Money: Non-Iranian credit cards and bank cards cannot be used in Iran. 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. N.d.a. Temporary marriages (sigheh or ezdevaj-e movaghat) are religious marriages that are entered into for a specific period of time. 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." 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. The Main Representative to the UN for the International Fellowship of Reconciliation (IFOR), a Netherlands-based organization founded in 1914 that is "against war and its preparation" with "branches, affiliates and groups in more than 40 countries" who has been monitoring issues of military service and conscientious objection worldwide with a view to reporting [and] briefing treaty bodies and other UN mechanisms and procedures indicated that "there are no provisions for alternate service" in Iran. 2014], Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). 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. Sina Azodi and Ali Dadpay. However, all other applicants with U.S. Government sponsorships, including other J-visa applicants, are subject to the MRV processing fee. Lawyers, for example, may work as the equivalent of a US military judge advocate general, investigating crimes committed by service members. 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. See 'NOTE' under Canadian reciprocity schedule regarding applicants of Iranian, Iraqi or Libyan nationality. 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. Women may volunteer but are exempt from military service (as of 2019). 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 . Depending on their field, those with higher education can end up with higher-status duties. A new regulation which was passed in 2014 and had been gradually implemented in the follwoing two years, had two new features. ! Comments:The national ID card is not accepted in lieu of the Birth Certificate document. 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. 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 . Those living outside of Iran may apply for the card by submitting a special form to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Absence without leave for more than 15 days without a valid reason is punishable by six months' to two years' imprisonment and/or 12 months extension of military service. 24 April 2012. Both versions include a space for notes, death information, and where the registration office records any changes or corrections to the information in the document, such as a legal name change or a correction to the date or place of birth. [Accessed 14 Mar. [Accessed on 27 Mar. Expansion and Clarification of Export Controls Targeting Russia and Belarus. It was considered that by allowing them to leave, the authorities were thereby getting rid of dissent. Draft evaders were subject to arrest, trial before a military court, and imprisonment for a maximum of two years after serving the required two years of active duty. Follow him on Twitter@Azodiac83. Iranian subjects who live abroad in case of having the following conditions, by paying 10 million Toman can benefit from military services exemption against cash payment. Procedure for Obtaining: Marriage and divorce certificates can only be obtained by the current/former parties to the marriage. Document Name:Kart-e Sarbazi (military card); Kart-e Payan-e Khedmat doreye Zaroorat (service completion card); or Kart-e Moafiyat az khedmate doreye zaroorat (exemption card). The Baij total force had increased to about 600,000 by 2019. Types Available (Regular, Diplomatic, Official, etc. 2014], United Kingdom (UK). It is slightly smaller in size than the old version and has covers and quality reminiscent of passports. If you are exempt from the service please provide a copy and certified English translation of your military service exemption card. Alternate Documents: For mass exemptions, a copy of the exemption announcement and the birth certificate (proof of their condition) can be provided in lieu of exemption card. December 2010. In December 2013, media sources reported that, according to General Kamali, due to a shortage of personnel, Iran may increase the length of military service to 24 months (BBC 26 Dec. 2013; Al-Monitor 19 Dec. 2013). 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. This is not a UNHCR publication. Alireza Fazeli Monfared, 20, was executed after they discovered a letter saying he had been exempted from the military service due to his sexuality, according to 6Rang. 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. 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. Baha'i marriages should be evidenced with both documents, as well as the registration of the union in both parties shenasnameh documents. While Iranian law considers them to be legitimate children, issues could arise concerning parental consent. Public Relations: (+9821)66709666 Procedure for Obtaining:Apply at local registration office. 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. Compulsory conscription has been in effect since 1926, when Reza Shah's Military Service Act was passed by the Majlis. #ga-ad {display: none;} ; US 26 Feb. 2014). "Compensated Living Kidney Donation in Iran: Donor's Attitude and Short-Term Follow-up." The legal provision can be found in Section 212 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 US Code 1182. _____. If you wish to remain on travel.state.gov, click the "cancel" message. I would end up being picked by the IRIAF, but the process was arbitrary. This means a temporary marriage would not disqualify an alien from a K-1 fianc (e) visa and would not be considered a marriage for determining whether an alien meets the definition of child (under 21 and unmarried). "M" means multiple times. Correspondence from the Main Representative to the United Nations. Desertion is punishable by two to 12 months' imprisonment in case the deserter surrenders himself to the authorities. Of the three services, the air force fared best in this respect, as it had always done. 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. Fee: The reciprocity fee, also known as the visa issuance fee, you must pay. Number of Entries: The number of times you may seek entry into the United States with that visa. Certified Copies Available:Certified copies are not available. Sources indicate that students can postpone their military service (Al-Monitor 19 Dec. 2013; IHRDC 7 Nov. 2013). The military exemption cards increase. 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. 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. 2014], _____. Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. 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). 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). Marriage between two Baha'is is registered in two documents. Afshon Ostovar. Embassy in the Hague. Both parties birth certificates, national ID cards, medical reports, and the brides fathers birth certificate are required. Applicants of Iranian, Iraqi, Libyan, Somalian, Sudanese, Syrian or Yemeni nationality, who have a permanent resident or refugee status in Canada/Mexico, may not be accorded Canadian/Mexican reciprocity, even when applying in Canada/Mexico. The standard reciprocity fee and validity period for all non-Canadian "TD"s is no fee, issued for multiple entries for a period of 36 months, or for the duration of the principal alien's visa and/or authorized period of stay, whichever is less. 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. 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). On 21 December 2013, Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), Iran's official news agency (World-newspapers.com n.d.), reported that the High Council of Iranian Affairs Abroad was seeking authorization to reduce service for students studying abroad "in return" for presenting their research studies. Individuals may volunteer for active duty at age 16. If lost then the applicant should apply for a duplicate shenasnameh. In correspondence with the Research Directorate, the Main Representative to the UN for the International Fellowship of Reconciliation (IFOR), a Netherlands-based organization founded in 1914 that is "against war and its preparation" (IFOR n.d.) with "branches, affiliates and groups in more than 40 countries" (NP n.d.), "who has been monitoring issues of military service and conscientious objection world-wide with a view to reporting [and] briefing treaty bodies and other UN mechanisms and procedures" indicated that "there are no provisions for alternate service" in Iran (IFOR 18 Mar. 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. 28 March 2014a. According to the latest Majlis ratification, military service for conscripts with a PHD falls 10 months. Once an individual is deemed exempt, they are issued a military exemption card, which identifies the reasons for their exemption. The decision to encourage women to join in the military effort may indicate an increasing demand for personnel or an effort to gain increased popu lar support for the Revolution. @media only screen and (min-device-width : 320px) and (max-device-width : 480px) { However, when a Baha'i marries a person from any other religion, the identity documents may not indicate the marriage. 2014]. 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. Certified Copies Available:Not available. Issuing Authority Personnel Title: There is no issuing authority personnel title. I am wondering if the military record is a requirement docume. As of 2019, the Iranian armed forces number about 525,000 troops, of whom about 250,000 [mostly in the Army] were conscripts. 2014b)]. 4. Al-Monitor reports that 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). Tehran's forces had more combat experience in mobile conventional warfare than their Gulf Arab rivals, but that experience was rapidly aging. First, it separated homosexuality from transsexuality and no longer categorized transsexuality as a form of sexual perversion, and transsexuals were thus afforded the right to permanent military exemption. Some indicate why the cardholder was exempted from military service. (Denmark Feb. 2013, 70). G-4 and G-5 applicants are not required to apply at U.S. Embassy Bern or U.S. Embassy Vienna. The law, however, provides exemptions in certain circumstances. The 1955 U.S.-Iran Treaty of Amity, Economic Relations, and Consular Rights is now terminated. Iran now has a largely conscripted force with limited military training and little combat experience. 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). Sina Azodi. It was commented that young dissatisfied individuals could be perceived as a potential source of unrest by the authorities. Diplomatic Sales Tax Exemption Cards The Department's Office of Foreign Missions (OFM) issues diplomatic tax exemption cards to eligible foreign missions and their accredited members and dependents on the basis of international law and reciprocity. (Iran n.d.b). 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. 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). Consequently, the U.S. Department of State no longer has a basis under U.S. law to issue E-1 or E-2 visas to principal applicants who are nationals of Iran. [Accessed 13 Mar. What is the general policy for people who wish to obtain visas to come to the United States (U.S.)? The bill was later modified in the 1980s after Iraqi dictator Saddam Husseins invasion of Iran in 1980; it states that its the duty of all Iranians to defend Irans independence and territorial integrity. 2014], British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). being the only son of the family. Mexican nationals are not visa-exempt. For example, those who are accepted to universities are exempted while at school but are required to sign up after they graduate. I was a 19-year-old high school graduate when I was ordered to report at 4 am to the headquarters of the Law Enforcement Department of the Draft in downtown Tehran. [Accessed 13 Mar. 2014], United States (US). Document Name:Sanad-e Talagh (Divorce Certificate). 2014], Iran Human Rights Documentation Center (IHRDC). 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. Sources indicate that the duration of compulsory military service ranges from 18 to 24 months (BBC 26 Dec. 2013; Al-Monitor 19 Dec. 2013). 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. 2014], _____. If the original booklet is lost, a handwritten transcript from the registry office may be acceptable. By With respect to educational exemptions, Chapter 4, Article 33 states that, 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. 2014], Human Rights Watch. A 2013 UK Home Office Country of Origin Information Report indicates that, according to a translation of 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 (UK 26 Sept. 2013, 56); being "the sole caretaker of a parent, a minor or ill sibling or ill grandparents" (IHRDC 7 Nov. 2014) or, according to Al-Monitor, only children caring for parents (19 Dec. 2013); being "a man who has demonstrated exceptional scholastic achievement" (IHRDC 7 Nov. 2014); Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) states that members of the Basij are exempt from military service (19 June 2009), while an article in the Middle East Journal indicates that this is a "possibility" if they are active in the Basij for 5 years or more (30 June 2013); "those who work in industries vital to the government or military" may also be exempt, according to Al-Monitor (19 Dec. 2013).