pars_parast

It is my pleasure to be part of this forum. The intent of this thread is to educate myself on many factors that are associated with immigrating back to Iran. Even though I am Iranian and know my culture pretty well, I need to be reeducated into daily life back in Iran. I thank all of you Iranians whom live in Iran or travel frequently there who help me out. To make this easy for me to learn from, I will ask some questionsabout a topic and once I get an idea about different peoples views, I will ask some more questions. Please feel welcome to ask me anything you like. I will start by asking who is willing to help me out? Please respond with a short yes or something indicating so I know how many people will participate. God bless.

anette

SHOOT My impression is that people who are Iranian and want to go back have a more positive idea about how Iran is and people who live there can't wait to get out. People who have just come out of Iran deny they are Iranian and talk English and pretend they don't know persian, the ones who have come from Iran when they were young or are born to Iranian parents abroad are more keen to go to Iran and show they are Iranian or like to go to their mother land as it were. I may be wrong in my opinion but it is my opinion.

Have fun with your exploration

pars_parast

Dear Anette,

I guess these are the first things I want to know and if you or anyone else could go into detail or give examplesI would greatly appreciate it...Thank you so much.

1) Since I am going to be new to the area, I am going to need a job, which area is the best to live in to find work? I am most likely going to move to Tehran, but I am open for suggestions to some of the other big cities.
2) Where are the area or neighborhoods that I should stay AWAY from , for example where there is crime, dirty, very polluted?
3) When I get to Iran, I wont have a car right away, so does Iran have a good bus, taxi, train system like in China, Europe, or in America I can use to get around?
4) How is the internet access, do I have to go to a café or is internet available at home? If so how much is it?
5) Is the cell phone coverage good? Are there many providers to choose from? If not, what can I buy and where can I live besides Tehran to get the best coverage to call family and friends? Also are cell phones safe to use or does the government monitor them?

anette

I have not lived there for many years but I think your first source of information would be the Utube and PH there are so many various videos shown of the different questions that you have I am sure you will find some of your answers. I went to visit for two weeks about three years ago after 25 years, I went to Shiraz, there were some new builds and some new motorways are in Tehran.

I know the buses are full some standing and some seated and we were driving around in Shiraz and suddenly some idiot threw a quarter of melon at the screen of the driver sitting next to me, she got very flustered but we could not see where it came from. Generally it was fun and I enjoyed my stay, but I stayed mostly with family. For taxis you have to know roughly what you have to pay to certain area, othewise once your foreign accent comes through they can charge you anything.

The police etc. I have heard it is like the Shah's system where people would buy their way out of trouble if they can afford it. I think before making the big move you have to and visit several times and you have to have iranian passport in order to work there and other documents such as cart meli, which I don't know enough about. I think internet phone etc. is ok but with regards to jobs I think initially go through an agency same as you would in any new country but there are some that are reputable others not.

I have learnt a lot more since coming on PH and also have looked at some videos on U tube. Iranian people are friendly and especially if you go to villages once they know you a little they are very homely. I think if you put this thread as a help.. thread you would probably get more responses. There are shortages in Iran but as in Uk there are those who put prices up and change it daily or weekly and causing a lot of stress but I don't know if it is still happening but I have heard about it on U tube. Good luck anyway.

dokhtare

Hey!

What do you exactly want? You gonna go back to Iran for living?
If yes let me know. Cause I just came out, and I have some of my relative's experiences for you to say. Aaaaaand of course mines!

__________________

Life Is Short & It Always Does W/E Takes To Beat You!

pars_parast

Anette,
About the cart melli, exactly what is it? How do I get/apply for one? And what privaleges does it give me?

anette

Not too sure, but I know if you don't have it I think it stops you getting in or out, but you should ask dokhtare or someone who has been going recently. Regarding jobs, if your persian is good enough, ok but not perfect, then you can teach English, privately or in private language schools. You don't need to know a lot of persian because you will teach them using partly sign and pictures. My mum when she went to Iran before I was born, set up language school in Tehran and she didn't speak any persian at the time but learnt gradually. If you really want to go by all means investigate but just go for it and enjoy the experience but don't burn your bridges in case you want to change your mind.

Triumph

It's more like a social security card or a national ID. The Iranian embassy in your country (or the Iranian Interest Section in USA) will process the application which will be sent to Iran for approval and issuance; such proceeds may take 6 - 9 months. If you do not have an Iranian birth certificate in your possession, it may take even longer.
As far as where to live and what to avoid, just follow your nose. Transportation, large majority on locals rely on public transportation from buses to cabs to gypsies. BEWARE - DO NOT tip the driver it ain't worth risking your life. Many use neighborhood "agencies" for commute or to run errands simply because it is a private (not shared) ride and the driver is registered with the agency. Cheers.

pars_parast

Dear Dokhtare,

I want to move to Iran. I want to live and work there. I think you would be a perfect person to ask many questions to. I will post my questions to you here so if others want to respond they can, if you feel more comfortable answering me in PM or email please feel free…

1) Are there still massive building and construction in major cities or has that stopped? What area of Tehran, Isfahan and Shiraz would I have to live to avoid major building/construction?
2) What is the cost of living like? Please explain it with respect to house/apartment renting/buying, food, benzene, utility bills (electric, naft, phone, gas) clothing…? How much do I have to make a month/year to survive? To live comfortable?
3) How often are there protests? I prefer to be in an area where I won’t be bothered by disgruntled citizens?
4) I enjoy watching TV on my relax time, and last time I was in Iran the TV channels were boring and religious. Has that improved? Are satellite dishes still illegal? If so what happens if I am caught with one? How do I get one?
5) How are the recent stock exchange failures affecting the banking industry? Is it safe to store my money in Iranian banks?
6) What types of products are hard to purchase or too expensive due to sanctions?
7) What things are illegal to buy or have in Iran besides alcohol or drugs?
Are credit cards like visa/MasterCard accepted/used in Iran? If not, what are the alternatives?
9) What are the restrictions to bring personal technology to Iran? (Computers, mp3 players…?)
10) Are there a lot of foreign companies in Iran? If so what are the big ones? This may be an area I could look for work!
11) How do Iranians feel about westerners? How will I be received /perceived due to having lived in the west for a long time?
12) How do Iranians feel about Obama as president of the USA?

pars_parast

Dear Triumph,
Please feel free to respond to any of the questions I posted to dokhtare... This also goes to anyone else viewing this thread.