AIMA breaks the law and blocks access to the scheduling system, lawyers say

Without information about the date of the Expression of Interest, lawyers may be refused court proceedings, which request an appointment to obtain a Residence Permit.

Immigration lawyers are warning that the Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum (AIMA) has blocked access to the Automated Pre-Scheduling System (SAPA), which is used to check critical information about immigration processes. Until mid-October, this page allowed users to verify detailed data on their cases, such as the date of submission, attached documents, payment of fees charged by AIMA, scheduling dates, and other essential information.

According to lawyer Catarina Zuccaro, this change constitutes a violation of Article 83 of the Code of Administrative Procedure, which guarantees citizens the right to access their records, except in cases involving classified documents or commercial, industrial, or intellectual property information. Catarina emphasizes that the restriction unjustifiably limits citizens' access to information and transparency, crucial for following up on their processes and providing documentary evidence in administrative actions they may be involved in.

The lawyer stresses that, without access to SAPA, many immigrants face difficulties obtaining the entry date for their "Manifestation of Interest," a procedure used until June for regularization in Portugal. This date is often requested by judges in cases related to scheduling with AIMA. Catarina warns that without this information, legal cases may be rejected.

Current legislation requires scheduling to be completed within 90 days of the "Manifestation of Interest." Catarina suspects that blocking SAPA may be a strategy by AIMA to avoid legal cases, as it prevents access to data needed to contest the agency.

In response, Catarina has been including images of the SAPA portal screen in her clients' cases, accompanied by a written explanation to justify the absence of information regarding the "Manifestation of Interest" entry date.

Lawyer Adriana Ayala attributes the SAPA block to the migration of AIMA's portal to a new system, which, according to her, does not allow document viewing or upload data. Adriana, also an immigration specialist, believes AIMA may be acting to reduce the queue of immigrants awaiting regularization by selectively calling some to pay fees, which is required for scheduling.

When questioned by PÚBLICO Brazil, AIMA did not respond regarding the situation. The agency, which has just completed one year of operation, faces criticism due to the accumulation of more than 400,000 pending immigrant cases, difficulties in the appointment scheduling system, and harm to families who lack access to basic services such as health and education.

In protest of AIMA's neglect of immigrants, most entrepreneurs invited to the agency's one-year celebration event decided to boycott it. Of the 77 seats reserved for the audience, only 27 were occupied, reflecting widespread dissatisfaction with the agency's performance.