I overstayed my tourist visa, SOS!!!!
Remember when we were supposed to go to Germany in July 2016 well we were stopped at border control in Marrakech because I overstayed my tourist visa by 20 days. In Morocco, if you overstay your visa you CANNOT leave till you fix your immigration status. Well, I'm finally fixing my visa because we leave next month for Senegal and I already booked the tickets. I have outlined below step by step on how to fix your tourist visa in Morocco.
Here is step by step what you need to do to fix your tourist visa which is generally 90 days.
Day 1: Go to Prefecture de Police de Marrakech to schedule an appointment for court. Take your passport with 1 copy of your passport. The police clerk will give you a time and day to return to give your official statement on why you overstayed your visa. *Phones are not allowed inside make sure you bring ID to leave with your phone at the front desk and yes it is chaotic & the front desk will give you a badge to go inside.
Here is step by step what you need to do to fix your tourist visa which is generally 90 days.
Day 1: Go to Prefecture de Police de Marrakech to schedule an appointment for court. Take your passport with 1 copy of your passport. The police clerk will give you a time and day to return to give your official statement on why you overstayed your visa. *Phones are not allowed inside make sure you bring ID to leave with your phone at the front desk and yes it is chaotic & the front desk will give you a badge to go inside.
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| Police station |
Day 2: Go back to Prefecture de Police de Marrakech and give a statement as to why you overstayed your visa and the clerk will draw up court papers in French that has your official statement and she/he will print 5 copies and you will need to sign all 5 copies. Also if you have children have the clerk note in the briefing your children so they included just in case policy change on a visa for children in Morocco. In Morocco, visa's are not required for children but on the safe side have police clerk note in paperwork. Once the information is gathered the clerk will give you a date to return for your case with the tribunal.
Day 3: The police clerk will escort you to the booking agent in the precinct and assign a case to you so you can see the judge. You will wait in the holding area of the jail till they process your paperwork. While I was being processed it was chaotic because yes it's a jail & people are trying to get a court date. I advise you arrive at least 20-30 minutes early so you can see the clerk as soon as she/he arrives. The police clerk will tell you what time to go to Tribunal which she gave me 3 p.m. Block out 3-4 hours to see the judge, also this time slot they have a prayer so be prepared to wait outside during prayer while they close courthouse. Once your name is called the Judge will ask your mother & fathers name and you have to state that your illegal immigrant in Morocco and if you understand which for me I didn't because they only speak French/Arabic. Then the Judge gives his judgment and tells you to pay 1000 dirham fine.
Day 4: Go back to Tribunal and pay the 1000 dirham fine at the cashier and make sure you get documentations you paid.
Day ?: Okay, now you're almost done. Now you have paid you will need to go back to police station 4-5 business days before your trip so they can fax to all border controls permission to travel outside Morocco.
This process total takes about 2 weeks so allow plenty time between your travels and going through this process above. This process has taught me that leaving every 90 days/visa runs is SO much easier than fixing expired tourist Visa lol.
Happy travels my friends and remember to smile and the world smile back!
XOXO
Rea
Update:
Breakdown of cost
1000 dh - Fine
100 dh - Court fee
3 dh - cost to copy court papers (need 3 copies)
20 dh - cost of timbre ( 2 stamps per court paper)
Day 3: The police clerk will escort you to the booking agent in the precinct and assign a case to you so you can see the judge. You will wait in the holding area of the jail till they process your paperwork. While I was being processed it was chaotic because yes it's a jail & people are trying to get a court date. I advise you arrive at least 20-30 minutes early so you can see the clerk as soon as she/he arrives. The police clerk will tell you what time to go to Tribunal which she gave me 3 p.m. Block out 3-4 hours to see the judge, also this time slot they have a prayer so be prepared to wait outside during prayer while they close courthouse. Once your name is called the Judge will ask your mother & fathers name and you have to state that your illegal immigrant in Morocco and if you understand which for me I didn't because they only speak French/Arabic. Then the Judge gives his judgment and tells you to pay 1000 dirham fine.
Day 4: Go back to Tribunal and pay the 1000 dirham fine at the cashier and make sure you get documentations you paid.
Day ?: Okay, now you're almost done. Now you have paid you will need to go back to police station 4-5 business days before your trip so they can fax to all border controls permission to travel outside Morocco.
This process total takes about 2 weeks so allow plenty time between your travels and going through this process above. This process has taught me that leaving every 90 days/visa runs is SO much easier than fixing expired tourist Visa lol.
Happy travels my friends and remember to smile and the world smile back!
XOXO
Rea
Update:
Breakdown of cost
1000 dh - Fine
100 dh - Court fee
3 dh - cost to copy court papers (need 3 copies)
20 dh - cost of timbre ( 2 stamps per court paper)
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