Saturday, October 14, 2017

The U.S. Shutdown Of The Visa Program With Turkey Is Causing Chaos For Turkish Travelers

The United States Embassy in Ankara has been a flashpoint for a visa row with Turkey

AFP: Turks seeking US visas left reeling by diplomatic row

Turkish students, business executives and travel operators have been left reeling by the country's dispute with the United States that has led both to suspend visas.

Last year, 313,654 Turks went to the US while 459,493 Americans came to Turkey, according to figures provided by the Turkish Statistical Institute.

But the decision to charge a US consulate staffer with links to the American-based preacher Fethullah Gulen, accused of launching last year's failed coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has thrown ties into turmoil.

In response, the US embassy in Ankara said it would suspend non-immigrant visas including those for tourism and work. Turkey then halted all visa services at its US missions for American citizens.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: This dispute .... started by Turkey when it arrested a Turkish citizen who works at a U.S. consulate .... was (and is) so unnecessary, but typical on how Turkish President Erdogan and his supporters now rule Turkey. My prediction .... Turkey will bend down, the country is losing too much in terms of tourist revenue, convenience of travel, and the image that the country tries to project.

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