The latest U.S. visa appointment data has been released, providing new information for Turkish citizens planning to travel to the United States.
The U.S. Department of State updated its official Global Visa Wait Times system on August 17, 2026, showing current estimated appointment availability for nonimmigrant visa applicants in Ankara and Istanbul.
B1/B2 Visa Appointments in Ankara Are About Four Months Away
According to the latest State Department data, the next available interview appointment for B1/B2 business and tourist visas at the U.S. Embassy in Ankara is approximately four months away.
However, another figure in the official system shows that applicants who completed their B1/B2 interviews during the previous month had experienced an average wait of seven months between paying the visa application fee and attending their interview.
The two figures measure different things.
The State Department explains that the average wait time reflects the experience of applicants who were actually interviewed during the previous month. The “next available appointment,” meanwhile, estimates how long someone seeking a new appointment would currently have to wait.
Istanbul Shows a 4.5-Month Wait for Visitor Visas
At the U.S. Consulate General in Istanbul, the next available appointment for an interview-required B1/B2 visitor visa is approximately 4.5 months away.
Based on the current official figures, Ankara therefore appears to offer a slightly earlier appointment than Istanbul for new business and tourist visa applicants.
For Istanbul, the previous month's average B1/B2 interview wait time is listed as “NA,” meaning an applicable average figure is not currently provided in that category.
Student Visa Appointments Are Considerably Faster
The situation is significantly different for Turkish citizens seeking to travel to the United States for education or exchange programs.
For F, M and J visas, which include student and exchange visitor categories, the next available interview appointment is currently listed as:
- Ankara: Less than 0.5 month
- Istanbul: Approximately 2 months
The figures indicate a notable difference between Ankara and Istanbul for applicants seeking student or exchange visitor visas.
Employment-Based Visa Applicants Also Face Shorter Waits
Appointment availability is also considerably better for several petition-based temporary employment visa categories, including H, L, O, P and Q visas.
According to the latest data, the next available appointment is approximately:
- Ankara: 1 month
- Istanbul: Less than 0.5 month
For crew and transit visas, including the C, D and C1/D categories, Istanbul currently shows an estimated wait of approximately one month. Ankara is listed as “NA” for this category in the latest table.
Earlier Appointments May Become Available
The State Department also has an important message for applicants who have already scheduled an interview.
U.S. embassies and consulates regularly add new appointment slots to their scheduling systems. As a result, an applicant who initially receives an appointment several months away may later be able to move it to an earlier date if additional availability opens.
Applicants seeking an earlier interview are therefore encouraged to check the appointment system periodically for newly released slots.
Wait-Time Estimates Are Not Guarantees
The State Department emphasizes that published visa appointment wait times are estimates and do not guarantee that an appointment will be available on a specific date.
Availability can change depending on application volumes, staffing and operational capacity at individual U.S. embassies and consulates, as well as newly released appointment slots.
Some applicants may also qualify for an interview waiver depending on their visa category and individual circumstances. Such cases are not necessarily reflected in the standard interview wait-time figures.
According to the latest official data updated on August 17, 2026, Turkish applicants seeking B1/B2 business and tourist visas continue to face waits of several months, while student, exchange and certain temporary employment visa categories currently offer significantly earlier appointment availability.
