The imminent regularization of thousands of foreigners in Spain threatens to collapse the already saturated application system for the Foreigner Identity Card (TIE). Police experts and lawyers warn that the avalanche of requests will overwhelm current resources, while internet cafes and illegal agents sell fingerprint appointments for up to 300 euros, taking advantage of applicants' desperation.
TIE appointment automation: a technical solution against the collapse 🛠️
The proposal to assign an automatic appointment for fingerprinting upon accepting regularization involves modifying case management systems. It would require integrating the databases of the Secretary of State for Migration with the police appointment platform, generating a slot linked to the case number. Technically, this would prevent manual re-entry into the portal, reducing the bottleneck and eliminating the resale of slots. However, the lack of interoperability between public systems is the main obstacle.
300 euros for an appointment? The lucrative business of bureaucracy 💰
While the police prepare for chaos, neighborhood internet cafes are already rubbing their keyboards. For 300 euros, they get you an appointment that, if you request it yourself, is free but with a date for 2027. Some offer premium packages: express appointment plus a coffee with milk. The funny thing is, if the system collapses, these same places could sell tickets to watch the show. Ironies of an administration that, to save queues, creates the black market for digital queues.