FAQs on The New Visa Appointment System

1. Why is the U.S. Embassy making these changes now?
2. Was there a problem with the service providers you were using?
3. Why will these arrangements be any better than what you had before?
4. What --exactly-- will change?
5. What will be the same?
6. When will the changes go into effect?
7. Who cannot schedule an appointment through the new system?
8. Won’t this cost me more?
9. How do I pay the fee?
10. What currencies can I use to pay the fee?
11. What if I don’t have a credit card?
12. Can I schedule an appointment before I pay the fee?
13. If I don’t get a visa, can I get the fee refunded?
14. Won’t it be harder to get an appointment this way?
15. How far in advance can I schedule my appointment?
16. Why should I apply now if I’m not traveling until later?
17. What languages can I use?
18. What if I don’t have access to the internet?
19. Won’t it take longer to get an appointment this way?
20. Will both Ankara and Istanbul use the same arrangements?
21. What are the steps to apply for a U.S. visa under this new system?
22. What if I already have an appointment scheduled?
23. What if I have already paid the fee to TEB but have not yet scheduled a visa appointment?
24. Can’t I pay my visa fee at the Embassy/Consulate?
25. What if I have already left my passport with UPS for shipment?
26. I’m applying for an IMMIGRANT visa for Permanent Residence in the United States.  Do I use this system? 

1. Why is the U.S. Embassy making these changes now?
We are consolidating our service provider arrangements for visa appointment scheduling, fee collection, and delivery of passports and visas to reduce costs to both the U.S. government and to our visa applicants.  Other U.S. embassies in our region are making similar changes at approximately the same time.  This project will eventually lead to the same arrangements being in place at all U.S. visa-issuing posts in the world.

2. Was there a problem with the service providers you were using?
Not at all.  Our former service providers, Turk Ekonomi Bankasi (TEB) and
Unsped Paket Servisi (UPS) provided excellent service for many years.  We thank them for their excellent service to us and to the public, and we have only the highest regard for them. 
 
3. Why will these arrangements be any better than what you had before?

• Lower cost to the applicants;
• Fees will be accepted in either U.S.  Dollars if you pay by credit card through the website or Turkish Lire if you pay in cash at AK Bank;
• Greater flexibility in scheduling appointments, which can now be booked up to six months in advance;
• Appointments can be booked on line as well as through the Call Center.

4. What -exactly- will change?

• The website to schedule appointments:  www.usvisa-info.com
• The phone number to schedule appointments:
  Calling from Turkey:  0850 252 6355
  Calling from the US:  (703) 439-2348
• The bank where you pay the fee:  AkBank
• The currencies you can use to pay:  U.S. Dollars if you pay by credit card through the website OR Turkish Lire if you pay in cash at AK Bank.
• Passports will be delivered to the PTT post office that you select.

5. What will be the same?

• The U.S.  Embassy website for completing your DS-160 visa application: http://turkey.usembassy.gov
• The locations and addresses of our visa issuing posts:  Ankara and Istanbul

6. When will the changes go into effect?
December 19, 2012. Appointments scheduled on December 19th will be for interviews beginning Wednesday, December 26, to allow for the transition to the new system and for U.S. holidays.

7. Who cannot schedule an appointment through the new system?  

E Visa Applicants, Fulbright Scholars and scholars on another U.S. Government grant and applicants who have paid their MRV fee at TEB Bank cannot schedule appointments through the new system.

Please visit Visa Application Procedures on how to proceed with the above mentioned applications.

8. Won’t this cost me more?
No. The cost of application scheduling and passport/visa delivery will now be included in the visa application fee. Now the applicant will only pay the U.S. government-required visa fee, which –as before- depends on the type of visa the applicant is seeking. No additional fees!

9. How do I pay the fee?

•  You can pay the fee by credit card if you get your appointment through www.usvisa-info.com.

• You can pay the fee in cash at any branch of Akbank.  However, you must create a user account at www.usvisa-info.com, then print off the MRV payment sheet.  You have to take this sheet to Akbank at time of payment.  It will take approximately 24 hours for your cash payment to be recorded online.  Until it is recognized in the system, you will not be able to schedule an appointment.  

10. What currencies can I use to pay the fee?

• U.S. Dollars if you pay by credit card through the website
• Turkish Lira if you pay in cash at Akbank

11. What if I don’t have a credit card?
You can pay in cash in Turkish Lira at any branch of Akbank.
 
12. Can I schedule an appointment before I pay the fee?
No. Pay your fee first and then schedule your appointment.

13. If I don’t get a visa, can I get the fee refunded?
No. As before, the visa application fee is not refundable.  The application fees cover the cost of making consular services available world-wide.

14. Won’t it be harder to get an appointment this way?
No. It should become easier because only those applicants who have already paid the fee will get an appointment.

15. How far in advance can I schedule my appointment?
Appointments will be available for six months into the future.

16. Why should I apply now if I’m not traveling until later?
If you apply as soon as you know you want to travel, rather than waiting to the last minute, you can be sure that you will have your visa in plenty of time, and then you can make the most advantageous travel arrangements.  Airline fares often become more expensive if tickets are purchased close to departure.  Never buy tickets until you have your visa in hand!

17. What languages can I use?

• Turkish
• English
• Farsi

18. What if I don’t have access to the internet?
You can call our call center at 0850 252 6355 to schedule an appointment with a live operator.

19. Won’t it take longer to get an appointment this way?
No. As always, the availability of appointments will be affected by demand and the availability of qualified consular officers.  Spring and summer are always busier than fall and winter.  You can apply well in advance before you travel when there are appointments available. 

20. Will both Ankara and Istanbul use the same arrangements?
Yes. The same information applies equally to Ankara and Istanbul.

21. What are the steps to apply for a U.S. visa under this new system?

• Decide why and when you want to go to the United States;
• Complete your visa application(DS-160 form) at http://turkey.usembassy.gov/;
• Schedule your appointment through usvisa-info.com or by telephone;
• Pay your fee through usvisa-info.com or at AK Bank;
• Come to your scheduled appointment for your interview;
• Receive your passport with your visa at the PTT post office you have selected;
• Travel!

22. What if I already have an appointment scheduled?
Keep your appointment as planned.  There is no change to an appointment that you have already scheduled.

23. What if I have already paid the fee to TEB but have not yet scheduled a visa appointment?
Please go to the U.S. Embassy website http://turkey.usembassy.gov for instructions on applying for an interview directly from Embassy Ankara or Consulate General Istanbul with a TEB receipt as you will not be able to schedule an appointment through the usvisa-info.com website.  Keep your receipt from TEB and present it at your appointment.  Visa fees paid to TEB are valid for one year from the date of payment.

24. Can’t I pay my visa fee at the Embassy/Consulate?
No. Please pay your fee at AK Bank or through www.usvisa-info.com.  Otherwise, you will not be able to schedule an appointment for an interview.  
  
25. What if I have already left my passport with UPS for shipment?  
UPS will deliver your passport according to the instructions you gave when you signed up with them for delivery.

26. I’m applying for an IMMIGRANT visa for Permanent Residence in the United States. Do I use this system?
There are different procedures for Immigrant Visas.  Please see the U.S. Embassy’s website at http://turkey.usembassy.gov for det