Following the arrest of a Turkish-citizen employed at the U.S. Istanbul Consulate over alleged ties to the Fetullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), the group believed to have been behind last year’s defeated coup attempt in Turkey, the United States government first suspended granting non-immigrant visas to Turkish citizens in Turkey and later resumed processing on a limited basis.
I received a confirmation from the United States Travel Association that I could attend the IPW 2018 as a hosted international journalist. IPW is the travel industry’s premier international marketplace and the largest generator of travel to the U.S. IPW 2018 will take place 19-23 May in Denver.
Following recent expiration of my 10-years visa to the United States, I wanted to get a new visa, so I applied online last week for an appointment date in Istanbul. The earliest date for the appointment is given to December 2018. Meaning I can’t have a visa to the United States before the IPW 2018.
And today, the U.S. Embassy in Turkey announced that the earliest appointment date for Turkish citizens applying for a visa to visit the United States is January 2019.
Following an act of Turkish government, the United States Embassy is punishing Turkish citizens but not the government officials. Thousands of Turkish citizens, including students, have been affected by the punishment of United States.
Tensions between states affect ordinary people’s lives immensely. Eventually, it will affect businesses and industries in both countries as well.
A possible ban on Turkish parliamentarians and their close relatives at entering to the United States may be a better answer to the act of Turkish government.
