Should I Visit the Embassy While I'm in Turkey?

[JULIAFERNO 0]

I just bought my ticket to Turkey Dec. 20th - Jan. 4th.

Would it be at all helpful for me to visit the embassy while I am there? Would I be able to speak with someone? Does anyone have any experience with this, even in another country?

Let me know your thoughts!

P.S. For those of you who don't know my fiance has been in AP for 4 months.

[R de la R 2]

I just bought my ticket to Turkey Dec. 20th - Jan. 4th.

Would it be at all helpful for me to visit the embassy while I am there? Would I be able to speak with someone? Does anyone have any experience with this, even in another country?

Let me know your thoughts!

P.S. For those of you who don't know my fiance has been in AP for 4 months.

I guess you are refering to the Consulate, where it is the AP going on right now. You better call while you are in country and try to get an appointment with them. You won´t be able to enter to the building without previous appointment. Good Luck!!!

There will be Xmas and employees take time off, you better call in advance.

[rmncm 0]

Its recomended to always check into the US embassy while in another country. This way if something bad was to happen (crime,accident or worse) they know you are in country. As for your AP...i do beleive your sol on finding out any more info or trying to speed it up. From what I have gathered in my time here, it could take 2 weeks or two years, you can do nothing but wait.

[miamiwife 0]

Julia,

You don't need to make an appointment at Ankara--just show your passport and they will let you in. There is a separate line for U.S. citizen services. As far as getting anything done, well I hope someone here can offer advice on that.

[tammy2688 1]

Go Julia. Talk to the consular section/US service of the embassy.

May God be with you.

Tam

[WonTanNara 0]

Julia, We've been on AP for over seven months too for security clearance. I've asked myself the same question, should I make a trip to the embassy while I'm in Dakar next month? I have emailed Dakar every month for the past seven months, pretty much asking the same questions again and again hoping for a different answer. Is there any update? Can you see any information about our case? Can you tell me what gov't agencies are doing our security checks? I'm certain I am annoying the ####### out of them and the answer is always the same. "It is completely out of our hands, the processing is being done in Washington, we can only see if it's complete or not complete, we cannot see if there have been any updates." They've told me that this 7+ month delay is not unique to our case and there's nothing wrong, but security clearances take a lot of time.

We've also been told that our relationship and our paperwork have all been verified and no additional proof is required. Our interview was in April and we paid a visit when I went over in July. It didn't do anything. In our case, going to the embassy won't do a damn thing except waste 1/2 a day, cost me $10 in taxi fare, and make me obsess over it instead of enjoying the time I have with my fiance.

If you feel like you can get more information, or if it will make you feel better to go, then you should go. I've heard others say they think going will speed up the AP, but if you are waiting for security clearance then based on my experience and the information I have I don't personally agree with that assessment.

Enjoy the time you have with your fiance. My fiance and I have made an agreement to not talk about his visa during our vacation, even though we are both praying we'll come home together.

Good luck!

[Mina76 0]

I just bought my ticket to Turkey Dec. 20th - Jan. 4th.

Would it be at all helpful for me to visit the embassy while I am there? Would I be able to speak with someone? Does anyone have any experience with this, even in another country?

Let me know your thoughts!

P.S. For those of you who don't know my fiance has been in AP for 4 months.

I would and as Sibel said, you don't need an appointment and only your passport to get in. I have done this myself on a different case situation and you should be able to speak with someone there, only I am not really sure how much they will be able to tell you as far as Onur's AP case goes, but it wouldn't hurt to try. Good Luck and wishing you a safe journey

[emt103c 10]

They will let you in with just your passport, since you are a USC. . .they are not going to let you speak to anyone who knows anything though. It will just be a wait, red tape and no information. The DOS line has the most current AP information, and the consulate is not a fun place to be. Take it from me. . .even the one in Canada will treat you like you don't have a right to see anyone or talk to anyone. . .keep with Senate/House rep inquiries, emails and DOS calls. . .you'll get more information and attention and won't waste precious visit time waiting in line. . .

[WonTanNara 0]

They will let you in with just your passport, since you are a USC. . .they are not going to let you speak to anyone who knows anything though. It will just be a wait, red tape and no information. The DOS line has the most current AP information, and the consulate is not a fun place to be. Take it from me. . .even the one in Canada will treat you like you don't have a right to see anyone or talk to anyone. . .keep with Senate/House rep inquiries, emails and DOS calls. . .you'll get more information and attention and won't waste precious visit time waiting in line. . .

I agree.

[camistanbul 0]

I'd just like to say that I had really good experiences communicating with the US Embassy visa unit in Ankara via phone

when we had some issues after our visa was sent to us. I realize our situation (DCF) is completely different (my husband

did not get AP) but I was surprised how responsive and helpful they were to us. Have you called and spoken to anyone

there? I can't imagine that you would be able to get into the visa unit if you were to visit the embassy in Ankara, so it may

be a wasted trip.

I'm sorry you guys have been stuck in AP and I hope that you hear something soon!

[tammy2688 1]

Acutally the point of going to the embassy is not expecting the visa on the same day or even expecting to be treated well. Everyone knows these two things are highly unlikely, and if word got out, everyone would be going to the embassies and picking up their visas, thereby defeating the whole point of security clearances (if indeed they have any point at all). So the reason I pushed for going down to the embassy is because I believe (and this is my believe only) that God sees your actions, and if you have the ability, then do as much as you can, as much as you can, and as much as you can. It's just the mental satisfaction, of knowing, hey I went there, I already spent a few grand going there, so I will regret it if I didn't go to the embassy while it was so close to me. It is just about trying everything you possibly can and God will take care of the rest. Everyone has a different belief and I respect it all but I strongly feel that even knowing it may not help expediate the visa at all, it is a good idea to just go there to see if you can even get that "what if" out of your system. It is what kept me alive, the 7 months after the first 6 months of AP when I went down to the embassy in tears, asking the woman if there is any chance of denial and she looked me in the eye and said, there has got be a very very big reason for him to be denied, so he won't be, he will get the visa. This type of thing gives the heart some peace. No I obviously wasn't able to get the visa the same day (took 13 months in fact) but I did all I could, literally, and heard that he will get this visa sooner or later, and that was what kept me live. I hope you will go to the embassy while your are in Turkey, just to express your concern even. If it is too painful, then no need, but I care about you here on VJ and I am just telling you that my gut feeling says you should go there while you have the opportunity.

God bless,

Tam

[ErikaAndHamit 73]

If it isn't too far from where you are visiting, I would go. It will probably make you two feel better whether or not they give you any info or do anything. At least you will have a sense of not being "forgotten" in this AP hell by peeking in and saying "WHAT is up with this wait?" Anyhow, enjoy, enjoy, enjoy your visit!!!

[WonTanNara 0]

I just bought my ticket to Turkey Dec. 20th - Jan. 4th.

Would it be at all helpful for me to visit the embassy while I am there? Would I be able to speak with someone? Does anyone have any experience with this, even in another country?

Let me know your thoughts!

P.S. For those of you who don't know my fiance has been in AP for 4 months.

Well Julia I just decided that we are going to pay a visit to the embassy while I'm in Dakar. It probably won't get us anywhere but I think Tam is right, God sees everything.

Did ya get your ticket yet?? Are you excited?? I am out of here in 11 days!

[JULIAFERNO 0]

I just bought my ticket to Turkey Dec. 20th - Jan. 4th.

Would it be at all helpful for me to visit the embassy while I am there? Would I be able to speak with someone? Does anyone have any experience with this, even in another country?

Let me know your thoughts!

P.S. For those of you who don't know my fiance has been in AP for 4 months.

Well Julia I just decided that we are going to pay a visit to the embassy while I'm in Dakar. It probably won't get us anywhere but I think Tam is right, God sees everything.

Did ya get your ticket yet?? Are you excited?? I am out of here in 11 days!

I think we will go too. Onur only lives about 45-60 min car ride outside of Ankara. And I know I'd regret it if I didn't go. Plus, I've never been there before so I'd like to take a look at this place that is affecting my life so much right now!

I leave Dec. 20th and get back Jan 4th. Woohoo! I am so excited...it is getting me through these last few weeks. Take lots of pics while you're there!

[WonTanNara 0]

I think we will go too. Onur only lives about 45-60 min car ride outside of Ankara. And I know I'd regret it if I didn't go. Plus, I've never been there before so I'd like to take a look at this place that is affecting my life so much right now!

I leave Dec. 20th and get back Jan 4th. Woohoo! I am so excited...it is getting me through these last few weeks. Take lots of pics while you're there!

Woo hoo! We'll definitely take lots of pics, you too! I think it's good that we're both going to the embassy... if nothing else, they will see we are serious about our relationships!