Bonjour,
Vous a-t-il donné l'adresse pour le renouvellement à
Téhéran? Attention l'application de ces règles à
Téhéran semble être liée au bon vouloir du fonctionnaire en poste. Effectivement, j'ai les mêmes infos concernant la durée de 7 jours et le fait qu'on ne puisse prolonger les visas qu'à
Téhéran. Par contre, apparamment un nom d'hôtel ne suffit plus. Il leur faut le nom d'un hôte. Voir ci-dessous, l'histoire de cette chinoise arrivée cette nuit et refoulée (issue du site Lonely Planet en anglais). Elle avait donné les références d'un certain Amir, rencontré sur le site Lonely Planet, ils l'ont appelé à 4 heures du matin pour se renseigner sur cette fille. Ne pouvant pas répondre aux questions, ils l'ont renvoyé illico dans le premier avion......
HORROR STORY – Warning --
Iran VOA (airport visa)
Hi,
I tried to help this Chinese gal whom I met a week ago on the Internet. I
explained to her beforehand
Iran current problematic and uncertain VOA
situation. However, she insisted he wanted to come anyway because she did
not know about VOA changes, had already bought her ticket for
Tehran, and
her travel agency back in china had told her she could be go online and
apply for MFA confirmation/approval code, and then get visa later at
IranAirport. Just to be on the safe side however, quite reluctantly I gave her
my contact info since I had heard that IK Airport Immigration did not care
much for new incoming tourists (after presidential elections) to put down
hotel’s name an manager as ‘personal reference’. But I made sure she
understood that I was NOT legally her ‘host’ or sponsor, and should tell the
airport officials the same. I am not sure she had read my last emails to her
before her departure.
Anyway, at 4am, when I was in deep sleep, I received a call from a young man
at the
Tehran Airport Immigration. He said, “ this Chinese gal is here with
us with no visa, and what do you know about this gal, where is she coming
from, what is the purpose o her visit, how did you came to meet her, what is
her job, etc, etc.” very quick questions. Obviously I was quite drowsy but
told him that I have known her through the Internet and I knew she is only
here to tour the country for a short time. When asked where she will be
staying at, I said my elderly dad is ill and hence I am afraid she would
have to go to the hotel for now. He then said goodbye.
Twenty minutes later, when I was still in shock from that unwelcome
conversation which I had never expected to come, let alone at 4am, I
received a call from an airline desk manager telling me that the Chinese gal
was being put on a plane and deported but she had first asked to talk to me!
I told her I was very, very sorry, my hands were tied though, and there was
absolutely nothing I could do for her considering the time and
circumstances. Then, I decided, maybe unwisely, to call back the Airport
Immigration to make them change their mind. this time, the same old officer
but in quite a threatening tone of voice, told me that I should have never
invited someone I had met through the Internet and must have instead gone
through ‘proper channels’ of officially sponsoring someone, placing all the
blames on me and stressing it was my purely fault she was sent back home.
Through my bad deeds, he stressed, I have badly harmed my country’s good
(tourism)
reputation worldwide! I am not kidding. Further, he noted, I had failed,
among others, to adequately take responsibility for her and after having had
invited her to my country and home. Although I was upset I tried to calm
down and explain to him as carefully as I could that I had never invited or
sponsored her (see above) or any one. I do know what she had told them when
questioned by VOA guys whose spoken English I seriously doubt is any better
than hers. Anyway, she was sent back to
Dubai very quickly and
unceremoniously. The whole thing did not last more than an hour the most.
Now very important points you the reader should remember.
If you plan to list an Iranian as your personal contact/reference, then you
should know in advance everything about him or her (age, job, home, how you
have met, etc.) and vice versa! And the answers have to be ‘right’ and
match, let’s say, as far as Iranian officials are concerned. Do you
homework.
If you tell Airport Immigration you know ‘each other’ through The Internet,
you have said more than enough to be deported right away! They greatly
distrust and are suspicious of The Internet. Now I clearly see that after
what happened tonight.
You may have to stay at your Iranian personal reference no matter what. At
least you are expected to go his or her house direct from the airport. Will
you be followed or not, I do not know. If you are saying you are staying at
a hotel, you will likely be deported especially if they think you have ‘host’
- - even if you do NOT!
If I have previously given you my name and contact info, make sure you DO
NOT LIST ON VOA APPLICATION or even mention it at the airport. Otherwise,
you will certainly be deported as well. That is how sure I am.
After what happened tonight to me and that poor girl I am not sure what to
say positively about or think of
Iran airport visa -- and what to recommend
or not.
Your comments are welcome. Thank you for listening. Bye.Amir.