Your Portugal SEF immigration appointment for US Expats

[@user-rk8mr8ux5s]

Thank you for your video. We haven’t had our visa appointment yet, but ate planning on having one of our Portuguese friends come with us when it’s time for our SEF appointment.

[@joricmclean]

It is worth having someone that speaks Portuguese with you for the appointment.

[@user-rk8mr8ux5s]

@@joricmclean Thank you.

[@lucchese20]

Thank you Joric for another informative video. It’s always helpful to hear the good and the bad. It’s best to be prepared and assume ‘the worst.’ Looking forward to more informative videos. Cheers.

[@joricmclean]

Thank you!

[@rebeccagutierrez1960]

Hey Joric, thanks for your video about SEF.

[@lorimagnificent8329]

Hi, can you update me on how long it’s taking to get an SPF appointment now for the residence permit. I’m planning on shipping container and would rather not pay duties and taxes. Thanks so much for your help! Lori

[@joricmclean]

As of my response, it's taking about 3-4 months for the residence permit. Keep in mind, I think in November SEF is supposed to become something else. I "think" the goal is to have an agency that runs more efficiently, meaning you get your appointment 30-60 days from arrival. Stay tuned to me and other creators to see updates.

[@lorimagnificent8329]

@@joricmclean Good to know, thanks for your response, always appreciate it I will definitely keep a lookout for any new developments!

[@Virkgurjeet59]

Thnks

[@K.Renee_517]

Hey Joric thanks for sharing the two experiences you and your Wife had very interesting could you please do a video and explain how to get a temp visa and how long it last, do I start the process here In the US or there ? Thank you

[@joricmclean]

From the US, you can stay in Portugal for 90 days without a visa. If you are looking to stay longer, you could either contact the Portuguese embassy in San Fran or NY, depending on what side of the country you reside, or, you could apply once you arrive. Are you looking to stay more than 90 days?

[@K.Renee_517]

@@joricmclean No my first visit will be for the 90 days then return to the US and if I like it I will start planning for my retirement there

[@joricmclean]

@@K.Renee_517 We started our process back in the US. Our realtor here connected us with an attorney to start the process of filing for immigration. As for SEF, you can apply online. A couple living down in the Algarve came from Colorado last July to retire. They said their SEF appointment was this May. With covid, things are really backed up, but if you think you may be moving by the end of the year, or early next year, I would see when the earliest SEF appointments are. I'm going to forward the name of an attorney we used to help with some of the process. She might be worth meeting while you are here for your 90 evaluation of the country. Her name is Emilia Franco [e-mail]

[@K.Renee_517]

@@joricmclean That’s a great idea Thank you so much you have been very kind

[@lorimagnificent8329]

Hi Joric, I have my SEF appointment coming up in July and I'm wondering where I find the form that I need to fill out for it and exactly what documents are needed to be presented at my appointment. Also if you could please give me the attorney's name and information that you used, that would be great. . Thanks Lori

[@joricmclean]

Lori, shoot me an email [e-mail] I can get you the attorney contact as she will be most useful in this process.

[@rad0f]

When you or your wife received the card, was the issue date on the card the same as appointment's date?

[@joricmclean]

It had a different date.

[@JeffreyGreenbergTechArt]

Hey Joric, I’m about to fly to Lisbon at the end of June from the US. I’m a dual US and German citizen, US resident. I’ll enter as a GDR citizen to avoid the need for a Visa. I’m near retirement age and trying to understand trade offs between getting US SSI and investment payments and Medicare vs Lisbon tax and medical costs and possibility of 10 year tax avoidance. I’d love your take and connections to legal advice about my dual status situation…

[@joricmclean]

Let me see if I can help with an attorney who could sort the legal side of things out for you. I would take advantage of the NHR program (10 year at 10% capped for retirees. Here is a pdf of US and Portugal tax treaty,www.irs.gov/pub/irs-trty/portugal.pdf giving you insight as to what gets taxed each way. I would reach out to Emilia Franco at [e-mail] regarding legal advice.

[@JeffreyGreenbergTechArt]

@@joricmclean Thank you!

[@joricmclean]

@@JeffreyGreenbergTechArt Please contact Emilia Franco [e-mail] Please say you know Joric and Shelly McLean. She helped secure our 10 year NHR and helped guide us with many decisions similar to yours.

[@pricilla6531]

Hello joric good information Thanks ,,, I applied for my golden visa I got the approval in March 21 ,,, what’s the situations with sef do you think it’s going to ease out soon I hope 🤞

[@joricmclean]

We needed a change to our residence cards. Made the appointment in January and had the appointment in April. I think they are still backed up in some areas, meaning certain visas are being delayed (residence cards, biometric exams) and I think that is just due to being closed for months last year, they are still playing catch up.

[@naseerahmad9666]

How did get an appointment in the sef, there is a huge chaos for newcomers? 😳 Since November 2020 I am looking for an appointment for biometric process but still waiting. Can you help me?

[@joricmclean]

I wish I could but I cannot. I have a very good friend who has been waiting almost a year for that same biometric piece to be completed. I have no idea what the delay is.

[@psychnpusa1516]

Hello Joric, what do they ask and what docs do they check at SEF during renewal of first residency card? Do they actually check amount of days somehow that you spent in Portugal?

[@joricmclean]

We did the renewal online and all they asked was if our address had changed, for mailing a new residence card. They did not ask how many days we spent in Portugal and I do not know if they checked. It was much simpler than the original SEF interview.

[@psychnpusa1516]

@@joricmclean Thank you very much. Your posts are always so helpful!

[@hala1131]

Hello thank you for this video my fiancee has an appointment with sef next week for the permanent residency. Do u think they can refuse him? and what about the timeline We applied from BEIRUT LEBANON thx a Lot

[@joricmclean]

In general, if you have the required documents and have completed what SEF wants you to, your fiance should be approved. Depending on what visa you applied for, it is taking anywhere from 5 weeks up to 5 months to get your residence card in the mail.

[@joyfullypacinglife8847]

Hi Joric! Would you mind sharing with us the name of your attorney if he is someone you could recommend? Thank you.

[@joricmclean]

Filipa is her name - [e-mail] Please let her know you were referred from Joric and Shelly McLean

[@frandoyle8921]

Hi Joric. My wife and I are in Lisbon and have our SEF appointment in October - it was scheduled for as when we received our visa in the US. Is Amilia the attorney that helped you with your SEF appointment as well as the tax setup that you mentioned in one of your replies below? I did also want to point out that we are having difficulty getting our NIF numbers as the office will not proceed without us having a fiscal representative with us. We were thinking of using an attorney for that as well.

[@joricmclean]

Emilia helped with our initial paperwork for immigration, and helped with our NIF. We also had another attorney, Felipa Figueiredo [e-mail] who attended my wife's SEF appointment with her, and helped advise me during my appointment. If you are having trouble with your NIF, I would imagine Emilia or Filipa could help. Same goes for your SEF appointment.

[@frandoyle8921]

@@joricmclean Obrigado Joric. These contacts are very helpful to have. Keep up theses informative vlogs!

[@joricmclean]

@@frandoyle8921 Thank You!

[@fredwang2004]

Thank you for sharing your SEF experience. We have the SEF appt on our D7 visa stamp , do we need to make another appt with SEF ( or confirm the appt with SEF) once we are in Portugal ? Thank you

[@joricmclean]

sorry I did not respond to this. No need to make another appointment once you get here.

[@GurpreetSingh-oo7ew]

In How much time we can get trc card for new person???? Plz tell

[@joricmclean]

Friends from India had their appointment two weeks ago. They told them it is taking six to eight weeks at the moment to get a card.

[@GurpreetSingh-oo7ew]

@@joricmclean no my question is that from the start like for a illegal person how much time to get trc card if he new in portugal right now

[@joricmclean]

@@GurpreetSingh-oo7ew Anywhere from 6 months to a year. SEF is still backed up from pushing back appointments for most of last year.

[@GurpreetSingh-oo7ew]

@@joricmclean it means the process of sef will be fast in future ??? i want come to portugal next month in how much time i will get trc card plz tell am very thankful to you

[@joricmclean]

@@GurpreetSingh-oo7ew No, I don't know it will be faster in the near future anyway. Prior to the pandemic, we arrived in October 2019, and our attorney made a SEF appointment for each of us, wife in Jan 2020 and me in Feb 2020. Like 90 days, give or take, was the usual waiting period to get in to see SEF. With the pandemic, they closed the office for a while, and after we renewed our residence card (Dec 2020), new people coming into the country and making appointments at SEF would take 6 to 12 months, due to the back up. The problem, from what I see, is that Portugal has not hired more SEF reps to help, so it may take a long time to get through the backlog, plus talk to new people arriving in the country. I can't tell you it will be faster in the future. It might take a year or more for them to get caught up, and that is if they hire more SEF reps. Also, if the country does lockdowns again this fall/winter, they will shut down SEF and create more backlogs. Like I mentioned, when we came, wait times for the SEF appointment were around 3 months, and you received your card within 3 weeks after the appointment. Our friends who moved from the US in Dec 2020, had their appointment 15 days ago, and were told it will take 6-8 weeks to get their cards. Honestly, I would try to make an appointment online with SEF, even though you are not in the country. OR, I would contact an attorney to help make a SEF appointment, get your NIF (personal tax number), etc. I'm cautious to give time estimates because we have been waiting 9 months and still don't have our drivers license yet.

[@Mr.S65]

It’s so weird that they sent you to the Azores. they must know you have the means to do it. On the other hand, you’re coming from a rich country and you’d never move to Portugal to earn the minimum wage. However, by and large, immigration officer tend to be abusive. The US is famous for the way in which they interrogate applicants. Abuse of power I suppose

[@joricmclean]

The Azores was simply due to the inability to get in sooner anywhere on the mainland. Some people we met in Lisbon had their appointment up in Porto, and vice versa. Terceira still has a US military presence on a base there, so they get a lot of Americans coming through. I would have preferred the appointment here in Lisbon, but it worked out. At least I was able to get my appointment in before Covid. Originally, my Lisbon appointment was due for June 2020, and it would have been moved back, and WHO KNOWS when I would have had my residency. I agree the wages in Portugal are terrible and we did move from a richer country. My rep asked a lot of questions, but it was still cordial. No interrogation, just more questions asked then at my wife's appointment.

[@David-lb1fk]

When applying to consulates overseas or SEF in Portugal (which my wife is about to go through as a non-Eu citizen) they ask for several notatised and legalised documents that are fairly expensive and time consuming to get. They will probably be needed again once in Portugal for other procedures. I am wondering if these documents were returned to you by the consulate and by SEF? I certainly hope so. I don't mind them keeping the copies that i supplied but retaining the legalized versions is a bit much given the expense involved. Thank you for your help.

[@joricmclean]

They did not keep anything, We have a huge packet of apostilled or notarized information they reviewed, but after they looked it over, we got it all back. That was early 2020, and I'm sure the process is still the same.

[@David-lb1fk]

@@joricmclean Thanks for clearing that up.

[@josecunhaesilva5713]

Hi Joric, we, the portuguese people have exactly the same problems with the public administration. Welcome to the republic of bananas!

[@joricmclean]

In the US we have to odd things happen, but I wanted to show how 1 couple can have two different appointment experiences at SEF. I still need to find a way to get a drivers license as it has been 7 months since I submitted my info.

[@josecunhaesilva5713]

@@joricmclean Hi Joric, dealing with bureaucracy here is like playing with the lottery. Regarding the drivers license have you already try to explain your problem to a drivers school? I am 65 years old and I needed to renew my drivers licence this year, so, in April I went to the drivers school next door and its done. I paid 80 euros with a medical examination. Normally they have "open" channels with the public administration to do that. They usually take care of general documentation as a side biz of driving lessons. If you need some help just let me know!| Regards.

[@rad0f]

@@josecunhaesilva5713 I need to do a driving license exchange, which school would you recommend going to that does this as a side biz :)