Spain's powerful Economic and Social Council has slammed the way immigration paperwork is processed leaving many foreigners in a "digital lottery" and in an "administrative dead end." Many Britons have complained about the length of time that it is required to get a TIE residence card needed by all resident Britons in the post Brexit era. Also, they have problems navigating the massive amount of paperwork that is required.
The advistory board, which is made up of unions, employers and civil society organisations, states that intermediaries are now using computer bots to hoard appointments and then resell them, according to a report in VISA HQ. Police arrested more than 100 people on the mainland recently accused of running appointment networks and scams.
The board says that the present system is not fit for purpose and has called on the government to make changes. The Spanish government is planning to overhaul the immigration system and has said that applications can now be made online and documents which are required for the application can be downloaded.
Also, a single digital platform could be established to handle all residence, work and VISA applications which could make the system much easier.
At the moment British citizens have to wait up to four months for their TIE cards with lengthy delays for appointments.