New instructions by the US embassy in Damascus

The US embassy in Damascus as of today will start to offer certain emigration visas and services for United States citizens, whereas other non-migration visas services including tourism, work and study visas are to continue to be suspended for an indefinite time.

A press release circulated by the US embassy in Damascus on Monday said working hours during which services are rendered to American citizens will be between 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. from Sunday to Thursday every week.

The sources explained that people who asked for migration visas who had a prior date on January 5 or later have to abide by the set date. As for those whose dates were canceled when the consulate suspended its operations, they have to hold talks by telephone with the consulate section in the embassy for a new date.

The sources added that according to the new instructions, the embassy can be visited only through a prior appointment by those asking for migration visas, who have the blue page which authorizes them to enter the migration section every day in the morning as of Sunday through Wednesday. This decision is valid indefinitely.

The sources added that services for new migration visas, dates for refugees, issuing of travel messages and a green card instead of a lost or stolen one are currently suspended indefinitely.

The sources said the embassy will be closed for all services from January 17 - 30.