Longtime Syrian students in Egypt now need visas

Syrian students, who have been studying in Egypt since before the war started in Syria, need to obtain visa to be allowed to return and study in Egypt, according to many Syrian students who spoke to Arab News.
Despite the fact that many Syrian students, whether from Saudi Arabia or other countries, prefer to continue their higher studies in Egypt, they are banned from returning to Egypt unless they obtain visa and security approval.
Initially most students thought that the new decision will involve only refugees, but after a while, they discovered that 55 Syrians arriving on a Middle East Airlines flight from Beirut and 39 others arriving on other airlines were also banned from entering Egypt unless they have visa and security approval.
Arab News spoke to some Syrian students who live in Saudi Arabia and Beirut, where they are concerned about their uncertain future.
Abdullah Hassan, a Syrian who used to live in Saudi Arabia, left to study in Egypt five years ago. He visited the Egyptian Consulate in Jeddah where he had been told to submit the required documents (his Saudi Iqama and copy of the passport) and wait for a month until he receives an answer.
“I found that many Syrian students were standing in the queue waiting to submit the documents,” said Abdullah. “My colleagues and I are very concerned about the issue, since the University result will be issued soon, and we may need to return soon to attend the summer courses.”
Sultan Al-Youssefi, a Syrian student, who lives in Riyadh left to study in Egypt two years ago. He confirmed that he is waiting for security approval and visa to continue his studies in Egypt.
“I found it difficult to study in the Kingdom’s private universities since I didn’t take the ‘aptitude test’ that enables me to study here. Therefore, I have no choice other than studying in Egypt,” he said.
He added: “I am feeling sorry for not obtaining the Egyptian residency ‘iqama’ just like my brother. My brother has got the Egyptian iqama and he can go to Egypt without being required to get a visa. He asked the Egyptian Consulate and they confirmed that he can go to Egypt any time since he has the Egyptian ID.”
Zaina Shwaifati, a Syrian student who has been living and studying in Cairo since 2010, confirmed that she traveled to Beirut last month urgently to take her certificate in English course and return to Egypt.
According to Zaina, even when she lived in Egypt before the war started in Syria, she is now unable to go to Egypt again.
“I left Damascus earlier in 2010 in order to enroll in an Egyptian University. In June 2013, I traveled to Beirut to get a TOFEL certificate. After I got the certificate I found out that I have to obtain a visa from the Egyptian Consulate in Damascus. When I went to Damascus I found the Egyptian Consulate closed,” she said.
She added: “I returned to the Egyptian Consulate in Beirut, where I have been told to wait one month before the consulate would start receiving the applications for visa.”