A new immigration agency will have about 700,000 tasks to complete by the end of 2024.
The new Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum (AIMA), which starts working today, has two main tasks to complete by the end of 2024. They need to handle 347,000 pending immigrant cases and also process around 340,000 visa renewals.
The government has set some important priorities for the new Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum (AIMA), which begins its work today. They plan to handle 347,000 pending cases inherited from the now-defunct Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF), with a focus on family reunifications. AIMA promises a special operation to tackle these issues in the first quarter of 2024 and plans to launch a digital portal for online applications for residence permits by the end of the year.
AIMA also intends to work with local authorities and support centers for migrants to address these pending cases and improve their physical presence in partnership with municipalities, universities, and other entities.
In addition to the pending cases, around 340,000 visa renewals will be processed in 2024, including those for citizens from Portuguese-speaking countries and Ukrainian refugees.
With an 81 million euro budget, AIMA starts with 34 service counters nationwide and plans to open at least 10 new branches within a year. They have 740 employees and intend to hire 190 more to improve the quality and speed of their services.
This project separates police and administrative functions, improving access to services, security, and public trust in the system. A new portal will be launched to handle family reunification requests and other residence permit applications.
AIMA’s statutes emphasize a new approach to how the government interacts with foreign citizens, promoting integration, combating racism, and improving public services. The restructuring of SEF has been in the works for a while, transferring its powers to various government bodies.
