Thread: Mexico suspends diplomatic visa exemption for Canadians

Mexico suspends diplomatic visa exemption for Canadians

Mexico's foreign secretary has announced the suspension of a visa exemption for Canadian diplomats and officials working in the country. The decision comes in response to the announcement late Monday by the Canadian government that it was introducing a new visa for Mexican nationals wanting to travel to Canada.

Canadian officials and diplomats will now have to obtain visas before going to Mexico, but the new restrictions will not affect Canadian tourists. Mexico's tourist industry was severely hit by the H1N1 flu outbreak this year. Adding restrictions for travelers would only cause a further drop in visitors to the country.

The new measures were made public by Foreign Secretary Patricia Espinosa during a meeting with her Canadian counterpart, Lawrence Cannon, and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton in Guadalajara on Thursday.

"We have made it absolutely clear that we are not in agreement" with the Canadian decision, Espinosa said.

The Canadian government announced the visa restrictions only two days before they were due to come into effect. Since then, Mexico City's Canadian Embassy has been descended upon by thousands of Mexicans desperate to process the necessary visa paperwork before the departure of flights they've booked.

The embassy issued a statement Thursday that said on Tuesday and Wednesday more than 3,500 people applied for the visas, and that by the end of Wednesday 1,300 had been processed.

Watch the video to see the scene at the embassy.


-- Deborah Bonello in Mexico City

Video: The Canadian Embassy in Mexico City. Credit: Deborah Bonello
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/laplaza ... dians.html

Mexico suspends diplomatic visa exemption for Canadians

Mexico's foreign secretary has announced the suspension of a visa exemption for Canadian diplomats and officials working in the country. The decision comes in response to the announcement late Monday by the Canadian government that it was introducing a new visa for Mexican nationals wanting to travel to Canada.

Canadian officials and diplomats will now have to obtain visas before going to Mexico, but the new restrictions will not affect Canadian tourists. Mexico's tourist industry was severely hit by the H1N1 flu outbreak this year. Adding restrictions for travelers would only cause a further drop in visitors to the country.

The new measures were made public by Foreign Secretary Patricia Espinosa during a meeting with her Canadian counterpart, Lawrence Cannon, and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton in Guadalajara on Thursday.

"We have made it absolutely clear that we are not in agreement" with the Canadian decision, Espinosa said.

The Canadian government announced the visa restrictions only two days before they were due to come into effect. Since then, Mexico City's Canadian Embassy has been descended upon by thousands of Mexicans desperate to process the necessary visa paperwork before the departure of flights they've booked.

The embassy issued a statement Thursday that said on Tuesday and Wednesday more than 3,500 people applied for the visas, and that by the end of Wednesday 1,300 had been processed.

Watch the video to see the scene at the embassy.


-- Deborah Bonello in Mexico City

Video: The Canadian Embassy in Mexico City. Credit: Deborah Bonello
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/laplaza ... dians.html

oh no. What a terrible, terrible retaliation.

oh no. What a terrible, terrible retaliation.

Interesting

Possible Voting Tomorrow Busy Time Today , EVERYONE

Sotomayor could get Graham endorsement
http://www.alipac.us/ftopicp-926360.html#926360

Interesting

Possible Voting Tomorrow Busy Time Today , EVERYONE

Sotomayor could get Graham endorsement
http://www.alipac.us/ftopicp-926360.html#926360

If Canada starts protecting it's border against illegal aliens, from Mexico, I wonder if that will give any one in the U.S. political world the strength to do the same thing for America?

If Canada starts protecting it's border against illegal aliens, from Mexico, I wonder if that will give any one in the U.S. political world the strength to do the same thing for America?

Remember not too long ago Canadians gave up some of their gun rights. They cannot have a gun without it being registered

Possible Voting Tomorrow Busy Time Today , EVERYONE

Sotomayor could get Graham endorsement
http://www.alipac.us/ftopicp-926360.html#926360

Remember not too long ago Canadians gave up some of their gun rights. They cannot have a gun without it being registered

Possible Voting Tomorrow Busy Time Today , EVERYONE

Sotomayor could get Graham endorsement
http://www.alipac.us/ftopicp-926360.html#926360