Iranian Applicants

[gol_e_ehsan 0]

Hello everyone! I am relatively new to these boards am I am so happy that I found them, sooner rather than later-my fiance's application has recently arrived in Ankara. We applied in Aug '08 and it has been over 8 mos since I've seen my love!

My biggest fear right now is that dreaded "Administrative Processing"

I have read that all Iranian applicants have to go through it and it takes at least 3 months, but does anyone have any experience? I hope that they would go by the merits of our case, and not because he is Iranian.

He doesn't have a really common name that would put him on a watch list and we have a lot of pics and evidence to prove we are legitamate. Does anyone know if there is still a chance that we could make it out of there with his visa, or are we already doomed to have to wait yet again? I'm hoping that with all of our paperwork and a successful interview that it will be enough.....Inshallah

[Der Bücherwurm 1]

Well, anything is possible. But from what I've heard all Iranians go through AP. It doesn't really matter what your individual case is. Most Iranian immigrants are educated as well but it still takes time anyway. But it usually is a bit quicker for them than for many others from other ME countries.

[M_n_M 1]

hi, just through experience, While the police certificate is not required from Iranians, two of my friends have had their husbands/wives take their police certificates (soo-e-pishine) to the interview anyhow, notarized by the US consulate in the swiss embassy in Iran. It has HELPED... meaning neither of their spouses were put through AP, but I don't know how it works with Fiances. It's better to be safe than sorry though I think. I'm definitely making my husband take his police certificate to the interview....no questions asked.

[childress_london 3]

Thanks for the information MnM.

[childress_london 3]

MnM, about those police certificates, do you know if they have to be recent? My husband has one from a few years ago and he hasn't been back to Iran since (he's in Canada). Do you think if he got that notorized it would be OK?

[Der Bücherwurm 1]

Thanks MnM. I will definitely make sure mine gets the police certificate.

Childress: Maybe it's ok since he hasn't been back since he moved to Canada and Iranians don't technically need the police cert. anyway. Perhaps he could get one for Canada to add to the paperwork as well.

[childress_london 3]

Yes, he will definitely need the one for Canada. But that's no problem to get. :-)

[M_n_M 1]

Yes, he will definitely need the one for Canada. But that's no problem to get. :-)

No problem guys, I just hope it helps... like I said, it's always better to be safe than sorry. Childress, I asked my husband today if there was any way for your husband to get and updated police certificate and he said that he MIGHT be able to get one via the Iranian consulate in Canada... I'm pretty sure he can do that, so have him try. If not, the old one might be ok, but I would check and see what the average validity date is for other countries' police certificates is, and judge based on that. Let me know how things turn out. Good luck guys!

[childress_london 3]

Yes, he will definitely need the one for Canada. But that's no problem to get. :-)

No problem guys, I just hope it helps... like I said, it's always better to be safe than sorry. Childress, I asked my husband today if there was any way for your husband to get and updated police certificate and he said that he MIGHT be able to get one via the Iranian consulate in Canada... I'm pretty sure he can do that, so have him try. If not, the old one might be ok, but I would check and see what the average validity date is for other countries' police certificates is, and judge based on that. Let me know how things turn out. Good luck guys!

Well for Canada it's 6 months I think. But since they don't recognize the Iranian one anyway, and he hasn't been back to Iran since he got it, maybe it will be OK. I admit a more recent one would look better, but he doesn't like dealing with the Iranian embassy, so I don't know if I can convince him to go get a new one. :-(

[M_n_M 1]

It's not that bad dealing with the Iranian embassy, and I"m sure they have a website with the forms...he just needs to download the forms, fill them out, and send them in... the rest just happens via mail I believe. It shouldn't be that bad... give it a try... if not, just translate the one he has and get it notarized. Most countries' police certificates are valid for 6 months to a year... even though he hasn't been back to iran, having a more updated one would look better. But if you can't make him go, then you just can't...good luck though

[childress_london 3]

Thanks. We'll see.

[Der Bücherwurm 1]

I really don't see them hassling your husband for not having a current police report from Iran when he hasn't been back since he got it. Especially when he'll be submitting one for Canada.

On another note, I find that the service you get at Iranian embassies varies from country to country. The opening hours and the service one gets at Iranian consulates/embassies in the west are quite good. But when we went to the Iranian consulate in Istanbul my husband felt a little bit like he was being interrogated by spies for the regime in Iran. Not to mention the opening hours are limited to a few hours in the morning and then they're off drinking tea and chit-chatting for the rest of the day. Damn, I want a job where I can do that.

[childress_london 3]

I really don't see them hassling your husband for not having a current police report from Iran when he hasn't been back since he got it. Especially when he'll be submitting one for Canada.

On another note, I find that the service you get at Iranian embassies varies from country to country. The opening hours and the service one gets at Iranian consulates/embassies in the west are quite good. But when we went to the Iranian consulate in Istanbul my husband felt a little bit like he was being interrogated by spies for the regime in Iran. Not to mention the opening hours are limited to a few hours in the morning and then they're off drinking tea and chit-chatting for the rest of the day. Damn, I want a job where I can do that.

Wow I want that job too! Maybe I will apply for a job in the Iranian embassy. After all, my hubby has been trying to convince me to move to Canada instead and I'm always saying, where am I going to find a job as good as the one I have? lol

[childress_london 3]

Just an update on the police certificate. My father in law attempted to have the old one notorized at the Swiss embassy, but they said the police certificate was only valid for one or two months and would not validate it.

[M_n_M 1]

1 or 2 months?! Are you kidding? Then does that mean the one I have isn't valid either? We got ours a couple weeks ago, but by the time May 19th rolls around, it'll have been roughly 2 months. Gr.