At 10:40 am, Lusa was informed by one person waiting outside the AIMA office that the entrance "remained closed" more than an hour after opening time, leading to a crowd gathering on the pavement.

“People were calm but didn’t understand why the door was closed—we just wanted an explanation, and there was no one here,” said António Carú, a Brazilian citizen who had come “specifically” from Lisbon to be seen at that office.

For him, "it’s a nuisance. It costs money, and something always goes wrong; you can never get everything done at once."

Kyrol Melnik, a Ukrainian citizen, also complained about the service’s “lack of organisation.” He said, “They’re very friendly, but it’s very difficult to get an appointment, and then we arrive here, and the door is closed.”

Speaking to Lusa news agency at the scene, the PSP explained that they were called “because there was a gathering of people; since there were many and the sidewalk is narrow, they were occupying the public road, that's the only reason we were called.”

“We had no reports of any confusion, skirmish, or any problem,” they stated.

At 10:30 am, a notice was posted at the building's entrance stating that “due to force majeure,” the service was closed.

“For me, being Brazilian, everything is fine, but most of the people here don't understand because it's only in Portuguese,” commented António Gadú.

A source from the Porto Metropolitan Command of the PSP confirmed to Lusa that they were called to the location because “more people than usual” had gathered at the entrance of the premises, but “without any record of disorder.”

“We don't know what led to the closure. And the information we have is that the facilities should reopen soon,” said the same source.

By 11 am, there were fewer than 10 people left at the site.

The Lusa news agency contacted AIMA via email and is awaiting a response.