Without the 'TIE,' companies won't hire: the regularization process is stalled

Nearly 1.2 million people applied for the extraordinary regularization program that the government opened between April and June. In the end, there were 1,174,978 applications—three times the half-million figure initially estimated by the Moncloa Palace.

The Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security, and Migration, headed by Elma Saiz, set September 30 as the deadline for approving or denying each application. The plan was to resolve them within three months. Today, that timeline is no longer feasible. You can see this right in the notice of acceptance for processing: the document already states in writing that the deadline will not be met.

Therein lies the first misunderstanding. The notice of acceptance for processing, the government insists, entitles you to reside and work temporarily throughout the country while you await a decision. But the message hasn’t gotten through to employers. Many employers continue to request the foreigner’s identity card (the “TIE”) or a final, favorable decision. Without that document, they won’t sign anything. As a result, there are people with legal permission to work who are being excluded from job offers. Migrant organizations are asking the Ministry to specifically address the business sector. Those whose applications have been accepted for processing are not being recognized on payrolls.

Who is affected? Two out of every three applicants are from South and Central America. Colombia tops the list with just over 25% of the applications. Next are Morocco, Venezuela, Peru, and Honduras. Argentines rank tenth: some 27,024 have submitted their applications. And the bottleneck doesn’t end with the approval of the permit. Next, you have to make an appointment for fingerprints and a photo. In many provinces, the wait for that exceeds one month.

If you’re in this limbo, keep your proof of application acceptance on hand and show it when asked. It serves as your official document while your application is being processed. Also check the status of your application and be sure to follow up on any requests from the ministry. A dormant application can result in a denial.

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