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Entry Visa info for Syria
(hallway during class sign up @ DU)
Coming from the US you need a visa to enter Syria stamped in your passport before you take off from the States (you can get a visa sometimes in other countries for Syria but it is a lot of additional work) so plan on time to apply and get a visa from one of the Syrian consulates or embassy in the US.
Other countries should check the specific requirements of the nearest Syrian embassy.
I received a visit visa which is good for one entry and a 14 day stay in Syria. I have to extend it while I'm there. If you are only staying for two weeks or less then you won't need to extend it but you can't leave the country of Syria and come back without another visa (if you want to travel to Lebanon or Jordan for example).
Mine is good for three months (I can go once any time in the next three months).
I sent it to the Syrian consulate nearest me (in this case it was Newport Beach, CA) and I got my passport back really quickly, I think it took a week total.
If you are on the East Coast you will need to send your required documents to the Washington DC Syrian Embassy. This may take longer than mine, I'm not sure.
You can go to the consulate/embassy during their posted hours as well. This might speed up the process but you will have to either return sometime later or have them mail you back your passport.
Here's what you do:
Print out 2 copies of this form and fill it out.
Washington DC form:
http://www.syrianconsulate.org/Forms/VISA%20APPLICATION%20FORM.pdf
There are also consulates in Texas, Michigan and Newport Beach:
http://www.syrianembassy.us/honorary_consulates.htm
Contact them for a specific form but I think they are all the same as the DC one above.
Make sure you fill out every line like they ask. If you aren't sure of who to put for your Damascus contact just find a travel agent online and put them and find some hotel address and put that as your address if you don't know.
Get 2 passport photos and send it along with the forms (mine were just in their passport photo sleeve in the envelope, I didn't attach them to the forms).
Get a money order for $131 made out to the Syrian Embassy. I got mine at the US Post Office branch from where I sent my visa application.
Put in your envelope another envelope for them to send you your passport back.
Lastly, don't forget to send your passport too and make sure it is valid for at least 6 months after your travel date.
I mailed it all Express Mail USPS with tracking/confirmation. I also put a stamped USPS Express Mail envelope folded up inside my initial envelope - this one was addressed to me from them.
Mail it out. If you don't hear back in 2 weeks maximum, start calling them every day and asking about it. Like I said, mine took about 1 week from sending it to getting it back at home.
More information is on their website:
http://www.syrianembassy.us/
Best of luck, I hope you have a nice trip.
PS Very important: you must not have a stamp from "Israel" in your passport or any evidence of potential travel to "Israel" in your passport and you have to answer a question if you've ever been to occupied Palestine (aka "Israel") or not (answer no).
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