Visas

We look forward to serving you at our new location at 1480 Sokak No. 1, Çukurambar Mahallesi 06530, Çankaya, Ankara as of September 1, 2022.  When you reach the embassy, please proceed to the consular entrance at the corner of Öğretmenler Caddesi and 1480. Sokak. 

Important Notice

For the most up-to-date information regarding COVID-19 travel restrictions, Presidential Proclamations, or visa related questions, please visit the following website: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news.html  

The purpose of your intended travel and other facts will determine what type of visa is required under U.S. immigration law. As a visa applicant, you will need to establish that you meet all requirements to receive the category of visa for which you are applying.

Our Current Operating Posture

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to severely affect the ability of embassies and consulates around the world to be able to resume routine visa services.  For more details on visa operating status worldwide, please visit: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/visa-services-operating-status-update.html

For more information on our current operational status, please visit: https://tr.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulates/consular-operations-updates/

Fee Payment Extension

All receipts for payment of MRV fees issued before October 1, 2022, were extended until September 30, 2023, and remain valid until this date. All nonimmigrant visa application fee (also known as the MRV fee) payments made on or after October 1, 2022, are valid for 365 days from the date a receipt is issued for payment of the MRV fee.  Applicants must schedule an interview appointment or submit an interview waiver application during this 365-day period.  Please note applicants must only schedule their interview or submit their waiver application within the 365-day period.  There is no requirement the interview must occur during the 365-day period. 

Denied Boarding

Please note, all individuals are reminded that their admission into the United States remains subject to a determination by Customs and Border Protection officers at ports of entry, and that they may be subject to a 14-day quarantine upon arrival. Passengers are able to enter the United States at any port of entry. The Embassy is aware that valid visa holders have been denied boarding by airlines or denied entry into the United States by CBP. The Embassy cannot assist you in getting approval for boarding or entry into the United States. Questions regarding denial of boarding are handled via the DHS redress system – to access this system please go to https://www.dhs.gov/dhs-trip

DNA Testing

The U.S. Embassy in Ankara and the U.S. Consulate General in Istanbul have resumed DNA sample collection and are currently scheduling DNA test collection appointments for either U.S. immigrant visas or U.S. passport and citizenship services.  This includes DNA testing for cases referred from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).  For more information, please visit: https://tr.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulates/consular-operations-updates/DNA-Testing.

Please note laboratories must not put any value on customs form, or the DNA kits will be undelivered to the US Mission in Türkiye.

Uniting for Ukraine 

On April 21, 2022, the United States announced a key step toward fulfilling President Biden’s commitment to welcome Ukrainians fleeing Russia’s invasion. Uniting for Ukraine provides a pathway for Ukrainian citizens and their immediate family members who are outside the United States to come to the United States and stay temporarily in a two-year period of parole. Ukrainians participating in Uniting for Ukraine must have a supporter in the United States who agrees to provide them with financial support for the duration of their stay in the United States. For more information on how to apply for Uniting for Ukraine, please visit https://www.dhs.gov/ukraine.

To be eligible for this process, children under the age of 18 must be traveling to the United States in the care and custody of their parent or legal guardian. Under the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 (TVPRA), any child under the age of 18 who is not accompanied by their parent or legal guardian generally must be turned over to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and vetted to protect against exploitation and abuse. Sponsors must be vetted before that child can be released and reunified. As a result, children traveling on their own, or with a non-parent or non-legal guardian adult, are not currently eligible for this process.

From April 25, 2022, Ukrainian nationals who present at U.S. Southwest border land ports of entry without a valid visa or without pre-authorization to travel to the United States through Uniting for Ukraine may be denied entry and referred to apply through this process.

Єднання заради України

21 квітня 2022 року Сполучені Штати оголосили про ключовий крок у напрямку виконання зобов’язань Президента Байдена приймати в США українців, які рятуються від російського вторгнення. Програма «Єднання заради України» надає можливість громадянам України та найближчим членам їх родин, які знаходяться поза межами Сполучених Штатів, приїхати до США і тимчасово перебувати в країні протягом двох років гуманітарного паролю. Українці, які беруть участь у програмі «Єднання заради України», повинні мати спонсора в Сполучених Штатах, який погоджується надавати їм фінансову підтримку на час перебування в США. Детальну інформацію стосовно програми «Єднання заради України» можна знайти на сайті https://www.dhs.gov/ukraine.

Для того, щоб скористатися програмою, діти віком до 18 років повинні подорожувати до Сполучених Штатів у супроводі батьків або законного опікуна. Відповідно до Закону про перевірку захисту жертв торгівлі людьми від 2008 року (TVPRA), будь-яка дитина віком до 18 років, яку не супроводжують батьки чи законний опікун, як правило, повинна бути направлена до Міністерства охорони здоров’я та соціальних служб (HHS) і пройти перевірку щодо захисту від експлуатації та жорстокого поводження. Перш ніж дитину можна буде передати для возз’єднання зі спонсором, цього спонсора необхідно перевірити. Таким чином, діти, які подорожують самостійно, або з дорослими, які не є їх батьками чи опікунами, наразі не можуть скористатися цією процедурою.

З 25 квітня 2022 року громадянам України, які намагатимуться перетнути південно-західний кордон США через сухопутні пункти в’їзду і не матимуть дійсної візи або попереднього дозволу на перетин кордону Сполучених Штатів по програмі «Єднання заради України», може бути відмовлено у в’їзді. Такі особи повинні будуть зареєструватися у програмі «Єднання заради України».

Additional Resources:

A citizen of a foreign country who seeks to enter the United States generally must first obtain a U.S. visa, which is placed in the traveler’s passport, a travel document issued by the traveler’s country of citizenship.

Certain international travelers may be eligible to travel to the United States without a visa if they meet the requirements for visa-free travel. The Visa section of this website is all about U.S. visas for foreign citizens to travel to the United States.

(Note: U.S. citizens don’t need a U.S. visa for travel, but when planning travel abroad may need a visa issued by the embassy of the country they wish to visit.).

To contact a customer service representative, please visit the GSS Contact Us page for full information or use contact information below:

  • Telephone (From Türkiye): +90 (850) 390-2884
  • Telephone (From the U.S): +1 (703) 520-2490

Immigrant Visa Inquiries: (Returning Residents, Fiancée Visas, Family Based Visas, Employment Based Visas, Diversity Visas (Green Card Lottery), Following-to-Join Refugee and Asylum Cases, Special Immigrant Visas): Please note Ankara processes all immigrant visas.

E-mail (Ankara): Question Form

Nonimmigrant Visa Inquiries: Ankara and Istanbul process nonimmigrant visas, so please direct your inquiries to the location where you applied or intend to apply.

​E-mail (Ankara): Question Form
E-mail (Istanbul): Question Form

The Department of State manages the visa process strictly but fairly in order to best protect the United States.  We are committed to the essential openness for which the United States has always been known.  Travel to the United States is welcomed and encouraged.

We promise to you, the visa applicant, that:

  • We will treat you with dignity and respect, even if we are unable to grant you a visa.
  • We will treat you as an individual and your case as unique.
  • We will remember that, to you, a visa interview may be a new or intimidating experience and that you may be nervous.
  • We will use the limited time available for the interview to get as full a picture as possible of your travel plans and intentions.
  • We will use our available resources to fairly assist all applicants to get appointments to allow travel in time for business, study, and other important obligations.
  • We will post detailed and accurate information on visa requirements and application procedures on every Embassy and Consulate website.
  • We will provide information on non-immigrant appointment waiting times at every Embassy and Consulate posted on http://travel.state.gov.
  • We will explain the reason for any visa denial to you.

Furthermore, if you are a:

  • Student, we will make every effort to ensure that you get an appointment and, if qualified, a visa in time to start classes.
  • Medical and humanitarian emergency traveler, we will expedite processing for those dealing with life threatening emergencies.
  • Business traveler, we will establish appropriate mechanisms to facilitate business travel and expedite cases of particular concern to American business.

At the same time, we expect you, the visa applicant, to:

  • Plan your travel and visa application as far in advance as possible.
  • Complete your application fully and accurately.
  • Be forthcoming about your purpose and plans.
  • Prepare for your interview by being able to clearly and concisely describe your intentions.