Migrant persons residing in the Spanish State are open to regularizing their situation, since last Thursday the deadline formaking their applications online was opened.

But those interested in face-to-face care have a chance to go to an office from this Monday, April 20th.

On 30 June, the deadline for submitting the request for regularisation in person expires, but an appointment must be made in advance.

The request must be made on the website of the Ministry of Migration via the Internet (with digital identification, CLAVE system or by filling in a form).

You can also getan appointment by calling 060.

Where will face-to-face attention be given?

Social Security Offices: Offices of GSIN in the four capitals of Hego Euskal Herria, Pamplona, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Bilbao and Donostia-San Sebastián, in the afternoon.

In post offices:  will be available from municipalities with more than 50,000 inhabitants: Pamplona, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Bilbao, Donostia-San Sebastián, Barakaldo, Getxo and Irun.  will be more extensive than in social security offices.

Criminal record certificate

One of the documents to be submitted is a criminal record certificate, which is of particular concernto migrants. Depending on their country oforigin, processing can be quick and cheap, either very slow and expensive, or almost impossible.

In order to be able to enter the regularization process, it must be established that no offence has been committed in Spain or in countries where it has resided for the past five years.

It is a necessary procedure for all, but it is easier for some than for others.

The consulates of Bilbao serve not only foreigners residing in the Basque Country, but people from all over the northern part of the peninsula, and these days they are overflowing.

It's been on several of those ETBs and the differences are noticeable:

- Colombia gets a criminal record certificate within 2-3 days.

- Morocco takes longer.

- In Honduras, they warn that thousands of Hondurans living in the Basque Country and awaiting regularization will find it difficult to meet the deadlines. Moreover, there are procedures in Honduras that can only be carried out beforehand.

In addition, if the original documents are not in Spanish, a sworn translation must be submitted, which will result in more digits and delays for applicants.

Applicants have a period of 30 days to submit their application, and after that period, the new decree states that the Ministry of Justice shall endeavour to obtain such certification within three months.

Finally, there is another novelty: if the applicant has only a police record and not a criminal record (such as a fine or an identification on the street) and the Foreign Office considers \u00A0 not to be a security threat, he may obtain regularization.

But on what criteria will the official make the selection?