Interview

The decision on a temporary (nonimmigrant) visa application is made during a brief interview at the Embassy in Ankara or the Consulate General in Istanbul. On this page, you will find which documents to bring to the interview, how to demonstrate your ties to your country, the social media requirement, building entry rules, and the requirements for interview waiver renewal. For an immigrant visa interview, see 3.9 Immigrant visa interview (Ankara).

1. Is the barcode on your DS-160 confirmation page exactly the same as the barcode you entered when scheduling the appointment? If not, cancel the appointment at ustraveldocs.com, correct the DS-160 number in your profile, and schedule a new appointment.
2. Have you printed or saved your appointment letter?
3. If you are applying for a student or exchange visa, have you paid the SEVIS fee?
4. If your visa category is subject to the social media requirement, are your accounts public?
5. Are the originals of your documents and, if necessary, their English translations ready?
6. Have you left your phone, bag, and electronic devices at home?

• Passport. For validity rules, see 1.10 Passport and documents.
• DS-160 confirmation page. Not the entire form, only the confirmation page.
• One color photograph taken within the last 6 months, with a white background, measuring 5×5 cm. Glasses may not be worn in visa photos.
• Supporting documents according to your visa category (below).

• Visitor (B-1/B-2) and transit (C): You may bring any document you believe supports your application.
• Student (F-1, F-2, M-1, M-2):
  • SEVIS payment receipt
  • Form I-20 issued by your school through SEVIS
  • Documents showing that you can cover the program costs
  • Also, a résumé, invitation letter, military-service document, and research plan
• Exchange visitor (J-1, J-2):
  • SEVIS payment receipt
  • Form DS-2019 or Form DS-7002 for an internship
  • Documents showing that you can cover the expenses
  • Also, a résumé, invitation letter, military-service document, and research plan
• Crewmember (D, C1/D): A letter on the employer's letterhead showing that you work for the company and how long you will stay in the United States. Seafarers must also bring an employer letter, contract, and seaman's book.
• Petition-based work visas (H, L, O, P, Q, R): The original Form I-129 petition.
• Journalist (I): A copy of the press card issued by the employer. An employer letter stating your occupation, whether your assignment is permanent or temporary, the purpose of travel, and the length of stay.
• E-1/E-2: The separate list on the Embassy's E visa page. See 2.5 Investors and traders.

• U.S. immigration law requires most temporary visa applicants to demonstrate strong family, social, and economic ties to the place where they live.
• The officer may wish to see documents explaining the purpose of your travel and your circumstances here. Examples:
  • work ID card or employer letter
  • pay slips and bank statements
  • documents showing ownership of a company or property
  • your company's financial condition and tax records
  • payroll records, annual profit-and-loss statements, and net-asset statements
• Do not show your credit cards. Credit cards are not considered financial assets.
• If you cannot cover all your expenses, you may submit a document showing that someone else will cover them.
• For a visitor visa, an invitation letter or an Affidavit of Support from a relative in the United States is not required. Even if you bring one, it is not a factor considered in the visa decision. What matters is your ties in your own country.
• Submitting these documents does not mean that a visa will be issued.

• Travel for medical treatment:
  • A report from the U.S. doctor showing the appointment date, estimated treatment duration, doctor, hospital, and estimated cost
  • Advance-payment receipts for the procedures to be performed
  • Your diagnosis report from your doctor in Türkiye
  • Financial documents showing that you can pay the treatment costs
  • Originals of the documents and their English translations
• Travel for scientific and technological purposes (conference, training, research, equipment purchase): a résumé, complete publication list, invitation letter from the U.S. institution, and documents relating to the purpose of travel.
• Non-Turkish citizens: birth certificate or identity card, marriage certificate if applicable, and a military-service or exemption document for men over 18.
• Iranian citizens: original military-service card and English translation, original birth certificate (shenasnameh), original identity card, and all old passports. F-1 and J-1 applicants must also provide a detailed résumé and publication list, the U.S. adviser’s résumé, source of funding, admission or invitation letter, and a detailed study plan.

• Since May 31, 2019, the Department of State has requested social media usernames from most applicants on immigrant and nonimmigrant visa forms.
• Applicants for the following visas are required to set the privacy settings of all their social media accounts to "public":
  • students: F-1, F-2, M-1, M-2
  • exchange visitors: J-1, J-2
  • temporary workers: H-1B, H-3, and the family visa H-4
  • fiancés and spouses: K-1, K-2, K-3
  • cultural exchange (Q), religious workers (R-1, R-2)
  • witnesses, informants, and victims: S, T, U
  • employees of diplomatic personnel: A-3, C-3 (if a domestic worker), G-5
  • Since October 1, 2026, additionally: I (media), TN, and TD
• The Department of State states that it uses all available sources of information during visa review.

• Arrive 15 minutes before your appointment time. Bring only what is necessary for the interview.
• Anyone who does not consent to the security screening will not be allowed into the building. Entry may be delayed when the security checkpoint is full.
• The Consular Section does not allow:
  • handbags, backpacks, suitcases, or other bags
  • cell phones, tablets, e-readers, or smartwatches
  • laptops, USB drives, music players, or portable gaming devices
  • photo or video cameras
  • bottled liquids (including perfume and beverages), flammable liquids, or lighters
  • weapons or anything that could be used as a weapon, including knives
  • drugs and non-prescription medication
• The Ankara and Istanbul pages also prohibit remote-controlled car keys and any battery-powered or plug-in device.
• Security officers may also refuse items not listed here.
• U.S. citizens may not enter the Consular Section with applicants without prior permission from the Visa Unit.

• As a rule, only applicants with appointments are admitted. Exceptions:
  • a parent or legal guardian of an applicant under 18
  • a person assisting an elderly or disabled applicant
  • a person specifically called by a consular officer, who must show a 221(g) letter or an email from the Visa Unit
• In Ankara, interviews are conducted in Turkish, Persian, Arabic, and English. Interpreters are not accepted for other languages.
• If you have a disability or health condition, request reasonable accommodation as soon as you schedule the appointment. Examples:
  • a special interview at another time because of a health condition or disability
  • an applicant who cannot speak answering with pen and paper
  • a hearing-impaired applicant bringing a sign-language interpreter
  • large-print text for an applicant with low vision
• People who cannot provide fingerprints for a medical reason may receive an exemption for some fingers.
• The waiting room and restroom are wheelchair accessible.

• The consular officer interviews you and decides whether you meet the visa requirements under U.S. law. It is your responsibility to show that you qualify.
• As part of the application process, digitally scanned fingerprints are collected without ink. This is generally done during the interview.
• The officer evaluates each application individually. They consider your personal circumstances, travel plans, financial resources, and ties outside the United States.
• For a visitor visa, you must show:
  • that the trip is for a temporary business or tourism purpose
  • that you will stay for a specific and limited period
  • that you have enough money to cover your expenses in the United States
  • that you have a residence outside the United States and other ties ensuring your return
• For A-3, G-5, H, J, NATO-7, TN, and B-1 domestic-worker visas, the officer confirms during the interview that you received, read, and understood the "Know Your Rights" brochure. The Turkish version is available on the official website.
• If administrative processing is required, the officer will tell you at the end of the interview. For results, see 1.7 Interview results.

• As a rule, all applicants, including those under 14 and over 79, attend an interview.
• Applicants renewing a full-validity B-1, B-2, or B-1/B-2 visa within 12 months after its expiration date may be exempt from the interview. You must have been at least 18 when the previous visa was issued.
• Additional requirements:
  • applying in the country of your citizenship or residence
  • having never been refused a visa before (a refusal that was overcome or waived does not count)
  • having no apparent or potential visa ineligibility
• Under the Department of State rule in effect since October 1, 2025, applicants renewing an H-2A visa under the same conditions, as well as certain diplomatic and official visa applicants, may also be exempt from the interview.
• After opening an account and paying the fee at ustraveldocs.com/tr, the system's questions determine whether you qualify.
• The process takes approximately 4–6 weeks after your application reaches the Consular Section.
• Once your passport has been sent, its location cannot be tracked until processing is complete.
• Send only the requested documents. Sending extra documents can seriously delay processing.
• The officer may still call you for an interview in any case.

• Arriving with a phone, smartwatch, or bag.
• The DS-160 barcode not matching the barcode on the appointment. In this case, you will not be admitted to the interview.
• Presenting a credit card as proof of financial capacity.
• Thinking that an invitation letter or a support statement from a relative in the United States is the most important document.
• Failing to make social media accounts public for visa categories that require it.
• Forgetting the SEVIS payment in student and exchange applications.
• Sending documents that were not requested for an interview waiver renewal.
• Arriving late for the appointment.

• Can I have my interview in Turkish? Yes, in Ankara. Interviews are conducted in Turkish, Persian, Arabic, and English.
• Will my child also have an interview? As a rule, yes; applicants under 14 also attend an interview. A parent or guardian may accompany an applicant under 18.
• How much money should I have in my bank account? Official pages do not specify a particular amount. The officer considers whether you can cover your travel expenses.
• Can my family pay my expenses? Yes. You may submit a document showing that someone else will cover all or part of your expenses.
• Can my U.S.-citizen relative enter with me? No, without prior permission from the Visa Unit.
• Where can I leave my phone? There is no storage facility in the building. Do not bring your phone.
• My previous visa was issued before I turned 18. Can I renew it without an interview? No. This option is for people who were at least 18 when their previous visa was issued.

• Embassy – How do I apply? (document lists)
• Interview guidelines
• Visiting the Embassy and security rules
• Visitor visa information sheet, English (PDF)
• Know Your Rights – Turkish information for temporary workers
• Pay the SEVIS fee (fmjfee.com)
• Appointment system (ustraveldocs)
• Appointment wait times