CONFIDENTIAL
Gubraltar Conal Paper
(373
MUD
G/C PAPER NO.94/80
374
VISAS FOR IRANIANS
1.
At the European Community Foreign Ministers' meeting in Luxembourg on 22 April 1980 it was agreed that it would be left to individual members of the Community to decide whether or not -they would impose a visa requirement for Iranians wishing to
travel to their country.
2.
The United Kingdom Government decided that they would introduce such a requirement. On 12 May 1980 the Home Secretary laid an Order before the House of Commons amending the relevant rules, and a visa requirement for Iranian passport holders visiting the United Kingdom was reimposed with effect from 19 May 1980. The issue of vis as to Iranians is subject to the normal conditions and criteria laid down by the Home Office, but certain additional requirements have been introduced. The crucial requirement is that the applicant for a temporary visa must satisfy the visa issuing department that he will return home despite prosent, and possible worsening, social economic and political considerations in Iran, The principal other additional requirements are as follows:
(a) particular attention should be paid to checking the
United Kingdom visa warning list and any warning signs in the applicant's passport;
(b) the visa officer should satisfy himself that the
applicant has returnability (i.e. that the applicant is in possession of a travel document proving that he is able to return to Iran or to his country of residence if different);
(c) particular regard should be paid to the credibility of
the applicant's intentions in the United Kingdom and to his incentive to return to Iran, if he is normally resident there, or to his normal place of residence; (a) any application for a multiple-entry visa should be
referred to Immigration and Visa Department of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, as should any applications. for settlement or marriage;
(e) applicants wishing to begin a course of study in the
United Kingdom should be dealt with strictly according to paragraphs 21-22 of the Immigration Rules which were laid before Parliament on 20 February 1980 under section 3(2) of the Immigration Act 1971. Experience has shown that many applicants do not have the necessary academic qualifications or a realistic appreciation of their ability to follow a course of study in the United Kingdom. Availability of adequate funds in the United Kingdom should be closely checked. The student endorsement should not be used pending further instructions;
(1)
Iranians should not be granted a United Kingdom visa without referral if the purpose of the visit is to obtain a visa for the USA or another third country.
3. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office have asked the Govern- ments of Dependent Territories to apply requirements similar to those in (a) to (f) above to Iranians applying for visas for the United Kingdom. The question of imposing a visa requirement on Iranians wishing to visit Dependent Territories is being left to
/the
CONFIDENTIAL
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