U.S. Embassy in Ankara Resumes Limited Visa Processing Services in Turkey

The U.S. Embassy in Ankara, Turkey announced that it is resuming limited visa processing services of nonimmigrant visas at U.S. Consular posts in Turkey. The decision comes after the suspension of all nonimmigrant visa services in Turkey due to the arrest of a Turkish staff member in Ankara.

According to the Consulate’s official statement, Embassy officials have received “high-level assurances” from the Government of Turkey that there are no additional local employees of the U.S. Mission in Turkey under investigation, that the Embassy’s local staff will not be detained or arresting for performing their official duties, and that the U.S. government will be informed in advance of any detention of an Embassy staff member by the Turkish authorities.

The Embassy has resumed its processing of all nonimmigrant visas on a limited basis. Pursuant to the Consulate’s instructions, a reduced number of appointments will be available during the limited resumption of nonimmigrant visa applications during this “limited” processing period. Applicants can expect further delays in securing a nonimmigrant visa appointment. Applicants who visa appointment were cancelled are instructed to book a new interview appointment by choosing any available date on the Embassy’s online visa appointment system. Applicants can expect additional delays as limited appointment slots are available. The Turkish Government has also announced a resumption of visa services to U.S. citizens on November 11, 2017 (also on a limited basis). Turkey’s e-visa program and border visas services are still suspended for U.S. citizens until further notice.