Please follow the steps below before your immigrant visa interview at the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, Türkiye.

Step 1: Document Delivery Registration

Before they attend their visa interview at the Embassy, all immigrant visa applicants must create a profile on the official U.S. Visa Information Service website (www.ustraveldocs.com).

Select a Document Delivery Option and Location or register an address according to your needs.

• Registration must be completed at least two days prior before your scheduled interview.
• Once your visa is issued, your passport and visa packet will be delivered using the document delivery option you selected.

If your case includes more than one applicant, register a document delivery option for every dependent, not just the principal applicant. Failure to do so will delay your visa application process and your appointment may be rescheduled until you complete the registration.

To register your document delivery address online, please visit the U.S. Visa Information Service website at www.ustraveldocs.com. Alternatively, you can register or update your document delivery address by contacting the service provider’s call center at www.ustraveldocs.com.

Register >>

Step 2: Get a medical exam in Türkiye

As soon as you receive your appointment date, you must schedule a medical exam in Türkiye.

Click the Medical Exam Instructions button below for a list of designated doctors’ offices in Türkiye.

Please schedule and attend a medical exam with one of them at least two days before your interview.

Medical Exam Instructions >>

Step 3: Complete your pre-interview checklist

Make sure you bring all required original and translation documents to your interview. We created a checklist that tells you what to bring. Please carefully review the checklist and the Interview Guidelines in Step 4 before your interview to avoid delays.

Step 4: Review interview guidelines

Read our interview guidelines to learn about any special actions that you need to take before your visa interview.

Interview Guidelines >>

Medical Exam Instructions

All immigrant visa applicants, regardless of age, must have a medical examination by one of the approved medical doctors or clinics on the following list.

• Only a physician approved by the U.S. Embassy can perform this exam. Medical exam results from other doctors are not accepted.

You must schedule a medical exam with one of the approved doctors listed below before your visa interview at the U.S. Embassy.

If the exam is not completed before your interview it may result in delays, including the need to reschedule your appointment. To make sure your medical report is available for your interview, you must complete the exam at least two days before your appointment.

• Every applicant must show his or her passport as identification at each step of the medical examination process. In some cases, an applicant may need a follow-up examination.
• Once the exam is completed, the panel physician will electronically send the medical report to the Immigrant Visa Unit.
• Note, however: Fiancé(e), Diversity and Following-to-join Asylee visa applicants receive a sealed medical report. Do not open it.

Detailed instructions for completing the required medical examination are available at: tr.usembassy.gov/medical-requirements

Approved Physicians:

Dr. Mehmet Ungan
Dr. Handan Ungan
Address: Atatürk Bulvarı No: 237/44-45, Kat: 4,  Kavaklıdere ANKARA
Emails: drungan@doctorun.com, doctorun@doctorun.com, or mungan@duzen.com.tr
Website: https://www.doctorun.com/en
Hours: Monday to Friday: 09:00-19:00, Saturday: 9:00-13:00

Pre-Interview Checklist

Please use the Pre-Interview Checklist to find the documents you must upload to your online application or bring to your visa interview. To avoid delays or a possible refusal, carefully review the Interview Guidelines - U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Türkiye for your immigrant visa category, and follow all instructions.

• The National Visa Center collects documents for all cases assigned to Ankara. However, some cases may take longer, and certain documents may become out of date before your visa interview.
• If that happens, you must upload updated documents to your CEAC account for electronic PIVOT cases. Make sure to bring the updated originals to your interview.
• All immigrant visa applicants are required to attend their interviews with the originals of all requested documentation, including those uploaded to their CEAC accounts.

For guidance on uploading and scanning documents, read the instructions at: Uploading-to-CEAC-instructions.pdf.

To learn more about the civil documents required for each country and how to obtain them, please visit the Reciprocity and Civil Documents by Country page.

Pre-appointment Document Checklist

DS-260 form: Each applicant (including spouse, children, etc.) must complete the DS-260 Immigrant Visa Electronic Application Form. You can find it at https://ceac.state.gov/iv/default.aspx.

• Applicants must bring the confirmation page to their visa interview. Accurately and thoroughly completing the DS-260 form will help expedite the process.
• Applicants must provide their entire employment history, not just for the past 10 years
• Responses such as retired or self-employed without stating where the applicant worked will cause delays.
• Exact dates for every trip to the United States (not just the year of the trip) must be included.
• If an applicant stayed in the United States for more than six months on a tourist visa, they must bring proof to the interview that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security granted an extension of stay.

A copy of your NVC interview letter (This does not apply to Diversity Visa, fiancé(e), adoptive, or asylee/refugee applicants).

Unexpired passport, valid for at least 8 months after the date of your immigrant visa interview.

Previous passport with a valid U.S. nonimmigrant visa, if you had one.

Two (2) color passport-size photographs (5 cm x 5 cm or 2 inch x 2 inch) for each visa applicant. PIVOT (electronic) cases, bring one (1) photograph per applicant. Please review the online photo requirements.

Original or certified copy of birth certificate for each applicant applying for an immigrant visa.

Medical report: Medical examination results must be provided in a sealed envelope for DV, K1/K2, V92, and V93 applicants, while results for other visa categories will be sent directly to the Embassy.

The appropriate Form I-864 Affidavit of Support from the petitioner and sponsor (if not already submitted to the National Visa Center) and the petitioner and sponsor’s full Internal Revenue Service (IRS) transcript or a photocopy of Federal individual income tax return for the most recent tax year, (counting from the date your Form I-863 was signed. If you provide copies of Federal individual income tax returns, include copies of all related Form W-2s and Form 1099s.

Proof of your U.S. petitioner’s status and domicile in the United States, such as a photocopy of your U.S. passport, naturalization certificate, or lawful permanent resident card.

Evidence of the relationship between the petitioner and beneficiary: Evidence varies by visa type. For parents, child, or sibling petitions, provide an original birth certificate with a translation and a photocopy. For marriage-based or fiancée visas, bring photographs, letters, emails, or other evidence to support the relationship.

Marriage Certificate: Applicants who are or have been married must provide an original or certified copy of the marriage certificate for every marriage. This requirement does not apply to IR-5 applicants unless they qualify for the visa as a stepparent or if the consular officer decides it is necessary for visa eligibility.

Marriage Termination: Applicants who were previously married must provide an original or certified copy of evidence for the termination of each prior marriage, such as a final legal divorce decree, death certificate, or annulment papers.

• This requirement does not apply to IR-5 applicants unless they qualify for the visa as a stepparent or if the consular officer decides it is necessary for visa eligibility.

Petitioner’s birth certificate: Applicants for IR5 or F4 visas must provide the original or a certified copy of the petitioner’s birth certificate.

Police certificates: If you are 16 years of age or older, you must get a police certificate from every country where you lived, based on these instructions:

If you...	AND you...	THEN submit an original police certificate from...
Are 16 years old or older	Lived in your country of nationality for more than 6 months at any time in your life	Your country of nationality
Are 16 years old or older	Have lived in your country of current residence (if different from nationality) for more than 6 months	Your country of current residence
Have ever lived in another country for 12 months or more	Were 16 years or older at the time you lived there	The country where you used to live
Were arrested for any reason, regardless of how long you lived in that city or country, and no matter what age you were		The city or country where you were arrested

Note: Present and former residents of the United States do NOT need to submit any U.S. police certificates.

Important: Police certificates cannot be older than two years, unless it was issued from your country of previous residence, and you have not returned there since it was issued.

• Job Offer Letter: Employment-based visa applicants must provide a letter from their U.S. employer dated within the past month.
• Court and criminal records: If you have ever been convicted of a crime, you must provide court and criminal records, along with a photocopy.
• If an applicant was arrested, charged, convicted, or imprisoned in any country, a certified copy of every court and prison record is required.
• Court records must include detailed information about the circumstances of the crime, the disposition of the case, and any sentence, penalty, or fine imposed. If the court documents are not in English, an English translation must be provided.
• Military Documents: Applicants who served in the military of any country must provide an original or certified copy of their military record. If exempted, an original or certified copy of the exemption must be submitted.
• If You Are Adopted and the Application Is Based on a Parent-Child Relationship:
  Applicants must provide:
  • An original or certified copy of the adoption decree.
  • The legal custody decrees if custody occurred before adoption.
  • A statement stating the dates and places where the applicant resided with the adoptive parent(s).
  • If adopted at ages 16 or 17, evidence showing the adoption of a natural sibling under age 16 by the same adoptive parents.
• If You Are the Petitioner’s Stepchild:
  Submit the original marriage certificate of the petitioner and your biological parent, along with divorce records for any previous marriages of either parent.
• If You Are Applying for a K Visa:
  After you receive NVC’s letter stating that your petition was forwarded to Ankara, provide the beneficiary's email address, full name, and case number to the immigrant visa unit through Contact the Immigrant Visa Section - U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Türkiye. This will help the timely processing of your application at the U.S. Embassy, Ankara.

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Interview Guidelines

Rescheduling or cancelling your interview

If you are cannot attend your immigrant visa interview scheduled by the National Visa Center (NVC), or the Kentucky Consular Center (KCC), you may request to reschedule your appointment 24 hours after the original interview date has passed by visiting www.ustraveldocs.com.

• We strongly encourage all immigrant visa applicants to attend their NVC/KCC scheduled appointments as planned. If rescheduling cannot be avoided, you must first submit a pre-approval request through https://www.ustraveldocs.com/.
• Once your request is submitted, we will review it carefully. If approved, you will be able to proceed with scheduling a new appointment. Please note that rescheduling capacity is limited, and only requests with valid and compelling reasons will be considered for approval.
• Important: For certain family-based and employment-based visa categories, a visa became available during the month you were scheduled by the National Visa Center (NVC). For these categories, your visa number has already been assigned. Rescheduling your appointment may result in significant delays, and there is no guarantee that a visa will still be available at the time of your new appointment.
• DV applicants should note that visas are numerically limited and must be issued by September 30 of the program year. There is no guarantee that a visa will still be available on the date of your rescheduled interview.

Please check the Visa Bulletin before you decide to reschedule your interview.

Appointment Expedite Requests:

If you already have a scheduled appointment and need an earlier date due to a medical or humanitarian emergency, please follow these steps:

• Visit www.ustraveldocs.com and log in to your account.
• Go to your dashboard with your scheduled appointment.
• Look for the “Emergency Request” link in the sidebar or appointment menu.
• Complete the form:
  • Explain your medical or humanitarian situation in detail.
  • Attach supporting documentation (e.g., doctor’s letter, hospital records).
• Submit the request and wait for a response, typically within 5 business days.
• If your request is approved, you must log back into your account and go to “Reschedule Appointment” to select a new date. The system will allow you to book a time based on the approved expedited slot.

Updating required interview documents

The National Visa Center collects documents for all cases assigned to Ankara. Some cases may take longer, and certain documents may be too old before your visa interview. If that happens, you must bring updated documents to your interview.

• Police certificates are not required from Iran. However, documents related to military service in Iran must be submitted.
• For electronic (PIVOT) cases, you must also scan and upload the required documents to your file in the Department of State’s Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC) at https://ceac.state.gov/IV. For information about uploading and scanning documents, please review the instructions provided.

Security screening procedure

All visitors to the U.S. Embassy in Ankara must follow certain security procedures. Anyone who refuses to be screened by U.S. Embassy security personnel cannot enter the embassy.

• To avoid delaying your entry and that of those in line behind you, please bring only what is required for your interview.
• Please arrive 15 minutes earlier than your scheduled appointment.
• Please read the US Mission Access Policy before you come to the Embassy.
• Do not bring any prohibited items with you. 

Accompanying persons

The following people may accompany a visa applicant to their interview:

Special Needs Visitors: Applicants may bring ONE person to help if they are elderly, disabled, or a minor child.

Attorneys and petitioners are not permitted to accompany applicants into the waiting room or to their interview without prior approval from the consular section.

Interpreters and Translators: Interviews are conducted in English, Turkish, Farsi and Arabic.

• If you need to have your interview in another language, you must bring a sworn translator who is certified by a Turkish Notary Public to your interview.
• The translator must speak English and your native language.
• Please provide your interpreter's (1) full name, (2) date of birth, (3) a copy of his or her ID card, (4) passport bio page and (5) a copy of his or her translator certification.
• Send this information to us by email 48 hours before your interview.
• Please make sure that your interpreter brings his or her original documents. 
• Petitioners or family members (not applying to an immigrant visa with you), are not allowed to provide translation.

Immigrant visa fees

If you have not paid all required fees to either the National Visa Center or through the appointment website, please be prepared to pay them to the consular cashier on the day of your interview. 

• All fees may be paid either in U.S. dollars or Turkish Lira in cash or by credit card. Please bring the exact change for each applicant. This fee is non-refundable, whether or not a visa is issued. 
• You can find a complete list of fees at Fees for Visa Services.

Do not make travel plans to leave Türkiye

If approved, it will take at least five business days for us to prepare your immigrant visa.

• You must leave your passport at the Embassy and should not plan to travel anywhere outside of Türkiye that requires your passport during this time.
• A consular officer can decide on a visa application only after reviewing the formal application and conducting an interview with the applicant. Visa issuance is not guaranteed.
• Therefore, do not sell your house, car, or property, resign from your job, or make non-refundable flight or travel arrangements until you receive your immigrant visa.

If you need more information

Sometimes a consular officer cannot decide a visa application because he or she needs to review additional documents, or the case may require more administrative processing. 

• When additional documents are requested, the consular officer will give you a refusal letter that asks you to submit additional documents. 
• The letter will include instructions on how to send those documents to the embassy. You have one year from the date you were refused a visa to submit the additional documents. 
• If you do not provide the required additional documents within one-year, you must reapply for the visa and pay another application fee.

Administrative processing takes additional time after the interview and the timing varies based on the circumstances of each case.

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After Your Visa Interview

Sending documents to the U.S. Embassy in Ankara after the interview

If your application is denied due to missing documentation or information, please provide the missing documents or information after your interview. You have one year from the date you were refused a visa to submit the additional materials. If you do not do so, your case will be terminated.

Documents may be submitted to the U.S Embassy by any courier service. Note: They must also be uploaded or scanned to your file in the Department of State’s Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC) at https://ceac.state.gov/IV for electronic/paperless cases. For guidance on uploading and scanning, instructions are available at: Uploading-to-CEAC-instructions.pdf.

• Please send the missing documents along with your passports all at the same time, in one submission. Documents uploaded to CEAC will not be reviewed until they are received with your passport at the Embassy.
• If your case requires further administrative processing, submit all missing documents and your valid passport only after you receive a processing completion confirmation email from the Embassy.
• If you have already submitted additional documents as requested, allow two weeks for a consular officer to review your case. Due to the high volume of mail, you will not receive confirmation of receipt unless more information is required.

Do not send multiple emails with the same inquiry. Once the additional information is reviewed, further updates will be provided.

For questions about the return of your passport or change of delivery option, contact our Visa Service Provider at: www.ustraveldocs.com. 

Administrative Process

Some visa applications may require additional administrative processing. If this applies to your case, the consular officer will tell you at the end of your interview. The length of time administrative processing takes varies by case. Once processing is complete, the officer will determine whether you are eligible for the visa or remain ineligible.

Important: If the Consular Officer marked the box next to the QR code on your refusal sheet, you must scan the QR code and complete the DS-5535 form as instructed. This step is necessary to continue processing your case.

Not all administrative processing cases require a DS-5535 form.

• If only the administrative processing box is checked and the QR code box is not marked, your case remains under administrative processing, but you do not need to submit the DS-5535.

You only need to act if the officer requests additional documents during your interview. If no documents were requested, simply wait for administrative processing to be completed. The Embassy will contact you by email once it is completed.

Except in emergencies, such as serious illnesses, injuries, or deaths in your immediate family, please wait at least 180 days from the date of your interview or the submission of additional documents before inquiring about the status of your administrative processing.

Online Status Check

Applicants can verify the status of their visa application online by visiting the Department of State’s Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC) at ceac.state.gov. Select the “Check My Visa Application Status” link under the “IMMIGRANT” category and enter your case number to access your application status.

What happens after visa approval?

We will place your immigrant visa on a page in your passport. Please review it to make sure there are no spelling errors.

• If necessary, we will also give you a sealed envelope containing documents that you must give to U.S. immigration authorities when you arrive in the United States for the first time. Do not open this envelope. You must carry it with you; do not put it in your checked luggage.
• If you received X-rays during your medical examination, carry those with you and give them to the U.S. immigration authorities. 
• Many IV packets are now transmitted electronically to Customs and Border Protection and are accessible at the U.S. Port of Entry.  An immigrant traveler carrying a visa with a special annotation (IV Docs in CCD) is not required to hand-carry an IV packet.

USCIS Immigrant Fee: Everyone issued immigrant visas overseas must pay an Immigrant Fee to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) before you travel to the United States. This fee is for processing your residency status and printing your Permanent Resident Card.

• Only children are exempt from entering the United States under the Hague Process. Returning residents and people traveling on a K visa do not have to pay the USCIS fee. Please go to USCIS Immigrant Fee | USCIS to make the payment.

We encourage you to read these instructions: Know Before You Go.

When You Should Travel: You must enter the United States before the expiration date on your visa, usually six months from the date of printing. Visa validity cannot be extended, and all fees are nonrefundable.

The principal applicant must enter the U.S. before or at the same time as accompanying family members with visas.

• Children who are 20 years old when their visa is issued must enter the United States before their 21st birthday to avoid losing their immigrant status.

Getting a Green Card: Your Form I-551 Permanent Resident Card, also known as a green card, will be automatically mailed to the U.S. address provided in your visa application form. This important document confirms your authorization to reside in the United States.

Do not travel outside the United States until you receive your green card. Once you receive it, you must not remain outside the United States for more than one year, because you will lose your status as a Lawful Permanent Resident.                         

Children’s Issues: Children must have certain vaccinations to enroll in school in the United States, so you should bring their complete vaccination records with you. If your child is adopted, you have full custody due to a divorce, or you share custody with the other parent, you should bring copies of all adoption or custody documents issued by the authorizing court in your home country. These documents, translated into English, may be needed for school enrollment, medical care, and eventual citizenship in the United States.

Information for New Immigrants: For helpful guidance on moving to the United States, please visit the USCIS website. You can access their publication, “Welcome to the United States: A Guide for New Immigrants” .

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Diversity Visa Applicants - Additional Information

If you are interviewing for a Diversity Visa (DV), all of the above instructions apply. You must schedule and complete a medical examination prior to your visa interview, register a document delivery option, and gather all necessary documents. For a detailed explanation of qualification criteria and required documents, please visit Diversity Visa Program - Submit an Entry.

Below are additional instructions that apply only to DV applicants. 

Bring to your interview

In addition to the documents listed on the Pre-Interview Checklist in this package, DV applicants should also bring the following items to their visa interviews:

• Appointment information printed from the Entrant Status Check on the E-DV website.
• Documents showing that you have either a qualifying high school education OR two years of qualifying work experience in the last five years immediately prior to application (for the principal applicant only; more information is available on our Diversity Visa Process webpage).

Proof of finances (assets, savings, job offer or sponsor in the U.S.) Diversity visa applicants are subject to INA 212(a)(4) and must demonstrate to the consular officer that they will not become a public charge. To meet this requirement, applicants may need to provide evidence of financial support, which can include proof of personal funds (savings or assets), a letter of employment in the United States, or a fully completed Form I-134 (Affidavit of Support) from a sponsor in the United States.

Diversity Visa application fee: Please bring exact change in the amount of $330 U.S. dollars per applicant.  Payment can be made in cash (in TL or U.S. dollars) or by credit card.  This fee is non-refundable, regardless of whether a visa is issued.

Review your DV Lottery entry

Before your visa interview, carefully review the information provided in your initial E-DV entry. Make sure:

• You correctly entered your marital status. If legally married, you must have listed your spouse, even if separated, unless your spouse is a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident.
• You listed all living, unmarried children under 21 years old, including natural children, your spouse’s children, and children formally adopted under the laws of your country.
• Primary applicants must have at least a high school education or its equivalent or have two years of work experience within the past five years in an occupation that requires at least two years of training or experience. The Department of State uses the U.S. Department of Labor's (DOL) O*Net OnLine Database to assess qualifying work experience. To qualify based on work experience, your occupation must have a Specific Vocational Preparation (SVP) range of 7.0 or higher.

If you fail to meet these criteria or are found ineligible for an immigrant visa on other grounds, your application will be denied, and the application fee(s) will not be refunded.

For more information, review the eligibility requirements on the Diversity Visa Process webpage.

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