A content creator from Madrid has caused a stir on social media. He recorded a video bragging about having a bot that snags immigration appointments and then trades them for concert tickets. For whom? For Bad Bunny, of course. His argument: “What do people want more than Bad Bunny tickets? An appointment.”
The underlying problem is real. At the Immigration Office in Palma, Mallorca, the lack of appointments is endemic. A resident of Cala d’Or, Magdalena, has been trying to get one for months: “I check every day and it always says ‘no appointments available,’” she says. And she’s not the only one. Some have paid up to 400 euros to middlemen to process their baby’s paperwork—without success. Others have to travel to another island to secure an appointment, with the associated costs.
The resale of appointments is nothing new. The police have already taken action in Mallorca. In Manacor, they dismantled a network that used computer programs to hoard appointments. They seized cash and arrested a young man who was running the operation like a business. It’s illegal, of course: a fraud that blocks access to basic services for other people.
Reactions to the video were swift. A widely shared comment called him an “exploiter and repugnant” because he exacerbates a problem that already makes life miserable for hardworking people who just want to get their paperwork done. The creator, on the other hand, sells it as a marketing ploy: “I’ve created a bot that books appointments faster than any normal person.”
If you’re stuck trying to get an immigration appointment, don’t be tempted by scalpers. You could lose your money and, on top of that, leave your personal information in the hands of just anyone. Try logging in at midnight, which is when new slots become available, or check other offices. You can also ask for help from immigrant support organizations. But don’t buy an appointment: it’s illegal and only fuels the business of those who take advantage of people’s needs.
If you’re having trouble with your appointment or paperwork, message us on Telegram: https://t.me/cita_extranjeria
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