Rabat – Schengen visa applicants in Morocco have once again raised their voices against a troubling trend involving intermediaries who manipulate the appointment system, Schengen Visa Info reported on Monday.
Complaints have surged over intermediaries booking all available appointments and then reselling them on the black market for unreasonably high prices, leaving genuine visa-seekers unable to apply.
Moroccan citizens, particularly students who have secured admission to European Union universities, are bearing the brunt of this practice.
“Students who have already enrolled in European Union universities are currently the most affected as they need to obtain a visa in order to be able to enter the country they will be pursuing their studies,” said the report.
The issue has struck a chord with Moroccan citizens, including those wanting to enter the EU for other purposes, such as travel. This has prompted many to contemplate alternative travel destinations that do not demand a visa.
This is not the first time Moroccans have complained about such practices. Earlier this year, reports surfaced indicating that unauthorized brokers were using automated bots to secure appointments.
Read also: Morocco Has Africa’s 2nd Highest Expenditure on Rejected Schengen Visa Applications
They would then capitalize on the desperation of Moroccan citizens to obtain visas by reselling these appointments at astronomical prices, sometimes soaring as high as €1,000 (MAD 10,800).
The stark contrast to the standard visa application fees added fuel to the fire of this growing controversy.
Director of the Moroccan League for the Defense of Human Rights, Adil Tchikitou, expressed his concerns, revealing that embassies in Morocco are well aware of these malpractices, added the report. He criticized the authorities for their lack of action over the past year, indicating that the issue has remained largely unresolved.
Making the situation worse for Moroccans, Schengen visa rejection rates have been soaring. Alarming data from Schengen Visa Statistics indicated that in 2022 alone, 30% of Schengen visa applications from Moroccans faced rejection. Notably, France and Spain were responsible for the majority of the visa rejections.
Throughout 2022, Moroccans submitted a staggering total of 423,201 Schengen visa applications, meaning that more than 126,000 applications were rejected.
According to data from Schengen Visa Info, Moroccans spent $10.5 million (MAD 103.2 million) on Schengen visa applications last year.
