Canadian Embassy in Prague sees average of 53 asylum seekers per month

The Canadian Embassy in Prague has reported a slight rise in the number of Czechs who have applied for asylum since visa requirements were lifted last year. The embassy’s spokeswoman revealed on Friday that an average of 53 people per month applied between last November and March, rising to 60 from April to June of this year. A high number of applications could force Canada to reassess visa-free relations with the Czech Republic, although the embassy stressed no such move was planned yet. Canada dropped visa requirements for Czechs last October and has made it known that if the number of those seeking asylum exceeded 580 cases this year (roughly 2 percent of all applications received by Canada) the country would reintroduce visa requirements. So far 267 Czechs, mostly ethnic Roma, have put forward applications.