American Outlook
U.S. Citizen Services
United States Mission, Turkey
November 2020 Newsletter
Featured in this issue:
1. Limited In-Person Appointment Availability – Consider Mailing-in Your Passport Application
2. General COVID-19 Reminders
3. Alternative Notarial Services
4. Stay in Touch with the Embassy
5. Points of Contact and General Information
1. Limited In-Person Appointment Availability – Consider Mailing-in Your Passport Application
If you hold a ten-year passport which was issued within the past 15 years, we urge you to consider renewing your passport by mail by sending it to our U.S. Embassy in Ankara or our Consulate General in Istanbul. Information on how to renew passports by mail can be found here. Mail in passports normally take 15-20 days to process.
To ensure the safety and health of our applicants and staff, we will prioritize our limited appointments for U.S. citizens facing emergencies, such as a life and death travel or health related issues, and other urgent travel. To make an appointment for an urgent passport or Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) applications, please follow instructions on our website for appointments in Ankara, Istanbul, Adana and Izmir. If you do not need an emergency passport for immediate travel, we recommend taking advantage of our mail-in service or waiting to book an appointment when our routine operations resume after Covid-19 pandemic restrictions no longer apply.
2. General COVID-19 Reminders
You can find weekly updates with current information on COVID-19 regulations in Turkey here; and also under the “Alerts” section of our website. On our COVID-19 page, you will find up to date information on local restrictions, testing and quarantine requirements, and travel related information. For more information see our Travel Advisory for Turkey and our COVID-19 Worldwide Caution.
3. Alternative Notarial Services
For notarial services, you may consider using a remote notarial service provider. A growing number of states accept documents notarize through online services; you will need to research whether they can be used in the state where your document will be filed.
Please also note that Turkey is a signatory to the Hague Apostille Convention, and you may be eligible to have certain documents notarized at a Turkish notary for use in the United States by getting an additional apostille certification on them from the Governor’s Office in your area. You may find further information on apostille certification at the State Department’s website. You may visit http://www.noter.web.tr/ to easily locate a local notary office.
We can only provide extremely limited notarial services during the COVID-19 environment. If you have a true emergency need for getting a notarial service, you may be able to get an appointment by sending an email to the ACS Unit through our web page.
4. Stay in Touch with the Embassy
Anyone who wishes to stay in touch with the embassy or receive the embassy alerts and messages directly at their email addresses may register with the at embassy through the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at https://step.state.gov/step/. Please share this link with your family members, friends or relatives who also wish to receive these alerts and messages.
5. Points of Contact and General Information:
- U.S. Embassy (Ankara, Turkey)
110 Ataturk Boulevard
Kavaklidere, 06100
Ankara, Turkey
+90-312-455-5555
Ankara-ACS@state.gov
https://tr.usembassy.gov/ - U.S. Consulate General (Istanbul, Turkey)
Poligon Mahallesi, Sariyer Caddesi No: 75
İstinye 34460 Sariyer- Istanbul / Turkey
+90-212-335-9000
ACS_Istanbul@state.gov
https://tr.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulates/istanbul/ - U.S. Consulate (Adana, Turkey)
+90-322-455-4100
Girne Bulvari No:212 Guzelevler Mah.
Yuregir, Adana – TÜRKİYE
Tel: +90-322-455-4100
CA-Adana@state.gov
https://tr.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulates/adana/ - U.S. Consular Agency (Izmir, Turkey)
Izmir@state.gov - State Department – Consular Affairs
1-888-407-4747 or 1-202-501-4444
