Submit as much supporting documentation as possible.

In terms of financial, you must submit official IRS tax transcripts - call the IRS and ask them to fax them to you. You should recieve them on the same day, most probably within an hour or so. Otherwise, if you have them mailed, you can expect to wait a few weeks or more since it's tax season. Include several pay stubs spread out over a period of time, a letter from your employer on company letterhead explaining your ongoing employment status, duration of employment and salary.

NOTE: if your income is a few thousand dollars OVER the poverty level, gather co-sponsor info anyway. I know of several ppl here on VJ (some went thru Ankara) who were just over the income requirement and the consulate still requested a cosponsor. Should the consular worker ask, he can give the cosponsor info at the interview. But, do not submit it UNLESS they request it.

Original birth certificates are required for both of you. For the Turkish citizen, a Nufus Kayit Ornegi is the ONLY acceptable birth certificate.

All Turkish documents must be accompanied with an English translation

Make a copy of everything, including the completed forms they sent you. Should they "lose" your papers, you'll be glad to have copies to immediately resubmit (I know this from personal experience!)

Here is the link to the Embassy Visa section:
Turkish Embassy, includes consular contact information.

GL and KUP! ;-)

Great, thanks for all of the info. I think we're almost ready to mail in packet 3 - just waiting for Onur's Police Record from Cyprus...filed for it over 6 weeks ago now!

I'm still confused as to which documents should be sent with packet 3 and which brought to the interview. It sounds like people have done different things. The instructions seem to infer that everything should be sent with packet 3 and that just your visa payment receipt, sealed medical file and passport should be brought to the interview.

I think Onur is going to call the embassy tomorrow to find out for sure.

Good luck to Merk whose interview is/was today! Hope you have good news! Insallah!


Mina - how are you doing? Are you still planning a trip to Turkey? I hope your husband is coming home to you soon!

Thank you Juliaferno-- As far as he was able to tell me the interview went ok, but he got a green slip. my guess is a RFE. They told him as soon as he gets the papers send them with his passport. So I don't know yet. But they did not flat out say no so I guess that is the upside. But the papers went out this afternoon so hopefully he will get them Wed. so not sure

Merk- was just popping on here to see how your interview went. No worry on the green paper, just get those docs submitted ASAP...the visa journey is long enough, right? Once the embassy rec's the requested info and it meets their criteria, the visa is delivered to your hun by UPS. It could take a few days or more, depending on how fast they are.

Anyway, CONGRATS! he'll be here so soon now!

Keep us posted!

Hi Julia,

I am doing well thanks, just trying to stay busy as usual and hanging out on VJ has helped a bit to distract me from missing my husband so much! I am sorry though that I have not been coming to the Turkish forum much since it has been so quiet here, not much activity has been going on much with our little group I sure hope to see some approvals soon!

I see you are getting ready to send in your packet3 to the embassy or have you send it already? Eitherway I hope you get your interview date soon!

Still looking into flights to Turkey for June, our 3rd Anniversary is coming up soon and I want to be able to go in June even if I get there a few days late, hopefully!

Anyway I better go and text both Debra and Wendy, I am so behind and need to catch up with everyone!

Let me know if you hear anything soon, Good Luck!!!

Mina

Hi Mina,

I am so glad you are planning to go to Turkey in June. What wonderful news!! Still nothing for Yilmaz and I. I hope we hear something by next month. That will be 10 months, so I am hoping to hear by then. I know you know how hard it is to be away from your love, and I am sick and tired of my life being on hold!!

Big Hugs to you!!

Wendy

Merk,

I am so happy that you had your interview and once the other documents you need to send are received, your love will be on his way to you!!

Best wishes!!!

Wendy

Another question to anyone who had a co-sponsor...

Did you include your co-sponsor's birth certificate?

I just thought of this...I hope not, because I didn't!

No birth cert is needed.

It's straightforward. The cosponsor completes their own I-134 and signs it in front of a notary. They'll need to include the supporting proof of income (employment, annuity, etc., tax return) to demonstrate sufficient income, at or exceeding 125% poverty level, on their own.

GL!

We're planning a trip to Turkey in late summer and are curious what current ticket prices are with the inflation and all. I've done a little searching online and have come up with $1000+/pp RT! Ouch!

Anyone finding lower fares/specials?

Thanks!

Good luck finding good deals on tickets. I got 3 tickets for May and it was close to 7k. The number of flights are decreasing and cost of travel is increasing so if you find a good deal you might not want to wait too long. Seems the days of < $900 flights are in the past now.

Here's what I do when I need to go cheap. Book roundtrip lax/london. Orbitz has reasonable deals now. And then go to easyjet web site and I book on to Istanbul which is my final destination. Easy Jet has a strict weight limit on luggage so be careful and it's Luton to Sabitha airport and not Ataturk. Another thing I've tried is skyscanner.net and they can have great deals also. Airfares usually drop 21-23 days prior to departure and then they start going up. It's a bit of a gamble some might say, but it's worked for me. Do some sample airfare search for confirmation to this theory. I leave to Istanbul later this month and can't wait. All the best!
Doris

thanks for the airfare info.

I receive emails on air fare from the company below. I used this company last time I went to Turkey. Received this email on 4/3/08...so prices might have changes already.




KLM/NORTHWEST ile ISTANBUL'A GIDIS-DONUS PROMOSYON
(ucuslar Amsterdam aktarmalidir)
17 MAYISA KADAR CIKISLAR ICIN

ROUNDTRIP PROMOTIONAL FARES TO ISTANBUL with KLM/NORTHWEST
(connected flights in Amsterdam)
DEPARTURES MUST BE BEFORE MAY17th.

SEYAHAT TARIHINDEN EN AZ 14 GUN ONCEDEN ODEME KOSULU VARDIR
(14 DAYS ADVANCE PURCHASE RULE APPLIES)

ASAGIDAKI FIYATLARA BAGLANTI SAYISINA GORE YAKLASIK $342-$356 ARASINDA
VERGI EKLENECEKTIR.
(TAXES WILL BE ADDED TO THE BASE FARES BELOW (APP.$342-$356))

(ATL) Atlanta–Istanbul–Atlanta $643.00 + tax
(AUS) Austin–Istanbul–Austin $719.00 + tax
(BWI) Baltimore–Istanbul–Baltimore $623.00 + tax
(BOS) Boston–Istanbul–Boston $566.00 + tax
(CLT) Charlotte-Istanbul-Charlotte $590.00 + tax
(ORD) Chicago-Istanbul-Chicago $696.00 + tax
(CVG) Cincinnati–Istanbul–Cincinnati $696.00 + tax
(CLE) Cleveland-Istanbul-Cleveland $621.00 + tax
(CMH) Columbus-Istanbul-Columbus $621.00 + tax
(DFW) Dallas-Istanbul-Dallas $643.00 + tax
(DEN) Denver-Istanbul-Denver $771.00 + tax
(DTT) Detroit-Istanbul-Detroit $643.00 + tax
(IAH) Houston-Istanbul-Houston $623.00 + tax
(IND) Indianapolis-Istanbul-Indianapolis $654.00 + tax
(TYS) Knoxville-Istanbul-Knoxville $653.00 + tax
(LAS) Las Vegas-Istanbul-Las Vegas $792.00 + tax
(LEX) Lexington – Istanbul – Lexington $653.00 + tax
(LNK) Lincoln –Istanbul – Lincoln $719.00 + tax
(LIT) Little Rock – Istanbul – Little Rock $719.00 + tax
(LAX) Los Angeles-Istanbul-Los Angeles $724.00 + tax
(MEM) Memphis–Istanbul–Memphis $673.00 + tax
(MIA) Miami–Istanbul–Miami $632.00 + tax
(MSP)Minneapolis-Istanbul-Minneapolis $651.00 + tax
(BNA) Nashville-Istanbul-Nashville $653.00 + tax
(NYC) NYC-Istanbul-NYC $543.00 + tax
(MCO) Orlando-Istanbul-Orlando $612.00 + tax
(PHL) Philadelphia-Istanbul -Philadelphia $566.00 + tax
(PHX) Phoenix– Istanbul–Phoenix $771.00 + tax
(PIT) Pittsburgh–Istanbul–Pittsburgh $621.00 + tax
(PDX) Portland-Istanbul -Portland $726.00 + tax
(RDU) Raleigh–Istanbul -Raleigh $653.00 + tax
(ROC) Rochester, NY –Istanbul – Rochester, NY $609.00 + tax
(SAN) San Diego-Istanbul-San Diego $724.00 + tax
(SEA) Seattle- Istanbul -Seattle $726.00 + tax
(SFO) San Francisco–Istanbul–San Francisco $724.00 + tax
(TPA) Tampa-Istanbul-Tampa $697.00 + tax
(IAD) Washington–Istanbul–Washington $623.00 + tax

MAXIMUM KALIS SURESI 90 GUNDUR
(MAXIMUM STAY IS 90 DAYS)

CUMA, CUMARTESI VE PAZAR UCUSLARI ARTI $30.00
(THERE IS A SURCHARGE OF $30 FOR WEEKEND FLIGHTS)

BILETLER BASILDIKTAN SONRA NON-REFUNDABLE DIR.
(TICKETS ARE NON-REFUNDABLE)

YUKARIDAKI FIYATLAR FIYATLAR YER OLAN GUNLER ICIN GECERLIDIR
(FARES ARE SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY)

*********************************************

Seyahat bilgilerinizi lutfen e-mail ile asagidaki adrese gonderiniz.
Tesekkur ederiz..
(Please send your inquiries to the e-mail listed below. Thank you...)

e-mail: reservations@mentortravel.com

*********************************************

You are receiving this e-mail because you are subscribed to FlyTurkey
Yahoogroups (Mentor Travel, Inc)

*********************************************
MENTOR TRAVEL, INC. – NEW YORK
E-MAIL: reservations@mentortravel.com
Tel: 212-714-3547
http://www.mentortravel.com
OFIS SAATLERI: Pazartesi-Cuma 10.00AM-6.00PM New York Yerel Saattir
**************************************************

Merhaba,

Hope everyone is doing well.

Taking a quick brake from work just been so very busy, it's insane! I don’t have allot of free time to make many posts, however I am able to read the posts that come to my email from everyone...trying to keep up

Congrats to those who are making progress Welcome to all the new couples
InshAllah everyone will be together with their love so very soon.


Mina, my friend.......... I am thinking of you

Baby is growing so quickly awaterlily.... guzel.!!


Best wishes.
Peace
debbie

Thanks for researching/posting the fares, Debra. Great looking rates. I bookmarked the website.

I found that AlpTravel (wwwe.alptravel.com), who I normally use, is advertising last minute specials for Sept. Unfortunately, they're out of our travel window. I haven't called them to see if they have any unadvertised specials going on for August.

Anyway, we still have time and need to get our daughter's passport.

thanks again!

Our baby will be 1 next month! Where did the time go?

I am in the same boat as you awaterlily!

I have been checking all the airlines for the cheapest fares possible. So far from New York it seem to be I would have to go with either Northwestern/KLM or American Airlines this time around, can't find anything under $1000 for June as I am hoping to be with my husband for our Wedding Anniversary

Still I am hopeful, Good Luck also with your search!

Hi Debra

I miss seeing you on here like in the good olde days like when we were first just starting out our K-1's for our husbands!
Anyway hope you got my message and I will be talking to you soon

Hi everyone!

How are you all doing? Onur sent off packet 3 on Monday and the embassy in Ankara received it today. Now we are just waiting for an interview date, and he needs to get his medical done in the meantime.

I am so excited, nervous, hopeful, anxious...ahhh!

Any interview tips or pointers?

Ahhh Julia I wish you well!!!! I wish I could offer some kind of assistance to the interview. I haven't sat my husband down and de-briefed him yet. But hopefully yours will have a good interview and not have any problems!!!!

Hi Julia,
It's only a matter of time now before Onur gets his interview
Best Wishes and Good Luck to you both on the interview, I will keep you in my prayers that he gets his visa and that you both be reunited soon! Talk to you soon,
Mina

Merhaba! How is everyone doing? Everyone must be keeping pretty busy - this thread has been quiet! Or else, I'm just getting so anxious and excited about Onur's upcoming interview that I'm checking VJ like a manyak!

Onur sent in Packet 3 last Monday and the embassy received it last Wednesday, but we haven't hear anything yet. Just wondering how long it took most to receive Packet 4/interview date. I'm trying to be patient...really, I am!

I guess I shouldn't have spoken so soon - Onur got an email from the embassy with his interview date: July 29th, 2008. We were hoping for a bit earlier AND our NOA2 expires on July 12th. The embassy website states:

"Important note: Many immigrant visa files include documents with validity expiration dates, and most types of administrative processes expire within three months. Please make sure that the administrative process for the applicants will be valid on the new interview date before rescheduling. Also make sure to bring new copies of expired documents to the interview."

Do you think we can request an earlier interview date? Hmmm...

I asked for one and they gave it to us. It can't hurt to try.

Hi Julia,

You can always call and try, hopefully they will be able to reschedule it for an eariler date! Good Luck to you both with that
But eitherway your visa process seem to be moving along nicely and hope everything else will come along quickly too!

As for the NOA2 expiring on July 12th I don't think that's going to matter much, main thing is that you got your interview date. But if anything you can always let them know at the embassy when you call them to reschedule. Best Wishes to you both

Awww...well they won't change our interview date - so July 29th it is. 2 months and counting!

awww so sorry Julia, but at least 2 months is not so bad and it will come soon before you even know it!

Good luck to Kenny & Handan whose interview is/was today!

Thanks a lot, Julia. It went well and Handan's visa was approved

Congrats!

Congratulations kennyandhandan



Hope everyone is doing well.

Wow, Congratulations Kenny and Handan!!!
Best Wishes to you both

Thanks a lot, everybody. It would have been difficult to get this far without VJ.

TEBRIKLER!!! Very happy for you both!!

First CONGRATS to Kennyandhandan for getting their VISA!!!!!!! And I want to let everyone we got our VISA too!!!!! He will be here on the 17th!!!!!!!!!

BIG CONGRATS MERK AND KENNY & HANDAN! Your wait is finally over!

Now rub some of that good approval energy off on me and Onur!

I am rubbing!!!! It would be so great if the Turkish Consulate picked up energy like some of the others and start handing out good news!!!!

Congratulations, Merk.

Congrats!

Uhhh, I've now seen it all.

Paris Hilton belly dances at the 2008 Miss Turkey pageant

A Big Congratulations and Tebrikler!! Wow, that is wonderful that he will be here in only 10 days!!!!

Thanks for posting awaterlily. It was interesting to watch.

Hope you and your family and precious little one are all well!!!

If you can call that belly dancing.

yeah really!

wendya-
I'm just looking at your siggie timeline...any word on the waiver status?

No, nothing yet. Thank you for asking though. It is nice to be thought of

Hi Wendy,
I was just wondering about that too?
Have you contacted the Ankara Embassy recently on the status of your case?

Hello everyone!!

I'm new to VJ and just discovered this Turkish forum...yay!!!!!!! I only hope my days in waiting are not too bad and I won't ever need a shoulder to cry on (although thanks in advance if I do )

I just filed my I-129F for the K-1 visa for my fiancee and have read many of your stories/posts.

Anyhow, just saying hello and hope to make many friends in the process (thanks Mina for introducing yourself on my 1st day here on VJ (Is your hubby back yet?)

Anyway....hope everyone is doing well and good luck and speedy reunions for all!!!!!!

Erika

Congratulations on getting your proverbial ball rolling, Erika.