Bill complicates non-EU visas

Planned changes that would significantly transform the visa application process for non-EU nationals are under fire from a number of NGOs that work with immigrants.

Under a new law proposed by the Interior Ministry and now before Parliament, non-EU citizens applying for either temporary work permits or permanent visas would no longer be allowed to file their application through an intermediary. Instead, they would be required to hand in any paperwork in person - without exception.

Experts from NGOs across the immigrant sector say the new law, which is meant to crack down on an industry of middlemen capitalizing on vulnerable foreigners by charging extravagant amounts of money to handle visa applications, will lead to even longer lines at already overwhelmed Foreigners Police locations, where such applications are processed.

"The new requirement to apply for a visa in person is meant to cut down on these so-called mobster middlemen," said Pavla Redlová of NGO People in Need. "But whether this step will help is questionable, and making it impossible for people to at least file their initial application via e-mail, post or through an agency will most likely put a strain on the already very busy Foreigners Police officers."

Another big concern of NGOs is that the law is too general, and by not taking individual situations into account, it could create an increase in foreigners who find themselves staying in the Czech Republic illegally.

"If you don't allow any exceptions, you make it impossible for a foreigner who cannot physically go to the foreign police - for example, due to being hospitalized - to handle their business in a timely fashion and prevent their status from becoming illegal," said Kristýna Andrlová of the Initiative for the Rights of Immigrants.

If approved, the proposed change would come into effect Jan. 1, 2011, along with a series of other reforms to the system, including mandated biometric data on visas and a corresponding increase in fees.

Helping or hurting?

Tomáš Haišman, head of the Interior Ministry's Asylum and Migration Department, said the concerns of the NGOs are unfounded and that the new law is meant to help non-EU nationals rather than create more obstacles.

"There are a number of middlemen in the Czech Republic who are very problematic, and this is the single most important issue in the whole visa application system," Haišman said. "We think the simplest way is direct communication between the authorities and the foreigner. We believe this personal contact is important."

On the issue of Foreigners Police units not being prepared to handle an influx of in-person applications, Haišman points out that the problem is not a national one.

"The problem of the long lines is a Prague-centric problem, because about 50 percent of all foreign nationals who reside in the Czech Republic reside in Prague, whereas only about 13 percent of all Foreigners Police officers work in Prague," he said.

NGOs are now pleading for a better solution to the problem, and have sent suggestions to the Interior Ministry.

"What we really need is a new system, a transparent and easy-to-understand process that does not feature any unnecessary obstacles and would thereby cut out the need for middlemen," Redlová said.

Sarah Borufka can be reached at
sborufka@praguepost.com