BiH Foreigners Office Fines Unregistered Students from Sandžak

The Foreigners Office conducted a check of foreign students at universities in BiH and their status in BiH, the Bosnian news agency Patria (NAP) has learned.

The check revealed a large number of students from Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia who had not registered their residence in BiH, and they were fined amounts ranging from 300 to 1,500 KM, confirmed Ekrem Lekić, president of the Association of Citizens Originating from Sandžak, for the Bosnian news agency Patria.

- We spoke with the Foreigners Office and they were accommodating to the students, and no one was issued a deportation order from BiH. They will be allowed to finish the school year. Those who are here for the first time were only warned and will not face sanctions – said Lekić, adding that the Foreigners Office was more than fair.

On the other hand, several students from the Faculty of Forestry and the Faculty of Dentistry, who are citizens of Serbia or Montenegro, contacted our editorial office expressing outrage over the fines imposed, stating they suspect checks are not being conducted in all parts of BiH.

However, Lekić says the students themselves are to blame. He also stated that Turkish nationals studying in BiH are properly registered, meaning they are disciplined.

- Essentially, the children are partly to blame, because there are students who have been here for three or four years and do not register. No one will be harmed to the point of losing a year. But, at the beginning of the school year, students are obliged to pay 300 KM as a fee for staying in BiH. That is a legal obligation – Lekić states.

He also noted that it concerns about 70 students, but there is a larger number of those who register regularly.

- All faculties are under control. A notice was posted on bulletin boards at faculties in April for students to register. They had a 30-day deadline for registration, and the faculties did what they were obliged to do – said Lekić, noting that there are more students from Croatia without proper registration than those originating from Sandžak (Montenegro and Serbia).

He added that the Association, together with the Embassy of Montenegro, is trying to find some relief for students from Sandžak because, due to their status, they cannot stay in student dormitories.

From the Foreigners Office, they stated that checks are conducted at all faculties in BiH, and more information will be announced on Monday, writes Patria.