I've been considering the new trip to Iran, among other trips, and I have a question concerning visas for Iran. 

I live in England but have an Irish passport. Would I still be able to get a visa through yourselves, and if so, how much would that cost (I've heard it would be cheaper than getting a visa with a UK passport)?

If not, can you advise me on how I could go about getting one for myself? Or would it be best for me to get one on arrival at Iran?

Look forward to your reply.

We would recommend that you obtain a visa prior to travel (just as a precaution).

For Iran the customers have to go to the Iran Embassy in London. Our team don't see any reason why, as a Irish passport holder, the process would be any different. Our Visa team work with an agent to obtain the visas and they have provided me with the following information about the process:

• A visa pack will be sent to the traveller 4 months before departure.

• The traveller needs to complete application forms and send them to us along with photos (ladies must wear a head scarf and have no hair showing) and a copy of their passport no later than 10 weeks before departure.

• Our agent will then apply for a visa reference code on the travellers behalf (This comes from the Ministry of Foreign affairs of I.R. Iran) and send this back to JYHQ

• Just You will then contact the travellers by email to advise them to send their passports to our agents with details on arranging a mutually convenient time to meet at the embassy in London.

• During the period when the agents receive the passports and meeting the traveller, they will take the passports to the embassy to process part one of the visa.

• When the traveller meets the agent at the embassy their finger prints will be taken & a visa stamp will be issued in their passport. (This is done while you wait and passport is returned to you)

The cost of this visa is £280.

If you choose to go through the process without using Just You, we would recommend that you contact the Iranian Embassy who will be able to guide you.

Kindest regards,

Julia.

P.S. I have also been reminded to advise you: If you go to Iran you CANNOT enter the USA on the ESTA programme. You will require a full visa in your passport. This involves making an appointment in London with the US Embassy. Appointment times / visa processing times vary but it can take at least 3 months to get an appointment and another 3 months for them to make their mind up re granting a visa.

Hi Bubblewrap,

We would recommend that you obtain a visa prior to travel (just as a precaution).

For Iran the customers have to go to the Iran Embassy in London. Our team don't see any reason why, as a Irish passport holder, the process would be any different. Our Visa team work with an agent to obtain the visas and they have provided me with the following information about the process:

• A visa pack will be sent to the traveller 4 months before departure.

• The traveller needs to complete application forms and send them to us along with photos (ladies must wear a head scarf and have no hair showing) and a copy of their passport no later than 10 weeks before departure.

• Our agent will then apply for a visa reference code on the travellers behalf (This comes from the Ministry of Foreign affairs of I.R. Iran) and send this back to JYHQ

• Just You will then contact the travellers by email to advise them to send their passports to our agents with details on arranging a mutually convenient time to meet at the embassy in London.

• During the period when the agents receive the passports and meeting the traveller, they will take the passports to the embassy to process part one of the visa.

• When the traveller meets the agent at the embassy their finger prints will be taken & a visa stamp will be issued in their passport. (This is done while you wait and passport is returned to you)

The cost of this visa is £280.

If you choose to go through the process without using Just You, we would recommend that you contact the Iranian Embassy who will be able to guide you.

Kindest regards,

Julia.

P.S. I have also been reminded to advise you: If you go to Iran you CANNOT enter the USA on the ESTA programme. You will require a full visa in your passport. This involves making an appointment in London with the US Embassy. Appointment times / visa processing times vary but it can take at least 3 months to get an appointment and another 3 months for them to make their mind up re granting a visa.

Julia

Is that "forever" or just the validity of current passport? Wouldn't be too bothered if the latter as I've only got about 18 months on it, but if its permanent, I'll cross Iran off the wish list

OK. Now I am slightly worried. Am I reading this correct? I would need to travel to meet with the agent at the embassy in London?! I live in Scotland and just can't pop down to London.

Where exactly on pages 18 and 19 in the brochure does it say about having to go to London for the visa? It advises about travelling to USA after visiting Iran and I was reminded about this by your sales person at the point of booking - but that was the only thing made aware to me. Am I going blind? Should someone not have informed me about this too when booking? I thought if JY were arranging my visa then I would not need to spend anytime having to do any research if all the facts are provided to me.

Can you get someone to call me.

Angie

Me again - just been checking out the Megabus sleeper to London - the Iran adventure starts early with a day out in London!

No need for anyone to call - I just need to let this sink in!

Have I missed something glaringly obvious?

Angie

Hi Bubblewrap,

We would recommend that you obtain a visa prior to travel (just as a precaution).

For Iran the customers have to go to the Iran Embassy in London. Our team don't see any reason why, as a Irish passport holder, the process would be any different. Our Visa team work with an agent to obtain the visas and they have provided me with the following information about the process:

• A visa pack will be sent to the traveller 4 months before departure.

• The traveller needs to complete application forms and send them to us along with photos (ladies must wear a head scarf and have no hair showing) and a copy of their passport no later than 10 weeks before departure.

• Our agent will then apply for a visa reference code on the travellers behalf (This comes from the Ministry of Foreign affairs of I.R. Iran) and send this back to JYHQ

• Just You will then contact the travellers by email to advise them to send their passports to our agents with details on arranging a mutually convenient time to meet at the embassy in London.

• During the period when the agents receive the passports and meeting the traveller, they will take the passports to the embassy to process part one of the visa.

• When the traveller meets the agent at the embassy their finger prints will be taken & a visa stamp will be issued in their passport. (This is done while you wait and passport is returned to you)

The cost of this visa is £280.

If you choose to go through the process without using Just You, we would recommend that you contact the Iranian Embassy who will be able to guide you.

Kindest regards,

Julia.

P.S. I have also been reminded to advise you: If you go to Iran you CANNOT enter the USA on the ESTA programme. You will require a full visa in your passport. This involves making an appointment in London with the US Embassy. Appointment times / visa processing times vary but it can take at least 3 months to get an appointment and another 3 months for them to make their mind up re granting a visa.

Julia

Is that "forever" or just the validity of current passport? Wouldn't be too bothered if the latter as I've only got about 18 months on it, but if its permanent, I'll cross Iran off the wish list

Good Afternoon,

It isn't forever- it is just for any future visit.

Kind Regards,

Mildred

I hope you are having a good day so far.

Apologies for the confusion.

I just spoke our visa team and I was informed that it will most probably be forever but it is also dependent on the type of visa the embassy offers you.

Kind Regards,

Mildred

My interpretation of this would be that if you travel to Iran (or any of the other countries currently on the US list such as Sudan) that you would never be able to apply for an ESTA again.  Of course, they could change their policy but given the two presidential candidates that are battling it out at present, I would say that this is most unlikely in the short to medium term unfortunately.  As far as I can see if you apply to the US Embassy for a visa, which can take up to six months, it is entirely at their discretion whether they grant you one or not, even after jumping through all their hoops.  And, of course, you would have to apply for a visa each time you wished to visit the States in the future.  All this has made me, very reluctantly, cross Iran off my wish list, unless things change at some stage in the future.

All the best,

Bob

Hello Julia,

Me again - just been checking out the Megabus sleeper to London - the Iran adventure starts early with a day out in London!

No need for anyone to call - I just need to let this sink in!

Have I missed something glaringly obvious?

Angie

Hi Angie.

I also did not realise that we would still have to go up to the Iranian embassy if Just You processed the visa.

I'm lucky as I live much nearer to London, but it would still mean taking a day's holiday from work.

However, I still want to go to Iran whatever.

As for the US, I have to go the following year, but as I'm not a fan of the country I have no plans to go again in the future. I'm therefore prepared to do the full US visa process for that one trip and if they refuse, so be it.

I think it is silly if the American Embassy doe not grant you a full Visa just because you visited Iran on holiday. What do they think you will do whilst in the USA!

Jaya

Angie

I guess I may well be the guinea pig on this forum by attempting to get a full US visa to go to New York in May 2018, when I have visited Iran in October 2017, but that will put the uncertainty to bed once and for all, won't it.

All the best,

Bob

Hi Sandra, out of curiosity when the time comes, please do share with us your experience of attempting to get a US visa after going to Iran - who knows, if it's not that bad it might persuade me to reconsider!

All the best,

Bob

I will do, Bob.

All the best,

Bob