Paradoxical impasse for many families
Another serious problem arises with the documents required to prove that a migrant has been resident in Greece since before December 31, 2004. Previous residence permits or study certificates at educational institutes are not considered valid proof of residence. As the Citizens’ Ombudsman pointed out, this excludes «a large number of interested applicants, usually young migrants who have grown up in Greece and have received a Greek education.» Many mothers also face problems legalizing their status. «Lack of foresight on the part of the legislator has created a paradoxical impasse for many families,» Fakinou explained. «A father who has legal status can easily legalize the status of his dependent child but not that of his wife, as she does not meet any of the five requirements (entry visa, tax number, stamps, application for asylum on humanitarian grounds or asylum rejection).»
