The mandatory prior appointment bids farewell: artificial intelligence retires it.

The prior appointment —that wall that so many foreigners know— has its days numbered. The Government has released a plan to retire its mandatory nature, and it does so with artificial intelligence. If you've been struggling for months on how to get an appointment at the Foreign Office, this will interest you.

Minister Óscar López has released 43 million euros to modernize the Administration. The idea: that procedures no longer require a prior appointment, that the administration itself makes things easier for you. We're talking about an AI platform that fills in forms for you and speeds up processes. And when? Full deployment by 2027. However, laws must be changed first.

For foreigners, the prior appointment has been a textbook bottleneck. Renewals, authorizations, roots... everything hangs on getting a measly appointment. If the plan goes ahead, you could do these procedures without waiting months. The Government talks about 'all-in-one' offices —like registering your address at the Post Office—. However, for now there is no specific date or deadlines.

But watch out, it's not all laughs. The Association of Tax Inspectors has already raised the alarm: they say the plan is ambiguous and that eliminating the prior appointment without a robust system could create chaos. And as if that weren't enough, the civil service exams are also changing: those who pass will have to take a postgraduate course of up to two years. For foreigners who want to become civil servants, this could be an opportunity or a setback, depending on how you look at it.

And in the meantime? Well, the same as always: fighting for an appointment through the usual channels. But don't get distracted, stay tuned to the news. If the plan comes to fruition, in a few years you'll save yourself that headache. However, the Government needs Congress to give the green light for the legal changes.

If you have difficulties with your appointment or procedure, write to us on Telegram: https://t.me/cita_extranjeria