After the cost of stamping and signing, regardless of the reasons, was $30, it rose to $45, according to what a Lebanese student at a European university confirmed to Sky News Arabia.
In light of the wave of immigration that has pervaded Lebanon for nearly two years, which was described as the “third wave of emigration,” the Lebanese official authorities began implementing their decisions by doubling the fees, commissions and allowances received by Lebanese embassies and consulates in the countries of the world equally with the Lebanese expatriates.
These measures are accompanied by a massive migration of young people to any destination available in order to earn a living, as private sources in a Lebanese embassies in Africa confirmed to “Sky News Arabia” that there is a noticeable increase in the movement of newly arrived Lebanese to African countries.
Recently, the Lebanese state issued a decision to raise transaction fees in embassies and consulates by double, in return for strictness in expenditures and the exchange mechanism in general.
The source believes that it is not possible to deal with Lebanese students abroad unlike the rest of the Lebanese residing abroad, unless a clear circular is issued regarding them that would exempt them from some of the costs and burdens related to embassies and consulates.
Another source stated that “the mechanism is based on the embassy or consulate deducting its budget from the financial revenues received.”
The Lebanese Maryam, from Kuwait, said: “Renewing the passport is now breaking the back, especially for a family of 8 people.”
On the ground, the cries of the families of students studying outside Lebanon and the complaints extended to the embassies not interfering to help their children in expatriate countries.
In an exclusive interview with “Sky News Arabia,” Faryal said, “We and the children have been suffering since the beginning of transfers from Lebanon in foreign currency.”
She added, “My daughter works in the summer in a Paris restaurant in the summer to secure university expenses.”
Faryal complained that “embassies in Europe do not follow up on students, as if the matter did not concern them, whether from near or far, and here is the problem because Lebanese embassies do not communicate with students and the imposed fees have become high.”
“Traveling to Lebanon has become a reasonable option to renew the passport instead of renewing it at the embassies,” she added.
The student dollar has not been applied
George Haddad, the father of a Lebanese student studying in Italy, explained: “I could not transfer a sum of dollars to my son two months ago, so I relied on a Lebanese friend who works in medicine there and paid the amount to his family here in Lebanon.”
Hanadi said: “My daughter worked as a waitress in a restaurant in the suburbs of Paris for two months and collected 3,000 euros to pay for university in Paris.”
She added, “All Lebanese students work either in restaurants or in supermarkets, and there is no communication between them and their embassies, especially after the high cost of completing transactions.”
And she added, “It is certain that graduation will be delayed for everyone, as students study one semester and stop for another so that they can continue their education.”
Criminal record
Student Ahmed asks, “Is it fair that the cost of the criminal record in Lebanon amounts to 2000 Lebanese pounds for the price of stamps, while its cost at the consulate is 30 dollars, which is paid by the students, from money transferred from their families in Lebanon?”
He added, “The cost of renewing a passport for one year is $60, down from $40, and the diploma stamp costs $45. Obtaining a criminal record costs $40.”
He continued, “How can a Lebanese student working in parallel with his studies in a restaurant or as a salesman in a bookstore in order to secure the cost of his housing and living expenses, bear the burdens of transactions and endorsements that exacerbate the burdens on him?”
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