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Middle East

Iraq

Iraqi civil documents require Arabic translation, and sometimes Kurdish (Sorani or Kurmanji) translation for documents from the Kurdistan Region. We also help clients whose records were destroyed in conflict, whose CSID is expired, or who need alternative evidence because their home area's registry was bombed or looted.

Country at a Glance

Capital
Baghdad
Population
42 million
Languages
Arabic, Kurdish
Columbus diaspora
8,000+
Independence
October 3, 1932
Currency
Iraqi Dinar (IQD)
Time Zone
AST (UTC+3)

US Travel Advisory — Level 3

Reconsider Travel

Geographic Overview

Where is Iraq?

© OpenStreetMap contributors

Columbus Connection

8,000+ Columbus Residents

Columbus has a diverse Iraqi community representing Arab, Kurdish, Chaldean, Assyrian, Turkmen, and Yazidi communities. Many arrived through the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program for those who worked with US forces, through refugee resettlement, or through family petitions. The Chaldean and Assyrian Christian community is particularly visible in the Columbus area.

Why Columbus Residents Travel Here

  • 1Family visits to Baghdad, Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, Basra, and home villages
  • 2Religious pilgrimages (Karbala, Najaf, Nineveh for Christians)
  • 3Property inheritance and estate matters
  • 4Reconnecting with family who stayed through conflict
  • 5Cultural and community events
Current Situation

Iraq Visa & Travel Overview

US State Department Level 3Reconsider Travel

US State Department Level 3 — terrorism, kidnapping, armed conflict risk. Erbil and the Kurdistan Region have generally lower risk. Baghdad and central Iraq require careful planning.

Columbus has a diverse Iraqi community representing Arab, Kurdish, Chaldean, Assyrian, Turkmen, and Yazidi communities. Many arrived through the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program for those who worked with US forces, through refugee resettlement, or through family petitions. The Chaldean and Assyrian Christian community is particularly visible in the Columbus area.

US Embassy / Consulate

Baghdad

iq.usembassy.gov

Iraq Embassy in US

Washington, DC

iraqiembassy.us

Independence

October 3, 1932

Currency

Iraqi Dinar (IQD)

Time Zone

AST (UTC+3)

Driving Side

Right

Phone Code

+964

e-Visa

Available at evisa.mofa.gov.iq

Our Services

How Asal Helps With Iraq Documents

We are a document preparation and translation service — not an attorney or embassy. We make sure every document in your packet is correct before you submit.

Iraqi Arabic & Kurdish Translation

Certified English translation of Iraqi national ID cards (CSID and INID), birth certificates, marriage contracts, residence certificates, and court documents in Arabic, Sorani Kurdish, or Kurmanji Kurdish.

Conflict-Affected Records Assistance

For clients from Mosul, Fallujah, Tikrit, Sinjar, or other conflict-affected areas, we help build alternative evidence packages for USCIS when primary records are unavailable.

Iraqi Passport Renewal Guidance

We help Iraqi nationals organize the documents needed for passport renewal through the Iraqi Embassy.

SIV and Refugee Document Organization

Many Iraqi clients arrived on Special Immigrant Visas (SIV) or as refugees. We help organize documents for follow-up applications — adjustment of status, family petitions, travel documents.

Documents

What You Typically Need

Every case is different — requirements vary by visa type and individual circumstances. We review your specific documents when you come in.

  • 1Iraqi passport (current or expired)
  • 2CSID (Civil Status Identification Document) or INID (Iraq National Identity Document)
  • 3Birth certificate from Civil Status Directorate
  • 4Marriage contract (Islamic or civil)
  • 5Civil registry extract (قيد مدني)
  • 6Residence certificate (شهادة إقامة) or housing documentation
  • 7SIV or refugee documents (if applicable)
What Trips People Up

Destroyed Registries in Mosul, Sinjar, Anbar, and Other Areas

Conflict between 2003 and 2017 destroyed civil registry offices across large swaths of Iraq — including Mosul (where ISIS destroyed the city's registry), much of Anbar province, and Sinjar district (home to the Yazidi community). Clients from these areas may have legitimate Iraqi citizenship with no surviving formal records. We help these clients prepare comprehensive alternative evidence packages that USCIS will accept: sworn family affidavits, US Embassy Baghdad records from the refugee process, UNHCR documentation, religious community records (churches, mosques), and country condition reports documenting registry destruction.

Visa Types We Help With

SIV & Refugee Document HelpFamily Petition DocsArabic/Kurdish TranslationAlternative Evidence
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions — Iraq

What is the difference between the CSID and the new INID in Iraq?+
The CSID (Civil Status Identification Document) is the older laminated card-format Iraqi national ID. Iraq has been replacing these with the INID (Iraq National Identity Document), a biometric card, since 2016. Both are valid identity documents for immigration purposes. We translate both. If you have an old CSID with Latin-script data printed on it, USCIS can generally read the printed portions, but the Arabic portions still need translation.
My family is Yazidi from Sinjar and has no documents after 2014. Can you help?+
Yes. We have worked with Yazidi clients whose records were destroyed or who fled without documents. The strategy is to use any available secondary evidence — UNHCR registration records, US Embassy Baghdad screening documents, witness affidavits from family members, and country condition evidence documenting the destruction of Sinjar's civil registry. We help build this carefully.
Can you translate documents in Sorani Kurdish?+
Yes. The Kurdistan Regional Government issues many documents in Sorani Kurdish (written in a modified Arabic script). We translate Sorani Kurdish documents including birth certificates, marriage contracts, and property records from the Kurdistan Region.
I need to petition for my Iraqi family but my marriage certificate was lost when we fled. What do I do?+
This is very common in Iraqi cases. If your marriage certificate was lost, the options include: (1) requesting a replacement from the Iraqi civil registry if it is accessible, (2) obtaining a court judgment confirming the marriage, or (3) building secondary evidence — witness affidavits, photos, financial records showing joint life. We help you determine which path is feasible and prepare the documentation.

Consulate & Processing Information

The Iraqi Embassy in Washington DC handles consular services. Iraq has an e-visa for eligible nationalities at evisa.mofa.gov.iq. US State Department travel advisories for Iraq should be reviewed.

Important: Asal Multi Services is a document preparation service, not an immigration attorney, legal representative, or embassy. We do not provide legal advice and are not affiliated with any embassy, consulate, or US government agency. Visa decisions are made solely by the relevant government authority.
Service Area

Iraq Document Assistance Near You

Serving all of Central Ohio from our office at 3185 Morse Rd, Suite 15, Columbus OH 43231.

Ready to Prepare Your Iraq Documents?

Walk in or call — we speak English, Somali, and Arabic.

3185 Morse Rd, Ste 15, Columbus, OH 43231 · Mon–Fri 10am–6pm · Sat 10am–6pm · Sun 10am–4pm