UkraineAlert sources analysis and commentary from a wide-array of thought-leaders, politicians, experts, and activists from Ukraine and the global community. The reciprocity fee and period for "TD" applicants from Libya is $10.00 for one entry over a period of 3 months. Asking for the military exemption card is just a convenient way to refuse you. (Factiva), _____. Few draft dodgers, if any, were sent to jail; the normal procedure was to fine them the equivalent of US$75 (1986 exchange rate). (Photo by Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto). The death certificate issued by the physician, hospital, or cemetery official; or the presence of two witnesses before the relevant civil registration office. For those who live in the country, paying to avoid military service has not always been offered" (Al-Monitor 19 Dec. 2013). Thousands of Iranians attend a funeral for 150 Iran-Iraq war (1980-88) unknown Martyrs that have found by the Iranian Martyrs investigation group in the war main field 34-years after a ceasefire between Iran and Iraq in 1988. 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. 2014). The undated website of the Iranian Embassy in The Hague states that. IranSource About 3,000,000 were rejected for physical reasons But it became the rule in many induction centers that if there were any doubt at all as to whether a registrant would perform satisfactorily, he should be rejected. Some indicate why the cardholder was exempted from military service. OFFICIAL TRANSLATION FROM PERSIAN Emblem Police Administration of the Islamic Republic of Iran MILITARY SERVICE EXEMPTION CARD This card is valid only for peace period Scanned photo of the Holder National ID No. The IHRDC reports on doctors who have written letters to the Military Service Office indicating that the individual seeking a military exemption based on sexual preference needed "sex-reassignment surgery" (IHRDC 19 June 2013). 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. In the past, a consistent weakness of the armed forces had been the high illiteracy rate among conscripts and volunteers. Irans interest in developing a nuclear deterrent is often attributed to the Islamic Republic. Certificates for marriages and divorces prior to 1921 can be obtained only from ecclesiastical authorities. Military card for Turkish applicants are not required. Comments: Available but unreliable. All pages of the document are required for immigrant visa processing. The first compulsory military service bill was passed ninety-six years ago, during the reign of Reza Shah Pahlavi. [Accessed 25 Mar. 2014). Those who avoid call-up for military service are considered deserters. The new version presents the spouses information on two facing pages and the childrens information on a subsequent page. 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. The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran and Small Media were unable to provide information for this Response. Sources note that refusing to serve in the army without an exemption can result in not being granted a driver's license (IHRDC 7 Nov. 2013; Human Rights Watch Dec. 2010, 23). Iranian medical exemption laws for military service are indications of legal discrimination against homosexual and transsexual people in Iran. Registration Criteria:Proof of Iranian citizenship. Like most draftees around the world, Iranians are eager return to civilian life as soon as their mandatory enlistment ends. Allowing such people to travel to the United States can also be an effective tool to counter the propaganda of the Islamic Republic, which positions the US as the enemy of Iranians. Out of the manpower pool of registrants about 17,000,000 available at that time, over 10,000,000 were drafted [the total number who served was over 16,000,000, as younger men became of draft age]. Procedure for Obtaining: Iranian nationals over the age of 15 apply for the card at any local branch of the National Organization for Civil Registration in Iran. The IHRDC indicates that this applies to both secondary and university students that are attending classes (IHRDC 7 Nov. 2013). Follow him on Twitter@Azodiac83. Copyright notice: This document is published with the permission of the copyright holder and producer Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB). 2014]. 7 Nov. 2013). Sources indicate that the duration of compulsory military service ranges from 18 to 24 months (BBC 26 Dec. 2013; Al-Monitor 19 Dec. 2013). If the person does not return to Iran, the amount is taken by the authorities. The IFOR Main Representative to the UN stated that, no case has been recorded of anyone claiming exemption from the military authorities on the grounds of conscientious objection, but as conscientious objection is not recognised by the military authorities, conscientious objectors would not be treated as such; no sanctions would explicitly address conscientious objection. If you wish to remain on travel.state.gov, click the "cancel" message. 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). 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). New military ID cards list the subsection of the law dictating their exemption on their ID cards, which identifies them as gay or transgender and puts them at risk of physical danger and general discrimination. are an Iranian national with a valid Iranian passport, and. Thus far, this regulation is expected to be in effect up to 04/11/1390 [24 January 2012 (Taghvim.com 28 Mar. 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). 2014], Denmark and Norway. There are limited exemptions available but the option to buy out of military service has been reintroduced for some people. However, unlike their government, which has hostile relations with the United States, many of these draftees yearn to pursue a better life in the US and fulfill their dreams. With the 1979 with drawal of foreign military and civilian advisers, particularly from the United States and Pakistan, the operation, maintenance, and logistical functioning of armed forces' equipment was hampered by a critical shortage of skilled manpower. The law, however, provides exemptions in certain circumstances. Iranian applicants usually provide documents from their bank which show their total account holdings. A member of the budget committee in the Iranian parliament, Mohammad-Reza Mirtajodini, said the plan only includes the absentees who are living abroad and at least five years have passed from their conscription due date. 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). The US CIA World Factbook states that, as of 2012, the age of compulsory military service for men in Iran is 18 (US 26 Feb. 2014). Discrimination and Violence Against Sexual Minorities in Iran. Procedure for Obtaining: There is no procedure for obtaining. IranSource Visa Classification: The type of nonimmigrant visa you are applying for. Expansion and Clarification of Export Controls Targeting Russia and Belarus. 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). 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. [Accessed 20 Mar. 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. 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). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. Yet even the air force, which had developed training facilities for support personnel and homafars, was short of its real requirements. 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. 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). 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. (US 26 Feb. 2014). 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. 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). By 1986 the country's overall literacy rate was estimated at 50 percent, a dramatic improvement. However, because the Department anticipates that virtually all applicants for this special program will be either Irish or U.K. nationals, the Q-2 and Q-3 categories have been placed only in the reciprocity schedules for those two countries. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. 7 November 2013. By This fee is in addition to the nonimmigrant visa application fee (MRV fee). However, in reality, this interest predates the 1979 revolution and reflects a deep-seated desire for national prestige and development, as well as a need to deter regional rivals. Rising tensions between Israel and Iran have reached an alarming stage in recent weeks. 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. In general males are expected to serve for a period of 20 months and for service in impoverished areas, the duration can last 24 months while service in boundary areas can last 22 months. I am from Iranian descent and I left/ fled Iran about 10 years ago when I was around 20 years old. (Iran n.d.a). The IHRDC says that "physicians charged with administering these evaluations likely recommended that these individuals seek exemption on the basis of transsexuality, not homosexuality, because of the Iranian government's more lenient attitude towards the former in contrast to the latter" (7 Nov. 2013). [Accessed 14 Mar. A copy of the military regulations governing medical exemptions in Iran could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. Number of Entries: The number of times you may seek entry into the United States with that visa. (A Muhaarib is someone who takes up arms against the Islamic government). . "Iran: Transgender People Are No Longer Classified as 'Mentally Sick'." Those seeking relief for medical reasons had to serve but were not sent on combat duty. 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. 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. 2014). Meanwhile, the director of the Human Resources Department of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Brigadier-General Mousa Kamali, has said that the fee amnesty program will not be renewed next year. 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. Under the pre-revolutionary law, temporary or permanent exemptions were provided for the physically disabled, hardship cases, convicted felons, students, and certain professions. Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. This effectively barred any Iranian who had served in the IRGCconscript or otherwisefrom entering the United States. Under the 1984 law, draft evaders were subject to restrictions for a period of up to ten years. This reflected the country-wide illiteracy rate, which stood at 60 percent in 1979. Alireza Heidary Roushi, Mitra Mahdavi-Mazdeh, Mahnaz Zamyadi. Fee: The reciprocity fee, also known as the visa issuance fee, you must pay. . The "employer" would have one of the following visa classifications: An E-1 and E-2 visa may be issued only to a principal alien who is a national of a country having a treaty, or its equivalent, with the United States. being the only son of the family. G-4 and G-5 applicants are not required to apply at U.S. Embassy Bern or U.S. Embassy Vienna. In 2007 the Basij had about 300,000 personnel, including 40,000 active personnel; they were authorized to carry small arms only. 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). The old version presents the spouses information on the top half of two facing pages, with the childrens information on the bottom half of the same pages. The IHRDC indicates that, "[i]n particular, gay men and transsexual persons who obtain military exemption due to their sexual orientation are at a significant disadvantage" because their cards for military exemption indicate the reason as "a psychological disorder" (IHRDC 7 Nov. 2013). The validity of E-2C visas shall not exceed the maximum initial period of admission allowed by DHS (24 months) or the duration of the transition period ending December 31, 2014, whichever is shortest. However, all other applicants with U.S. Government sponsorships, including other J-visa applicants, are subject to the MRV processing fee. 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). 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" ( Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA), 26 December 2013). Of that number, an estimated 220,000 were conscripts. 2014], Human Rights Watch. 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 birth certificate booklet and national identification card of the deceased (if available); The birth certificate of the deceaseds spouse (if applicable); and. Under 8 CFR 214.2, H-2A and H-2B petitions may generally only be approved for nationals of countries that the Secretary of Homeland Security has designated as participating countries. 18 March 2014. Registration Criteria: Iranian citizenship, completed application form with photos, and payment of fees. 2023 Atlantic Council 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. Police records are not required for immigrant visa applicants because posts cannot verify them.