Corona Virus Pandemic Hinders Reunification Of Algerian Families In France

Dozens of Algerians residing in France are demanding that their families obtain family reunification visas, after they have long waited for the response of the French consulate in Algeria.

An Algerian resident in France said, in a statement to “Echorouk Online”, that “the suffering of the Algerians has been going on for several months without finding its way to a solution because of the intransigence of the French side, which prevented them from obtaining visas and residency to reunite their families in France”.

He explained that “the French consulate in Algeria practices discrimination against requests for family unification, as the Algerian resident in France, after having fulfilled a set of conditions such as housing, work and residency in a legal way, applies for family unification to the French authorities, which in turn conduct an in-depth study of his file and after obtaining the approval to request a family reunification visa from the French consulate in Algeria.

Our interlocutor adds that the current problem is that “after the Corona virus pandemic, we were surprised that the consulate did not grant approval to any student for family unification, which means that we are prohibited from traveling to Algeria and our families are prohibited from coming to us”.

He stated that the Algerians repeatedly wrote to the French consulate, which only answered them with patience and wait.

He said: “We were surprised that the consulate gives visas for the unification of its subjects, that is, if the French requests to be reunited with an Algerian residing in Algeria, a visa is given to him. As for us residing in France in a legal way, we work in France and we actually have the approval of the French authorities.

He asked about the fate of 300 Algerians suffering from the same problem: “Does Corona virus pandemic only affect the Algerian family that wants to join its breadwinner in France if he does not have a French nationality?”, Adding, “We are suffering because we have not seen family, wife and children for 6 months …”.

Our interlocutor was surprised that “everyone who has a type D visa can enter Europe, and this is what happens with Algerian students who, after receiving a visa, travel to France through special flights.

He criticized the failure of the Algerian consulates in France and their inability to find a solution to the problem that they stumble upon, as the latter are satisfied with issuing birth certificates and renewing passports only, as he put it.