NP Rank:
Mexicans, Czechs will need visas to visit Canada
Visas will be required for travelers entering Canada from the Czech Republic and Mexico. Canada has slapped visa requirements on travelers from Mexico and the Czech Republic.
A surge in refuge claims from these two countries has been quoted as the reason. The requirement for visas is effective 12:01 am Eastern Time. For the first 48 hours travelers from those countries can apply for entry on arrival. After 11:59 pm Wednesday visas will be required.
Statistics show that Mexico is the No.1 refugee claimant, tripling to 9400 since 2005. This figure represents 1/4 of all claims made.
The Czech Republic ranks second with nearly 3000 refugee claims since October 2007 when visa requirements were lifted. This compares to fewer than five claims in 2006.
Mexico says it regrets the action by Canada and has taken no other action to this point. The Czech Republic has recalled its ambassador and is threatening to take the matter up with the EU to request a visa requirement for Canadians traveling to EU countries.
Canada has slapped visa requirements on citizens of Mexico and the Czech Republic, citing a huge surge in refugee claims by visitors from those countries.
The change takes effect at 12:01 a.m. ET on Tuesday. For the first 48 hours, Mexicans and Czechs will be able to apply for entry on arrival in Canada. However, after 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, they must have a visa.
Mexico is now the No. 1 source of refugee claims, with the number almost tripling to more than 9,400 since 2005, the immigration department said in a release Monday. The figure represents one-quarter of all claims made.
The Czech Republic ranks second with nearly 3,000 refugee claims filed since the visa requirement for visitors from that country was lifted in October 2007. That compares with fewer than five claims in 2006, the department said.
Most Recommended Comment
Crowd Power
-
patgarcia
La Paz, Mexico -
albertacowpoke
Canada
Recommendations (65)
-
Roy C
Vancouver, Washington, United States -
marianmo
Mission, Canada -
Paschen
Narita, Chiba, Japan -
Babel-Fish
Negros Oriental, Philippines -
patgarcia
La Paz, Mexico
-
huneds
London, United Kingdom -
Barry Artiste
Vancouver, Canada -
Amy Judd
Vancouver, Canada -
Rory Cripps
New Port Richey, Florida, United States -
Tina Kells
Vancouver, Canada







Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (27)
at 05:44 on July 14th, 2009
Mexican will need a Visa now? What happened to North America Free trade?
I would have recalled my Ambassador as well was I the Czech Government.
Maybe it is time for the EU to ask Canadian for a VISA as well.
at 05:30 on July 14th, 2009
Its okay we will allow Canadians into UK without visa, but bring a bottle of Canadian Club, lol
I really can not see the Czech republic persuading EU on this matter, however recalling its ambassador will cause more problems to Czech's tourist or businessmen if they lose their passports etc. I notice they have not asked the Canadian ambassador to leave there country or asked Canada to stop its aid, lol
at 17:44 on July 14th, 2009
Wow... I have to say this took me by surprise.
at 21:23 on July 14th, 2009
good story Cowpoke, apparently China's visa requirements are not as stringent and not tougher when it comes to background criminal checks, thus not on the hit list, though their massive crime syndicates are rampant through BC and other Canadian cities, not to mention asian human smuggling rings into our country and cross border drug smuggling is at an all time high this decade. Perhaps it has something to do with votes for slack jaw Canadian politicians and that Asian investment runs the US economy since they hold the majority of Treasury bonds to the tune of a Gazillion dollars. Certainly do not want to piss off our neighbours now do we?
at 08:53 on July 17th, 2009
The disease that is illegal immigration will infect every once prosperous and clean community across this nation if we the people do not speak out. We must direct our soul-less political leaders and demand protection against this invasion..
I know I come to USA fron Argentina 30 years ago and I saw first hand the devastationof the masive influx of people in both countries ,ARG/USA .
This has gone far enough, too far in fact! Mexico has been at war with the United States for some time, and we need to recognize that fact. They have invaded us with over ten million foot soldiers (illegal trespassers), countless special forces (drug dealers); and they have attacked our language, schools, medical facilities and social services. They have repeatedly tried to get the United Nations to disarm our citizens to make them prey for their drug cabals as citizens of Mexico are.
at 11:59 on July 21st, 2009
In response to your non sense comment attacking Mexican citizens and trying to create a stereotype on them, look whoever you are, first of do you have any idea on the history behind the USA and Mexico? maybe u might wanna check into that before writing anything about Mexico on this subject. if anything u might be right on one thing, yes we have Mexican soldiers u are right! and u know where they are fighting? let me tell you, they are fighting on the front lines of the US military in Iraq protecting your very ignorant individual and the rest of all Americans as well
so far i haven't met not one Argentinian or person from Argentinian descent that have to guts to enroll in the military and fight for this great country (USA) obviously i do not want to generalize but those are the facts, another thing is that most of the latino community leaders in the USA are Mexican or from Mexican descent and I have to say that most of them have earned the respect of the goverment and others American leaders by making the difference in a positive way on their respective communities and so it irritates me that "YOU" try to put a label on my fellow Mexicans, one last thing for your information most of all of these public services u mentioned on your post are only elegible for United States Citizens so any person born in the USA wether they are Mexican, Spanish, Russian, Chinese descendants etc... are AMERICANS and for the same reason they have the right to those services. I just can't believe there is still ignorant close minded ppl like you.
at 05:39 on July 14th, 2009
this sucks cock
at 05:40 on July 14th, 2009
Maybe human trade does not include in that..!
at 05:47 on July 14th, 2009
Looks like human trade does not cover under North America free one..!
at 06:05 on July 14th, 2009
The paranoia regarding illegal Mexicans must now have reached the halls of the immigration minister. Amazing how they will all be employing cheap Mexican labour later on this summer to harvest their fruit and maple syrup.
Don't ask me for a VISA to visit EU or I.ll have to get a German passport lol.
at 07:04 on July 14th, 2009
Does anyone else notice that the passport in the photo is a Polish passport and not a passport from the Czech Republic? I declare photojournalism shenanigans.
at 07:07 on July 14th, 2009
Yes I knew that. That was the only picture available. Good eyes though
at 10:34 on July 14th, 2009
The Czechs only joined the EU in 2004, and now they want the whole of the EU to only let Canadians in with a visa??? The Czech's can refuse them in their own country, fair enough. Why are they going to Canada anyway, is Europe not good enough for them anymore?
at 10:39 on July 14th, 2009
It's about time they do that over here. Read this article dated back to 2007, and maybe you'll understand the issue http://www.immigrationwatchcanada.org/index.php?m...
Last year, 25% of refugee claimants (9400) were from Mexico, yet only 11% were accepted by Canada. Having been to Mexico city on several, I saw several adds from different agencies promising help applying for the refugee status in Canada. What they do? Sell a plane ticket, and tell them to ask for the refugee status once they're here, coach them on what to say (so basically lying). While it's being processed, they are provided food, shelter and money, all at the charge of the Canadian citizens. So much money lost over those bogus applicants while the people that are in real need of Canada's protection are the victims of all this. If visas will help, why not impose them. I understand the frustration for "legal" travelers or workers from Mexico and Czech Republic, but Canada is losing so much money with the refugee claims that something has to be done. Maybe looking at who's coming here and for what reason in the respective countries of departures would help. Canada has the right to protect itself against the high costs of dealing with illegal applications.
I'm a Canadian, born and raised here, and I sponsored my wife's immigration from Mexico back in 2006, and it took 18 months to get a response with no money, medicare to us, even if everything was legitimate (we're still together and have had 2 kids). When I look at the refugee system, there's injustice. It's not meant for an easy way in Canada, it's meant to get Canada's protection against situations that are too dangerous for one person.
at 10:41 on July 14th, 2009
It's about time they do that over here. Read this article dated back to 2007, and maybe you'll understand the issue http://www.immigrationwatchcanada.org/index.php?m...
Last year, 25% of refugee claimants (9400) were from Mexico, yet only 11% were accepted by Canada. Having been to Mexico city on several, I saw several adds from different agencies promising help applying for the refugee status in Canada. What they do? Sell a plane ticket, and tell them to ask for the refugee status once they're here, coach them on what to say (so basically lying). While it's being processed, they are provided food, shelter and money, all at the charge of the Canadian citizens. So much money lost over those bogus applicants while the people that are in real need of Canada's protection are the victims of all this. If visas will help, why not impose them. I understand the frustration for "legal" travelers or workers from Mexico and Czech Republic, but Canada is losing so much money with the refugee claims that something has to be done. Maybe looking at who's coming here and for what reason in the respective countries of departures would help. Canada has the right to protect itself against the high costs of dealing with illegal applications.
I'm a Canadian, born and raised here, and I sponsored my wife's immigration from Mexico back in 2006, and it took 18 months to get a response with no money, medicare to us, even if everything was legitimate (we're still together and have had 2 kids). When I look at the refugee system, there's injustice. It's not meant for an easy way in Canada, it's meant to get Canada's protection against situations that are too dangerous for one person.
at 14:44 on July 14th, 2009
Given the quote from Wikipedia (below), why are there so many refugees?
"The Czech Republic possesses a developed, high income economy. One of the most stable and prosperous of the post-Communist states, the Czech Republic has seen a growth of over 6% annually in the last three years. economy with a GDP per capita of 80% of the European Union average."
Quote From:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Czech_Republic
at 14:59 on July 14th, 2009
Source: cbc.ca
at 17:28 on July 14th, 2009
hey well i hope u understand this....PUTO!!!!!! said so because how can you say bullshit when u had the need of ur mexican wife to have legalize her status in canada, if you only new how bad i've been suffering here in mexico and when now that had the gut to leave and start new this shit happens, its fustereting and with ppl like you its even more...
at 18:36 on July 15th, 2009
Hey guys yes the news takes us by surprise in Mexico we never did expect a move like that one from Canada we always though Canada was pretty friendly with Mexican citizens, I do agree is a sovereign decision for Canada to take, there were some Mexicans taking advantage of a policy to protect people in real danger, those people should be punish, but this decision is pushing the whole country. I don't know if the Mexican government did receive any notification about this before to advice travelers taking precautions and request visa before their trips, lots of people bought their tickets and they will loose their money. Canada government could inform Mexicans citizens about the decision they were going to take so the people who is already over there and those wishing to travel could take decisions in advance, but Mexico was inform two days before the policy. 48 hours noticed.
at 14:56 on July 16th, 2009
Its very understanding that is not right many mexicans abuse of the sistem in canada, Im from cabo san lucas mexico and I had been many times in vancouver as a tourist and expent lots of money there cause i love canada, I also know that mexicans are trying to find other immigration routes than the US. However, i dont understand why many Canadians say thet we mexicans are like a virus? go to robson st in downtown, it is 80% asian !! and in the other hand only in cabo san lucas mexico if you take a tour inside any hotel you like you´ll find out that 3 ofr every 10 employees are canadian and american, make your numbers. and also, so dont treat them like shit like canadians or americand do with mexicans.
think about it.
at 03:21 on July 21st, 2009
I totally agree with you, about time the Canadian governement did something...
at 03:23 on July 21st, 2009
there's shit everywhere man, not just in mexico... about time they put u a VISA!
at 18:00 on July 28th, 2009
Hi, Efraín I agree with you. I also from Los Cabos. México. San José. I had plans to go to
Vancouver next month and unfortunately I had to cancel my trip
too bad!!!! but still I like Canadian People
at 06:06 on July 14th, 2009
That sounds like a good trade off Babel lol
at 19:18 on July 14th, 2009
Yes there was no indication anywhere that this would happen:) Hope it doesn.t bit us in the butt.
at 07:01 on September 17th, 2009
Not a problem at all.Is it so difficult to fill a form? and wait?
at 08:17 on September 29th, 2009
hhffjvvnnt viagra new product