Saturday 1 November 2014

British Consulate Meeting in Bodrum - Wednesday 30th October

Brits in Bodrum got together again on Wednesday for the biannual Consulate Information meeting. Proceedings were opened by our Honorary British Consul in Bodrum, Neşe Coşkunsu who handed over to Timothy Fisher, Consul and Director of Consular Services in Turkey, who gave us an update on travel advice issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.  There has been no change in the Mediterranean and Aegean areas, but there is a warning against all but essential travel to the Turkish provinces bordering Syria. This is a significant change as previously the warning was just to avoid the border, now the whole provinces are included.   To keep up to date, I suggest you visit the Gov.UK/Turkey page and sign up to their email service so that you can be sent the latest news.  If you are a Facebook user you can also keep in touch on the UK in Turkey Facebook page.

Consular Network Co-ordinator, Joanne Pietsch, gave us the latest passport news:
From 1st January 2015, the Turkish Government will require passports to be valid for 60 days after the end of a residents or visitors visa.  As the new on-line travel visa lasts for 6 months, this means that your passport needs have 8 months validity from your first day of travel.  I foresee this catching out many a visitor.   If you are in Turkey and worried about renewing your passport, this summer's big delay seems to be easing but the Passport Office is still suggesting you allow 6 weeks for the return of your passport.   If your passport ran out less than 6 months ago, or has less than 7 months to run, you have until the end of December this year to take advantage of the passport extension scheme, but this does involve making an appointment and travel to either Istanbul or Ankara.

Joanne then moved on to the Residency permit question:  On this she was extremely honest and said that there was little if anything to report since the last meeting.  Those of us living in Turkey know that communication between government departments is a pipe dream, and this lack of dialogue must be incredibly frustrating for those working in foreign consulates.  A new head has been appointed to the fledgling Turkish government department looking after foreigners in Turkey and Joanne has an appointment to hopefully get answers to a long list of questions, namely: When will the much heralded Migration Offices open and where will they be?;  How will Article 33 work - if someone on a 1 year residency permit stays out of Turkey for more that 120 days, will the permit be cancelled and will they be allowed to reapply?  What are the criteria for applying for a permanent residency permit?  On this latter note, one long-term residency has been issued in Izmir with an expiry days of 2099.  The issuing  office reported that they would only discuss the application with each applying individual so we are none the wiser, except that the recipient is married to a Turkish National.  Keep your eyes on the above websites for news as it comes in.

Finally Tim told us about some changes to the Bodrum office.  From the beginning of 2015, the Bodrum office will be closed, but all services will continue.  Telephone numbers are expected to stay the same and Aslı Erbektaş will continue her roll looking after the British community and visitors on a mobile basis.  Sadly, Pro Consul Deniz Korkmaz will be leaving the consulate after 18 years of sterling service. I felt as if we should have all broken into a  British "For she's a jolly good fellow" instead of the round of applause we gave her.






15 comments:

  1. B to B, Very interesting and sad about the travel advisory. We have such lovely memories of our travels to almost all of the provinces bordering Syria. I hate to think how this will affect the people, especially those who depend on foreign visitors to places like Mardin, Gaziantep and Urfa.

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    1. Once the FCO issues a warning, holiday insurance doesn't cover visitors to an area, so it's bad news for those relying on the tourist pound or dollar.

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  2. thanks for the update Annie - I'll circulate the post

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  3. It's a shame that the Bodrum office is closing. I know things have moved on with modern technology and communications, but there was something comforting about having a place to go for advice and guidance (and to renew my passport when it was due).

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    1. Passsports haven't been renewed in Turkey for several years now. I think the service will be more efficient now.

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  4. Thanks for this update. We keep up to date with all the travel advice stuff (which has been updated again today/yesterday - they advise against all travel to areas within 10km of the Syrian border) but as you say, people can keep themselves up to date with that easy enough. As for passports, visas, residency...ahhh. :) Guess we're lucky as we've got the option of doing things early as a precaution but it really does casue so much confusion for people. We use a (sworn translator) guy to do our residency for us. There are a few people in Fethiye offering this service and lots of people mock it saying they can do it for themselves for free. For us, it's a small fee but piece of mind for us as he goes to all the necessary offices and tells us exactly what's needed at the time we do our residency and chases stuff up for us. As 'necessary requirements' always seems to be a fluid situation, we like this system for piece of mind.

    I think the consulate in Ankara take a lot of flack online - and no doubt elsewhere - from British people here and, for us, we think they do a great job. They're good on Twitter, too. :) Will pass on your info. Thanks again. :)

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    1. I think you are very astute to get a professional to do the paper and leg work. We used to have a joke that to get your retirement pension, you had to climb so many staircases in Muğla, that only 50% of the applicants survived the process. I got someone younger and fitter to apply for mine.
      I also think the Consulate service do a great job.

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  5. Thanks for this BB, a very useful update - I am also sorry to hear travel warnings for the southern Turkey, though I understand concerns. It must be sad to say farewell to the Bodrum office, hopefully you can still stay in touch. Cok selamlar, Ozlem

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    1. I have to admit to never ever going into the office. I always saw the staff at events or spoke on the phone so the closure will not affect me at all.

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  6. Always interesting to hear what's happening .. was on Facebook earlier and there are a lot of British women out there who are agonising over whether to visit family in these sensitive areas or not. Can you help put them right? You know how a lot of misinformation gets passed on... I Married a Turk ... that page!

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    1. I don't know that page, Claudia, but I'll have a look.

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  7. My late father-in-law's first FO posting was to our embassy in Ankara. He would be horrified at today's middle eastern follies.

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    1. Thanks for commenting , Turkey has always been an exciting posting as there is always something happening on one of its borders, but I think this must be one of the most challenging times for diplomats

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  8. Dear Annie, I've wondered about you and how close you were to the border. I'm not sure where Bodrum is in Turkey. What's happened at the border of Turkey and Syria concerns all of us I think, especially President Obama who must make the tough decisions about ISIS. Peace.

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