Exemption for US Visa Applications ‘in Cases of Medical, Humanitarian Emergencies’

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US Embassy in Turkey has stated on its official Twitter account that applications for visas "in cases of medical or humanitarian emergencies" could be made to the "US Embassy in Ankara and the Consulate General in Istanbul".

For visas in cases of medical or humanitarian emergencies, please visit→ https://t.co/ZzaHmQi2iw | https://t.co/OQ8cqDaeVS

— US Embassy Turkey (@USEmbassyTurkey) 16 Ekim 2017

The embassy on its Twitter account shared the information of the website for the applications in its Tweet "For visas in cases of medical or humanitarian emergencies, please visit→ https://ais.usvisa-info.com".

The official statement remains unchanged

The statement issued on the official website of the US Embassy regarding the suspension of nonimmigrant visa applications remained unchanged:

"Recent events have forced the United States Government to reassess the commitment of the Government of Turkey to the security of U.S. Mission facilities and personnel. In order to minimize the number of visitors to our Embassy and Consulates while this assessment proceeds, effective immediately we have suspended all non-immigrant visa services at all U.S. diplomatic facilities in Turkey".

"Turkish citizens with valid visas may continue to travel to the United States. Turkish citizens are also welcome to apply for a nonimmigrant visa outside of Turkey whether or not they maintain a residence in that country. Please note that an applicant applying outside of Turkey will need to pay the application fee for services in that country, even if a fee has previously been paid for services in Turkey.

The efforts regarding the situation of applicants to visit US health treatment paid off

Republican People's Party (CHP) US Representative Yurter Özcan informed Cansu Çamlıbel from Hürriyet daily, that her applications to the US Foreign Ministry and the Congress on behalf of patients with emergency situations were fruitful.

Some patients whose transfer from university hospitals to the National Institutes of Health'e (NIH) in Maryland, Washington, had already approved at the beginning of the week contacted Özcan and asked for help who forwarded the request to the US Foreign Ministry and the Congress.

Özcan had also met with Alex Mooney, a member of the United States House of Representatives from West Virginia, and a member of the Turkey-US Friendship Group. In a letter sent to the US Foreign Minister Rex Tillerson on October 13, Mooney demanded that citizens of Turkey, be exempted from the visa regulations.

The US Foreign Ministry assured Özcani to help citizens of Turkey who wanted to travel to the US due to medical or humanitarian emergencies and asked for the information of the patients who had contacted Özcan earlier. (AS/DG)