Travel/visa info for Iran and Pakistan please
Hi all
My boyfriend (baronbolton) and I are heading off in September, India bound on two bikes (yet to be purchased). We decided on this trip, and a route through the middle east, only this weekend while at the Ripley meet (rather guttingly missed the special additional meet in the Amazonia room for specifically this route - and I am pretty sure quite a few people are planning this!). No real nitty gritty planning has taken place - and we're running short of time. Arghhh! Can you help please?
Given the ever-changing situation in the middle east can anyone help us with recent experience or info on the following:
1. How does the escort system work for crossing Pakistan? From where to where? Is it free? Will we definitely have to ride with escorts, and do they do ungodly speeds and long hours? Do we have any control? Is there anyway round this - like sticking the bikes on the back of a truck if need be?
2. We are in the fortunate position of each having two passports, and are trying to figure out how the border crossing/passport control for Iran/Pakistan/India works. Could we get away with our visa for Iran being in a different passport to the one for Pakistan, or will the Pakistan officials wonder how the hell we could stay in Iran if no visa is present in the passport we hand over. I ask this question because we are anxious about timings for getting these visas and it might help if we can get one in each passport.
3. As I understand it:
Iranian visa: Apply through visa company for authorisation code which arrives in 5-7 days, then take all paperwork with code to embassy in London as early as possible to join queue and get visa which is sent back in passport about 10 days later. Valid for 90 days from issue, for a 30 day entry.
Pakistan visa: Apply through a visa company who will need 3 months bank statements, a letter from our employers to say we have a leave of absence, forms etc, and it should be back with us in about 10 days. Valid for 90 days from issue, for a 30 day entry.
Is THIS RIGHT, and is there ANYTHING ELSE we need to know?
Any information will be greatly received, and much appreciated!
Ta very muchly.
Char x
__________________
Don't be scared your life may end,
Be scared that it may never begin.......
|