Visas Suspended for US visitors to Turkey
 

After the US and Turkey have suspended visas for all non-immigrant visitors, those of us planning trips will need to rethink our logistics and even our trips. My flights and hotel are booked, but it looks like the whole enterprise is up in the air right now.

Going in the near-term? Then you can cancel without penalty and receive a refund from Turkish Airlines (but only through October 31 so far). Other airlines are likely to follow suit.

Going in the farther term? I guess wait and see. I'm keeping an eye on developments and will see what happens for December, when I'm planning (hoping) to go. But some people have likely booked high-season travel for next spring and beyond. I suspect tour operators will allow cancellations at some point, but you'll likely have to wait and see, just as I will.

And small people have made the world smaller.

I've been following this topic since early morning as we plan on visiting next September. I've been to Turkey once before and found it to be amazing. I've been looking forward to introducing my better half. These are crazy times in which we live.

Turkey has more to lose here I think in terms of $$$ impact on tourism industry - should be resolved quickly I think -at least I would if I were Turkey.

Doug, thanks for this post . It is so sad to learn this and it will hurt their tourism industry. We had hoped to return.. Please give us updates as you learn about them.

Please check my threads for further developments on this issue and any others relating to developments for Americans and others traveling or planning to travel to Turkey.

I thought the name of this thread would have given an indication but alas:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ls-travels.cfm

I post annual threads on what I can report, and have been doing sp for the last four years. The current one is :

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...y-traveler.cfm

I will report detailed info on the annual thread but may also put a word or two on the new one.

Turkey threats reprisals is not a good heading to convey something to do with US visas. It just sounds like talk of all the violence in Turkey and how that may be a bad impact on travel.

Christina, I am sorry if my title was misleading. Will be more careful next time I start a new thread.

By the way, there is not much violence in Turkey, definitely less than US and England except for human rights abuses against journalists, human rights activists and members of some races and religious sects, but not against tourists.

We felt perfectly safe during our recent 15 day trip:

http://otherchelebistravels.blogspot.com.tr/

I also have been tweeting on US-Turkey relations since the last problem started:

https://twitter.com/ahmetcelebiler

What I tweet is the most I can without endangering myself.


For anyone interested in how the current situation developed, I recommend reading through my last four annual threads on the Turkey forums, as a historical record and analysis of the Middle East mire.

There is updated information in the news today, that US passport holders traveling to Turkey from a country that is not the US may enter Turkey legally. Tweeted by Turkish Airlines, I believe.

Turkey started processing visas again in November but still doesn’t offer the easy electronic visas to US travelers. I applied for a visa online and went to the Turkish consulate here in NYC on Friday. Will have my visa on Friday this week. I’m glad things worked out, but it’s a pain that you have to go in person. It did take over a week to get an appointment, so you have to plan ahead. Here’s hoping we will work out our diplomatic issues soon.

@ doug_stallings: Thanks for the update! I'm glad you will soon have your visa, and trust that you will enjoy stunning Turkey.

@kja I'm really looking forward to this trip. I've long wanted to see Istanbul.

doug -- thanks for the info. I have freinds who are hoping to go in the spring so its nice I can report a success in getting a Visa.

It’s not easy to go to Turkey right now since getting a visa still requires two personal visits to a consulate, which will definitely limit everyone’s ability to travel there from the US for the near term. Let’s hope the diplomatic issues are resolved soon. I’ll let you know how the trip goes. There were a lot of people picking up their passports yesterday. Very good service, by the way, at least in NYC.

Is the cost $160 pp?

Good news.

Turkish embassy in the United States informed the press that the visa situation is back to normal.

Check for on-line visa rather than trying your luck at the airport.

Call the Turkish consulate or embassy to ask for your passport if you have not payed the $160 yet.

By the way, the on-line visa was previously only $50 and I do not know if a new reciprocity has been established on the cost. (Turks pay $160 for their American visas.

I’m enjoying Istanbul right now, and I’m very happy to hear about the visa situation. Few Americans here at the moment, but that will probably change shortly. What a beautiful place!!