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Migrant Service Centre

Migration from and through BiH and other South Eastern European countries is one of the highest and fastest growing flows to the European Union. More and more BiH citizens migrate to the EU in search of employment and other opportunities, and at the same time BiH nationals who have been residing in the EU are considering returning to their homes of origin.

Information on the legal ways to migrate to and from the EU is not easily accessible, and EU embassies and consular offices are under heavy pressure to meet the high demand for information and visa applications. Without access to information on how to migrate legally, some BiH citizens resort to irregular migration, such as smuggling or human trafficking. Smugglers and traffickers often take advantage of their victims’ poor knowledge of migration procedures to move them illegally across borders at a high price using dangerous and risky methods. Irregular migration is also a concern for EU member countries and its prevention is a condition for BiH’s greater integration with the EU.

The Migrant Service Centre

With funding from the European Union, the Migrant Service Centre (MSC) prevents irregular migration by providing information on legal opportunities to migrate to and return from the EU. The BiH MSC is part of a regional network of MSCs in Albania, Serbia & Montenegro, Kosovo Province, Macedonia and Croatia.

The MSC assists migrants obtain information on visiting, studying and working in the EU. The MSC distributes information materials on migration to the 25 EU states, which are also available on the MSC website. The MSC also provides daily counselling services on migration procedures and requirements, and refers migrants to the appropriate authorities and agencies for language tests, medical examinations, cultural orientation, and recognition of education qualifications, when possible.

The MSC assists migrants obtain information on return and reintegration opportunities in BiH and other SEE countries. The MSC provides information materials and counselling services to refugees, displaced persons, asylum seekers, voluntary migrants and irregular migrants who wish to return and reintegrate to their homes of origin in BiH or other SEE countries. The MSC refers returnees to local government authorities and NGOs delivering social welfare services and employment assistance. The MSC also distributes information materials at border points on the dangers of irregular migration and the services available to return and reintegrate to their countries of origin.

IOM supports EU embassies or consular offices to process visa applications from BiH citizens. According to the service needs of each EU member country, the MSC may assists BiH citizens with the completion of visa applications, including translation, document verification and referrals to relevant authorities. The MSC may also be a contact point and service provider for EU countries that do not have an embassy or consular office in BiH.

IOM collects data to better respond to migrants’ needs and to assist governments to better manage migration flows. MSC clients are requested to fill out an anonymous questionnaire, including their age, education, socio-economic background and previous migration experience, which is used to determine the profile of likely migrants and understand the national and regional patterns of migration. This data helps IOM better meet the migration information needs of BiH citizens and assists governments develop migration management policies. IOM also collects information on visa applicants to enable EU embassies or consular offices determine their required level of service to meet the demand from BiH citizens.

DONORS:

The European Commission

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