal, family or professional relationships”. Furthermore, providers “are also prohibited from providing applicants with any service themselves… in the 12 months following…”
Nice, it’s all remote work and remote access to the AIMA systems. Hopefully there is no way for third parties to access the database allowing harvesting of personal and financial data of applicants?
Yeah… I’ve written before how even AIMA employees have problems accessing all the IT systems they need. Not sure whoever came up with this “outsourcing to private lawyers” idea considered all the technical/security challenges of opening up systems to the outside world. Especially systems that are probably “fragile” to begin with.
Is it for all visa applications or specifically golden visa applicants?
Lawyers will receive €7.50 to handle immigrant cases
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So after spending hundreds of thousands of euros, with years of delay behind and in front of me , helplessly defending the jibes of my jilted lover (read everything Portugal); this is what I have been reduced to??? 7.5 euro?
Thousands of people who invested hundreds of thousand of euros
“Here’s 10 euros. Keep the change.”
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Even if there were any good PT lawyers whose typical rate was only 100€ an hour (doubt it), they’d have to push through more than 13 of these AIMA cases an hour to earn the equivalent. Oh and the scheme tops-out at 1,400€ a month.
So… seriously… what lawyer would even bother participating in this nonsense?
The original ECO article here also reminds us that AIMA’s paying law firm Eduardo Serra Jorge 50€ for every residency lawsuit they fight back on. Other than perhaps just ignoring you, what does 50€ buy you at a typical law firm?
Louco!
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A coffee date
May lawyers in Brazil would participate? 
But kidding aside, the economics of this tender process does not make sense. If about 400k cases are pending at EUR 7.50 per case. The state budget to clear this backlog is about EUR 3M.
Regarding the IT issues, my worst fear is that they may have to resort to USB drives to pass around our files. God forbid those drives get lost or misused…
Not to mention EU trying to be the guiding light in implementation of data protection and privacy policies.
Nobody can steal my identity with the data AIMA has in hand 
My application was submitted so long ago, none of that information is current anymore. 
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