Okay guys, let’s talk about getting that Morocco visa sorted. Feels like jumping through hoops sometimes, right? Just went through it myself for an upcoming trip, total headache. Here’s the messy reality.
Step 1: Freaking Out About Paperwork
First, I panicked. Seriously. Saw all these forums talking about requirements and thought “Okay, passport photo, obviously. But what else? Proof of flight? Hotel booking? Bank stuff?”. Felt overwhelmed. Woke up at 3 AM, grabbed my laptop, and started searching “Morocco visa UK” like a madman. Found the official visa application portal after clicking like ten different links – super clunky site, felt old.
Step 2: Downloading The Wrong Forms (Twice!)
Yeah, classic me. The official page listed different forms based on why you’re going. Tourist? Business? Visit family? Scrolled too fast, downloaded the family visit form first. Realized it later when it asked for my “Moroccan relative’s ID card number”. Nope! Deleted it. Grabbed the tourist form. Printed it out… only to realize my printer ink was almost gone. Sections were faded. Printed it again. Already wasting paper.
Step 3: The Photo Drama
Took a selfie against my white bedroom wall. Thought “This looks fine!”. Huge mistake. The requirements were stupidly specific: exact head size, no smiles, neutral expression, pure white background. My wall had shadows! Went to a local chemist – picture booth looked like it hadn’t been cleaned since 1995. Got mugshot-style photos taken. Look awful, but hey, they passed.
Step 4: Bank Balance Anxiety
The proof of funds thing stressed me out. How much is enough? Scoured forums. Saw numbers like £600, £1000, all different. Ended up going to my bank, requested a stamped statement showing a decent balance. Felt super vulnerable handing that over. Photocopied it twice just in case.
Step 5: Flight & Hotel Booking Panic
Here’s the catch-22: Do you book flights/hotels BEFORE you have the visa? Risky! Or AFTER? Could get expensive! Found a travel agency online that does “visa friendly” bookings – basically dummy bookings you pay a little fee for that you can cancel if the visa gets rejected. Felt shady, but it worked. Printed the confirmation.
Step 6: Filling Out That Damn Form
Sat down with coffee, ready to conquer the form. Got stuck on question 3. No joke. Misread the address part completely. Had to use correction fluid (yes, fluid!) because I wrote my parents’ old address. Messy. Double, triple-checked every single box. Signed in blue ink like they demanded. By the end, my signature looked shaky.
Step 7: The Embassy Run & Waiting Game
Took the tube to the visa application centre. Queued outside. Security guy checked my documents. Appointment confirmation letter had a tiny crease – he raised an eyebrow! Made me feel guilty. Handed over my stack: form, photos, passport, bank docs, bookings. Paid the fee. They gave me a receipt with a tracking number. Felt simultaneously relieved and terrified. “Processing time 15 working days” it said. The longest 15 days ever. Kept checking the online tracker every single morning like it was my job.
Step 8: Visa In Hand (Finally!)
Got an email saying my passport was ready. Rushed back to the centre. Clutching the receipt. Heart pounding. Handed over the paper. The lady went out back, came back with my passport… flipped it open. Saw the visa sticker! Almost hugged her. Checked every detail on it – dates, spelling. Perfect! Walked out feeling like I’d won a marathon.
My Big Takeaways?
- Start Way Earlier Than You Think: Seriously. Add at least 2 weeks buffer to whatever the processing time says.
- Read Every Requirement Twice: Miss one tiny detail? Potential disaster.
- Go Official, Avoid Third Parties: Found cheaper agents but chickened out. Didn’t want them messing up my passport.
- Budget for Extra Costs: Photos, travel, dummy bookings, copies… it adds up fast.
- Stay Calm (But Freak Out Quietly): It’s stressful. Accept it. Breathe.
Was it smooth? Heck no. Was it worth it? Seeing the sticker? Absolutely. Just glad it’s done. Now onto packing!
