Mafias and bots take away your foreigners' appointment: avoid the scam

Getting an appointment to renew your residence card or apply for a NIE is an absolute nightmare. What should be a simple procedure has turned into a business. Scammers using bots beat you to it and snap up all the slots. Then they sell them for anywhere from 40 to 500 euros, depending on the city or the service. And you’re left without an appointment, at your wits’ end.

There are tons of people affected. Lhaussainne, for example, has been waiting since June for an appointment to renew her INE—and nothing. Alejandra, fed up, paid an intermediary. The agents confirm it: “I have clients whose cards have been expired for half a year,” a Castellón-based agent tells you. The system is overwhelmed, they complain, and what the government proposes is nothing more than a Band-Aid solution. So patience is in short supply.

So how do they manage? Well, with bots—programs that mimic a person but at lightning speed. They log into the appointment website, snap up every available slot, and resell them. Of course, sometimes they aren’t even real appointments: they sell you a fake one and keep your data to scam you. Desperation drives many to these illegal channels. But be careful: don’t give away your personal information.

In Valencia, a police station started scheduling appointments over the phone to avoid the bots. The result? Calling between 2 and 4 p.m. is mission impossible—the line is always busy. Lawyers are clear on this: the mandatory appointment system, which was introduced during the pandemic, should be optional. The government is obligated to provide you with a service, not to put obstacles in your way. They certainly aren’t making it easy for you.

The Government Delegate for the Valencian Community says they’re improving online and in-person services and have significantly increased staffing at the Asylum Office. Officials, however, find this insufficient. Months ago, the police dismantled a network with 69 arrests across Spain—but the problem persists. The demand for appointments far exceeds the supply. So the black market continues.

In the meantime, what should you do if you need to complete your paperwork? For starters, don’t buy appointments from strangers—you’re fueling the black market and putting your personal data at risk. Try all the official channels: the website, phone, and, if you can, stop by an immigration office in person. If your case is urgent, file a complaint with the Ombudsman or request an appointment in writing. It’s not a walk in the park, but it’s the legal way. Take action.

If you’re having trouble with your appointment or paperwork, message us on Telegram: https://t.me/cita_extranjeria