US mission resumes processing visas on "limited basis"

Easing a nearly month-long visa logjam and row in bilateral relations, United States missions in Turkey on Monday said they had begun to accept visa application on a limited basis.

An email from U.S. visa services received by some Turkish visa applicants said applications were being processed on a limited basis at U.S. diplomatic representations in Turkey.

"The U.S. Mission in Turkey has resumed processing visas on limited basis," said the email.

"Applicants who wish to travel to the United States may now reschedule appointments. Please note, however, that limited appointment availability could result in longer than normal wait times."

The email went on to give instructions on expedited appointments.

The move comes on the eve of a four-day visit to the U.S. by Prime Minister Binali Yildirim during which he is set to meet at the White House with Vice President Mike Pence.

The U.S. Embassy suspended the visa services at its diplomatic missions in Turkey in early October following the arrest of Metin Topuz, a longstanding U.S. consulate employee and a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent at the Istanbul Bureau, over ties with the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ).

Topuz has been linked to a number of FETÖ suspects, including police commissioners and former prosecutor Zekeriya Öz, a fugitive accused of attempting to overthrow the government through the use of force, according to a judicial source who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

Following the arrest, the U.S. Embassy in Ankara said all non-immigrant visa services in its diplomatic facilities in Turkey were suspended. Turkey responded to the U.S. move by saying it had halted processing visa applications from the U.S. The pause, announced online by the Turkish embassy in Washington, applies to visas in passports, electronic visas and visas at the borders, and was also effective immediately.