Very interesting- thanks!
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Wow, you climbed the tower with the much longer walk up? I salute you. We looked at that one, said "no ma'am" and happily followed our guide to the other tower. There were still a few other tour groups around that day so if you had the whole place to yourself January must be when things really quiet down. Originally Posted by netllama
Yup, and I was the only person up there the entire time:
I'm enjoying the write-up on your blog.
Great report and great photos. Thank you for taking the time to post. Hopefully, the chance for US citizens won't be lost for too long.
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I'm enjoying the write-up on your blog.
Originally Posted by luluv
Wow, you climbed the tower with the much longer walk up? I salute you. We looked at that one, said "no ma'am" and happily followed our guide to the other tower. There were still a few other tour groups around that day so if you had the whole place to yourself January must be when things really quiet down. I'm enjoying the write-up on your blog.
The walk wasn't all that much longer. The incentive was having it all to myself, so it was worth it.
Glad you're enjoying the trip report.
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While I was still in Iran, the rumor was that the ban on Americans would be lifted in the summer, assuming no more "provocations" from Trump. I have no clue what the forthcoming "new" ban on Iranians will do to those plans.Originally Posted by travellingwineO
Great report and great photos. Thank you for taking the time to post. Hopefully, the chance for US citizens won't be lost for too long.
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I doubt visiting Iran as a tourist will affect your chance of getting a US visa. I entered the US at three different border checkpoints over the last 2 weeks and had no issues whatsoever despite my previous recent travel to Iran, Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan, Iraq etc. My US visa interview was also all of two questions despite disclosing all my previous 'exotic' travel.Originally Posted by blueferrari
to be honest, I am interested to go to Iran for some time, but with US travel ban, it's got more complicated than ever before. I keep hearing things that US visa application would be impossible if we entered the banned countries. I also remember reading Dwight Yorke barred from entering US after official noticed Iran stamps in his passport. to complicate the matter more, I happen to be muslim although not from the banned countries.
People from visa waiver countries will have to apply for a US visa if they travel to Iran. A bit of an inconvenience but they will typically give you a 10 year B-1/B-2 visa so saves having to apply for the ESTA every 2 years though.
Dwight Yorke got denied entry into the US because he did not follow the rules, i.e. his previous visit to Iran made him ineligible for the visa waiver program and he should have applied for a US visa in advance (like myself).
Great pics and writeup. Wanted to read more but the link to the blog is apparently broken (404): http://netllama.linux-sxs.org/llamaland/?p=2155
Also, did they stamp US passports?
Also, did they stamp US passports?
My cousin and I spent a year in Iran, when his father worked for Bell Helicopter, we lived in Tehran in June 1978- Sept 1979. It was a great time to be in Tehran the people and food were incredible. Watching the Movie Argo was interesting, since that is how my Uncle got out of Iran, as he was stuck in Iran when the American Hostages were taken.
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Also, did they stamp US passports?
I'm not able to reproduce the 404, and I see many people loading that page without issues. I'm guessing something is wrong on your end perhaps?Originally Posted by Ryu2
Great pics and writeup. Wanted to read more but the link to the blog is apparently broken (404): http://netllama.linux-sxs.org/llamaland/?p=2155Also, did they stamp US passports?
Yes, they stamp US passports on both entry & exit. They also put a full page visa sticker in there, so there's absolutely no way that it wouldn't be obvious that you travelled to Iran.
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Yes, they stamp US passports on both entry & exit. They also put a full page visa sticker in there, so there's absolutely no way that it wouldn't be obvious that you travelled to Iran.
I wonder if you will get that dreaded SSS on your boarding passing moving forward when traveling in the USOriginally Posted by netllama
I'm not able to reproduce the 404, and I see many people loading that page without issues. I'm guessing something is wrong on your end perhaps?Yes, they stamp US passports on both entry & exit. They also put a full page visa sticker in there, so there's absolutely no way that it wouldn't be obvious that you travelled to Iran.
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I'm guessing you mean SSSS ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second...ning_Selection ) ? Anyway, I'll find out this week, as I'm flying out of the country on business for a few days.Originally Posted by FlightNurse
I wonder if you will get that dreaded SSS on your boarding passing moving forward when traveling in the US
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Really glad to hear someone actually read my trip report. Originally Posted by netllama
Much of this trip was partly inspired by a trip report ( http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-...americans.html ) posted last year, and I am grateful to them for all the details that they included.
Sounds like you had an amazing trip, and you're lucky you took the opportunity and went when you did. The cost of a private tour makes it expensive to go for a long time, and I wish we could have spent even more time there. I'm glad you were able to go for so long.
Your experience with the various tour companies sounds familiar. The level of professionalism certainly isn't there for some of these companies. Glad you had a great guide and many authentic experiences with the locals.
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We've never had SSSS on our boarding passes in the 10 months since our Iran trip. Not that we're hiding anything, but I don't think the US has it anywhere in their system that we went to Iran. The CBP kiosk knew we were coming in from Doha on a QR flight. They no longer use the blue forms where you write in the countries you visited.Originally Posted by FlightNurse
I wonder if you will get that dreaded SSS on your boarding passing moving forward when traveling in the US
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People from visa waiver countries will have to apply for a US visa if they travel to Iran. A bit of an inconvenience but they will typically give you a 10 year B-1/B-2 visa so saves having to apply for the ESTA every 2 years though.
Dwight Yorke got denied entry into the US because he did not follow the rules, i.e. his previous visit to Iran made him ineligible for the visa waiver program and he should have applied for a US visa in advance (like myself).
nice to know, thanks for this information.Originally Posted by DanielW
I doubt visiting Iran as a tourist will affect your chance of getting a US visa. I entered the US at three different border checkpoints over the last 2 weeks and had no issues whatsoever despite my previous recent travel to Iran, Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan, Iraq etc. My US visa interview was also all of two questions despite disclosing all my previous 'exotic' travel.People from visa waiver countries will have to apply for a US visa if they travel to Iran. A bit of an inconvenience but they will typically give you a 10 year B-1/B-2 visa so saves having to apply for the ESTA every 2 years though.
Dwight Yorke got denied entry into the US because he did not follow the rules, i.e. his previous visit to Iran made him ineligible for the visa waiver program and he should have applied for a US visa in advance (like myself).
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Sounds like you had an amazing trip, and you're lucky you took the opportunity and went when you did. The cost of a private tour makes it expensive to go for a long time, and I wish we could have spent even more time there. I'm glad you were able to go for so long.
Your experience with the various tour companies sounds familiar. The level of professionalism certainly isn't there for some of these companies. Glad you had a great guide and many authentic experiences with the locals.
We've never had SSSS on our boarding passes in the 10 months since our Iran trip. Not that we're hiding anything, but I don't think the US has it anywhere in their system that we went to Iran. The CBP kiosk knew we were coming in from Doha on a QR flight. They no longer use the blue forms where you write in the countries you visited.
Originally Posted by LAX_Esq
Really glad to hear someone actually read my trip report. Sounds like you had an amazing trip, and you're lucky you took the opportunity and went when you did. The cost of a private tour makes it expensive to go for a long time, and I wish we could have spent even more time there. I'm glad you were able to go for so long.
Your experience with the various tour companies sounds familiar. The level of professionalism certainly isn't there for some of these companies. Glad you had a great guide and many authentic experiences with the locals.
We've never had SSSS on our boarding passes in the 10 months since our Iran trip. Not that we're hiding anything, but I don't think the US has it anywhere in their system that we went to Iran. The CBP kiosk knew we were coming in from Doha on a QR flight. They no longer use the blue forms where you write in the countries you visited.
CBP definitely knew I was in Iran. The agent asked me how long I was in Iran.
While many airports have converted over to using the electronic kiosks, not all have. The airport that I flew into (SJC) has the kiosks, but they were not powered on, and I was forced to complete the stupid blue form.