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Talking PointCzechs and their supporters looking into ways of attaining US visa waiver status
Why do Czechs need a visa to travel to the United States while US citizens
only need a passport to visit the Czech Republic? This is a question that
comes up again and again. The US authorities have two main answers: the
terrorist attacks of September 2001 have led to a stricter visa policy to
protect national security; secondly the number of Czechs who enter the
United States on a tourist visa to work there illegally is estimated at
tens of thousands and has to be regulated. Both arguments sound pretty
convincing, but some Czechs are not willing to give up without a fight and
are looking for ways of persuading the US authorities to lift the visa
requirement.
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Current AffairsForeign Minister pushing for tougher controls for visitors from Canada, Australia, U.S.
Back in November Czech Foreign Minister Cyril Svoboda first suggested that
the Czech Republic would invoke the EU's solidarity pact to pressure
states like Canada to drop visa restrictions for the Czech Republic as an
EU member. Now, the European Commission is reportedly weighing
negotiations with individual states to eventually drop visa restrictions.
But, Minister Svoboda has decided not to wait: on the domestic front at
the weekend he again turned up the pressure, indicating that if the
situation doesn't change, the Czech Republic would take additional steps.
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PanoramaKde Domov Muj? The Danacek deportation debacle
The Daneceks were for years a fairly normal Czech-American family, living
their lives, sending their kids to school and paying off their mortgage.
But three weeks ago the family's lives were turned upside-down, when -
after 15 years - they were deported from the United States. This expulsion
is the latest in a series of misfortunes to have struck the Daneceks, who
are now living in cramped temporary accommodation near Prague.
More
Current AffairsBureaucratic obstacles plague foreign residents
Prior to the revolution, foreigners were quite rare in this country. But
since 1989, immigration has risen significantly. That increase led to the
formation of the Committee for the Integration of Foreigners in 2000. It
aims to create long term legislation and practical measures for the
integration of foreigners. The committee recently had a special survey
conducted - and one thing is clear- the bureaucratic procedures involving
work and residency permits are a major obstacle for long term residents. More
