Why waiting times at Spain’s immigration offices could get even longer

Processing visas and residency permits might take even longer now as a consequence of the truth that extranjería places of work are reportedly already “overwhelmed”, earlier than new immigration rules that might worsen the scenario significantly.

Again in November 2024, Spain introduced it was going to make it simpler for foreigners to get residency and work permits by approving a sequence of latest immigration reforms, laws which though good on paper has been met with some doubts by litigators because it might depart some asylum seekers in an elevated state of vulnerability.

These adjustments are as a consequence of lastly come into power this month on Might twentieth.   

The brand new guidelines are designed to supposedly simplify the regularisation course of for migrants dwelling in Spain illegally, in addition to making it straightforward for individuals to alter to totally different residency choices. For instance, it should permit foreigners who’ve studied in Spain to maneuver extra simply from a research visa to a residence and work allow.

On the identical time, nevertheless, all this additional paperwork may also enormously enhance the workload of directors. 

Spanish commerce union Comisiones Obreras has even referred to as for a strike as a consequence of a “lack of assets” to implement these new rules, in addition to a steep enhance within the workload.  

“We denounce the unsustainable workload, the precarious working circumstances of public workers, and the disastrous administration, which is leaving 1000’s of residents trapped in a bureaucratic labyrinth with no means out,” the union stated in a latest assertion.  

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The strikes will happen from 12:30 to 2:30pm in any respect immigration places of work in Spain subsequent Tuesday Might nineteenth, at some point earlier than the rules come into impact.  

In essence, understaffed, overworked and underpaid extranjería workers are afraid of the sheer quantity of residency processes immigration officers they will have to hold out.

Catalan authorities alone say they’re regularising the residency and work papers of 200,000 migrants in two years. 

To make issues worse, simply days earlier than the reform of the Immigration Rules comes into impact, Spain’s Ministry of Inclusion has made a number of amendments to the foundations. Whereas these goal to make clear the interpretation of the brand new rules, additionally it is inflicting extra confusion amongst extranjería staff.

Even earlier than the brand new reforms come into power, lengthy ready occasions, hassle getting appointments (citas previas) and telephones which can be by no means answered have been continual points at lots of Spain’s extranjería places of work.  

This was lately dropped at mild by an article in Cadena Ser, the place they reported how in an effort to course of an appointment to acquire protected standing at Valencia’s foreigner workplace, you must name on just one explicit day of the week at a particular time.

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Obstacles resembling these depart many foreigners in limbo and weak.

Appointments are so arduous to return by as a consequence of the truth that ‘mafia’ gangs are blocking them all with the help of computer bots and then selling them to desperate foreigners, when in actuality appointments ought to be utterly free. For years, Spanish authorities have been unable to stamp out this rip-off.

READ ALSO: What to do when Spain’s ‘cita previa’ website doesn’t work

As Spain’s inhabitants continues to extend largely because of the arrival of extra documented and undocumented foreigners, an already overstretched and trouble-ridden immigration division should cope with a large enhance in its workload, one thing that’s sure to mirror in ready occasions for foreigners.