ICAM Brings Together 40 Consulates to Coordinate the Regularization Process

Forty consulates have sat down at the same table as the Madrid Bar Association (ICAM). The issue: the extraordinary regularization of foreign nationals currently under consideration in Parliament, which, once passed, will catch more than a few people with their paperwork incomplete. It was a working breakfast, yes, but it served more as a briefing: what is known, what’s missing, and how to prevent the noise from drowning out the information that really matters.

The meeting didn’t come out of nowhere. It was spearheaded by Kamal Arifi, dean of the Consular Corps of Madrid, and Jaime Nicolás, head of the Provincial Immigration and Borders Brigade of the National Police Force. Representing the bar association was Emilio Ramírez, a member of the Governing Board responsible for immigration matters. He laid out the key points of the upcoming regulation and what it could mean in practice for thousands of people.

In fact, the meeting took place one day after two other sessions aimed at Madrid’s legal community. The ICAM plans to repeat this format and maintain a steady line of communication with the consulates as the process moves forward. Consulates are the first point of contact for many Spanish nationals when they don’t understand a requirement or aren’t sure which document they’re missing.

And you? Stay informed, but be discerning. Consulates are going to receive a flood of inquiries, and immigration offices will as well. Be wary of anyone who promises an expedited resolution in exchange for an upfront payment. And always verify that the person advising you is a licensed attorney or a certified immigration specialist with proven experience in immigration matters. Incorrectly filed paperwork can cost you dearly later on.

Consuls from Belgium, Germany, Morocco, Ecuador, Peru, China, Venezuela, Brazil, Portugal, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic, among others, attended the breakfast, rounding out the group of 40 countries. The British Embassy was also present. It was a fairly accurate snapshot of the foreign communities living here, for whom a great deal is at stake in the coming months.

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