Hi everybody,
I am a Romanian/Canadian citizen in Portugal, already got my Certificado de Registo, the rest of my family Canadian citizens (wife + 2 daughters). We have a rental contract, all of us have NIFs with Portuguese address, the girls are enrolled in school, the problem is that we are not able to get an appointment at SEF for my wife and daughters to get their residence cards through reagrupamento familiar. And, from what I understood from the lady I was able to talk to on the phone at SEF, no one knows when we will be able to make an appointment for the rest of my family.
We were assured at the Camara Municipal when I got my Certificado de Registo that the rest of my family have the same right to reside in Portugal that I have, even with Canadian passports. But we do not feel comfortable on this promisse, especially with the initial 3 months after entry of my family members expiring soon...
The question is, what do we do in situations where they do require proof of residence (such as residence card or proof that an appointment at SEF is pending)?
What do we do if my wife is stopped on the street and asked for ID (and the 3 months allowed expired already)?
What do we do if we want to travel out of Portugal?...
Anyone with any experience with this kind of issue? I am pretty sure we are not the only ones who've gone through this...
Any recourse available at SEF?
Thank you for any possible reply/advice,
Cristian