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Original poster

Travel to US having been to Iran - ESTA

71 replies

Aridane · 15/04/2019 13:27

Has anyone who has visited Iran been to the US since 2016 - ie when the US disbarred from ESTA anyone who since 2011 had been to any of the countries on the naughty list (including Iran)? And did you declare your visit on the ESTA form or get a visa?

I went to Iran in 2015 but since then have a shiny new passport and was wondering whether just to tick 'no' on the ESTA form – but don't know the extent to which authorities / airlines etc exchange information. (I know, I know- and expect to get slated for even expressing that as a possibility).

Or if you got a visa, how difficult was it to get and how long did it take?

Many thanks!

OP posts:
bellinisurge · 15/04/2019 16:34

Scroll down the page.

bellinisurge · 15/04/2019 16:35

https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/

This page BlushGrin

AlunWynsKnee · 15/04/2019 16:35

It may be that if you flew with a carrier that flies into the US that the carrier has to submit manifests for certain routes as a condition of being able to land in the USA.
So if you flew Air France to Iran they might have to submit manifests of that flight so they can fly to the USA. It may only be US citizens.

babyblackbird · 15/04/2019 16:45

Do you really want to run the risk of being turned away at immigration? I guess it comes down to that.

Have also just remembered that my Dad has an existing valid ESTA which was suddenly and unexpectedly revoked without warning which led to all of this. He has declared his trip to Iran 🇮🇷 on the application and it obviously got flagged somewhere and he got an email informing him his ESTA was revoked with immediate effect.

bellinisurge · 15/04/2019 16:48

I've been to the US loads and have US family. They are randomly hostile to anyone. Because that's their job.
ESTA is only part of the process to get in. Then there is APR. And even at the border they can reject you. Because they are entitled to do this. What with it being their border. Dick around and lie and see where it gets you.

madeyemoodysmum · 15/04/2019 16:52

God never lie to US

My mum travelled all the way to Florida to be turned away on arrival as she had a driving offence from 1960. Driving with out insurance. Not worth the risk.

They knew everything!!!! This was in the 90’s.

Sunshine1239 · 15/04/2019 17:22

People really need to research.

Estas are not checked. They are an automated response. The US embassy in the UK can’t even access anyone’s individual police records so the USA has no chance! That’s why, when you go the US embassy in London, you have to take your police record with you. There are no such things as spent records with the US.

Every case you hear whereby someone has been sent back it’s because they’ve admitted it on questioning at immigration. Unless youre on Interpol your name won’t flag at all. API runs a check of your name from the flight manifesto - unless you’re on Interpol then it doesn’t show. That’s why you get some people going the press when they’ve been refused boarding for no reason - it’s because their name matches someone on Interpol so they’re refused - and if you research they usually very common Muslim (by origin) names.

To previous poster, I bet she admitted it! DH has a drink drive ban from his younger days and was fine. Driving vans don’t even stop you getting an ESTA - it’s only for moral turpitude crimes. Our friend came with us 2 years ago and had served time for GBH in the last 5 years! It’s rubbish. If they ask and you say yes but...... your knackered.

ImHastingsDarling · 15/04/2019 17:28

This is an interesting thread

Original poster
Aridane · 15/04/2019 17:33

NoW I'm really confused .

I get that the ESTA is automated.

However, is there a separate form of checking at immigration?

Everyone other than sunshine seems to think yes - but that seems to suggest a level of joinepvthinking not yet known to man.

Also, the US regulation was retrospective - ie it was 2016 legislation but relating to travel from 2011. So the US would need to have flight manifests roc for prior to 2016.

OP posts:
Original poster
Aridane · 15/04/2019 17:33

joined up thinking

OP posts:
Sunshine1239 · 15/04/2019 17:36

I’m guessing for travel they’d know because of passport stamps?

Think about how many people go the US from all over the world, they can’t possibly check to that detail

If they rely on honesty with the criminal record question - to an extent- then I’m guessing a it’s the same for prior visits,

Tho still, if I had time I’d go down visa route just to avoid the worry!

Original poster
Aridane · 15/04/2019 17:39

My preference would be the visa route - however, won't be able to get the visa in time...

OP posts:
babyblackbird · 15/04/2019 17:41

I agree that it does appear automated having applied for an esta myself but there is obviously a level of background checking going on to actually revoke an existing valid esta that had been issued.

fikel · 15/04/2019 17:43

My husband who is Iranian but has British citizenship had to apply for a visa they wouldn’t except an ESTA. This is despite him not having been back in a looooong time and his Iranian passport not being current.
I always think honesty is the best policy

TSSDNCOP · 15/04/2019 17:50

I’d declare it. You have no idea what US Customs will chose to care about on a given day, and as a frequent traveller post-Teump they have been given free rein to up their cuntism to stupid levels. About 6 months ago I stood as they made a flight from the Philippines requeue because they “couldn’t understand them”.

Earlier though at the height of the Ebola crisis I heard one at JFK ask the Swedish women in front of me if Sweden was near Liberia.

cariadlet · 15/04/2019 18:01

We went to the US a few years ago after having previously been to Iran on holiday. I think some of the other places we'd been to were also on the US banned list.

We declared everything because we didn't want to get turned back on arrival. We had to make an appointment at the US embassy.

It was a pain because dd needed a day of school and dp and I had to take time off work. Security to get in was very OTT and we sat around in various queues for hours.

But the actual interview was short and relaxed. Basically not much more than "Why did you go?" "It looked an interesting place for a holiday" "OK". We were granted visas straight away.

bellinisurge · 15/04/2019 18:09

If you don't get a visa and are caught in a lie, you will never get in again. Your choice.

AnnaDine · 15/04/2019 18:43

I have a friend who has traveled to Iran and then applied for a visa for the US - had an interview and said had no issues and the new visa for the US is for 10 years (Irish - not a U.K. passport holder though). Was a regularish traveler to Iran for work.

I’m planning on going to Iran next year! Want to go to Isfahan and Shiraz. Can’t wait.

LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD · 15/04/2019 18:45

I wouldn’t lie but you should be ok. I’ve got relatives that skip back and forth fine (various passports/nationalities).

LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD · 15/04/2019 18:46

fikel - was he travelling on a uk passport though?

Kilash · 15/04/2019 18:49

I visited Iran in 2000, then visited the US in 2016 and 2018 so applied for 2 ESTA's as I had to renew passport in between. TBH, when I looked at the form I didn't tick anything bcuase from what I recall it says 'visited in the last 5 years' so felt ok not ticking it. I have not been challenged.If you went in 2015, you should apply for a visa.

Original poster
Aridane · 15/04/2019 19:00

Anna - you will have a wonderful time!

OP posts:
bliminy · 15/04/2019 19:03

So you'll probably get into the US no problem - as people keep saying the ESTA is automated.

But for example, if in future you do have to apply for a US visa for any reason, or even want to live there, then you may have to declare all of your travel abroad. At that point they may cross-reference with the fact that since your trip to Iran you travelled to the US without bothering to get the required visa.

You need to think past this one trip to the US, and consider the long-term repercussions of lying.

LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD · 15/04/2019 19:11

Never lie - I’d just look guilty! I did ponder just leaving an Wendy fact our last time I filled out one of these (they forms had changes and I hadn’t been asked before) and decided not to be economical with the truth (dual passport).

Absolutely nothing happened! But then again maybe it was the airline (for once we didn’t get the ‘absolutely random checks’ several time each leg and didn’t even speak to a human when we got off the plane (we did at one point but the other check was by a passport and retina scan at a machine).

ScouseQueen · 15/04/2019 19:13

I applied for an ESTA during the last year and while everyone says they're automated, most come through instantly but some don't and mine was one - got me quite worried at the time. I hadn't ticked anything to mark me out, or been anywhere they don't like. It came through a few hours later but I don't know why the delay - some people suggested that applications are randomly selected to be checked. That would make sense in terms of limited resources, and it's what I'd be worried about in your shoes.