Well, that 4.5 hours did not go as I hoped! The agent refused my FBI background check as too old. So ridiculous and annoying.
I had to spend hundreds of Euros to get a new report, including three car rentals. First we had to drive to Lagos to have our fingerprints taken (thanks, Identity Abroad) and wait four weeks to get the new apostille report.
Second, another car rental to drive to Portimão to drop off the report at AIMA. I was hoping to get my card by mail but CTT never actually tried to deliver it and, worse, left the notice in the wrong mailbox so we never got it. Meaning of course a third rental and another trip to Portimão, but at least I did get my card. Yay!
Viv’s card was also issued, almost immediately after mine. Again CTT didn’t actually try to deliver it but this time we got the notice and retrieved her card the next day.
It’s been a journey, for sure, but now we’re legal long term residents of Portugal 🇵🇹 who can travel all over the Schengen Zone. We also signed up for the national health service and CMD, started the process to exchange our drivers licenses, and I’m looking into state language classes.
BillSaysThis 