Family’s Morocco Trip Canceled Due to Passport Delay, Man Plans Legal Action Against French Government

"We were supposed to take the Perpignan-Marrakech flight this Tuesday, August 2 to go to Morocco to celebrate the birth of our daughter Jade with the family, explains Alain Chomel to La Dépêche du Midi. But Inès, my wife’s daughter’s passport, has still not arrived. It has been at the national printing office since July 25 and the manufacturing time is 10 to 15 days. We will have to cancel our trip and our party..."

On June 9, he had filed a passport renewal application at the civil status service in Castelnaudary. The file is complete and follows the normal procedure. But a separation/alternating custody certificate for Inès will be requested by the CERT. The Castelnaudary town hall does not inform the parents of the daughter. Without an appointment to pick up the passport, Alain Chomel contacts the Chaurian services. They inform him of the situation. He manages to provide them with the missing document as soon as possible. But the passport printing is delayed at the national printing office.

"How is it possible that with increasingly computerized procedures, waiting times are longer? It appears today that the State is not able to provide the service concerned while the fees remain high," fumes the Carcassonnais in anger. He is forced to cancel the vacation in Morocco. In addition to moral prejudice, he will also suffer significant financial prejudice. He will not get a refund for the plane tickets or the expenses incurred in Morocco for the three-week vacation and the party, estimated at just over 5,000 euros. Alain Chomel does not intend to let it go. "I’m going to sue the state," he says.