Hi IT
I am booked on Desert Kingdoms Oct 2nd departure.
Can I get my Syrian visa on arrival at Damascus airport and Jordanian visa when we cross the border on the tour. If not what are the addresses we should suppply on the visa application forms for each country.
regards
Tricia
visas, Syria & Jordan
Syria/Jordan Visas
The official line regarding Syrian Visas is that it is *theoretically* possible to get one on arrival but only if there are no embassy or consular services in your country. Otherwise a visa must be issued ahead of time from the embassy/consulate in your country. Everything I researched on the subject prior to my visit to Syria this year stated to get it ahead of time if at all possible.
As a reference in Syria:
The Imaginative Traveller
C/o Jasmin Tours,
Ain Al Kerash, Fathi Al Atasi St,
Halabi Building, DAMASCUS
Tel: +963 11 231 75 97
Fax: +963 11 231 31 76
Our travel agent wrote a letter for the consular officer listing each of our planned hotels (may vary from my itinerary).
The Jordanian visa is possible to get on arrival after crossing the border. I had all of my visas ahead of time but there were people in my group who obtained the Jordanian visa and it appeared to be no hassle (go in one line first and pay the fee to get the visa.. go in another line to receive your entry stamp.
As a reference in Jordan:
The Imaginative Traveller
C/o Atlas Travel & Tourism
King Hussein Street
P.O. Box 7131 Amman 11118
Tel: +962 6 4642034
Fax: +962 6 4610198
For our address I was advised to put "traveling on a prepaid tour".
With all that said, depending on your nationality (I'm Canadian) your situation may be completely different. I recommend contacting either a visa service or the embassy(ies) in your country for information for your specific situation.
Hope this helps.
visas
I have just sent my passport etc off to the Syrian Embassy in Canberra. It's quite easy to do via registered mail. I've written it all on the Departures Lounge heading under "Middle Eastern Odyssey 3rd October". Have a look there.
I live in Sydney and have already done the Egyptian one. I was surprised how easy it was but if you are unsure ask your travel agent to do it all for you. A bit pricey but saves on stress.
Trish.