News from afpop - Friday 28th of October

Hello to you all and welcome to this week’s Member Briefing. For our UK Members we have some information below regarding the saga that so many of you have contacted the office about this week, I shall say no more for now. Non-UK Members can perhaps skip the first section and go straight to finding out about rail disruptions in Lisbon.
 
I wanted also to highlight an event that our friends in the Dutch Association ‘NCA’ are holding this weekend, which is their annual market, or Jaarmarkt. It’s on the 30^th of October starting at 11h30 and you can find more information on this LINK, so if you’re wondering what to do on Sunday, especially if the forecast rain arrives, you might have a pleasant time at Anantara Resort in Vilamoura.
 
So without further ado;
 
UK citizens - SEF Brexit portal update
Further to the extraordinary mailing we sent to UK Members earlier this week, we now have an update and some potentially good news. Whatever has caused the glitch in the booking system that has been so widely reported now, has not yet been rectified and still the only option for most UK citizens outside of Loulé or Lagos is to choose Lisbon and I know that some of you have done that and decided to just have a day in the capital. Of course that also doesn’t help those who can’t travel for any reason.
 
We’ve also had it confirmed by a Member who visited Lagos and spoke to staff there that there are now no slots available until the end of the year and they will be getting new slots available after Christmas. So Members who want to use that facility in the Espaço de Cidadão in Lagos will be receiving a new invitation from SEF.
 
It's now been confirmed by SEF, in a meeting with the Ambassador and British Consul yesterday, that those people who can’t, or who don’t want to, travel to Lisbon simply have to ignore the e-mail and wait for a new invitation to be sent by SEF. One of the doubts that I had was whether missing the appointment meant that you were then removed from the process and had to start again, but this is not the case and SEF has confirmed it in a video on their Facebook page, which we have shared on the afpop Facebook page also for those who have a Facebook account. In the video they give the details of 23 ‘Balcões de Atendimento’ across the country, in the North, Centre, Greater Lisbon, Algarve, Madeira and the Açores.
 
Sadly the video isn’t on the main SEF website, but it includes this message “If you can’t or you don’t wish to move outside your residence area, SEF will notify you again.” So it’s clear from SEF that further invitations will be sent to those who don’t subscribe first time around.
 
“But what if I’ve made an appointment already?” I hear you cry. Well then you have two options: of course you can just attend as scheduled or you can cancel. To cancel you send an e-mail to gricrp.cc@sef.pt and say that you can’t now make the appointed time and wish to cancel the appointment and re-apply and SEF will contact you again with a new invitation.
 
Updating of personal details:
In the email from SEF it asks you to check your details (passport number, address etc.) and then implies that you can edit them if required. However, the fields are locked and there is no facility to edit. We’ve been advised that this was just a poorly worded instruction and what they want people to do is check their details and then take documents to verify and alterations that need to be made when they go for their appointment. The details will then be amended by the staff when you attend for your appointment. 
 
CP - Improvement works on railways lines
For people in, or travelling to, Lisbon you should be aware that from the 29^th of October to the 5^th of November, due to works on the railway, the Cidade Universitária station will be closed, so the circulation of trains on the yellow line will be carried out in sections:
- Odivelas «-» Campo Grande
- Rato «-» Entre Campos
 You will find further information here:  https://www.metrolisboa.pt/en/2022/10/21/temporary-closure-of-cidade-universitaria-station/
 
Wintertime
Yes it’s that time of year when you can sleep, or party, for one more hour this weekend. The clocks will go back one hour at 02h00 (2am) Sunday morning the 30^th of October in Portugal mainland and Madeira (for the Açores this will be at 01h00). Enjoy the extra hour.
 
All Saints’ Day (1^st of November)
An official public holiday is approaching (Dia de Todos os Santos) which falls on a Tuesday, which means that for many a long weekend is coming as many people will also take the Monday off. We would like to alert Members who intend to travel at this time that the GNR will intensify patrolling the roads with the most traffic
 
Please note that the afpop office will be closed on Tuesday the 1^st of November (but we will be open on Monday).
 
Satellite offices
afpop staff will be on hand in the Satellite Offices again in November. If you need advice or assistance, wish to introduce a new Member to the Association, need to renew your subscription or just have a general query, please pass by and see us.  Kindly contact the afpop office to make an appointment on 282 458 509 or info@afpop.com    
 
Dates of the Satellites are: