ANKARA Embassy

[darstar 0]

I've been corresponding via e-mail with the Ankara Embassy with declining returns. At first, they used to actually ANSWER my question, now I'm getting automated responses seemingly. Has anyone tried contacting the Emabssy by phone, are they more helpful that way???

[lolie 0]

I always called - at 2 or 4 in the morning Central time.

I got immediate responses. Whenever I tried email it took forever. Good luck!

[darstar 0]

I always called - at 2 or 4 in the morning Central time.

I got immediate responses. Whenever I tried email it took forever. Good luck!

Thanks. I'll have to give it a try. Cheers.

[darstar 0]

I always called - at 2 or 4 in the morning Central time.

I got immediate responses. Whenever I tried email it took forever. Good luck!

Hi lolie,

Just looked at your updated timeline. Looks like you received the interview letter from the Embassy really fast ~ 10 days. Is that true? If so, that's great. I can only hope.

[MPGGPM 0]

I've been corresponding via e-mail with the Ankara Embassy with declining returns. At first, they used to actually ANSWER my question, now I'm getting automated responses seemingly. Has anyone tried contacting the Emabssy by phone, are they more helpful that way???

They really don't respond well to emails. Out of the many I have sent, maybe 25% of them actually get a response. Like that other poster, I also end up getting out of bed extra early and calling around 4:30 in the morning, eastern time. To make matters more difficult, they only have like a 90 minute time frame when they will actually take calls. (from 10:30 to 12 Turkey time........which is 3:30 to 5 am eastern time here in the US).

Be persistant, because sometimes the phone will be busy, or just ring and ring with no answer......until it disconnects. So you will have to keep calling repeatedly until you can get someone on the phone.

Once you do manage to get them on the phone, I have found them to be pretty friendly and helpful.

Edited April 22, 2006 by MPGGPM

[darstar 0]

I've been corresponding via e-mail with the Ankara Embassy with declining returns. At first, they used to actually ANSWER my question, now I'm getting automated responses seemingly. Has anyone tried contacting the Emabssy by phone, are they more helpful that way???

They really don't respond well to emails. Out of the many I have sent, maybe 25% of them actually get a response. Like that other poster, I also end up getting out of bed extra early and calling around 4:30 in the morning, eastern time. To make matters more difficult, they only have like a 90 minute time frame when they will actually take calls. (from 10:30 to 12 Turkey time........which is 3:30 to 5 am eastern time here in the US).

Be persistant, because sometimes the phone will be busy, or just ring and ring with no answer......until it disconnects. So you will have to keep calling repeatedly until you can get someone on the phone.

Once you do manage to get them on the phone, I have found them to be pretty friendly and helpful.

Thanks very much for the info. I'm glad that I live on the West Coast at least, 12:30 at night.

[Greenmind 0]

I've never successfully spoken to the embassy on the phone. It's never connected...even while here in Turkey. They've replied to 2 of my emails but it took about a week or so...

[joyeann 0]

Hello!! I was just wondering what does this mean:

The Visa Information Service is the only authorized source of visa information for all of Turkey. Applicants can get complete information and schedule an appointment by calling 0212-340-4444. All callers must either buy a PIN from VIS or visit any branch of Türkiye İş Bankası to purchase a PIN

What do you need a PIN for?? I thought NVC schedules the interview?

A little confused on this!

[darstar 0]

Hello!! I was just wondering what does this mean:

The Visa Information Service is the only authorized source of visa information for all of Turkey. Applicants can get complete information and schedule an appointment by calling 0212-340-4444. All callers must either buy a PIN from VIS or visit any branch of Türkiye İş Bankası to purchase a PIN

What do you need a PIN for?? I thought NVC schedules the interview?

A little confused on this!

Hi joyeann,

I actually had to go through this when I was visiting my fiancee in Istanbul last year. I wanted to consult with the US Embassy at the time to see if it would've been better for us to get married right then and there. They said it would be easier to get the K-1, so we just got engaged. I believe the VIS is for people calling from Turkey itself. For us calling from the States, we can use the following number: 90-312-466-6100 Monday thorugh Thursday between 10.30-12.00. I haven't called yet, because they finally responded to my e-mail after I got a little snippy with them, but I plan on calling soon. They mentioned that the next available interview appointments are for June 2006.

Hope things are going well.

Cheers.

[joyeann 0]

Hey Darstar!! I am glad you finally got through to them!! The NVC recv'd our DS230 and I864 today.. so I am hoping they will be quick about it. I was thinking the earliest my hubby would get the interview would be July or August. OH MAN, would I be happy with a June!!

Darstar, almost forgot... have you checked out the ankara website? It was updated on April 17th

[darstar 0]

Hey Darstar!! I am glad you finally got through to them!! The NVC recv'd our DS230 and I864 today.. so I am hoping they will be quick about it. I was thinking the earliest my hubby would get the interview would be July or August. OH MAN, would I be happy with a June!!

Darstar, almost forgot... have you checked out the ankara website? It was updated on April 17th

Hey joyeann, did anything in particular change on their site????

[joyeann 0]

Darstar, they have updated the interview schedule and the clearance list as well

http://ankara.usembassy.gov/schedule_iv.html

[darstar 0]

Darstar, they have updated the interview schedule and the clearance list as well

http://ankara.usembassy.gov/schedule_iv.html

Oh, okay that's what you meant. I thought they had changed the procedure somehow. Yes, I check the schedules and clearances, but they just received my Packet 3 last week, so it will be at least a month before I can expect our number to show up there. It will be like magic if/when it does. B)

[joyeann 0]

Wow the Ankara webpage has been updated again today with the schedules Not that I check it and read it and pour over it everyday ha ha ha But hey, for the few of us that are in line...hopefully it won't be a long wait!!

[lolie 0]

Actually I called the embassy and got our interview date. The letter arrived much later. I think it was in May and the interview date was set for August. They know the date within a week of receiving your information.