United States visa for Syrian citizens

Check the official site before you travel. imptmanhattan.com is a hotel and travel site; it does not issue visas or ESTAs and this is not legal advice. Rules change: confirm on esta.cbp.dhs.gov and travel.state.gov.

Syria is not a Visa Waiver Program country, so an ESTA is not available to Syrian citizens. Under Presidential Proclamation 10998, in force since January 1, 2026, the issuance of new visitor visas to Syrian nationals is fully suspended, with limited exceptions such as certain dual nationals traveling on another country's passport. Visas issued before the proclamation were not revoked. Check the State Department's announcement before planning or paying for a trip to New York.

What the suspension means

For a Syrian passport holder, the practical effect is clear: a new visitor visa cannot be issued while Presidential Proclamation 10998 remains in force. A trip to Manhattan that depends on a fresh application cannot be planned with confidence. The suspension covers new visas only. Anyone already holding a valid US visitor visa issued before the proclamation keeps that visa and may travel on it, subject to the admission decision at the border.

Limited exceptions exist. The clearest example is a Syrian citizen who also holds another country's passport and travels on it, which can change the position. Whether an exception fits a particular case is a question for the US embassy or consulate, not for a travel guide. Read the State Department's announcement in full and treat other accounts as unofficial.

Before you fly and on arrival

Do not pay for flights, hotels or tours until the visa position is settled. If a valid visa is already in the passport, check that the name and passport number match, and confirm the trip falls within the period the visa covers. Confirm with the airline that the document is accepted for boarding, and keep copies of the visa and bookings apart from the originals.

Arrival at JFK, LaGuardia or Newark Liberty ends at a Customs and Border Protection desk. Expect questions about the purpose of the visit, the address in Manhattan and the date of departure. Carry a printed hotel confirmation, a return ticket and a written address. Officers make the admission decision at the border, and a visa alone does not guarantee entry.

Staying in Manhattan

Manhattan hotels ask for a passport at check-in and usually want a contact number and a departure date. Carry the booking confirmation with the full address, because a driver leaving the airport will need the destination in writing. If you stay with friends or family, have their address and phone number ready for the officer and for check-in. Keep a copy on your phone as well as on paper.

Getting into the city from the airports is straightforward. Trains, buses, taxis and ride services all run toward Manhattan, and an airport rail link connects JFK with the subway and regional trains. Check current routes and fares with the airport or the transit authority on the day, since services change. On departure day, allow generous time for the journey back.

Longer stays, work or study

A visitor visa does not permit work or study in the United States, and it does not support a long stay. Students need a student visa category. Employment of any kind requires a work visa tied to an employer's petition. Those routes are separate from the suspended visitor route and follow their own rules. Check travel.state.gov and the embassy handling your case before committing to anything.

The proclamation addresses new visitor visas, and other categories follow their own requirements, but rules do change and interviews can be rescheduled. Confirm every appointment and document with the embassy or consulate that covers your country of residence. A travel guide cannot advise on individual cases. The State Department and the consulate are the sources to rely on, checked close to any travel date.

Step by step

1. Read the State Department announcement on Presidential Proclamation 10998 at travel.state.gov before any booking.
2. Check whether an exception applies, such as dual nationality with travel on another country's passport.
3. Confirm that an ESTA is not available to Syrian citizens by checking the official ESTA site.
4. Contact the US embassy or consulate that covers your country of residence about your own case.
5. Keep any US visa issued before the proclamation safe, and check that its details match the passport.
6. Plan nothing non-refundable, including flights and hotel deposits, until the visa position is clear.

Documents to carry

• Passport, plus any US visa issued before the proclamation
• Printed hotel confirmation showing the full Manhattan address
• Return or onward ticket showing the planned date of departure
• Written correspondence from the embassy or consulate about the case
• Copies of the visa and bookings, kept apart from the originals

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