Türkiye to open its seventh US consulate general in San Francisco

Türkiye is setting up a consulate general in San Francisco, its seventh in the United States, and veteran diplomat Ali Cıkla has already taken up his post as founding consul general to serve Turks across Northern California and Silicon Valley.

Türkiye is opening a new consulate general in San Francisco, bringing its network of consulates general in the United States to seven and giving the Turkish community on the West Coast a second mission alongside Los Angeles.

Diplomat Ali Cıkla has been appointed founding consul general and began work in San Francisco roughly 10 days ago, Turkish media reported on Oct. 6. He will oversee the mission’s setup, from staffing to its first consular services.

Who is Ali Cıkla?

The Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco skyline

Cıkla is no stranger to the United States. He most recently served as deputy consul general in Boston and is recorded as having worked as consul at the Consulate General in New York. In Ankara, he served as first secretary in the Foreign Ministry’s Deputy Directorate General of Protocol. He is a native of Niksar in Türkiye’s Tokat province.

A shorter trip for Bay Area Turks

An aerial view of Silicon Valley

Once operational, the consulate is expected to cover San Francisco, Silicon Valley and Northern California. Turkish citizens in the region, including the many engineers, researchers, students and founders working in the tech hub, have so far had to turn to the Consulate General in Los Angeles for passports, notary services and civil registry matters.

Beyond routine paperwork, the new mission is also expected to strengthen economic, trade, technology and academic ties between Türkiye and the United States, given the region’s weight as a global center for innovation and venture capital.

Türkiye currently operates consulates general in Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami and New York, in addition to its embassy in Washington. An opening date and address for the San Francisco mission have not yet been announced.

Türkiye to open its seventh US consulate general in San Francisco