Moroccan Student’s Residence Permit Renewal Delayed, Jeopardizing Job Opportunity

The young man decided to continue his studies in 2020, after the company he was working for was severely affected by the health crisis. "I want to do a Master’s degree in Production Management, Logistics, Purchasing," says Houssman Boukhari, who has been waiting for more than two months for the renewal of his "employee" residence permit, which expired on September 30, to join the Air Liquide company in Hauconcourt, reports the Est Républicain.

"I made my first request on August 25 to the prefecture of Meurthe-et-Moselle, to the Directorate of Citizenship and Local Action of the Immigration and Integration Service. Without response," he laments, adding that on October 1, he received a letter in which he is asked to provide the apprenticeship contract "to be validated by the Competence Operator within fifteen days", failing which, his request will be "closed without further action". In less than two hours, Houssam Boukhari made the necessary arrangements and sent the document back.

Then, radio silence. The young man has not received any more responses. "I am totally helpless. I have sent four more messages, but no one is answering me. I have always been very respectful. I have never had any problems," says the young man, who finds himself without means to provide for the needs of his brother who remained in Morocco where he is studying journalism. Because of this situation, his brother "could not start his third year," he confides.

For its part, the prefecture claims not to be aware of this situation. It asked Houssam to resubmit all the documents. Which he did. But for the time being, the young man still has not obtained his "employee" residence permit.