US embassy cable - 04AMMAN5088

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 005088 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/21/2014 
TAGS: PREL, IZ, JO 
SUBJECT: IRAQ MISSION IN AMMAN: NO INSTRUCTIONS FOR VISA 
REQUIREMENT AFTER JUNE 30 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Edward Gnehm for reasons 1.5(b), (d). 
 
1.  (U) Recent international press articles reported that the 
Iraq Ministry of Interior (MOI) will require visas for all 
foreigners visiting Iraq after June 30.  One article quoted 
Hadi Muhanna, Iraq MOI travel department director, that 
"without exception" all foreign visitors must apply for visas 
at Iraqi embassies abroad.  Once in Iraq, visitors will have 
to report their presence to the MOI within a week.  Also, 
according to the press, land border posts and Baghdad 
international airport will not issue temporary visas after 
June 30. 
 
2.  (C) Iraq Charge in Amman, Ma'an Barakat, told PolOff on 
June 21 that he was aware of the new regulation only through 
the press.  He has not received any instructions from the MOI 
regarding a new visa requirement, but did not doubt the press 
reports given poor communications with Iraq ministries other 
than the MFA.  According to Barakat, the Iraq Mission in 
Amman, at present, does not have the ability to issue visas. 
He also did not know what the new visa would look like nor 
the fees, if any, to charge to visa applicants after June 30. 
 Barakat said that he hoped to receive instructions soon and 
would contact post to inform us of the visa application 
procedures and requirements once he knew them. 
 
3.  (U) Baghdad minimize considered. 
 
Visit Embassy Amman's classified website at 
 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman/ 
 
or access the site through the State Department's SIPRNET 
home page. 
GNEHM