London consulate alters work visa application process

What is the change? The Turkish Consulate in London has made changes to the work visa application process as it seeks to address a backlog of applications.

What does the change mean? Foreign nationals should complete the required pre-application online before emailing the consulate at londra@csgb.gov.tr to book an appointment. Applicants should not attempt to book an appointment at the London consulate through the Turkish Visa Application website. Those with existing appointments booked through the online system should contact the consulate to make sure their appointments will be honored.

• Implementation time frame: Ongoing.
• Visas/permits affected: Work visas.
• Who is affected: Non-Turkish nationals applying for work visas at the Turkish Consulate in London.
• Impact on processing times: Officials hope that booking appointments via email will help streamline the appointment process and shorten overall processing times.
• Next steps: Work visa applicants should complete the pre-application process online, print their completed application form and send an email to londra@csgb.gov.tr to book an appointment.

Background: Turkish authorities introduced a new visa application system in January, requiring non-tourist visa applicants to first file an online pre-application before completing their application at Turkish consulate posts. In London, following what officials described as an “abuse of the system,” consulate officials have moved to a manual appointment system for work visas, where applicants send an email to book an appointment once they have completed and printed out the pre-application.

BAL Analysis: The change in process at the London consulate adds a step to the application process for work visa applicants. To avoid delays, applicants must remember to request appointments via email and should be sure to provide all required supporting documentation – including job offer letters and employment contracts that include start and termination dates.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group and our network provider located in Turkey. For additional information, please contact your BAL attorney.

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