Syrian Applicants

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Overview

Effective February 6, 2012, the U.S. Embassy in Damascus suspended operations and closed for consular services. Visas to the United States can no longer be issued in Damascus. Syrian applicants may apply for non-immigrant visas at any U.S. Embassy or Consulate, and the same standards under U.S. law and policy apply at each U.S. Embassy and Consulate where one applies for a visa. Syrian applicants may apply for immigrant visas at the U.S. Embassies in Amman, Jordan or Beirut, Lebanon.

Scheduling a Non-Immigrant Visa Interview Appointment

During the visa interview Consular Officers look at each application individually and consider professional, economic, social and cultural ties as well other factors.  All Syrian applicants must personally appear for an interview, regardless of visa status or age.  A child must have a visa at the time of travel regardless of the child's age or whether or not s/he is added to a parent’s passport. The application fee must be paid for each visa applicant.

Visas applications are approved or denied at the time of the interview, but approved visas are not issued the same day.  Unless an applicant will remain in Jordan for at least two additional business days, most Syrian applicants will need their passport to return home, then return when the visa is ready to be issued. Aramex Courier Service isnot available between Jordan and Syria.

Immigrant Visas

If your immigrant visa case was scheduled for interview in Damascus, your visa case has been transferred to the U.S. Embassy in Amman, Jordan for processing.  You may also request that your case be transferred to another Embassy or Consulate; you must make this request directly to the receiving post. 

U.S. citizen petitioners who are resident in Syria seeking to file the I-130 immigration visa petition for their Syrian immediate relatives (unmarried children under 21, spouses, and parent(s) only) may contact our staff at USIS_damascus@embassy.mzv.cz.

Assistance is limited to providing information related to:

  • Petition filing
  • Humanitarian parole
  • Affidavit of Support requirements
  • Expired immigrant visas

U.S. citizens who have been resident in Syria for at least six months may email ammanuscissupport@state.gov to make an appointment to file I-130 immigrant visa petitions in Amman for their immediate relatives (unmarried children under 21, spouses, and parent(s) only) who also live in Syria.Important reminders for Syrian Immigrant Visa applicants:

  • Medical exams must be conducted in Jordan.
  • The Individual Civil Record and police record must have been issued within the last six months.
  • Syrian males over age 18 must provide a certificate of completion/exemption from military service.
  • Family records must establish the relationship to the family member petitioning for your immigration, as well as to your other family members applying for immigration.

Refugee/Asylee Follow to Join PetitionAll I-730 Refugee/Asylee following-to-join petitions (Visas 92/93 beneficiaries) have been transferred to Embassy Amman pending a decision concerning where these petitions will be processed.  Beneficiaries who are able to travel to and remain in Jordan may be processed by the USCIS Amman Field Office.  I-730 beneficiaries may also choose to have their files sent to a different location other than Jordan for processing.  I-730 beneficiaries and petitioners may email the USCIS Amman Field Office at ammanuscissupport@state.gov with requests to transfer their files to another consular post.