Some Portuguese Goans waiting outside the Portuguese Consulate in London.
LONDON
Thousands of Goans have spent time, money and effort to obtain the prized Portuguese nationality, enabling them to officially migrate and settle in Europe, which included the UK prior to Brexit.
But many Portuguese Goans in the UK have now realised that their hardships are far from over, especially when they seek assistance from the Portuguese Consulate in the UK for various services, such as renewal of their passports and identity cards.
A number of Portuguese Goans have been struggling to even obtain appointments with the Portuguese Consulate through the official website, but what has surprised many is that agents have had easy access to the appointment system and charge Portuguese Goans as high as £100 to secure appointments.
Portuguese Goans have now begun to raise this issue and put forth their frustrations at meetings.
MEETING IN HOUNSLOW
A meeting sponsored by Goan social worker Micheal Bevan D’Silva was convened in Hounslow on August 18 to address problems faced by Portuguese Goans regarding renewal of passports and ID cards, among other topics.
Portuguese Goans interacting with members of the Council of the Portuguese Communities in the UK at a meeting in Hounslow.
Members of the Council of the Portuguese Communities (CPC) in the UK, Antonio Cunha, Joao da Cruz, Ciana D’Costa and Chris da Costa, as well Ceasar Rebelo, director of the Portuguese Community Centre (PCC) were present at the meeting, which was attended by over 100 Portuguese Goans. Incidentally, Aldona MLA and senior advocate Carlos Alvares Ferreira, who was on a short trip to the UK, was also present at this meeting.
The CPC is the Portuguese government's advisory body for policies relating to emigration and Portuguese communities living abroad and is expected to raise issues and reduce hardships pertaining to any consulate work, incentive the promotion of Portuguese culture heritage and language. The PCC in the UK aims to support Portuguese nationals of all origins in various ways.
“The Portuguese Goans complained about their inability to book appointments online. Why is it so difficult for individuals to book an appointment, when agents can freely do so,” asked social activist Salvador Pereira, one of the organisers at the meeting.
“Agents book slots in blocks and charge a fee ranging anywhere between £10 and £100, depending on the need and urgency.”
“It is almost a year since Goan councillors of CPC were elected in the UK, to ensure support to Goan Portuguese Citizens. Till date, not much has been achieved,” Salvador added.
CPC Councillor Joao Cruz stated at the meeting that the councillors plan to hold meetings at various location around UK and collect issues faced by the Portuguese Goan community. These issues will then be submitted to the Consular General in London to address and resolve.
“There were other issues but are not as important as the difficulty in being able to book appointments online. The question is how do unauthorised agents have easy access to book appointments online, while individuals struggle to do so,” said Salvador.
PROBLEMS, FRUSTRATIONS
A Portuguese Goan said it would soon be one year since the members were elected to the CPC in the UK.
“Before elections, candidates had assured to simplify the appointment process for passports and citizen cards. However, we are now being asked to activate the Digital Mobile Key, which has proven difficult and unsuccessful,” he said.
“I spent over one hour repeatedly scanning and taking photos, only for the app to keep resetting. Five of my friends also tried and failed to activate it. It is less stressful to pay an agent to get an appointment.”
“We understand that the appointment system for passports and citizen cards is standardised across all Portuguese consulates and may take time to improve. But this shouldn't prevent the Consulate from temporarily increasing staff to reduce the backlog and make appointments available within 1-2 months through the online system. We don't understand how and why agents are able to secure appointments so easily.”
“On a positive note, the extension of passport validity to 10 years will reduce the need for frequent appointments. But what about the validity of the citizen card,” asked the Portuguese Goan.
____________________
Joao da Cruz, Portuguese Advisory Councillor of United Kingdom and Ireland, has been attending meetings convened by Portuguese Goans at various locations across the UK.
He served as translator to the Secretary of State of the Portuguese Communities Dr Jose Cesario, who praised Goans Portuguese heritage at the recent ‘UK Goan Festival 2024’ hosted by the GOA UK.
According to Joao, an estimated half a million Portuguese citizens live in UK and these include Portuguese Goans.
[From Left to Right] Ciana D'Costa and Joao da Cruz during a meeting with the Portuguese community of Goan origin at the Wembley church in 2023. File Photo
Commenting on issues faced by Portuguese Goans regarding booking appointments online, Joao said the site’s timings have now been restricted from 10 am to 11 am every day to avoid misuse.
“Many Portuguese Goans have issues understanding the Portuguese administrative system becoming a barrier to access the services, many of them preferring to pay an agent (solo identities) who charge a fee to bring a miracle solution,” said Joao.
“Very soon, the Portuguese advisory councillors in partnership with the Portuguese Community Centre in London and GOA Association UK are planning to recruit volunteers to assist all Portuguese citizens, included Portuguese Goans, to help navigate through the consulate website. This is a free service.”
“This network of volunteers will be at hand on phone when required, thus avoiding third parties exploiting Portuguese citizens by charging a fee. Plans are afoot to start recruitment on recommendation by September.”
“The Senior Consul General of Portugal in London Dr Luís Leandro da Silva, Portuguese Advisory Councillor Antonio Cunha, Ciana da Costa and I are keen to start this team of volunteers to support Portuguese citizens.”
Joao further added the Portuguese Consulate office in the UK is the only one in the world which is open on Saturdays to help with the demands of its citizens.
“Portuguese citizens have a right to know how to navigate the portal and is a free public service. There is a percentage of Goans with Portuguese citizenship who lack an understanding of Portuguese and English. This volunteer service will be able to assist anyone, even those outside the UK.”
Commenting on the issue of booking appointments with the Consulate, Joao says the system is improving and there has been progress.
“The future will be brighter, though it is taking time. But soon, we will see much better service, along with staff working on Saturdays also, which is the only Consulate that works on a Saturday,” Joao added.
Another CPC Councillor Ciana D’Costa said she has been regularly contacted by Portuguese Goans seeking to book appointments with Consular General office mainly to renew passports or ID cards.
“Despite being elected as councillor, I am yet to be given the rights or trained to do to my work. At the moment, I pass on requests for appointments to Antonio Cunha, who has been a councillor for many years. No fee is charged,” explained Ciana.
“I cannot understand why many are unable to log in to the portal and book appointments. Indications are that many have tried but fail to achieve this free service online. Hence, they approach agents that secure an appointment for a fee. This fee varies from agent to agent.”
“I also do not understand how agents are able to block appointment slots.”
Asked if an understanding of Portuguese language was necessary to use the online service, Ciana replied: “No, the site has a facility to select English too.”
