Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Travel Forum

Hi! I'm Mexican and hoping to travel to Bosnia with my boyfriend (who is from there). I was irresponsible and didn't check with enough time for visa requirements, and it turns out I need one to go (my ticket is for travel in a little bit over three weeks). I am in the US studying, so I would need to go to Washington, D.C. Since I would be staying at my boyfriend's family house in Sarajevo, I was told I need a letter from a citizen over there. Some distant relative is trying to help us, but apparently the letter will take ten days to be issued, and I fear not getting it on time (the documents were submitted today, August 21st). I am seeking advice either from people that had to get their visa in DC (it would be helpful to know what their experience was), and if anybody has experience with getting that invitation letter going faster. The people whom I talked to in the embassy in DC were really friendly, but clearly stated that I cannot apply as a tourist. I would have to give them an invoice of payed hotel for the duration of the trip, and I guess now I've told them that I plan to stay at the family house, so I don't know if they would deny me a visa if I try to get a hotel room in case the letter doesn't make it on time. I would just hate to lose my ticket because my invitation letter will take 10 days to be issued! Any advice will be *greatly* appreciated.

I have only general advice.

In such circumstances letters and documents can often be sent either by FAX or e-post. There is also the possibility of express-registered mail. Also, many embassies can do the necessary paperwork extra quickly for a fee.

Some countries even have their own tourist agencies in foreign cities. In many cases they can fix ALL the papers one needs to visit their country, sometimes very quickly. This can include "immediate" reservations at a hotel (even cheap ones) and you wouldn't necessarily need to actually stay at the hotel. Of course you must pay for it. You don’t say what city you are in now. Did you check to see if Bosnia has such an agency near you?

Don’t give up hope just yet!

This is very strange! I found a Bosnia visa link for Mexican citizens (any citizens actually) living in just about any country except the U.S.! I wonder why?

http://bosnia-herzegovina.visahq.com/requirements/Mexico/resident-Sweden/

Try this link. They claim they can get you your visa “fast”.
https://www.e-passports.com/mod-cgi/research_request/us.cgi

Thanks for all your suggestions! I guess I will try the express mail option for the letter to get it on time. The people in the embassy in DC told me that they just need to get my documents with two or three working days in advance before my interview. They would call if something is missing, and I could get my visa the same day. So there is still hope! I am just nervous about not sending them my application with enough time (for example, my passport expires in 2009, 5 days before 6 months after the dat of the trip, although my US visa is good for far longer than that).
I checked and there is no Bosnian embassy in Mexico. I wonder what pilgrims going to Medjugorje do? They must travel to the US or somewhere in Europe to get their visas, I suppose.

Normally (but not always) the embassy people can help you quickly if they like you. ˇSiempre el mismo problema!

Hi! I thought bout giving a brief update. The letter from Bosnia has not arrived yet. It has been more than 10 days now, and my boyfriend's mom went to get it today (to the bureau of external affairs or whatever it is called) and she didn't get it yet (they were also really rude to her, it seems). I have been thinking about calling the embassy here and asking them if there is anything else I could do to get the visa if the letter doesn't get here on time (my ticket is for next week, in 12 days). I can try to see if they like me and let me get the visa without the letter, but my boyfriend just wants to change the tickets. Hopefully I will get to see Sarajevo!