SEF Interview

Last activity 22 January 2024 by Jim Garrison

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Jim GarrisonMember21 January 2024 22:47:31

I haven't seen this problem before. My wife and I both just received our passports back and we both have SEF appointments booked in April.

The problem is both our appointments are on the same date and time but in two different cities! I'm retired and we're both living off of my pension/SS.

I'm not at all comfortable sending my wife traveling alone. Not due to safety but we're not familiar with the area or public transportation and I'm afraid (and so is she) that she'll get lost and not know what to do. Also, though she is a US citizen, she was born and raised in the Philippines and sometimes she misunderstands or misspeaks English. So a person to whom English is a second language speaking to an interviewer to whom English is a second language - what could go wrong?

Any advice? Her interview is just North of Lisbon so I was thinking maybe I could contact a lawyer about sending someone with her to assist but I'm not sure that's something they do.

maxwmitchell1997Active member22 January 2024 07:33:56

Jim,

I suggest you do find an attorney in Lisbon to go with your wife. She will not feel alone then. Attorney fees here are much lower than in the States.

maxwmitchell1997Active member22 January 2024 07:36:11

Jim,

What part of Portugal do you live in?

bobinportugal22Active member22 January 2024 09:33:58

I would recommend Ana Bruno and Associates out of Lisbon as they're familiar with this process and very reliable. They provided me with an attorney for just this purpose.

sarahdrichMember22 January 2024 10:14:23

@Jim Garrison

Hi Jim,

This exact situation happened to my husband and me when we first came to Portugal in 2022. We live in Lisbon, and our appointments were for the same day/same time in two small towns up North. We asked some friends (didn't use an attorney), and everyone said it would be fine to just pick one of the towns and go together. I was quite nervous about this, but that's what we did, and it worked out just fine. The people at the office had clearly encountered this issue before, and it didn't phase them in the slightest. So -- yes, just go together with your wife to one of the appointments. Don't bother trying to call SEF....you'll never get through. But makes sure you have all the paperwork organized and ready to go, and you should be just fine.

Best of luck!! Sarah

Jim GarrisonMember22 January 2024 12:25:45

@maxwmitchell1997

We have an apartment in Caldas da Rainha but we're in Texas right now packing stuff for shipping. We will be there in mid-March to stay. Our appointments are on April 24th. Mine is in Santarem and my wife's in Alverca - they look to be about 45-60 minutes apart. So we'll have about a month to settle in and get ready for our appointments.

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