Last Monday, May 4th, the General State Administration and the Civil Service unions in Spain agreed to reopen the immigration offices to the public starting on May 25. This date has been set as a reference because it would be the beginning of Phase II the de-escalation of the national emergency level, although we believe that it will be uneven throughout the national territory, since each region could enter Phase I or II in different weeks.
As we could imagine, the reopening to the public will be progressive and, guaranteeing the safety and health of the citizens. For this, we want to highlight some points that directly affect the field of immigration:
1. Preferences for telework: teleworking will continue be preferable for officials, and that is why several immigration offices have provided channels for the online submission of initial residence authorizations and renewals.
2. Attention to the public: it is recommended to make phone call or online consulting. In those cases which need personal attending, an appointment will always be need within the limited capacity, respecting the safety distances, in addition to complying with the hygiene measures provided by the health authority.
3. Time flexibility: in order to meet the high demand in the coming weeks, the hours of in-person service will extend to 9:00 p.m.
These new measures will change by the time we enter Phase III of the de-escalation, in which the Ministry of Health will issue new action protocols.
If you have any questions or you are looking for advice on immigration matters, please do not hesitate to AGM Abogados.
Laura Caballero Gutiérrez
Immigration Lawyer
AGM Abogados
