American Outlook
American Citizen Services
United States Mission, Turkey
December 2021 Newsletter
Featured in this issue:
- Passport Fee Change
- New COVID-19 Entry Requirements for the United States
- Bringing a Dog into the United States
- COVID-19 Entry Requirements for Turkey
- Update on Non-Immigrant and Immigrant Visa Services
- Upcoming Elections
- Get Ready for Taxes
- Upcoming Holidays
- Contacts and Information
U.S. Citizen Services in Turkey:
https://tr.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/
Turkey Travel Advisory:
Worldwide Caution:
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/worldwide-caution.html
Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP):
- Passport Fee Change
The Department generally sets and collects fees for consular services based on the concept of full cost recovery to the U.S. government. The Department uses an Activity-Based Costing (ABC) methodology cost model to calculate annually the cost of providing passports to U.S. citizens.
On December 27, we will increase our fees for a passport book by $20 for all customers. Avoid processing delays and submit the correct amount by checking this webpage on the day you apply or renew: https://tr.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/passports/.
- New COVID-19 Entry Requirements for the United States
As of December 6, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requires all air passengers entering the United States (including U.S. citizens and Legal Permanent Residents) to present a negative COVID-19 test, taken within ONE calendar day of departure, or proof of recovery from the virus within the last 90 days. Children under 2 years old do not need to test.
What You Need to Know:
- If you plan to travel internationally, you will need to get a COVID-19 viral test (regardless of vaccination status or citizenship) no more than 1 day before you travel by air into the United States. You must show your negative result to the airline before you board your flight.
- If you recently recovered from COVID-19, you may instead travel with documentation of recovery from COVID-19 (i.e., your positive COVID-19 viral test result on a sample taken no more than 90 days before the flight’s departure from a foreign country and a letter from a licensed healthcare provider or a public health official stating that you were cleared to travel).
*This information is current as of the date of this newsletter, please visit https://tr.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information-2/ for most updated information.
- Bringing a Dog into the United States
Effective December 1, 2021, the CDC updated guidance on the temporary ban on importing dogs into the United States.
Under these new requirements, dogs with a current rabies vaccination certificate (RVC) issued by a U.S.-licensed veterinarian in the United States may enter the United States without a CDC import permit and do not require a titer test, but still must enter via approved ports of entry. Dogs must also have proof of a microchip, be at least six months old, and be healthy upon arrival. Dogs who receive a rabies vaccination outside of the United States remain subject to the ban restrictions.
Full guidance can be found at the CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov/importation/bringing-an-animal-into-the-united-states/index.html.
- COVID-19 Entry Requirements for Turkey
COVID-19 control measures for air, land, and sea travel continue. All arrivals must submit a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of departure unless they have a certificate showing they were vaccinated at least 14 days before arrival. Passengers arriving in Turkey will be required to complete an information form and will be checked for symptoms. Anyone suspected of having COVID-19 will be transported to a hospital for examination or to a dormitory to self-isolate. If an individual on a particular aircraft/vehicle/vessel is found to have COVID-19, the information forms completed upon arrival will be used to identify others who have been in contact with them; those individuals will then be subject to 10 or 14-day isolation/quarantine depending on their arrival countries.
You may check the entry admission rules of the countries you will be flying to or through on the Travel Rules of Countries website. Turkish Airlines has provided a website to help understand country rules: https://www.turkishairlines.com/en-us/announcements/coronavirus-outbreak/travel-restrictions/.
Mandatory Entry Form into Turkey: Travelers must complete an Entry Form online a maximum of 72 hours before departure to Turkey. A private HES code will be created automatically by the given information. Travelers must show proof of having completed the form or their HES code. Travelers may be required to show HES code when entering some places like museums, art galleries, and some other indoor public places. Republic of Turkey Ministry of Health Form: https://register.health.gov.tr/.
*This information is current as of the date of this newsletter, please visit https://tr.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information-2/ for most updated information.
- Update on Non-Immigrant Visa Services in Turkey
The U.S. Embassy in Ankara and the U.S. Consulate General in Istanbul are the two-nonimmigrant visa (NIV) processing posts in Mission Turkey. All scheduling is managed by https://ais.usvisa-info.com/.
The U.S. Embassy in Ankara: At this time, due to a backlog in immigrant visa cases, the U.S. Embassy in Ankara is only providing NIV services to applicants that have urgent medical/humanitarian issues, have travel connected to public health and safety (aviation/flight safety, food safety, health or medical workers connected to COVID mitigation efforts), or travel connected to significant U.S. economic impact. To request consideration for an expedite appointment, please visit: https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-tr/niv Routine NIV services remain suspended.
The U.S. Consulate General in Istanbul: At this time, the U.S. Consulate General in Istanbul is processing all categories of nonimmigrant visas, however, appointment capacity is limited. Similar to U.S. Embassy – Ankara, Istanbul will consider expediting appointments that have urgent medical/humanitarian issues, have travel connected to public health and safety (aviation/flight safety, food safety, health or medical workers connected to COVID mitigation efforts), or travel connected to significant U.S. economic impact. To request consideration for an expedite appointment, please visit: https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-tr/niv.
- Upcoming Elections
Register and Request Your Absentee Ballot Now for these Upcoming Elections:
The following states have elections for federal office in the next 90 days:
January 11, 2022: Florida Special General Election in U.S. Congressional District 20
March 1, 2022: Texas Primary Election
The State of Florida will conduct a special general election on Tuesday, January 11, 2022, to fill a vacancy for the 20th Congressional District, which includes parts of Broward and Palm Beach counties. Service members, eligible family members, and overseas citizens can register to vote up until December 13, 2021. Voters can use the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) to register to vote, request a ballot, and update any contact information by using the completion tool available at fvap.gov/FPCA or by using the fillable PDF version. After completing the FPCA, voters must print it, sign it, and send it to their election office in Florida. If using the FPCA to register for the first time, voters must mail the FPCA to their election office.
Florida voters in the 20th Congressional District who are already registered and want to receive a mailed ballot must send in the FPCA as a ballot request by January 1, 2022. Registered voters who prefer to receive their ballot by email or fax can request their ballot up until Election Day. Registered voters can send their completed, signed FPCA directly to their election office by email, mail, or fax.
Florida voters in the 20th Congressional District must return their voted absentee ballot by MAIL or FAX (fax only allowed if located overseas) and postmarked by January 11, 2022. Detailed instructions and county contact information are available at fvap.gov/florida. Voters can verify the status of their voting materials by contacting their election office directly.
The State of Texas will conduct a primary election for U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday, March 1, 2022. Service members, eligible family members, and overseas citizens can register to vote between January 1 and February 9, 2022. Voters can use the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) to register to vote, request a ballot, and update any contact information by using the completion tool available at fvap.gov/FPCA or by using the fillable PDF version.
Texas voters who are already registered and want to receive a ballot must send in the FPCA as a ballot request between January 1 and February 18, 2022.
After completing the FPCA, voters must sign and send it to their county early voting clerk in Texas, by mail, email, or fax. If submitting the FPCA by fax, the faxed FPCA must be followed with a hardcopy mailed FPCA that must be received by the early voting clerk by the fourth business day after the fax. Emailed FPCAs do not require a follow-up mailed hardcopy FPCA, but must include the “Transmission Cover Sheet”.
Voters must return their voted absentee ballot by mail or fax (fax only if you are located in a hostile fire area). For Uniformed Service members or eligible family members, the ballot must be mailed by March 1, 2022. For overseas citizens the ballot must be postmarked by March 1, 2022.
Detailed instructions and county contact information are available at fvap.gov/texas. Voters can verify the status of their voting materials by contacting their election office directly.
Additional Information for non-UOCAVA voters: Uniformed service members, their families, and Department of Defense civilians who are currently stationed in the same location as their voting address may visit vote.gov to register to vote and request information from their local election office to vote locally.
More detailed information can be found at the 2022 Voting Assistance Guide here.
- Get Ready for Taxes
Here’s what’s new and what to consider when filing in 2022:
The IRS encourages taxpayers to get informed about topics related to filing their federal tax returns in 2022. These topics include special steps related to charitable contributions, economic impact payments, and advance child tax credit payments. Taxpayers can visit IRS.gov/getready for online tools, publications and other helpful resources for the filing season.
You may visit the IRS web page here for some key items for taxpayers to know before they file next year.
- Upcoming Holidays
U.S. Mission Turkey offices will be closed on the following U.S. and Turkish holidays:
| Friday, December 24 | Christmas Day |
| Friday, December 31 | New Year’s Day (Observed) |
| Saturday, January 1 | New Year’s Day |
|
Monday, January 17 Monday, February 21
|
Martin Luther King Day President’s Day
|
- Contacts and Information
Embassy Ankara
110 Ataturk Boulevard, Kavaklidere 06100, Ankara
Tel: (90) (312) 455-5555
Fax: (90) (312) 468-6131
https://tr.usembassy.gov/
Consulate General Istanbul
Poligon Mahallesi, Sarıyer Caddesi, No: 75, Istinye 34460, Sarıyer
Tel: (90) (212) 335-9000
Fax: (90) (212) 335-9102
https://tr.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulates/istanbul/
Consulate Adana
Girne Bulvari No. 212, Guzelevler Mahallesi, Yuregir
Tel: (90) (322) 455-4100
Fax (90) (322) 455-4141
https://tr.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulates/adana/
Consular Agent Izmir
Izmir@state.gov
Federal Benefits Unit and Veterans Services (Regional – Embassy Athens)
https://athens.usembassy.gov/federal_benefits.html
FBU.Athens@ssa.gov
