AIMA presidency emphasizes the issue of individuals failing to attend scheduled meetings
In a recent development, Pedro Portugal Gaspar, the head of the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA), highlighted the challenges faced by the organisation in managing appointments due to no-shows and cancellations.
During the inauguration ceremony of the Local Support Center for Migrant Integration (CLAIM) in São Pedro do Sul, Viseu district, Gaspar stated that in 2024, 15% of people failed to attend their scheduled appointments. This issue, he explained, creates an unfair situation because some people are left waiting for an appointment while others fail to show up.
AIMA currently manages a group of appointments made by municipalities, and there is a possibility of expanding to other areas of the country in a contractual logic, with AIMA bearing the cost. However, details on how this contractual logic for expanding appointments would work are yet to be disclosed.
The difficulty in scheduling appointments has been identified as the first reason for user complaints. Despite efforts to increase the number of appointments per day from a thousand to over six thousand, the issue persists.
Recent technical disruptions in Portugal affecting AIMA and several government services have resulted in appointment cancellations with no immediate option to reschedule. Authorities advise applicants to wait for further contact from AIMA.
Potential solutions to address these issues include legal interventions, improved communication, system upgrades and automation, no-show policies, and case-by-case support. While specific AIMA policies are not publicly documented, other agencies impose fees, restrictions on rebooking, or strict cancellation notice requirements to reduce no-shows.
Third parties such as Jobbatical offer individualized support and liaise with authorities to navigate appointment booking difficulties during disruptions.
As AIMA continues to address these challenges, the creation of CLAIM is seen as a necessary step for any potential expansion of appointments to other areas. The discussion of expanding appointments to other areas will be held at a later date with local authorities, if there is interest.
References: 1. Portugal's AIMA struggles with appointment no-shows and cancellations 2. Portugal's AIMA faces challenges in appointment scheduling 3. Courts enforce legally mandated deadlines for AIMA appointment scheduling 4. No-show penalties and handling protocols at other agencies 5. AIMA technical disruptions and appointment cancellations
- In light of ongoing challenges with appointment no-shows and cancellations, efforts could be made to incorporate science and technology, such as advanced appointment scheduling systems and mental-health therapies-and-treatments, to better manage user appointments at AIMA.
- With the aim of improving overall health-and-wellness outcomes, the Local Support Center for Migrant Integration (CLAIM) might also offer mental-health support and resources to address any anxiety or stress that may be causing no-shows at AIMA appointments.
