Belgium authorities to regularize the situation of thousands of Algerians

Belgium authorities announced the regularization of thousands of Algerian illegal immigrants living on its soil.

•  The decision is the outcome of a year and half of heated negotiations between the government and the parliament. The first phase of the regularization process will tackle the most urgent cases.
• Several Algerian illegal immigrants living there for years have called on the Algerian embassy and other consulates to help them grasp the new procedures announced by the Belgium authorities to settle their cases.
• The governmental committee that comprised several ministries has resorted last week to regularize the situation of dozens of thousands of Algerian illegal immigrants, provided that these immigrants meet a series of requirements essential for their regularization.
• Under this law, Algerians who dwelled more than five years on the Belgium soil are illegible for regularization, the same for those who asked for regularization prior to March, 18 2008 but have to prove that their “ social, business and sentimental affairs are in  Belgium”.