Amilcar Alvarez, a 47-year-old Venezuelan citizen, arrived in Gran Canaria two years ago, fleeing persecution in his home country. Since his arrival, he has diligently worked to rebuild his life in the archipelago, applying for asylum, integrating into society, completing training courses, and obtaining a work permit that allowed him to secure a job at a hypermarket chain.
“"The Government has said that half a million immigrants will be regularized, but I am concerned that the applications will exceed one million, and I don't know if I will be one of the lucky ones."
Despite meeting all the requirements set by the Executive, Alvarez expresses doubts about his future. He has a bank account, stable employment, and a clean criminal record, which makes him proud of his journey. However, the sheer volume of the regularization process, estimated to potentially exceed one million applications, causes him apprehension.
To navigate this process, Alvarez has chosen to seek professional advice, acknowledging the complexity of Spanish legislation. Although the online process has already begun and the in-person option will open next Monday, he prefers to wait a few days before submitting his application to observe its functioning and avoid potential initial errors. The deadline for submitting applications, both online and in person, is June 30, adding pressure to the process.
For Alvarez, permanent regularization represents the possibility of living with greater peace of mind and a better quality of life, consolidating the achievements made over these two years. He feels fully integrated into the Islands, where he has formed a kind of family with his colleagues, and does not plan to return to his country, as he believes everything has changed there. His goal is to settle permanently in the archipelago.
Thousands of migrants in the Canary Islands, like Amilcar Alvarez, are seeking professional support to initiate their regularization procedures. Organizations such as Cáritas Diocesana de Canarias have seen a significant increase in inquiries. Although they are not accredited to open files, they offer accompaniment, information, and advice on managing the procedures, filling a role that administrations do not always cover, as explained by Caya Suárez, the entity's general secretary.
