American Traveling to Iran without Tour

You have got the authorisation number? Without being signed up for a tour? Looks like your hsuband's sister has succeeded in getting you a tour-less visa for a US national. Perhaps you could let us know how she actually did this. (And by my interpretation, no, you won't be required to be on a tour)

Yes, I have an authorization number without being signed up for a tour. I am supposed to apply for my visa now. It sounds like my husband who is an Iranian citizen (and US citizen) will be my sponsor. I could have applied for an Iranian passport but was not comfortable with what I had to do, so we are trying the visa method. I will post back on how this all goes.

well it is an interesting case study, normally you cannot do that but never say never in Iran. Please post if you actually get a visa! In general ALL US nationals can only travel on tourist visas as part of a tour and as part of that tour you are always with the guide. No really free time, no wandering by yourself - it can happen but that is the "official policy"

Hi dmcneal95125.

Did you successfully get your visa?

Is the key to obtain an authorization number and then the rest is easy? Pls advise as I am looking to travel to Iran this year (British) and would also like to avoid being part of an organised tour group)

Thanks,
Priya

Hi d.
It's been months, but if you don't mind, why didn't you want to get an Iranian visa?

Thanks!

Hi Priya, how did you get on? I'm British / Canadian, and don't want to travel in a group either. Wonder what you ended up doing, and if there's a way around it?
Thanks.

Hi kalikalooti,
It all got very difficult for us in the end and we have decided to go to Ethiopia instead.

The main considerations were that -
1. my boyfriend and I only had a two-week window in which to travel, which couldn't be moved due to work commitments, and although I think we would have gotten a visa had we had infinite amounts of time and flexibility, we decided that this wasn't quite the case on such a strict timeline. And so was too risky. Plus, both of us travel regularly for work, so couldn't be without our passports for too long.

1. It also all started looking like it would get quite expensive - there was both the visa application to pay + the visa stamping fee + having to pay an agency to coordinate this as there is no consulate service in the UK at present.

2. Lastly, the embassy in London re-opened very recently and there is a rumour that the consulate is due to re-open this year. So bearing that in mind, we decided that the whole process would probably be MILES easier if we were patient and waited a year or so.

Apologies for not being very helpful - hope you make it over!

Thanks,
Priya

Hi Priya, thanks a lot for getting back so quickly! Your decision makes a lot of sense.

I've been keen to go for a couple of years now but only just started looking into things seriously, so hopefully will figure out a way - I do face a lot of the same issues as you highlighted.

Have fun in Ethiopia - it sounds very exciting too!

This topic has been automatically locked due to inactivity. Email community@lonelyplanet.com if you would like to add to this topic and we'll unlock it for you.