People who were born in Australia but whose father has a citizenship to Iraq, Iran, Sudan or Syria, will have a tougher time getting permission to travel to the USA.
The US government has rolled out two major changes to its visa waiver certificate, ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation), which makes it slightly tougher for recent visitors to these four countries or passport holders from entering the ‘land of the free’.
Effective immediately, anyone travelling to the USA, who is a citizen of a country included in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) – this includes us Aussies – who is also a citizen of Iran, Iraq, Sudan and Syria cannot enter the country under the VWP.
To visit the US, these dual-citizens will now need to obtain a visitor visa. This will require making the trip to the US consulate and receiving formal approval.
Note, the rule doesn’t just apply to those with a second passport, it applies to anyone with a citizenship to Iran, Iraq, Sudan or Syria.
Also, any individual, irrespective of where they were born or currently live, is considered an Iranian, Iraqi, Sudan or Syrian citizen if their father was born in that country.
This means, an Australian who was born in Australia to a father who was born in one of the countries listed above will no longer be able to travel to the US under the VWP.
ADDITIONALLY, anyone who wishes to travel to the US but has visited Iran, Iraq, Sudan or Syria in the last three years (or since 1 March 2011), will need to obtain a visitor visa.
People who meet the above criteria who already have an ESTA will receive an email (see below) advising them that they will no longer be able to travel to the country with the certificate.
The US noted that there are exceptions to the rule and that it will not apply to those who visited the countries as part of military, as an aid worker or to visit friends and family. The government said tourists would also be exempt from the rule.
While the situation in Syria and Iraq calls for tougher security, the situation in Iran remains relatively stable, raising question marks over why Iranians were included in the new policy.
It comes as a blow to Iran’s nascent tourism industry, which is welcoming more Australian visitors every year.
Tempo Holidays revealed last year it would resume tours in the country after seeing demand from Aussie tourists. APT also launched its first ‘Jewels of Persia’ itinerary, taking guests Budapest to Iran’s capital city, Tehran.
