My Morocco Visa Disaster Story
So I figured applying for a Morocco visa would be straightforward. Boy, was I stupid. Let me walk you through the glorious mess I created and how you can avoid it.
First try got totally wrecked. Grabbed the embassy checklist online, thought I nailed it. Showed up feeling smug. The dude at the counter flipped through my papers like it was garbage mail. “Photo wrong size,” he grunted. “Hotel booking missing dates.” My flight itinerary? Printed sideways apparently. Rejected faster than expired milk. Felt like an absolute clown walking out.
Round two involved serious begging. Called my bank five times just to get their damn stamp on a bank statement. Ran around town hunting passport photos exactly 35x45mm – drugstore guy looked at me like I spoke Martian. Printed every single hotel confirmation twice because I just knew they’d lose it. Even paid extra for “certified” photocopies of my passport bio page. More cash gone.
Then came the queue nightmare. Arrived at the consulate two hours before opening. Still landed behind thirty people. Security guy yelled “NO PHONES” and made three people leave. Halfway through, three windows just… closed. No explanation. My legs went numb. Saw a guy try arguing about his missing insurance document – they tossed his whole file out. Cold.
Payment almost sunk me. Finally got to the cashier window soaking in sweat. “Cash only,” the lady snapped. Exact change ONLY.” Had a 50, needed 47 bucks. Had to sprint three blocks in the burning heat to break my bill at some overpriced juice shop. Came back panting, convinced they’d make me start over.
The awful waiting game. They said “10 business days.” Took 17. Every morning checking my junk email folder. Called once – got hung up on twice. Legit thought my passport got lost in a ditch somewhere.
What actually saved my hide:
- Photocopied my passport bio page SIX times before walking in. Used three different machines until it looked perfect.
- Glued my photo to the form with actual glue stick because the tape peeled off last time.
- Highlighted my name and dates on EVERY document like a psycho with a yellow marker.
- Paid some sketchy “helpful” agent outside 20 bucks to triple-check my papers before lining up. Worth every cent.
Epic final insult: Got the visa… they misspelled my middle name. Too scared to complain after that circus. Just booked flights praying border control won’t care about one lousy letter. Total cost? Double what I budgeted. Time wasted? Probably a full work week. Hope you learn from my faceplants!
