26 September 2013. 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. 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. Vietnam War: 2/28/61 - 5/7/75 *. Iranian applicants usually provide documents from their bank which show their total account holdings. 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. number of entries, and validity period for visas issued to applicants from this country*/area of authority. (for almost 10 years) During the interview I was asked about my military card or exemption and I explained that I do not have because I did not even serve in the military ! . E-1 and E-2 visas may not be issued to a principal alien if he/she is a stateless resident. Other Documents Available:No other documents available. 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). Visa Classification: The type of nonimmigrant visa you are applying for. Document Name:Sanad-e Talagh (Divorce Certificate). In the United States by the year 2018, obesity was among other shortcomings such as physical fitness deficiencies and lack of a high school diploma that disqualified about 70% of 17-to-24-year-olds from serving. Our programs and centers deliver in-depth, highly relevant issue briefs and reports that break new ground, shift opinions, and set agendas on public policy, with a focus on advancing debates by integrating foundational research and analysis with concrete policy solutions. 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. Human Rights Watch adds that gay and transgender Iranians who are exempted from military service "are not immune from harassment and abuse" and that doctors have reportedly pressured gay men seeking exemption to apply for exemption as transsexuals instead (Dec. 2010, 25). This is not a UNHCR publication. On 30 June 2009, Press TV, Iran's first international news network that broadcasts in English (Press TV n.d.), reported that a bill, which was to be enforced in 2011, would reduce military service by 2 to 10 months for conscripts with university degrees (Press TV 30 June 2009). Evidence suggests that those wishing to obtain an exemption on the grounds of their sexuality/gender identity have to undergo numerous humiliating physical and psychological tests and exams and provide intimate information regarding their life. 19 December 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). Military card for Turkish applicants are not required. UkraineAlert is a comprehensive online publication that provides regular news and analysis on developments in Ukraines politics, economy, civil society, and culture. Of about 8 million males between the ages of eighteen and forty-five, nearly 6 million were considered physically and mentally fit for military service. 4 May 2013. You accept the use of cookies as per our, Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, Adrienne Arsht Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center, Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs, A history of continuity in Irans long nuclear program, An escalating Israel-Iran conflict could sink the JCPOA, How Iranian Phantoms pulled off one of the most daring airstrikes in recent memory, Policy on donor acceptance and disclosure. [Accessed 27 Mar. Joint Report from the Danish Immigration Service, the Norwegian Landinfo and Danish Refugee Council's Fact-finding Mission to Tehran, Iran, Ankara, Turkey and London, United Kingdom. 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.) 2014], _____. The BBC reports that, 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 (26 Dec. 2014). A weekly column by Atlantic Council President and CEO Frederick Kempe, Inflection Points focuses on the global challenges facing the United States and how to best address them. Requirements for Exemptions of Military's Subjects - However, unlike members of al-Qaeda or the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS)whose members are presumably committed to the groups ideologies, aims, and terrorist methodsmost members of the IRGC are conscripts and had no choice about which military branch they would join to fulfill their required military service. Internet sites, including: Amnesty International; ecoi.net; Iran - Islamic Parliament of Iran, Iranian Police, National Portal for Iran, Office of the Supreme Leader Sayyid Ali Khamenei, Presidency Website; Iran Data Portal; Hein Online; Legislationline; Small Media; United Nations - Refworld. 2014). 2014). I am from Iranian descent and I left/ fled Iran about 10 years ago when I was around 20 years old. 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. ; US 26 Feb. 2014). Sources state that, the recruitment age of the Basij Forces ["a paramilitary volunteer militia" (Al Jazeera 24 Apr. In 1984 the Majlis passed a new Military Act that amended conscription laws to reduce the high number of draft dodgers. It is important to inquire about temporary marriages when processing adoption cases from Iran, as posts frequently see children born of temporary marriages. 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). The new digital version contains the individual's national ID number (also found on the right-hand side of the passport biodata page) and a bar code. These cards will include basic biographical information, such as name and date of birth. 2014], Al-Monitor. The original version of this document may be found on the offical website of the IRB at, Last Updated: Tuesday, 28 February 2023, 15:25 GMT, 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, 1967 Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees, 1954 Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons, 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness, Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Iran : information sur le service militaire, y compris sur l'ge du recrutement, la dure du service, les motifs d'exemption, la possibilit d'effectuer un service de remplacement et le traitement rserv par les autorits aux personnes qui refusent de faire leur service militaire; information indiquant si des sanctions sont imposes aux objecteurs de conscience, Military service / Conscientious objection / Desertion / Draft evasion / Forced conscription, Persecution on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. Iranian males 18 to 49 years of age are legally eligible for conscription, for an active service term of 18 months followed by voluntary reserve service. According to the website of the Iranian Embassy in the UK, the only male child must be over the age of 18 and his father must be over the age of 60; being the sole caretaker of a parent, a minor or ill sibling or ill grandparents or, only children caring for parents; being a man who has demonstrated exceptional scholastic achievement; members of the Basij are exempt from military service, which is a possibility if they are active in the Basij for 5 years or more; those who work in industries vital to the government or military may also be exempt. The NGO said the three male members of his family took him to the village of Borumi, western Iran, and murdered him there. 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. : 2298500101 Surname : MOHAMMAD Name : NIKNAM Father's Name : Ali Birth Certificate No. "M" means multiple times. Sign in to follow this . These cards facilitate the United States in honoring its host country obligations under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (VCDR), [] 2014], _____. 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). Iranian / Dutch B2 tourist visa refused because of no military card The duration of compulsory military service ranges from 18 to 24 months, depending on the geographical location of the conscript service. In the United States, enlistments for the Union Army totalled 2,672,341 [2,489,836 white, 178,975 African American, and 3,530 Native American troops], while estimates of enlistment strength for the Confederate Army ranges from 750,000 to 1,227,890. A 14 October 2008 article by Agence France-Presse (AFP) reports that, according to the state-run Fars News Agency, General Kamali stated that military service would be reduced by 1 to 2 months, adding "the term was 17 monthsand now it has been cut to 16 months." [a]ccording to regulations of Medical Exemption of Military Service, those liable to the duty of service can be generally categorized into 4 main groups in terms of their conditions: Individuals being in a state of complete physical and mental Health and hence entirely capable of being drafted to the mandatory service period. 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). A T-1 applicant must be physically present in the United States, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands or a U.S. port of entry, where he/she will apply for an adjustment of status to that of a T-1. Image: Iranian army military personnel hold Iran flags while attending a funeral for the Iran-Iraq war (1980-88) unknown martyrs in downtown Tehran on January 6, 2022. Procedure for Obtaining:Apply at local registration office. Iran has a compulsory military service requirement for all Iranian men when they reach the age of 19. People who refuse military service cannot get a passport. When major global news breaks, the Atlantic Councils experts have you covereddelivering their sharpest rapid insight and forward-looking analysis direct to your inbox. Since a temporary marriage would not be valid for immigration purposes, the applicant should be processed for visa purposes as though unmarried. Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. And this does not mean that persons who would obviously qualify as conscientious objectors do not exist. @media only screen and (min-device-width : 320px) and (max-device-width : 480px) { He is also a PhD Candidate in International Relations at University of South Florida. "Medical and Health-related Exemptions." (US 26 Feb. 2014). Situation in Iran: Temporary immigration, passport and citizenship The 1955 U.S.-Iran Treaty of Amity, Economic Relations, and Consular Rights is now terminated. The paper has watermarks, high printing quality and the photograph for individuals over age 15 is printed directly on the document (whereas the old version has a photo affixed and stamped on the main biodata page). Moreover, all exemptions, except for physical disabilities, were only for five years. 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. Those who due to handicaps or mental and/or physical illnesses are permanently unable to be drafted for mandatory service period. Issuing Authority:Iranian Public Conscription Organization (since 1980), under the Law Enforcement Force of the Islamic Republic of Iran (NAJA); Imperial Armed Forces (before 1980). I have no Iranian passport and nationality anymore. This regulation was expected to be in effect up to 04/11/1390 [24 January 2012. Newspapers had carried reports of people caught trying to buy their way out of military service, at an unofficial figure of about US$8,000 for forged exemption documents. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. However, all other applicants with U.S. Government sponsorships, including other J-visa applicants, are subject to the MRV processing fee. [Accessed 20 Mar. Compulsory conscription has been in effect since 1926, when Reza Shah's Military Service Act was passed by the Majlis. You need to apply for a visitor record to extend your visitor status. Thus, the military first had to teach the conscripts Persian by instituting extensive literacy training programs. Al Jazeera reports that volunteers start their service at 18 years of age (Al Jazeera 24 Apr. General Kamali, the chief conscription officer of the armed forces, stated 19 December 2013 that "many exemptions, deductions and options to pay to avoid military service will be removed" in the "following year". Like most draftees around the world, Iranians are eager return to civilian life as soon as their mandatory enlistment ends. #ga-ad {display: none;} "Iran." "Iran's Basij -- Defending Against a 'Velvet Revolution'." 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. The officers began pointing at disheveled young men, commanding the frightened recruits to go stand in various lines associated with the military. N.d.a. G-1, G-2, and G-3 visa applicants must submit their applications to either U.S. Embassy Bern or U.S. Embassy Vienna. Virtual Embassy Iran ir.usembassy.gov, U.S. Embassy Abu Dhabi ae.usembassy.gov. According to Al-Monitor, men who refuse military service and do not have an exemption are "ineligible" for government jobs and are furthermore "not hired for high-paying jobs" (19 Dec. 2014). 2014], Al Jazeera. Derivative H-4, L-2, O-3, and P-4 visas, issued to accompanying or following-to-join spouses and children, may not exceed the validity of the visa issued to the principal alien. The World Factbook. Al-Monitor reports that in December 2013, General Kamali indicated that Iran is "reviewing its policy of offering a reduction in service time for those who are married" (19 Dec. 2013). Refworld | Iran: Military service, including recruitment age, length of Charles Recknagel. However, the non-Canadian national dependent of a Canadian "TN", unless otherwise exempt from the visa requirement, must obtain a "TD" visa before attempting to enter the United States. Posts may not issue a T-1 visa. 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. . There are reports that the Mandean/Ahwaz minority in the South-West of the country are forced to perform military service despite their pacifist religious beliefs and are consequently fleeing the country in large numbers. 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). Management: (+9821)66707131-9 As of 2019, the Iranian armed forces number about 525,000 troops, of whom about 250,000 [mostly in the Army] were conscripts. [Accessed 25 Mar. 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. They could be prevented from holding a driver's license, running for elective office, registering property ownership, being put on the government payroll, or receiving a passport, in addition to being forced to pay fines and/or receive jail sentences. Persons who are unwilling to perform military service, for whatever reason, are either recruited against their will or seek to escape or evade recruitment. (Iran n.d.b). Expansion and Clarification of Export Controls Targeting Russia and Belarus. [Accessed 20 Mar. [Accessed 3 Mar. 2- They must have lived at least 2 years in the foreign country. 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 . According to estimates, this force, mainly composed of youths, could expand to as many as 1 million members in the event of a national emergency. . Is military record required for Iranian dual nationality Those seeking relief for medical reasons had to serve but were not sent on combat duty. 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. Under the pre-revolutionary law, temporary or permanent exemptions were provided for the physically disabled, hardship cases, convicted felons, students, and certain professions. Sources report that when an exemption is obtained, the person is issued a military exemption card, which lists the reason for the exemption (Human Rights Watch Dec. 2010, 26; BBC 6 Jan. 2010; IHRDC 7 Nov. 2013). 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. 1- They must have been exited the country before 1382/12/29. : 2161 Sina Azodiis a nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council and a visiting scholar at the George Washington Universitys Institute for Middle East Studies. However, it is likely that the Majlis may reconsider the proposal to help the military meet its budgetary requirements for next year, Mr. Dehghani said. 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). This gain was also reflected in the regular armed forces. Unfit soldiers do not make good battle buddies in intense combat. The IHRDC indicates that this applies to both secondary and university students that are attending classes (IHRDC 7 Nov. 2013). }, Page last modified: Except as noted below, the number of entries, fees and validity for non-Canadian or non-Mexican family members of a TN status holder seeking TD visas should be based on the reciprocity schedule of the TN principal alien. "Iran: Transgender People Are No Longer Classified as 'Mentally Sick'." Sina Azodi and Ali Dadpay. For those who live in the country, paying to avoid military service has not always been offered" (Al-Monitor 19 Dec. 2013). Temporary marriages cannot be used to confer immigration benefits and do not substantiate eligibility for either marriage-based immigrant visa classes or for derivative status of any visa class. After the bitter experience of the Donald Trump administrations Muslim ban, subsequent withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal, and maximum pressure campaign, easing restrictions on the immigration of innocent Iranians, who had no choice about serving in the IRGC, could be a collateral benefit of restoring the JCPOA. 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. Iranian medical exemption laws for military service are indications of legal discrimination against homosexual and transsexual people in Iran. 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. Human Rights Watch reports that "several individuals who had received exemptions based on their sexual orientation" faced discrimination in employment, "because their identification cards stated the reasons for their exemption as 'behavioural disorders' such as 'sexual deviancy'" (Dec. 2010, 24). Both parties birth certificates, national ID cards, medical reports, and the brides fathers birth certificate are required. Exceptions:Copies of certificates containing the Bureaus authentication of the notarys signature can be obtained if the name and number of the notary registering the marriage or divorce are known. PDF Instructions for Immigrant Visa Applicants Before the Interview . Shortly afterwards, the Iranian lesbian and transgender network 6Rang (Six Colours) named the victim as 20-year-old Ali Fazeli Monfared, known as Alireza. Number of Entries: The number of times you may seek entry into the United States with that visa. If the parents marriage is not registered, both must be present to sign the document. The death certificate issued by the physician, hospital, or cemetery official; or the presence of two witnesses before the relevant civil registration office. Many applicants also submit titles and deeds to apartments and property. Iran's 1986 population of approximately 48.2 million (including approximately 2.6 million refugees) gave the armed forces a large pool from which to fill its manpower needs, despite the existence . Master and bachelor graduates will serve 8 and 6 months lesser respectively. The undated website of the Iranian Embassy in The Hague states that. 26 February 2014. The validity of H-1 through H-3, O-1 and O-2, P-1 through P-3, and Q visas may not exceed the period of validity of the approved petition or the number of months shown, whichever is less. PDF Country Policy and Information Note: Iran: Military service - GOV.UK . 2014], British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). The spouse and children of an E-1 or E-2 principal alien are accorded derivative E-1 or E-2 status following the reciprocity schedule, including any reciprocity fees, of the principle aliens country of nationality. 28 March 2014a. The first is an ecclesiastical marriage certificate issued by the local spiritual assembly a booklet with the signatures of the couple, the person officiating the ceremony, and nine witnesses. [Accessed 14 Mar. ): Document Name:Passport of the Islamic Republic of Iran (Gozarnameh-ye Jomhuriye Eslamiye Iran). 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 . 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. However, we wont consider the plan if the government makes a strong case against it.. In the past, the color of exemption cards differed, and those issued based on sexual orientation were red, but today all cards are one color and the number of the section or addendum on which an exemption is based appears on the card. Temporary student exemptions may also be substantiated by a letter from the conscription authority and proof of the students bond payment to exit Iran. Of the three services, the air force fared best in this respect, as it had always done. Management Fax: (+9821)66709333 [Accessed 13 Mar. 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. Public Relations: (+9821)66709666 On April 4, 1981, eight F-4 Phantom fighter bombers conducted a daring airstrike on three airbases deep inside Iraqi territory. (Factiva), _____. 2012)] is 15 (ibid. 21 December 2014. In the past, a consistent weakness of the armed forces had been the high illiteracy rate among conscripts and volunteers. 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. V-2 and V-3 status is limited to persons who have not yet attained their 21st birthday. Gay Iranian man dead in alleged 'honor killing,' rights group says 27 March 2014. "Iran Intends to Extend Duration of Military Service - Commander." 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.