State Department Suspends All Non-Immigrant Visa Processing in Turkey, Effective Immediately

The U.S. State Department announced Sunday the suspension of all non-immigrant visa processing at American Embassies and Consulates across Turkey.

In an October 8th Twitter post, the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, Turkey, wrote that the suspension was effective immediately.  The Embassy’s tweet did not report when the State Department would lift the suspension.

The suspension will affect all non-immigrant visa applicants, including medical doctors, college and university students, visitors for business, tourists, exchange visitors, crew members, temporary employees, researchers, professors, treaty traders and investors, journalists, athletes, entertainers, diplomats, professionals, skilled technicians, executives, multi-national managers, and individuals seeking urgent medical care visas.

ABC News reported that the suspension was U.S. retaliation for the Turkish government’s arrest this week of a U.S. Consulate employee on espionage charges, alleging the employee’s link to the network of U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom the Turkish government blames for a 2016 failed coup.  The U.S. Embassy has denied the espionage allegation.

If you have any questions about this post or other immigration-related matter, please contact me at RGLahoud@nmmlaw.com.

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