Afghan immigrants in Iran encountered a significant challenge with visa extension. Those arriving from Afghanistan with a visa were unable to extend it. The inability to extend the visa left them with two choices: returning to Afghanistan or staying illegally in Iran, resulting in the invalidation of their passports. While some individuals succeeded in extending their visas, Tehran was not the place to do so. They had to seek extension options in remote cities and outskirts with lower immigrant inflows.
When traveling from Afghanistan to Iran, individuals are typically issued six types of visas: commercial, tourist, medical, pilgrimage, educational, and entry visas. The educational visa is specifically designed for students and has its own set of requirements. The commercial visa has two forms: single entry, similar to the other visas, and special visas for traders, enabling them to travel freely between the two countries for a specific duration. These visas are generally valid for one or three months. Visa holders must return to Afghanistan upon visa expiration and, if they intend to stay in Iran, they must seek renewal.
Until recently, visa extensions for Afghan migrants posed a significant challenge. This situation further complicated the lives of those who had fled Taliban rule and sought refuge in Iran, as they struggled to find stability. However, since April of this year, the restrictions on visa extension have been lifted, bringing hope for a continued positive trend. Currently, migrants can extend their visas by visiting the “Foreign Nationals’ Sponsorship Office” in the respective provinces. The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for visa issuance, while the Ministry of Interior oversees the extension process. Visas can now be extended for nine months, in three-month intervals. This means that individuals planning to extend their visas must make three visits to the Sponsorship Office, with each visit resulting in a three-month extension. Upon completing the extension period, visa holders are required to leave Iran; otherwise, their presence will be deemed illegal, leading to the invalidation of their passports. The following two examples illustrate the challenges and ease experienced during the visa extension process.
1. Mohammad Nasim (pseudonym), a council member in one of the provinces who also served as the council’s chairman for two years, shares his challenging experience with visa extension in Iran. Despite his status and connections with Iranian authorities, he faced difficulties in overcoming the visa extension hurdle. After the fall of the previous government in August 2021, he entered Iran with an “Entry Visa” valid for three months. However, he encountered obstacles when trying to extend his visa after its expiration. Despite visiting various migrant-related addresses, he couldn’t succeed. In a desperate attempt, he entrusted his passport to someone with connections to specific government offices and sent it to another city for renewal, instead of his place of residence. The situation turned bitter when he failed to renew his passport within the promised timeframe. For nearly six months, his passport remained in the custody of an office where he had submitted it for renewal. Despite persistent follow-ups, he couldn’t ascertain the fate of his passport. Although he enrolled in university, got accepted, attended classes, and completed courses, he never received any updates on passport renewal. It’s important to note that during the initial stages of university enrollment in Iran, the original passport is not required, and a scanned copy of the first page suffices. Unfortunately, Nasim couldn’t utilize the educational visa issued through the university due to the unavailability of his passport.
In the latter half of June 2022, while occupied with university exams, he received a call from the police station, informing him that they had extended his visa for six months. He could obtain the extended visa by paying one million Tomans. After the visa extension, a six-day grace period was granted to him to leave Iran soil; otherwise, his passport would become invalid. Despite submitting a second request for a student visa at the university, he had no choice but to secretly travel to Afghanistan. Fortunately, after a week, he obtained a student visa from the Iranian Consulate in Herat province and returned to Iran. Finally, he applied for a residence permit at the university and obtained the necessary documentation. The courses for which he couldn’t take exams were deferred to the next term, requiring him to retake them.
2. Ahmad Faiq (pseudonym) resides in Balkh province and has led a life free from the hardships of rural areas. He successfully completed his studies at Balkh University’s Islamic Studies Faculty in the 2022-2023 academic year. However, with the return of the Taliban, life has become challenging, leading him to seek refuge in Iran. It’s important to note that his family’s livelihood does not rely on him. He entered Iran with a one-month visa, intending to use it as a transit route for his journey to Turkey and then Europe. On June 7, 2022, he arrived in Iran, having made prior smuggling arrangements with a trusted individual.
After spending a few days in Tehran, he embarked on a journey with the smuggler toward the Turkish border. They stayed in Tabriz for a few days since it served as a hub for individuals planning to smuggle into Turkey. The overcrowded hostel, lack of facilities, and the irresponsible behavior of smugglers made for harrowing tales that required great courage to hear. Reports of strict border control and videos showcasing the harsh treatment of Turkish border police towards migrants circulated on social media. Despite the smuggler’s assurance of safe transportation after a few days of waiting, he remained skeptical and desired to return to Tehran. However, the smuggler obstructed him and demanded $500, even though the journey from Tehran to Tabriz was the only leg the smuggler facilitated. Unable to provide the money, he was left with no choice but to escape. In the dead of night, while everyone was asleep, he fled from the hostel, leaving behind his clothes and other belongings that he couldn’t carry.
Upon his arrival in Tehran, he endeavors to extend his visa. He visits the Foreign Nationals’ Sponsorship Office situated in the Qala-e Hasan Khan area, Shahrak-e-Qods district, Tehran. Initially skeptical about the possibility of extending his visa, he submits his passport to the office where the officials register it in their system and provide him with an appointment. Three days later, he returns to the office and retrieves his passport, now extended for three months. He reveals that there is potential to extend the visa for a total of nine months in three intervals. As part of the visa extension process, he has paid a fee of 200,000 Tomans, a seemingly trivial amount considering the past challenges and restrictions. Currently, he is in pursuit of employment in Iran, having abandoned his plans to go to Turkey and Europe after experiencing the perils of such a journey firsthand.
Afghan migrants arriving in Iran have minimal expectations from the Iranian government, with visa extension being their foremost concern. The ongoing visa extension process in Iran is crucial for their well-being, and it is hoped that it will continue without interruption.