Syria Frequently Asked Questions

I'm ready to go. What do I do?
If you wish to depart Syria, you should make plans and depart as soon as possible. The airport is open and some commercial flights are still operating, although cancellations are frequent. Travelers should check with their airlines prior to their planned travel to verify the flight schedule. Land border crossings are subject to closure without notice due to the ongoing possibility of fighting between armed groups. Further delaying your departure is not advised.
Are there plans for any charter flights or other U.S. government-sponsored evacuations?
No. U.S. citizens seeking to depart Syria should make their own travel arrangements.
Where can I get information on flights departing Syria?
The Transportation Resource Information page on the U.S. Embassy Damascus website contains links to airlines operating from Syria and flight schedules from Syrian airports. This page will be updated as new information becomes available. Many flights from Syria are being cancelled, and travelers should check with their airlines prior to planned travel. The information on this page is provided as a resource only and is neither all-inclusive nor guaranteed to be accurate. Individual travelers are responsible for contacting private companies, such as airlines, to verify transportation availability.
Will the U.S. government come and pick me up if I need assistance getting to the airport or border crossing?
No. The U.S. Embassy in Damascus suspended operations effective February 6, 2012, given ongoing violence and a deteriorating security situation. All official U.S. government personnel and their family members have departed. You should monitor local conditions and make your own arrangements for in-country travel.
How can I contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate?
Information for several nearby U.S. consulates and embassies is available below. A full list is available at the Department of State's list of embassies and consulates.

U.S. Embassy in Cairo, Egypt
Consular Section
5 Tawfik Diab Street
Garden City, Cairo
telephone: (20) 2-2797-2301
fax: (20) 2-2797-2472
email: consularcairoacs@state.gov

For after-hours emergencies involving U.S. citizens, call (20) 2-2797-3300.

The Embassy is open Sunday through Thursday. Phone-inquiry hours are between 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.

U.S. Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon
Awkar Facing the Municipality
PO Box 70-840, Beirut
Telephone: (961) 4 542600 - 543600
Facsimile: (961) 4 544209
E-mail: BeirutACS@state.gov
The Embassy is open Monday - Friday.

In the event of a genuine emergency, U.S. citizens may phone the Embassy at any time at 961-4-543600 and ask to speak to the American Citizen Services Section (during business hours) or the duty officer (after hours or weekends).

U.S. Embassy in Amman, Jordan
Al-Umayyaween Street, Abdoun neighborhood, PO Box 354, Amman 11118
Telephone: [962] (6) 590-6000
Emergency after-hours telephone: [962] (6) 590-6500
Facsimile: [962] (6) 592-4102
The U.S. Embassy is open Sunday through Thursday.

Please note that the U.S. Embassy in Amman can no longer provide courier service to or from Syria. Applicants may opt to remain in Jordan until the document is ready, or provide a Jordanian address to which the passport can be delivered.

U.S. Embassy in Ankara, Turkey
110 Atatürk Boulevard, 06100, Kavaklidere
Telephone: (90) (312) 455-5555
Visa Information: (90) (212) 340-4444 or Visa Information
Emergency after-hours telephone: (90) (312) 455-5555
Facsimile: (90) (312) 468-6131
The Embassy is open 8:30 - 5:30 Monday through Friday.

My U.S. passport is lost/expired. How can I apply for a new one?
Outside of Syria, you can apply for a new passport directly at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. In some cases, we may need to take additional steps to determine your citizenship. You can also contact the U.S. Interests Section of the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Damascus to seek routine services for U.S. citizens, such as passport services. Please note that the range of consular services that the Czech Republic provides to U.S. citizens is extremely limited, and those services may require significantly more processing time than at U.S. embassies or consulates outside of Syria. U.S. citizens in Syria who seek consular services should contact the U.S. Interests Section of the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Damascus at USIS_damascus@embassy.mzv.cz.
My U.S. passport is expired or will expire in less than six months. Can I travel from Syria to a neighboring country with it and apply for a new U.S. passport there?
Entry into a country is at the discretion of the immigration authorities of that country. Please contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate at your planned destination or transit point for more information. If you plan to travel by air, you will also need to contact your airline directly for information regarding required documentation.
I can't be physically present with my spouse when he/she applies for a replacement passport for our child. What do I need to do to provide consent for passport issuance?
Both parents must provide consent authorizing passport issuance for a minor under age 16. If only one parent will appear for the passport application, the non-appearing parent will need to provide a complete and notarized Statement of Consent on Form DS-3053.
What do I do if my child is a U.S. citizen, but hasn't yet been documented?
You should travel to a U.S. embassy or consulate outside of Syria in order to document your child.
How can I send money to a loved one departing Syria?
We can establish a secure account for U.S. citizens at the U.S. embassy or consulate where your loved one is heading so that friends and relatives can safely send money to help. The stranded U.S. citizen can then contact the appropriate consular section to make an appointment to receive the money. We charge a fee of $30 to process the money transfer, payable once per fiscal year (October 1 - September 30). Money can be transferred by Western Union or mail. You always need to include the U.S. citizen's name and location (city and country) on the transfer. We can process these transfers during business hours (8AM - 5PM Eastern Time). If we receive a transfer after hours, we will process it the next business day. Please see Sending Money to U.S. Citizens Overseas for more information.
What if I need financial assistance to return to the United States?
If you are destitute, and private resources are not available to cover the cost of onward travel, you may be eligible for emergency financial assistance. You will need to apply at a U.S. embassy or consulate.
How can I receive updated information during a crisis?
We encourage all U.S. citizens traveling abroad, especially citizens who plan to be overseas for a significant amount of time, to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). Keep your contact information up-to-date so that we can notify you or your designated emergency contact of developments and provide valuable information.

Also be sure to monitor our website, travel.state.gov, for updates, as this is our primary tool to disseminate important information during a crisis. Our Facebook and Twitter accounts are also good sources of information.

Where can I apply for a visa, since the U.S. Embassy in Damascus is closed?
The U.S. Embassy in Amman, Jordan has been designated as the official visa processing location for Syrians, following the suspension of operations of the U.S. Embassy in Damascus. They are best prepared to consider visa applications for Syrian citizens. However, Syrians may apply for a nonimmigrant visa at any U.S. embassy or consulate.
My relative's immigrant visa was pending in Damascus. They're closed now, so what do we do?
All pending immigrant visa cases were moved to the U.S. Embassy in Amman, Jordan for processing, unless other arrangements were made by the applicant. Please contact them at Amman-IV@state.gov for more details.
My relative would rather apply for an immigrant visa at a different embassy than Amman. What can they do?
Please contact the U.S. embassy or consulate at which your relative would like to apply and request the embassy or consulate accept the case.
How do I obtain temporary protected status as a Syrian?
Temporary protected status (TPS) was designated for Syria on March 29, 2012 through September 30, 2013 for other extraordinary and temporary conditions in the country. Under the designation, TPS applicants need to show that they had continuously resided in the United States since March 29, 2012. Applications for temporary protected status are handled by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). You should check their website for more information at www.uscis.gov.

There are options other than TPS that are available for eligible Syrians who may have been affected by the recent events in their country including, but not limited to, relief measures that are outlined in the "Tips for Foreign Nationals Impacted by Civil Unrest," which is posted on www.uscis.gov.

How do I petition to bring family members for immigrant visas?
You need to complete an I-130 petition for your relatives. Because of circumstances in Syria, USCIS issued a blanket waiver allowing consular officers to accept I-130s from Syrian applicants overseas at any U.S. embassy or consulate that processes immigrant visas, so you do not have to file this petition with USCIS domestically. This provision will remain in effect through January 31, 2013.
My relatives in Syria were just coming to stay with me in the United States until the violence stops, but they were denied a visa. They don't want to immigrate. Is there anything I can do?
Visas may be denied for many reasons, among which is the requirement that applicants demonstrate strong ties to their home country that will compel them to leave the United States at the end of their temporary stay. This may be particularly difficult because of the uncertain situation in Syria.
Who can provide immediate humanitarian assistance for Syrian refugees?
Syrians seeking humanitarian assistance should contact the closest office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Further information can be found at the Syria Emergency page of the UNHCR website.