We have received applications from our travel company to obtain visas for Egypt and Jordan before beginning our trip. This is a last minute trip. We just booked, leaving October 3, and not only do I have concerns about sending my passport off to the visa agency so close to the departure date, but there are also considerable fees on top of the visa fees themselves.
It is our understanding that it is easy and fast to obtain the visas upon entry to both Jordan and Egypt. Has anyone had any recent experience with this? We will be with a small group. Would obtaining visas upon entry take so much time that it would hold up the group?
Once again, many thanks.

I can't speak for Jordan - but Egypt is a breeze.

Two years ago my husband and I obtained our visas upon arrival in Cairo without issue or delay. (only slight delay due to my squabble with the tour rep who asked for money and said I didn't pay the agency for the visas earlier, when I had)

Of course, this may depend on the country issuing your passport? One of us has from US, other from EU.

I'm headed for Jordan soon too and by all accounts we should have no trouble upon arrival there either.

Jordan is also a breeze.
The cost for the Jordanian Visa is 10 Jordanian Dinar ($14 US, but I believe you will need Jordanian currency). The cost for the Egyptian Visa is $15US.
Obtaining both should be quite easy and fast assuming, of course, that it is not overly busy.

Bring exact change in USD for your Egyptian visas.

Not only should you keep exact change in USD, make sure the bills are in good condition, some countries do not accept tacky/torn bills. It only took a few minutes to get my visa for both places. In Jordan in you don't have local currency, you'll need to exchange currency first, which shouldn't take long.

Both are obtainable on arrival. If you need JD for the Jordanian, there's a currency exchange window where you can get for the Visa and other incidental expenses while in Jordan.

It's a breeze at both, and if the group is impatient, too bad. You all still have to wait for your luggage to get off the plane and onto the carousel. Just keep your cool and smile

With the exception of a few countries where you absolutely must have a Visa before even boarding your international flight, I wouldn't pay a Visa Service to obtain one ahead of time (as thru your tour operator), or chance putting my Passport into the mail.

Yhank you, All. It's settled. Visas upon entry.

I base the following on the presumption you are a citizen of the US, UK or Canada. If not then disregard this post because I don't know the requirements for any other country.

One of my biggest complaints about tour companies is when they give stupid advice to get visas in advance when it's so completely unnecessary. If I had done my visas in advance for Egypt/Jordan I would have spent a ridiculous amount of money on fees, photos and postage, not to mention my time and trouble. I believe the tour companies are getting a kickback from the visa service, that is the only reason they recommend it and not because it's best for you. You were very smart to ask this question instead of just believing the tour company, as many people surely do. When those people find out they could have done this at the airport for a much smaller fee, I hope they will complain to the tour company and let them know they were cheated.

I'm glad you have decided to get visas upon entry. I did that for both Egypt and Jordan and it's no problem at all. Have a great trip.

Thanks, P_M, and all you others, for your good wishes and good words, helpful not only to me but for others, I'm sure.
Yes, I'm a US citizen.
Just a last question regarding photos: do we have to produce passport type photos when obtaining the visas for Egypt and/or Jordan? In the dark recesses of my mind, I seem to remember that these were necessary when obtaining a visa for another country upon entry--which country I can't remember.

No, that will not be necessary.

I should have given a more concise answer.

If you get your visas upon arrival there is no need to bring photos. If you send for your visas in advance you do have to send photos. That is yet another reason it's such a waste to get visas in advance.