After spending a little too much time in resplendent Tel-Aviv, it’s time to move on. So if we recall my post on visa application for Israel, Jordan, Egypt, the countries in the middle east that I wish to go to, I should be heading to Jordan or Egypt. But I’ve never heard back  the Egyptian embassy and Jordan Embassy actually denied my visa!
After having to pay the embassy 4,350 pesos (USD100) to forward my email application to Jordan, I was pissed big time and didn’t passed up the opportunity to let them know. They told me that I should contact a tour operator in Jordan who would apply visa from their Ministry of Interior on my behalf. I strongly feel that they should give me back my money since they said visa has to be applied in Jordan, that info isn’t worth 100$, is it?
Like many people these days, sometimes I tweet my mind. So the day I got news of my denied visa I tweeted: “Jordan denied my visa! @#$%^&*.  Many people were sympathetic and my message got retweeted a few times that somehow it caught the attention of @visitjordan.  They were quite surprised that my visa was denied because with the recent bad press in the middle east, Egypt and then Syria, Jordan were campaigning very, very hard to get people to visit. They even have a program where they invite travel bloggers to do press trip. Unfortunately I was not part of the roaster. But anyway, they promised that they will get me a visa and so they started writing letters. And one day before I left for my big trip, they sent me my visa. It’s a bit strange as it’s not stamped in my passport but just a piece of paper printed from my email.
Eilat is a city in the coast, south most part of Israel, with big hotels and big shopping mall. I stayed there for a day and a night doing just that, hanging in the beach and the shopping mall. The sun was so fierce that I couldn’t stand walking for 5 minutes without going under the shade. Many people complain that Philippines is too hot and humid. I prefer hot and humid than just plain hot. It was like having a hair dryer to your skin!
I knew I was going to Jordan but had no idea how or where from when I came to Israel. But in the end, I think I found the best way to do it (with the input of friends). Basically there are 2 ways to get there, from Amman in the north or Aqaba in the south, which shares a border with Eilat in Israel. Then from Aqaba work my way north to Amman and fly out from there. It’s a good itinerary.
Crossing to Jordan is painless. It was 15 minutes by taxi to the border from Eilat center, then about 10 minutes and paying border fee of 105 nis ($30), you walk over to Jordan and the immigration guys gives your  stamp in your passport and then you’re done!  Now the problem is getting from this border to the center of Aqaba.
We do have the same experience. I have submitted my papers with them. Paid for 7k plus and another 4k plus for expedite fee (1-2 mos. processing) I asked them regarding my visa and they just told me “wala pa.” I paid $300 dollars for nothing. I submitted it September 9, 2015 and my flight is on December 3, 2015. My god! They are really useless are annoying. They should close it. I wasted my plane ticket as well from Turkey to Jordan. They should return our money! I asked the receptionist kung ganun nalang bayun. Nagbayad ako 300 dollars sa wala. And she said “YES”. Rude!!!
Hi! The way I understand the conversation — Filipinos DO NOT need a Jordan visa prior to arrival? For how long can I extend the Asez visa?
I contacted both the Jordanian consulate in Manila and the Jordanian embassy in Tokyo and even the Philippine Embassy in Amman and they said that Filipinos do need a pre- approved visa- even if entering via Aqaba. I think wanderlass went to Jordan back in 2011 and things might have changed.
I will cross the border from Eliat to Aqaba. You think it is possible to leave via the Sheikh Hussein border instead of Aqaba if I am only holding the ASEZ visa? I really do not want to go through the hassle of applying a visa at the Jordanian Consulate in Manila because of your story. Plus I am somewhat kuripot.
Its not anyone can get free ASEZ visa in Arava Border, Filipinos still need a Jordan visa prior to arrival, as Jordan consulate office in Manila said
They know nothing! They’re useless. I will not waste any time to talk to them. They just take your money and do nothing, zero, nada, nil, rien, wala!
This is what the Jordan Tourism Board said:
Arrivals at Aqaba, either through the port, the airport or at the crossing from Israel or Saudi Arabia, are granted a free visa to Jordan. There is no obligation associated with this visa, provided that they leave the country from the same border and within 1 month of arrival, and that they do not need to renew their visa.
Those holding an ASEZ visa and wishing to stay longer than 1 month must extend it at the ASEZA office in Aqaba and not with their local police station as holders of a normal visa would.
Yes you are correct they are useless. I am exchanging emails with @visitjordan right now coz i already asked their help. They told me that the ministry of interior have not yet received my application. OMG :( nag hihintay pala ako sa wala its been 44 days now since the date i applied. But anyway i will ask @visitjordan regarding this ASEZ visa. thanks