Although there are just over two months left until the start of the World Cup, the fact that this championship is being held on another continent requires a greater amount of preparation, and for individuals holding a Bosnian-Herzegovinian passport, that preparation begins with obtaining visas.
Since our country is not part of the European Union, citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina need a visa to enter all three host countries.
The Dragons will play their first match on June 12 in Toronto against the host team Canada, and individuals with a Bosnian passport must obtain a visa to enter this country. It costs 100 Canadian dollars, or 121 BAM, and is valid for up to 10 years for multiple entries. Additionally, individuals who receive a Canadian visa can stay in the country for up to six months.
The Canadian immigration agency emphasized that it is still possible for a person applying for a visa for the World Cup to be rejected, even if they have a valid match ticket for the World Cup.
Although the Dragons will begin their World Cup journey in Canada, the next two matches will be played in the USA. Our team will play against Switzerland on June 18 in Inglewood (near Los Angeles) and against Qatar on June 24 in Seattle.
As already stated in the announcement by the U.S. Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina, citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina who hold only a passport from our country must apply for a B1/B2 visa to legally enter America and follow the Dragons.
This visa, like the Canadian one, is issued for a period of up to 10 years, and the price has not yet been fully determined. What any applicant will have to pay is an amount of 185 dollars, or 315 BAM, but there is also a "visa integrity fee."
This system was announced several months ago, although it has not yet been implemented, and the goal is to prevent fraud, meaning that individuals who receive a visa for tourist stays do not remain illegally in the USA.
If the system is implemented by the start of the World Cup, citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in addition to the 185 dollars they must pay, will additionally pay 250 dollars, or 423 BAM, although this fee can be refunded if the person who receives the visa leaves the USA within the legal period.
A relieving circumstance for citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina could be the so-called "FIFA PASS" system, which will allow all individuals applying for visas who have a valid World Cup match ticket purchased directly from FIFA's website to "skip the line" for obtaining an interview appointment, which is a necessary step before receiving the visa.
However, it is worth noting that applicants who are denied a visa will not receive a refund of the 185 dollars, which is a mandatory fee that every applicant must pay.
In case the Dragons advance further, there is a chance they will also play a match in Mexico, the third host country of this World Cup.
Fortunately, all individuals with a valid U.S. visa do not need to obtain a special visa to enter Mexico, so in case the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team plays a match in this country as well, everyone who followed our team in America will be able to do the same a bit further south.