What have people's experience been with obtaining Syrian visas in the US or Europe?
I have dual US/Italian citizenship and am planning to get the visa with my Italian passport (given the great US relations with Syria) but maybe waiting to do it when I'm in Italy so they don't barrage me with questions...

I got a Syrian visa at the embassy in Washington (I have a U.S. passport). Interestingly, it was one of the easiest visas I have ever gotten -- one-page form, no questions, double-entry returned in one day.

Also, as a note, colleagues have told me that in general Syria will only grant a visa in one's country of residence. So, for example, they won't give a visa in Jordan. So you might be limited to either the U.S. or Italy.

if you travel through lebanon (visa free on arrival for italian/US passport), you can then obtain a visa at the land border with syria in your italian passport, for around $60. takes about 15 mins to process. drive from beirut to damascus is two hours and costs $50 limo one way.

Yes, I heard this was possible but is it reliable? or is it better to request the visa in advance?

AFAIK, getting Visas to Iran is also very simple for US citizens.

updated - if US passport holder - get it in advance, lebanon border not very reliable for US passport holders anymore

Im booked on a flight to DAM and want to fly straight through to Amman.
Do I need to get a visa for DAM? Im not arriving on a connecting flight, I actually need to check in for another airline to get to Amman. Is it possible to do it without passing through customs? AZ --> RJ.

I can also attest to this. I also thought it would be difficult to get a visa and sent in all my indian passports to prove I had not been to Israel. They seemed to laugh at it. Getting a visa on my US passport was a breeze.Another note for using your Italian passport, if the address on it says USA then you might not get a visa in Italy. Heard that they are stubborn on giving a visa in the country you reside.

Be careful on what post you use to send it there as I sent it by Certified and the postman reached after 3PM and left a note. They don't pick anything from the post office, so I had to arrange for the post office to redeliver it.

Can someone confirm a personal experience of getting a visa on a US passport at the Lebanon-Syria land border?

I had very good experience getting a visa from the Washington Syrian Embassy via Fedex here in the midwest. I had a question before I submitted and they were very helpful. I would just go ahead and get the visa here in the US.

FWIW, I got a visa to visit Syria from their mission in Jordan last year. In contrast to the torture the illiterates who work at American embassies around the world put applicants through, it was an easy process. Polite consular staff, 1/2 day turnaround and no idiotic questions with racist undertones.

I assume that you have a U.S. passport? That's good news. I am in Jordan now and would like to take another side trip to Syria.

I could not use my US passport at the Syrian mission on Afghani St because it had evidence of travel to Israel in it. I used another country's passport and the process was really easy. The chainsmoking consular official at the front desk told me I would have to apply in my home country but after telling him I would not be going back to the US for long time he allowed me to proceed.

Also, I have been told that if you are turned down at the embassy, getting a visa at the border post between Jordan and Syria at Ramtha is a sure thing while trying for one at jaber is a 50/50 proposition. I do not know this for sure - it is what I have been told by others.

If you used a passport from Country X, then what does not going back to the U.S. have to do with it? Why wouldn't he insist that you get the visa in Country X?

I guess the point is that some sort of "sweet talking" might work. I will just look for the chain smoking guy, although that's everyone in Jordan.