Restrictions on granting visas for France to Moroccans have sparked a lively controversy. More and more voices are being raised to denounce the “arbitrary and unjustified” nature of this “repressive” decision. The last reaction is that ofa Moroccan Consumer Rights Federation, which accuses France of depriving Moroccans of their “right to information” on the new terms and conditions for issuing visas.
The continued refusal of visas to Moroccans by the French authorities continues to displease the kingdom. The appointment to obtain this sesame has become almost impossible since the French government decided, in October 2021, to tighten the conditions for granting visas to Moroccans.
A “punitive” decision which, according to Chakib Alj, head of the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM), constitutes a means of pressure exerted on three Maghreb countries, namely Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco, because of their refusal to accept their nationals illegally residing in France, whom the authorities of the country wanted to deport.
Faced with this situation, which goes once morest Moroccans, the Moroccan Federation for Consumer Rights (FMDC)sent a correspondence to the Ambassador of the French Republic in Morocco, Hélène Le Galto ask her to intervene for a refund of the costs of visas not issued for “service not honoured”.
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Noting in this sense that the applicant is required to pay a minimum amount of 316 Dhs, and this through a French visa application center, to then pay once more, at the time of filing the application, French visa fees, the amount of which varies between 50 euros for students and a minimum of 80 euros for short-stay visas. Something that makes one think, according to Bouazza Kherrati, president of the FMDCthat applying for a visa today constitutes a commercial operation which primarily benefits the French Republic.
“I cannot pay fees amounting to 1,000 Dhs just for the processing of my file. It’s as if you are going to buy a fridge, and the salesman asks you to pay him a fee in advance for the explanations he is going to deliver to you, even if you do not buy this fridge”he said ironically.
Otherwise , Bouazza Kherrati emphasized the absence of any legal authority allowing intermediary companies between the Consulate and the consumer to hold the visa applicant’s personal data.
“His intermediaries put a knife to your throat. You don’t have the right to refuse or accept… This is a paid service, so why require consumers to provide their data and use it additionally? Reason why we felt that the law 08-09 is not respected in this visa application process”he told Medias24.
The reaction of the Moroccan Federation of Consumer Rights comes following a controversy broke out a few days ago, following the tweet of the French ambassador to Morocco, deemed “condescending”.
I would like to thank Chakib Benmoussa, President of the @CSMDMaroc et @AmbaMarocFrance for presenting to me this morning a progress report on the @CSMDMaroc : very good prospects for the new economic pact ????????????????! with @MezouaghiMihoub @AFD_France . https://t.co/ZGf7HjRbwE
— Helene Le Gal (@HeleneLeGal) June 5, 2020
The diplomat has also been bombarded with comments from disgruntled Moroccans who denounce her lack of respect and consideration towards her counterpart Chakib Benmoussa, Morocco’s ambassador to France.
Several comments have denounced the unfairness of this decision taken by France, which manifests itself in the refusal of 50% of visas without even having their files studied.