Iraq at a glance
| Visit with an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) | No: a visitor visa is needed |
| E-1 treaty trader visa | Not available |
| E-2 treaty investor visa | Not available |
| Own line in the Visa Bulletin | No: worldwide line |
| Green card lottery (last published list, DV-2026) | Eligible |
| Entry restrictions | No travel ban; affected by the 2026 immigrant visa pause (set aside by a court, under appeal) |
| Temporary Protected Status (TPS) | Not designated |
| Where visas are processed | The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad processes a limited number of immigrant visas and nonimmigrant visas, and the Consulate General in Erbil also processes nonimmigrant visas. |
Green card lottery: registration for DV-2027 had not opened as of mid-October 2026. A federal court ordered the State Department to open it, and that order may be appealed.
What is specific to Iraq right now
- Embassy Baghdad continues to process Special Immigrant Visas for Iraqis who worked for or on behalf of the U.S. government under the Refugee Crisis in Iraq Act. It was on the State Department's 75-country immigrant-visa pause from January 21, 2026; a federal court set the pause aside on August 21, 2026, and the government's appeal was pending as of October 2026.
Common U.S. immigration paths for people from Iraq
Afghan / Iraqi SIVGreen card path for Afghans and Iraqis who worked for the U.S.Marriage green cardGreen card through your U.S. citizen or resident spouseFamily petitionSponsor children, adult sons and daughters, or siblingsRefugee/asylee familyBring your spouse and children to join you (Form I-730)AsylumProtection for people who fear persecution in their home countryF-1 student visaStudy at a U.S. college, university or language schoolGreen card lottery (DV)Yearly random drawing for green cards from lower-immigration countries
How MyUSVisa helps
- Answer a guided questionnaire in your language and upload your documents once — we read, sort and assemble them into a clear case file and timeline.
- Your organized case is offered to licensed U.S. immigration attorneys who handle this type of case. Interested attorneys send you offers, and you compare and choose — or don't.
- Once you choose, you and your attorney work in one place: messages, documents, deadlines and automatic USCIS status updates, on the web and in the mobile app.
Frequently asked questions
Can people from Iraq visit the U.S. with an ESTA?
No. Iraq is not in the Visa Waiver Program, so a visitor visa (B-1/B-2) from a U.S. embassy or consulate is usually needed.
Can people from Iraq get an E-2 investor visa?
Not on Iraq nationality alone: there is no E-2 treaty between Iraq and the United States. Some people qualify through a second nationality from a treaty country, or use other paths such as EB-5.
Can people from Iraq enter the green card lottery?
Iraq was eligible in the last published program (DV-2026). Eligibility is set again every year, so check the official instructions when registration opens.
Where do people from Iraq have their visa interview?
The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad processes a limited number of immigrant visas and nonimmigrant visas, and the Consulate General in Erbil also processes nonimmigrant visas.
Can I work with a U.S. attorney while I am still in Iraq?
Yes. MyUSVisa works online: you tell your story from anywhere, licensed U.S. immigration attorneys review it and send proposals, and you choose. This works before you travel or once you are already in the United States.
More countries in the Middle East
Last checked by the MyUSVisa team and counsel in October 2026. Country rules change often, especially entry restrictions, TPS and parole programs. Always verify on travel.state.gov and uscis.gov, or ask your attorney.
MyUSVisa is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Not affiliated with USCIS or any government agency.