Many travelers who dream of traveling Iran are worried about the U.S. travel ban after visiting Iran! But what is the truth? Is there any problem to have Iran stamp on your passport? How should a traveler deal with it?

The problem started when In 2015 the USA changed the guidelines for its Visa Waiver program (WVP), commonly referred to as ESTA (the online application for a visa waiver available to most European, UK and some other nationals) and stipulated that visitors who had been to any of Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia, or Yemen would no longer be eligible for a visa waiver or ESTA under new anti-terrorism principles.

On the other side, the Iran government as of 2019, reportedly stopped stamping passports, at least for countries who are eligible for a visa on arrival, so there is no sign for visiting Iran on your passport. The plan is to facilitate travels to Iran without fear of possible U.S. penalties. However, some nationalities are exceptions so read on to know more about your situation.

Read also: Iran visa on arrival, all you need to know

Iran could issue a visa outside of the passport

u.s. travel ban iran

According to Iran’s plan, the Iran government gives you a visa without attaching any visa sticker to the passport to counter the U.S. travel ban after visiting Iran.

It is not important whether you collect your visa in embassies and consulates all over the world or Iran visa on arrival at Iran international airports, you can enter Iran without any Iran stamp on your passport. The officer will issue your Iran entry visa on a separate paper as you can see below.

“In fact, the visa sticker is printed on a piece of A4-sized paper. So the entry and exit stamps are also put on this paper. “

Iran-Evisa-no-stamp-on-passport
Iran E Visa sample – Stamp will be on Visa paper like this picture (not on the passport)

However, the story is slightly different for citizens of the U.S., UK, Canada, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Jordan, Colombia, Bangladesh, and Somali. For these nationalities, the visa sticker should still be on their passport.

Iran-tour-cheap-travel-agency

So far, we have explained that Iran will not stamp your visa on your passport and they will issue a paper visa, but how about those who traveled to Iran before 2019 and has an Iran visa stamp on their passport? how about the citizens of U.S., UK, Canada, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Jordan, Colombia, Bangladesh, and Somali who need to get their passport stamps? read on!

Read also: Getting Iran Visa for UK, U.S. and Canadian Citizens

How to Visit the USA after Travelling to Iran

Iran stamp on passport

For those few nationalities who still need Iran stamps on their passport or those who traveled to Iran and have an Iran visa stamp on their passport the solution to visiting the USA is to apply for a B1/B2 visitor visa. Here’s what you need to know about the visa:

  • You can apply for the Visa online via the USA’s State Department website (as of June 2019 the fee was 120 USD) – this fee is paid at time of online application by Credit Card.
  • You then need to make an appointment to go to your US consulate to attend an in person interview, whereby you can expect to be quizzed about your jaunt to Iran
  • You’ll likely be told on the spot (at your in person interview) if your visa has been approved or not – it’s then around 1 week’s processing time until your passport is posted back to you.
  • Visa appointment wait times can be lengthy, so I recommend applying for your visa online and scheduling your appointment at least 3 months before you want to travel to the USA
  • You don’t need to have booked flights, accommodation or have definite plans to visit the USA, and the State Dept recommends you do not make firm travel plans until you receive your visa. We said that we were planning a long weekend trip to NYC (but were not asked anything further).
  • The B1/B2 Visa lasts for 10 years (normally) – so at least the extra paperwork lasts for a good amount of time!
u.s. travel ban iran
Get your Iran tourist visa, easy and secure

Last but not least

Iran provides a facility to waive stamping entry and exit on your passport. So you should not worry about the U.S. travel ban after visiting Iran.

However, if you are a citizen of those countries where the Iran visa stamp is issued on your passport ( U.S., UK, Canada, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Jordan, Colombia, Bangladesh, and Somali ), you only need to apply for a visa to enter the U.S. as discussed earlier, So do not miss the exotic experiences in Iran and travel to this magnificent country!

4 Comments

  1. So except countries you mentioned, can other nationalities travel Iran withot stamp in their passport?

    • Setareh Behroozi Reply

      Hey Amelia, yes you are right! You can travel Iran without any entry and exit stamps in your passport.

    • Setareh Behroozi Reply

      You can apply for you visa on Exotigo. For more information click here

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