[author: Alicia Hall]

Taking a deposition in the scorching deserts of Jordan? No sweat! We’ll walk you through the potential obstacles you might face and let you know what to expect once you’re on the ground.

Traveling to Jordan to take a voluntary deposition of a willing witness sounds like a cumbersome planning process lies ahead, but rest assured, it is quite transparent. For starters, depositions can take place without restrictions or special requirements in Jordan; this alleviates a lot of the initial concerns in the beginning stages of the planning process. You will not need to apply to any authorities or be confined to only conducting the deposition at the nearest embassy or consulate. You can choose a location that is the most suitable for both parties, and most importantly the witness. If the witness is unwilling, keep in mind that Jordan is not party to The Hague Evidence Convention and you will need to consult with local legal counsel in Jordan to ascertain the appropriate methods for serving process in Jordan.

Jordan does require a visa to enter the country. The good news, most nationalities can obtain a visa at most of the international ports of entry in the country. The bad news, there are a few guidelines you must follow to guarantee access to the country. This includes:

• Your passport MUST have 6 months of validity from your date of entry to be guaranteed access into the country. In fact, many airlines have you enter your passport number into their system while you are checking in online, and if your passport expires in less than the 6-month minimum, a red error message will pop up letting you know that your passport does not meet the minimum validity requirement. Ultimately, if your passport expires soon (within 6-months from your date of arrival) you will NEED to have it renewed before you travel to Jordan.
• U.S. citizens can be issued single entry visas upon their arrival at certain Jordanian airports and borders; this includes the Amman’s Queen Alia International Airport, Sheikh Hussein crossing at the Israeli border, and the three border crossings with Saudi Arabia (Umari, Mudawara and Durra). Multi-entry visas must be obtained in advance of travel to Jordan. Visit the U.S. State Dept for more information on obtaining a visa for your trip to Jordan.