Updates
The visa service "IranianVisa.com" promises wait times for visas ranging between 7 and 10 days. They don't grant the visas, per se. Rather, they use contacts to prearrange authorization, then send you a code that you take to your chosen embassy or consulate for final approval. Granted, their conversion percentage for Canadian applications is low (41%) but they are quick to add "The results have been much bette [sic] for Canadians, recently." Well, I applied for my visa on August 3, 2007. Now I'm told it should be in any day, probably Sunday. Yes, except that's just the thing I've been told for months... and of course, everyone is closed Sunday. Did they really mean Monday? Or were they just deliberately wasting my time? I suspect the latter. Of course, it might be prudent for me to stick around until Monday to see if the code arrives (Istanbul is the destination I chose to arrange the paperwork), but the code just isn't coming. It's not. I could try another service, but that means another lengthy and expensive application, then I'm back to waiting while winter approaches. No, I'm off to Ankara tomorrow. There, I'll perhaps try again for the Iranian visa, but I'll also begin the process for Syria... another guessing game and bureaucratic nightmare.
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