However, unlike their government, which has hostile relations with the United States, many of these draftees yearn to pursue a better life in the US and fulfill their dreams. After completing basic training outside of Semnan Air Defense Base, I received some mediocre training as a member of the military police and mostly did office work. However the way it works is that you need a valid iranian passport (6 months or more left on the expiration) . The majority of the population, moreover, is under 25 years of age and thus has no personal memory of the Iranian Revolution. As of 2019, the Iranian armed forces number about 525,000 troops, of whom about 250,000 [mostly in the Army] were conscripts. December 2010. 20-07-2019 12:07:30 ZULU, The Iranian Military Under the Islamic Republic, IRAN'S GROUND FORCES: MORALE AND MANPOWER. However, we wont consider the plan if the government makes a strong case against it.. The wife and child would, therefore, be entitled to derivative status and receive the same reciprocity as Mr. Doe, the principal visa holder. I have no Iranian passport and nationality anymore. }, Page last modified: [Accessed 20 Mar. Under the current amnesty plan, citizens who have not reported for compulsory military service for eight years after they first become eligible have until the end of the Iranian year (March 20, 2019) to pay a fine and avoid conscription. 2014). [Accessed 27 Mar. The news met with widespread outrage. Original Iranian Birth Certificate (Shenasname), and photocopies of all the pages of the Birth Certificate(This document must contain an ID photo for those above 15 years of age. MENASource offers the latest news from across the Middle East, combined with commentary by contributors, interviews with emerging players, multi-media content, and independent analysis from fellows and staff. According to Commander Kamali, the eight-year rule also applies to military deserters and university students who were exempt from the national service while in school but had quit their studies without informing the draft registration office. 24 April 2012. 2.3 Postponed Service and Reduced Service. Document Name:Sanad-e Talagh (Divorce Certificate). The undated website of the Iranian Embassy in The Hague states that. Copyright notice: This document is published with the permission of the copyright holder and producer Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB). On a case-by-case basis, the Department of State can request that the Department of Homeland Security grant waivers for nonimmigrant visa applicants with past mandatory military service in the IRGC. 2014]. Every year about 580,000 men reach conscription age of 18 years for compulsory military service; 16 years of age for volunteers; 17 years of age for Law Enforcement Forces; 15 years of age for Basij Forces (Popular Mobilization Army). Oral sources: Attempts to contact the following individuals and organizations were unsuccessful within the time constraints of this Response: Amnesty International; Center for Strategic and International Studies; a Professor of International Affairs at Harvard Kennedy School; a Professor of Iranian Studies at Columbia University; Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty; Radio Zamaneh; War Resisters' International. While Iranian law considers them to be legitimate children, issues could arise concerning parental consent. 2014], United Kingdom (UK). You'll also get priority processing on your application. Older cards include detailed biographical information such as blood type, hair color, weight, height, eye color, physical defects, and sometimes level of education. New Atlanticist is where top experts and policymakers at the Atlantic Council and beyond offer exclusive insight on the most pressing global challengesand the United States role in addressing them alongside its allies and partners. Indeed, it can be argued that only a small minority of IRGC members, particularly those who served in the elite Quds Forcethe Guards external armparticipate in acts that might be characterized as terrorism or support for terrorism in countries such as Iraq, Syria, Yemen, and Lebanon. In addition, an applicant is eligible for an exemption from the MRV fee if he or she is participating in a State Department, USAID, or other federally funded educational and cultural exchange program (program serial numbers G-1, G-2, G-3 and G-7). Fee: The reciprocity fee, also known as the visa issuance fee, you must pay. It was commented that young dissatisfied individuals could be perceived as a potential source of unrest by the authorities. 26 December 2013. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. The birth certificate booklet and national identification card of the deceased (if available); The birth certificate of the deceaseds spouse (if applicable); and. 27 March 2014. Depending on their field, those with higher education can end up with higher-status duties. On Saturday, January 29, a spokesman for the Iranian parliament's Budget Committee for 2022-23 said members had agreed that exemptions from military service could again be sold to individuals at a cost of 250 to 600 million tomans (US$9,000 to $21,500). General Kamali reportedly added that "for those who live outside of the country, the option of paying off military service had been cancelled earlier this year. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request. The IHRDC says that "physicians charged with administering these evaluations likely recommended that these individuals seek exemption on the basis of transsexuality, not homosexuality, because of the Iranian government's more lenient attitude towards the former in contrast to the latter" (7 Nov. 2013). Anyone any idea what I can do?!!!?!?!?!!?! These cards will include basic biographical information, such as name and date of birth. The IFOR Main Representative to the UN stated that, no case has been recorded of anyone claiming exemption from the military authorities on the grounds of conscientious objection, but as conscientious objection is not recognised by the military authorities, conscientious objectors would not be treated as such; no sanctions would explicitly address conscientious objection. All rights reserved. . The governments 2019/20 budget initially excluded the option for citizens to buy their way out of the draft. 22 hours ago, AmirNL said: I have never served in Iranian military and I have no exemption card or military card and even no Iranian passport/ nationality anymore. "Shamsi to Gregorian Converter." Since the Iran-Iraq War ended in 1988, most Iranian conscripts have seen no combat, and their military service is often devoid of actual combat training. The validity of A-3, G-5, and NATO 7 visas may not exceed the validity of the visa issued to the person who is employing the applicant. N.d. "IFOR Mission." Original and photocopy of the Certificate of Completion of Military Service or Exemption from Service, or filling out Form [ 104 ] for granting permission to exit . 2014], World-newspapers.com. Accordingly, the period of validity of a V-2 or V-3 visa must be limited to expire on or before the applicant's twenty-first birthday. Issuing Authority Personnel Title:There is no issuing authority personnel title. This reflected the country-wide illiteracy rate, which stood at 60 percent in 1979. [Accessed 14 Mar. Comments:The booklet includes the individuals name and surname; place and date of birth; gender; unique ID number; parents names and places of birth; date and place of issuance; and identifying information of the individuals spouses and children. The BBC reports that, according to Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA), General Musa Kamali, the Vice Commander of the Headquarters for Human Resources of the Iranian Armed Forces, was quoted as saying that "the duration of military service is 18 months in combat and in insecure regions, 19 months in the regions which are deprived of facilities and have bad weather conditions, 21 months in other places, and 24 months in government offices" ( 26 Dec. 2013). Embassy in the Hague. Special Seal(s) / Color / Format:Booklet Old versions have a red/burgundy cover, handwritten biodata, and manual signatures and stamps. Thus far, this regulation is expected to be in effect up to 04/11/1390 [24 January 2012 (Taghvim.com 28 Mar. Military card for Turkish applicants are not required. A copy of the military regulations governing medical exemptions in Iran could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. Email: un@sabteahval.ir, Document Name:Shenasnameh (Birth certificate or identity certificate), Issuing Authority:National Organization of Civil Registration. Comments:In Tehran, each church of a minority religion has several notaries assigned to it, while there are at least one hundred notaries assigned to record Muslim marriages and divorces. Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada. [Accessed 28 Mar. Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. N.d.b. Iran does not recognize the Bahai'i faith as a minority religion, thus the documentation of such marriages differs from Islamic marriages or marriages of other religious minorities. Iranian / Dutch B2 tourist visa refused because of no military card / no military exemption card ! The Baij total force had increased to about 600,000 by 2019. The Iranian government may reinstitute the national military service buy-out scheme in 2019 to make up for the current deficit in the Iranian military budget, ISNA (Iranian Students News Agency) reported, quoting Kamal Dehghani, the deputy chair of the Committee on National Security and Foreign Policy of the Majlis (Iranian Parliament.) Country of Origin Information Report. Management: (+9821)66707131-9 Although translations tend to be accurate, it is recommended that both the translation and the original card are reviewed. Alireza's military service exemption card made it plain that he was homosexual On Tuesday, May 4, a young ethnic Arab man in Ahvaz was murdered because of his sexual orientation. The IHRDC indicates that this applies to both secondary and university students that are attending classes (IHRDC 7 Nov. 2013). Many applicants also submit titles and deeds to apartments and property. "Iran: Transgender People Are No Longer Classified as 'Mentally Sick'." If there is a number, such as "One", you may apply for entry one time with that visa. [Accessed 25 Mar. You need to apply for a visitor record to extend your visitor status. Its unclear yet whether a US decision to lift the FTO designation of the IRGC will erase the stigma of having served in the organization as far as US immigration is concerned (separate financial sanctions on the IRGC will remain). If lost then the applicant should apply for a duplicate shenasnameh. According to a 7 July 2011 report by LANDINFO, Norway's Country of Origin Information Centre, religious minorities "are called in for military service on an equal basis with other Iranians, but are barred from making a military career" (Norway 7 July 2011, 6). 8. Similarly, in a November 2013 article published by the Iran Human Rights Documentation Centre (IHRDC), a Connecticut-based independent non-profit organization composed of scholars and lawyers working to provide a "historical record" of human rights issues in Iran (IHRDC n.d.), military service "begins" at 18 (ibid. The IHRDC indicates that "many young males of military age" attempt to avoid military service through "exemptions or by informal and illegal means through monetary bribes to officials" (7 Nov. 2014). Denying so many young men the chance to pursue their dreams for crimes they didnt commit deprives the United States of their potential contribution and is at odds with the ideals on which the United States was founded. In a document sent to the DIRB by a representative of the Committee for Humanitarian Assistance to Iranian Refugees in New York, a non-partisan organization that performs advocacy work on behalf of Iranian refugees, the representative indicated that based on personal correspondence with former Iranians, a military exemption card or a military . Certified Copies Available: Certified copies are not available. Under the 1984 law, draft evaders were subject to restrictions for a period of up to ten years. Document Name:Kart-e Shenasayi-e Melli; or Kart-e Melli (National Card), Issuing Authority:National Organization for Civil Registration. They are also often mistreated by officers. Those dismissed from mandatory military service due to their sexual orientation received special exemption cards indicating the reason for their dismissal. Exemption cards show the reason for exemption in the usual place of service dates, and these cards also have a different photo border from service cards. 4. #ga-ad {display: none;} Please contact the consular sections in Bern and Vienna for additional details on the application process. "Iran's Basij: Membership in a Militant Islamist Organization." Also, there is no reciprocity fee for visa issuance to an accompanying or following-to-join spouse or child (J-2) of an exchange visitor grantee or participant. In 2019, the US State Department designated the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, an unprecedented action against the military of a foreign state. How to obtain an Iranian military exemption - Quora Answer (1 of 5): Iran doesn't recognize dual citizenship, so in addition to their less restricted usage of detention in methods that are not as common in most first would countries, there remains the possibility that one will be detained indefinitely and without charge for whatever reason. [Accessed 13 Mar. In December 2013, General Kamali stated that "[b]ecause of its discriminatory nature, paying off military service was never desired by the armed forces, and that option has been closed" (19 Dec. 2013). According to the IHRDC, Article 33, paragraph 8 of the regulatory code that governs medical exemptions from military service notes that "'moral and sexual deviancy, such as transsexuality'" is considered to be grounds for a medical exemption (19 June 2013). The "employer" would have one of the following visa classifications: An E-1 and E-2 visa may be issued only to a principal alien who is a national of a country having a treaty, or its equivalent, with the United States. The Iranian and Iraqi "TD" is no fee with one entry over a period of 3 months. [Accessed 25 Mar. Procedure for Obtaining: There is no procedure for obtaining. 2014], Iran. 2014)]. 2014], British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). Temporary student exemptions may also be substantiated by a letter from the conscription authority and proof of the students bond payment to exit Iran. "Shamsi to Gregorian Converter." According to General Kamali, current conscripts and people who will be serving by the end of the year, which is 20 March 2014, will not be affected by the extension of service. The IHRDC states this exemption is for "a man who is the only male in the family and his father is over 65 years old" (IHRDC 7 Nov. 2014). A computer engineer would serve as a computer operator and so on. 2- They must have lived at least 2 years in the foreign country. Under 8 CFR 214.2, H-2A and H-2B petitions may generally only be approved for nationals of countries that the Secretary of Homeland Security has designated as participating countries. Rising tensions between Israel and Iran have reached an alarming stage in recent weeks. G-1, G-2, and G-3 visa applicants must submit their applications to either U.S. Embassy Bern or U.S. Embassy Vienna. Given the tens of thousands of Iranians whom the IRGC drafted over the years, its likely that many have relatives who are part of the large Iranian diaspora in the United States. The 1955 U.S.-Iran Treaty of Amity, Economic Relations, and Consular Rights is now terminated. In the past, a consistent weakness of the armed forces had been the high illiteracy rate among conscripts and volunteers. It was considered that by allowing them to leave, the authorities were thereby getting rid of dissent. "Denied Identity: Human Rights Abuses Against Iran's LGBT Community." 2014b)]. "Witness Statement of Milad." Original and photocopy of the Certificate of Completion of Military Service or Exemption from Service, or filling out Formno.104 for granting permission to exit once a year (for those required to do Military service and those born after 1338 (1959) who have not yet done their service and are not in possession of any Exemptions and have left the This regulation was expected to be in effect up to 04/11/1390 [24 January 2012. A figure of 300 was quoted by a spokesman for the "Ahwazi organisation for defense of human rights" at the UN Minority Forum last summer [2013]. Effective February 24, 2023, the Implementation of Additional Sanctions Against Russia and Belarus Under the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and Refinements to Existing Controls rule (the "Russia/Belarus Rule") amends the EAR by:. "Medical and Health-related Exemptions." If the original booklet is lost, a handwritten transcript from the registry office may be acceptable (Roonevesht).. . Discrimination and Violence Against Sexual Minorities in Iran. Further information about payment in lieu of compulsory military service could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. Therefore, all Mexican "TN"s and both Mexican and non-Mexican national "TD"s accompanying or following to join them who are not otherwise exempt from the visa requirement (e.g., the Canadian spouse of a Mexican national "TN") must obtain nonimmigrant visas. Failing to serve without an exemption can also result in a ban on leaving the country without special permission. Sources report on various non-health related circumstances that could lead to an exemption of military service, including: being the only son of the family (IHRDC 7 Nov. 2014). The first page includes a summary of the certificate holders personal information such as place of birth and parents first names and birth certificate numbers. According to the IFOR Main Representative to the UN, in Iran, "persons who are unwilling to perform military service, for whatever reason, are either recruited against their will or seek to escape or evade recruitment" (18 Mar. Now, one of the final issues in the Iran nuclear negotiations in Vienna to revive the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) has been the Iranian demand that the IRGC be taken off the US list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs). Sources report on cases of sexual minorities being exempted from military service based on Article 33 of the army's medical exemption regulations (IHRDC 19 June 2013; Human Rights Watch Dec. 2010, 24). The NGO said the three male members of his family took him to the village of Borumi, western Iran, and murdered him there. Desertion is punishable by two to 12 months' imprisonment in case the deserter surrenders himself to the authorities. Like most draftees around the world, Iranians are eager return to civilian life as soon as their mandatory enlistment ends. Sources state that, the recruitment age of the Basij Forces ["a paramilitary volunteer militia" (Al Jazeera 24 Apr. Presently, military service lasts generally 18 months, but there are shorter terms for college graduates. The estimated force level of the regular army increased from 325,000 in 2001 to 350,000 in 2007, a level which continued throught 2019. They must report at a specific date to the headquarters of the Law Enforcement Department of the drafta unit of the Iranian policewhich is in charge of paperwork and summoning draftees for service. [Accessed 25 Mar. Moreover, all exemptions, except for physical disabilities, were only for five years. Further and corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. Certified Copies Available:Not available. ! 2014], _____. International Fellowship of Reconciliation (IFOR). This website or its third-party tools use cookies, which are necessary for its functioning and required to achieve the purposes illustrated in the cookie policy. Check carefully whether this total is listed in Iranian rials or tomans (one toman is ten rials), and check the conversion rate as the total in dollars is often an incorrect. Registration Criteria:Divorce is permitted on various grounds, including: mental illness; disabilities interfering with conjugal relations; husbands inability or unwillingness to provide financial support; husbands bad behavior; husbands incurable disease constituting risk to the wife; husbands desertion; husbands conviction for a dishonorable crime; husbands infertility or contraction of a sexually transmitted disease; polygamy without consent; and other circumstances where continuation of marriage constitutes proven difficulty or hardship for wife. Embassy in the Hague. Registration Criteria: Newborn children; people who are changing their names; people who have lost their original birth certificate; and people who have reached the age of 15 and need to add their photo to the document (if between age 15 and 18, the individuals parent must apply). Sina Azodi. Sign up to receive expert analyses from our community on the most important global issues, rapid insights on events as they unfold, and highlights of the Council's best work. Procedure for Obtaining:There is no procedure for obtaining. In addition to marriages and divorces having their own documentation, the information should also be recorded in both parties' shenasnameh (birth certificate) documents. Issuing Authority Personnel Title: There is no issuing authority personnel title. Mexican nationals are not visa-exempt. In July 2009 the Iranian parliament (Majlis) passed a new bill to cut military service in the country by 2 to 10 months for conscripts with university degrees, Iranian Press TV reported on 30 June 2009. The National Card may corroborate information from the Birth Certificate, but the latter is preferred for identity confirmation. Charles Recknagel. 2014], Iranian Journal of Kidney Diseases. Original and photocopy of the Certificate of Completion of Military Service or Exemption from Service, or filling out Form#104 for granting permission to exit once . The officer seemed relieved to hear that my twenty-one months of compulsory service was in the Artesh or regular armed forces. Procedure for Obtaining: Iranian nationals over the age of 15 apply for the card at any local branch of the National Organization for Civil Registration in Iran. According to a January 2009 study on kidney donor attitudes in the Iranian Journal of Kidney Diseases, some of the donors surveyed had donated a kidney in order "to be exempted from the military service" (36). Two witnesses are required. Iranian-citizen males aged 18-34 are required to perform military service, unless exempt. The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran and Small Media were unable to provide information for this Response. The IHRDC reports on doctors who have written letters to the Military Service Office indicating that the individual seeking a military exemption based on sexual preference needed "sex-reassignment surgery" (IHRDC 19 June 2013). Iranian law requires all male citizens over 18 to serve in the military but exempts gay and transgender men, who are classified as having mental disorders. About 3,800,000 men entered the Army during 1942, through inductions and enlistments. Fee: The reciprocity fee, also known as the visa issuance fee, you must pay. Similarly, Al-Monitor reports that, according to General Kamali, "reduced-time exemptions are still applicable for those who entered military service this Iranian calendar year, which ends March 2014" (19 Dec. 2013). Registration Criteria:A notary public (daftar-e asnad-e rasmi) registers divorces and marriages for Muslims and those who practice recognized minority religions (Christianity, Judaism, Zoroastrianism). Individuals who have a handicap or suffer from a certain illness and are thus not in a complete state of health, however yet well capable of carrying out non-combat/military-related services in offices. "Iran." This fee is in addition to the nonimmigrant visa application fee (MRV fee). There are many reasons a man could be exempted, including, but not limited to, payment in lieu of service, medical reasons, being the only son in his family, having elderly parents, and having a brother currently serving in the military. Under Iranian law, a designation as a homosexual or transsexual/transgender is considered to constitute a medical and psychological condition that warrants an exemption from compulsory military service. Clean record certificates can be obtained in Iran or from Iranian Embassies and Consulates, and the physical appearance of the certificate changes significantly depending on which authority issued it. The validity of E-2C visas shall not exceed the maximum initial period of admission allowed by DHS (24 months) or the duration of the transition period ending December 31, 2014, whichever is shortest. Comments:Available but unreliable. No S visa may be issued without first obtaining the Department's authorization. Women may volunteer but are exempt from military service (as of 2019). The World Factbook. The validity of CW-1 and CW-2 visas shall not exceed the maximum initial period of admission allowed by DHS (12 months) or the duration of the transition period ending December 31, 2014, whichever is shortest. Procedure for Obtaining: Submit the deceaseds national identification card, or number and date of notification of death registration, to the National Organization of Civil Registration. For those who live in the country, paying to avoid military service has not always been offered". [Accessed 28 Mar. Indeed the Iranian diaspora community is one of the most successful ethnic minority groups in the US, with many celebrated scholars, scientists, and academics. Visa Classification: The type of nonimmigrant visa you are applying for. (Factiva), _____. ; US 26 Feb. 2014). [Accessed 25 Mar. Al-Monitor, a news source providing "reporting and analysis by prominent journalists and experts from the Middle East" (Al-Monitor n.d.), reported that, General Kamali, described by the source as the "chief conscription officer of the armed forces," stated in December 2013 that "many exemptions, deductions and options to pay to avoid military service will be removed" in the "following year" (19 Dec. 2013).