Rabat – Casablanca has been witnessing a growing spectacle in recent weeks, as a group of determined residents takes to the city center to protest the sluggish visa application process for Italy.
The situation has left many with dashed hopes and unanswered questions, compelling them to rally for change, Moroccan state news outlet SNRTNews reported today.
The crowd, which congregates in from the early hours of their working days, doesn’t disperse until the clock strikes four in the afternoon. Yet, the physical presence at the center doesn’t guarantee a visa withdrawal date, and many leave disappointed, forced to return day after day in search of elusive appointments.
The protesters have been sharing their frustration, stating that despite securing work contracts in Italy several months ago, they’ve been fruitlessly frequenting the visa center, still waiting for that crucial date to retrieve their visas.
Visa applications have been the subject of contentious debate in recent years, particularly those associated with France, Italy, and Spain. Problems plaguing the visa application process have included a dearth of available appointment dates, procedural changes, increased application fees, and an increase in visa refusals, particularly the French Schengen visa.
According to data provided by Schengen Visa Info, Moroccans spent €33.8 million on Schengen visa applications last year, but only 57.5 percent of applicants received a “positive response.” Alarmingly, over 119,000 applicants had their visa requests denied, indicating that almost 30 percent of Moroccans seeking to enter the Schengen zone faced rejection.
