Moroccans Protest Schengen Visa Appointment Scalpers at Spanish Consulate

Dozens of Moroccans gathered on Monday, August 19, in front of the Spanish consulate in Casablanca, to protest against the growing phenomenon of illegal intermediaries in obtaining Schengen visa appointments. According to the testimonies of many of them, the intermediaries demand sums ranging from 300 to 1000 dirhams to book appointments for tourist visas, and 30,000 dirhams for family reunification visas. Sums that are out of their reach.

A participant recounts having been the victim of blackmail by the intermediaries who asked her to pay 30,000 dirhams just to get a family reunification visa appointment. Obtaining an appointment has become an unrealizable dream, due to the control of these intermediaries over the online appointment system, she told Aljarida24. Another protester adds: "this situation particularly harms students and holders of employment contracts who struggle to obtain appointments in a timely manner". Moreover, this blackmail tarnishes the image of Morocco, he adds.

Due to the persistence of this phenomenon, Moroccans call on the Moroccan government to intervene and find radical solutions to this crisis that compromises their hopes of traveling, joining their families or realizing their academic and professional ambitions in Europe.