U.S. and Turkey Resume Full Visa Services

On December 28, 2017, the United States and Turkey have resumed full visa services for its citizens three months after suspension caused by rising tensions. Services were originally halted following Turkey’s arrest of a local employee of the U.S. Consulate in Istanbul on terrorism related charges. Services resumed after the U.S. government received “high-level assurances” that no local employees are under investigation and would not be detained or arrest for conducting their official duties or without prior notice to the U.S. government by the Turkish government. Turkey, in its own statement, denied that such pledges were ever made.

This signals that there is still high tension between the two countries, however, effective immediately, the two countries have resumed full visa services for their citizens. For U.S. citizens, resuming the issuance of Turkish visas means that 90-day tourist and business visas can be obtained on the Turkish e-visa site prior to travel; citizens who did not apply for a visa prior to travel can still be issued a sticker visa at the border; those seeking to obtain a work visa or schedule an appointment all other types of visa at a Turkish consular post in the U.S. can do so again; and U.S. citizens outside of Turkey can again obtain a Turkish visa at consular posts worldwide. Turkey nationals can similarly apply for U.S. visas. Applicants are warned to be prepared for longer wait times as the three months suspension would have caused a backlog of applications in the system.