JORDAN: LOCAL SYRIAN EMBASSY BLOCKS U.S.

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 008229

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/17/2015
TAGS: AMGT CVIS PREL SY JO
SUBJECT: JORDAN: LOCAL SYRIAN EMBASSY BLOCKS U.S.
DIPLOMATIC VISA REQUESTS


Classified By: CDA Daniel Rubinstein for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) The Syrian Embassy in Amman has unexpectedly rejected
15 U.S. diplomatic visa requests submitted during the last
week. One of the visa requests was officially denied, while
14 were returned without processing or explanation. The
Syrian Embassy is currently holding another five U.S.
diplomatic passports and accompanying visa applications.
When asked the reason for its rejection of the visa requests,
Syrian Embassy staff responded that they would no longer
process Post's requests for visas in Jordan, and that all
such requests must now go through the Syrian Foreign Ministry
in Damascus. They did not give a reason for this change in
policy.


2. (C) Until this change, Post has regularly submitted
requests for visas directly to the Syrian Embassy and, if
sent early in the morning, often received the approved visas
later that same day. Although no official government
business has been hampered by the recent denials, a
CLO-sponsored shopping trip from Amman to Damascus has been
canceled.
RUBINSTEIN