How to Get an Iranian Citizen to the USA
Iranian citizens wishing to come to the United States have various visa options --- tourist, work or student. Obtaining a U.S. visa for an Iranian citizen presents challenges as the two countries have no diplomatic relations, as of 2011. This means the United States does not operate a consulate or embassy in Tehran. Iranian citizens wishing to receive a U.S. visa must travel to Abu Dhabi for the interview portion of the application. Much of the visa process can be completed using the Internet.
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Things You'll Need
- Passport photo
- Printer
- Passport
- National identification card
- Original birth certificate
Instructions
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Determine which visa application --- DS-160 or DS-156 --- you will need to fill out. The DS-160 is for all travel by foreign nonimmigrants to the United States. The DS-156 form is for individuals who are related to a U.S. citizen or those who are victims of human trafficking or criminal activity. Those wishing to study in the United States must also complete the I-20 form for an F-1 visa. Those intending to work, must be sponsored by a U.S. business or international company with offices in United States. At the end of the online application, a barcode page must be printed and brought to the in-person interview at your selected U.S. embassy or consulate.
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Make an appointment at a U.S. embassy or consulate. Visa processing centers for Iranian citizens are located in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; Ankara, Turkey; Frankfurt, Germany; Naples, Italy; and Vienna, Austria. Consulates have limited time slots available for Iranian citizens. Each embassy or consulate determines how to schedule an interview. Some provide an online system, like in Abu Dhabi, while others require that you call directly, like Ankara. It could be months before you are scheduled for your interview, providing ample time to fill out all necessary forms and collect all the required information to process your visa.
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Complete the DS-160 or DS-156 e-visa application. The entire visa application is online and must be printed once completed. The DS-160 is a general visa application for any nonimmigrant applying for entry into the United States. The application must be filled out in English, and all questions must be answered before the form can be submitted. A high-quality passport photo, free of any defects, must be uploaded with your application.
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Bring all the necessary information and $140 USD fee with you to your interview appointment. Iranian nationals must possess a passport valid for six months after the intended departure from the United States, an original birth certificate and national identification card. Other documents needed will depend on the specific visa you are applying for. Students will need the I-20 form, and workers will need documentation provided by the sponsoring business. The official will ask a series of questions regarding your reasons for traveling to the United States. Applicants should be calm, collected, prepared and dressed well. The interviewer has the sole discretion to accept or deny the visa application.
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Monitor your visa application after the interview. Iranians older than 16 are put through an "administrative process." The U.S. Department of State does not specify what the "administrative process" entails, but this is conducted for any visa applicant from a country considered to be a state sponsor of terrorism; basically, the individual must be cleared from being a national security threat. Applicants can review their progress over the Internet. The administrative process takes a minimum of four weeks.
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Travel to the United States. You must enter the country before your visa expires; the expiration date is stamped on the visa. Upon entering the United States, Iranian citizens will be questioned by an immigration officer about the purpose and length of this visit. The immigration officer, an employee of the Department of Homeland Security, has the authority to deny entry into the country, even if you have a valid visa.
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Tips & Warnings
Do not offer information that is not requested during the interview, as this can lead to additional questions that have no relevance to your visa application.
References
- U.S. Department of State: Visa Application Forms
- U.S. Department of State: Guidelines for Producing High-Quality Photographs
- U.S. Embassy, Ankara, Turkey: Iranian Applicants
- U.S. Department of State: Special Visa Processing Procedures
- U.S. Department of State: Fees for Visa Services
- U.S. Department of State: Student Visas
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
