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Istanbul · Turkey

Visa issuances and wait times at the U.S. post in Istanbul

Monthly tables Mar 2017 to Sep 2025 · 42nd of 217 posts by nonimmigrant issuances in Sep 2025 · wait times read 1 Jul 2026

The reports below contain preliminary data which are subject to change. Beginning with FY 2020, individual monthly issuance reports should not be aggregated, as this will not provide an accurate issuance total for the fiscal year to date. Instead, refer to our annual Report of the Visa Office for final full Fiscal Year statistics. On wait times the Department says: "New appointments are added regularly, so you may get an appointment sooner" and "The average wait times we report do not guarantee a visa applicant will get an appointment within a specific time."

The U.S. embassy or consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, issued 4,856 nonimmigrant visas in September 2025, the most recent month in the State Department's monthly tables, down 30% on September 2024 (6,974).

The largest classes that month were B1/B2 (temporary visitor for business and pleasure) with 4,274, 88% of the post's issuances, C1/D (combined transit and crewmember visa) with 280, 5.8% of the post's issuances and F1 (student in an academic or language training program) with 50, 1% of the post's issuances. Among the 211 posts that issued B1/B2 visas in September 2025, Istanbul ranks 33rd by count; for F1 student visas it ranks 41st of 184.

The immigrant visa table for September 2025 lists no issuances for this post; many posts handle only nonimmigrant applications.

The Department publishes annual totals separately, in its Report of the Visa Office; this site does not add monthly reports together, so the month-by-month table below is read one month at a time.

The Department's Global Visa Wait Times table read on 1 Jul 2026 listed the next available appointment as 4.5 months for a visitor (B1/B2) interview, 1 month for students and exchange visitors (F, M, J) and 1 month for petition-based workers (H, L, O, P, Q). For visitor visas that is longer than the 1 month listed about six months earlier (2 Dec 2025).

Appointment wait times

Visitor B1/B24.5 monthsnext available appointment; median post 1 month
Student F, M, J1 monthnext available appointment; median post under ½ month
Worker H, L, O, P, Q1 monthnext available appointment; median post under ½ month

under 2 months2 to 6 monthsover 6 monthsnot listedRead from the Department's table 1 Jul 2026.

4,856nonimmigrant visas, Sep 2025-30% vs Sep 2024 (6,974)
4,579nonimmigrant visas, Aug 2025+6% month on month
0immigrant visas, Sep 20250 in Sep 2024
0.59%share of worldwide nonimmigrant issuances, Sep 2025median post: 909 that month

The Department publishes annual totals separately, in its Report of the Visa Office; monthly reports are not summed on this site.

Monthly issuances by broad class, last 36 months

04,7499,497VisitorsStudents and exchange visitorsTemporary workersDiplomatic, official and international organisationTransit and crewOther nonimmigrant classesOct 2022Apr 2023Oct 2023Apr 2024Oct 2024Apr 2025Oct 2022: 6,822 (Visitors 5,611, Students and exchange visitors 349, Temporary workers 263, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 11, Transit and crew 588, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Nov 2022: 9,419 (Visitors 7,938, Students and exchange visitors 358, Temporary workers 249, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 13, Transit and crew 861, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Dec 2022: 8,725 (Visitors 7,381, Students and exchange visitors 324, Temporary workers 288, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 6, Transit and crew 726, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Jan 2023: 8,625 (Visitors 7,362, Students and exchange visitors 232, Temporary workers 214, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 31, Transit and crew 786, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Feb 2023: 6,274 (Visitors 5,354, Students and exchange visitors 145, Temporary workers 145, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 19, Transit and crew 611, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Mar 2023: 8,103 (Visitors 6,008, Students and exchange visitors 1,406, Temporary workers 252, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 17, Transit and crew 420, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Apr 2023: 8,718 (Visitors 6,153, Students and exchange visitors 1,791, Temporary workers 127, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 10, Transit and crew 637, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)May 2023: 9,497 (Visitors 6,927, Students and exchange visitors 1,775, Temporary workers 212, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 18, Transit and crew 565, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Jun 2023: 6,644 (Visitors 5,194, Students and exchange visitors 813, Temporary workers 242, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 8, Transit and crew 387, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Jul 2023: 5,016 (Visitors 3,764, Students and exchange visitors 648, Temporary workers 212, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 21, Transit and crew 371, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Aug 2023: 5,907 (Visitors 4,752, Students and exchange visitors 547, Temporary workers 288, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 13, Transit and crew 307, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Sep 2023: 5,780 (Visitors 4,874, Students and exchange visitors 114, Temporary workers 248, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 17, Transit and crew 527, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Oct 2023: 6,180 (Visitors 5,519, Students and exchange visitors 150, Temporary workers 157, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 11, Transit and crew 343, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Nov 2023: 6,835 (Visitors 6,079, Students and exchange visitors 70, Temporary workers 221, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 5, Transit and crew 460, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Dec 2023: 5,804 (Visitors 5,068, Students and exchange visitors 126, Temporary workers 196, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 10, Transit and crew 404, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Jan 2024: 6,801 (Visitors 6,063, Students and exchange visitors 131, Temporary workers 180, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 13, Transit and crew 414, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Feb 2024: 8,869 (Visitors 8,040, Students and exchange visitors 243, Temporary workers 160, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 5, Transit and crew 421, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Mar 2024: 8,973 (Visitors 6,555, Students and exchange visitors 1,871, Temporary workers 158, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 14, Transit and crew 375, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Apr 2024: 6,668 (Visitors 4,791, Students and exchange visitors 1,452, Temporary workers 116, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 21, Transit and crew 288, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)May 2024: 8,420 (Visitors 6,032, Students and exchange visitors 1,621, Temporary workers 184, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 6, Transit and crew 577, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Jun 2024: 4,956 (Visitors 4,197, Students and exchange visitors 407, Temporary workers 132, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 2, Transit and crew 218, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Jul 2024: 6,858 (Visitors 5,708, Students and exchange visitors 597, Temporary workers 158, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 17, Transit and crew 378, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Aug 2024: 7,652 (Visitors 6,418, Students and exchange visitors 540, Temporary workers 205, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 23, Transit and crew 466, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Sep 2024: 6,974 (Visitors 6,186, Students and exchange visitors 171, Temporary workers 186, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 13, Transit and crew 418, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Oct 2024: 7,194 (Visitors 6,325, Students and exchange visitors 80, Temporary workers 167, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 13, Transit and crew 609, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Nov 2024: 7,309 (Visitors 6,689, Students and exchange visitors 106, Temporary workers 109, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 11, Transit and crew 393, Other nonimmigrant classes 1)Dec 2024: 6,649 (Visitors 5,955, Students and exchange visitors 177, Temporary workers 137, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 12, Transit and crew 368, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Jan 2025: 6,860 (Visitors 6,257, Students and exchange visitors 78, Temporary workers 185, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 10, Transit and crew 329, Other nonimmigrant classes 1)Feb 2025: 5,592 (Visitors 4,977, Students and exchange visitors 63, Temporary workers 106, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 9, Transit and crew 437, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Mar 2025: 5,878 (Visitors 4,165, Students and exchange visitors 1,109, Temporary workers 148, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 14, Transit and crew 442, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Apr 2025: 6,751 (Visitors 4,925, Students and exchange visitors 1,272, Temporary workers 66, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 13, Transit and crew 475, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)May 2025: 6,588 (Visitors 5,471, Students and exchange visitors 678, Temporary workers 154, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 8, Transit and crew 277, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Jun 2025: 4,607 (Visitors 4,106, Students and exchange visitors 175, Temporary workers 113, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 15, Transit and crew 198, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Jul 2025: 5,257 (Visitors 4,270, Students and exchange visitors 449, Temporary workers 180, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 6, Transit and crew 349, Other nonimmigrant classes 3)Aug 2025: 4,579 (Visitors 3,747, Students and exchange visitors 364, Temporary workers 202, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 5, Transit and crew 260, Other nonimmigrant classes 1)Sep 2025: 4,856 (Visitors 4,277, Students and exchange visitors 115, Temporary workers 168, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 15, Transit and crew 280, Other nonimmigrant classes 1)
Nonimmigrant visas issued at Istanbul by month, stacked by broad class group.

VisitorsStudents and exchange visitorsTemporary workersDiplomatic, official and international organisationTransit and crewOther nonimmigrant classes

Groups follow the Department's visa symbols: visitors (B), students and exchange visitors (F, M, J), temporary workers (H, L, O, P, Q, E, R, TN, I), diplomatic and official (A, G, NATO), transit and crew (C, D), other. Hover a month for its counts. Each bar is one monthly report.

Compared with Turkey and the world, September 2025

Sep 2025IstanbulAll 3 posts in TurkeyAll posts
Nonimmigrant visas issued4,85610,811823,557
Change on Sep 2024-30%—-11%
Immigrant visas issued062145,966
Visitors share88.1%—82.5%
Students and exchange visitors share2.4%—2.9%
Temporary workers share3.5%—9.4%
Diplomatic, official and international organisation share0.3%—2.1%
Transit and crew share5.8%—2.9%
Other nonimmigrant classes share0%—0.2%
B1/B2 next appointment4.5 months—median 1 month
F, M, J next appointment1 month—median under ½ month

All figures are from the September 2025 tables. The country column adds the posts located in Turkey (Adana, Ankara and Istanbul) within that one month; it is not the count for nationals of Turkey, which is on the Turkey nationality page.

Visa classes issued, September 2025

ClassDescription (State Department)IssuedShareRank among posts
B1/B2Temporary visitor for business and pleasure4,27488%33 of 211
C1/DCombined transit and crewmember visa2805.8%13 of 171
F1Student in an academic or language training program501%41 of 184
H1BTemporary worker of distinguished merit and ability performing services other than as a registered nurse440.9%29 of 163
J1Exchange visitor440.9%63 of 194
H2BTemporary worker performing other services250.5%27 of 88
L1Intracompany transferee (executive, managerial, and specialized personnel continuing employment with international firm or corporation)170.4%65 of 144
H4Spouse or child of H-1B/B1/C, H-2A/B, or H-3150.3%45 of 137
P1Internationally recognized athlete or member of internationally recognized entertainment group140.3%31 of 110
J2Spouse or child of exchange visitor110.2%30 of 124
IRepresentative of foreign information media, spouse and children100.2%29 of 119
L2Spouse or child of intracompany transferee100.2%68 of 133
E2Treaty investor, spouse or child90.2%35 of 68
G4International organization officer or employee, and immediate family80.2%29 of 137
M1Vocational student and other nonacademic student70.1%21 of 91
O1Person with extraordinary ability in sciences, arts, education, business or athletics70.1%48 of 132
O2Person accompanying and assisting in the artistic or athletic performance by O-160.1%41 of 83
A2Other foreign government official or employee, or immediate family50.1%127 of 169
E1Treaty trader, spouse or child50.1%16 of 27
O3Spouse or child of O-1 or O-250.1%26 of 84
B1Temporary visitor for business30.1%87 of 128
F2Spouse or child of F130.1%55 of 104
G2Other representative of recognized foreign member government to international organization, and immediate family20%146 of 157
C4/D3Nonimmigrant visa class C4/D3 (no description in the Department's symbol list)10%15 of 19
R1Alien in a religious occupation10%75 of 96

Ranks are among posts in the same month's table. Earlier months are linked from the month-by-month table below.

Seasonality

Jan98
Feb97
Mar127
Apr99
May114
Jun96
Jul89
Aug102
Sep101
Oct102
Nov103
Dec100
Which months are busiest at Istanbul. Index over 7 complete calendar years; 100 is an average month, darker is busier.

Wait-time history

0435870202220232024202520264 Nov 2022: B1/B2 259 days; F/M/J 72; H/L/O/P/Q 781 Dec 2022: B1/B2 305 days; F/M/J 226; H/L/O/P/Q 6417 Jan 2023: B1/B2 379 days; F/M/J 158; H/L/O/P/Q 1921 Feb 2023: B1/B2 367 days; F/M/J 147; H/L/O/P/Q 1706 Mar 2023: B1/B2 330 days; F/M/J 157; H/L/O/P/Q 2317 Apr 2023: B1/B2 333 days; F/M/J 140; H/L/O/P/Q 369 Jun 2023: B1/B2 406 days; F/M/J 171; H/L/O/P/Q 5031 Jul 2023: B1/B2 473 days; F/M/J 174; H/L/O/P/Q 691 Aug 2023: B1/B2 473 days; F/M/J 174; H/L/O/P/Q 6920 Sep 2023: B1/B2 437 days; F/M/J 42; H/L/O/P/Q 5812 Oct 2023: B1/B2 446 days; F/M/J 102; H/L/O/P/Q 525 Nov 2023: B1/B2 476 days; F/M/J 80; H/L/O/P/Q 5617 Dec 2023: B1/B2 363 days; F/M/J 405; H/L/O/P/Q 556 Jan 2024: B1/B2 335 days; F/M/J 77; H/L/O/P/Q 651 Feb 2024: B1/B2 322 days; F/M/J 63; H/L/O/P/Q 306 Mar 2024: B1/B2 486 days; F/M/J 83; H/L/O/P/Q 839 Apr 2024: B1/B2 553 days; F/M/J 88; H/L/O/P/Q 1048 May 2024: B1/B2 496 days; F/M/J 108; H/L/O/P/Q 11817 Jun 2024: B1/B2 738 days; F/M/J 108; H/L/O/P/Q 976 Jul 2024: B1/B2 738 days; F/M/J 108; H/L/O/P/Q 977 Aug 2024: B1/B2 781 days; F/M/J 70; H/L/O/P/Q 13214 Sep 2024: B1/B2 713 days; F/M/J 77; H/L/O/P/Q 1602 Oct 2024: B1/B2 713 days; F/M/J 77; H/L/O/P/Q 16012 Nov 2024: B1/B2 692 days; F/M/J 41; H/L/O/P/Q 761 Dec 2024: B1/B2 692 days; F/M/J 63; H/L/O/P/Q 696 Jan 2025: B1/B2 274 days; F/M/J 42; H/L/O/P/Q 697 Feb 2025: B1/B2 — days; F/M/J 47; H/L/O/P/Q 485 Mar 2025: B1/B2 — days; F/M/J 47; H/L/O/P/Q 4816 Apr 2025: B1/B2 188 days; F/M/J 81; H/L/O/P/Q 1131 May 2025: B1/B2 285 days; F/M/J 75; H/L/O/P/Q 1054 Jun 2025: B1/B2 180 days; F/M/J 90; H/L/O/P/Q 1202 Jul 2025: B1/B2 180 days; F/M/J 90; H/L/O/P/Q 1203 Aug 2025: B1/B2 795 days; F/M/J 90; H/L/O/P/Q 07 Sep 2025: B1/B2 600 days; F/M/J 105; H/L/O/P/Q 603 Oct 2025: B1/B2 870 days; F/M/J 60; H/L/O/P/Q 301 Nov 2025: B1/B2 45 days; F/M/J 60; H/L/O/P/Q 302 Dec 2025: B1/B2 30 days; F/M/J 60; H/L/O/P/Q 306 Jan 2026: B1/B2 30 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 78 Feb 2026: B1/B2 60 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 77 Mar 2026: B1/B2 30 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 74 Apr 2026: B1/B2 60 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 714 May 2026: B1/B2 7 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 77 Jun 2026: B1/B2 7 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 71 Jul 2026: B1/B2 135 days; F/M/J 30; H/L/O/P/Q 30

Visitor B1/B2Student F, M, JWorker H, L, O, P, Q

Next available appointment at Istanbul over time. Days to the next available appointment as listed on each reading date (44 readings, 4 Nov 2022 to 1 Jul 2026). From 1 May 2025 the Department publishes the estimate in half-month steps; those are shown as 30 days per month.

Month by month

MonthNonimmigrantImmigrantvs same month prior year
Sep 20254,8560-30%
Aug 20254,5790-40%
Jul 20255,2570-23%
Jun 20254,6070-7%
May 20256,5880-22%
Apr 20256,7510+1%
Mar 20255,8780-34%
Feb 20255,5920-37%
Jan 20256,8600+1%
Dec 20246,6490+15%
Nov 20247,3090+7%
Oct 20247,1940+16%
Sep 20246,9740+21%
Aug 20247,6520+30%
Jul 20246,8580+37%
Jun 20244,9560-25%
May 20248,4200-11%
Apr 20246,6680-24%
Mar 20248,9730+11%
Feb 20248,8690+41%
Jan 20246,8010-21%
Dec 20235,8040-33%
Nov 20236,8350-27%
Oct 20236,1800-9%

One row per monthly report; the rows are not added together. Each month links to the post's class breakdown for that month. Global totals for any month: September 2025.

IstanbulAdanaAnkara
Location of the U.S. post in Istanbul.This post Other posts in the country Outlines: Natural Earth.

Other U.S. posts in Turkey

Questions and answers

How many visas did the U.S. post in Istanbul issue last month?

4,856 nonimmigrant visas in September 2025, the latest month in the State Department's monthly issuance tables. In September 2024 the post issued 6,974 nonimmigrant visas.

What is the wait for a visitor visa interview in Istanbul?

The Department's Global Visa Wait Times table, read on 1 Jul 2026, listed the next available B1/B2 interview appointment as 4.5 months away (2 to 6 months). The Department updates the table monthly and says new appointments are added regularly, so an applicant may get an appointment sooner.

What is the wait for a student visa interview in Istanbul?

The next available F, M or J appointment was listed as 1 month away on 1 Jul 2026. Student appointments are scheduled separately from visitor appointments at most posts.

Which visa classes does Istanbul issue most?

In September 2025: B1/B2 (4,274, 88%), C1/D (280, 5.8%), F1 (50, 1%), H1B (44, 0.9%) and J1 (44, 0.9%). 25 nonimmigrant classes appear in the post's table for the month.

Is visa volume at Istanbul rising or falling?

September 2025: 4,856 nonimmigrant visas, down 30% on September 2024 (6,974). The month-by-month series on this page shows the path one month at a time; the Department notes that monthly reports are preliminary and subject to change and should not be added together.

How many visas does Istanbul issue in a year?

The Department publishes annual totals separately, in its Report of the Visa Office, and says its monthly reports should not be aggregated, so this site shows no yearly figure for a post. The annual tables by nationality are on the nationality pages.

What does the issuance count for Istanbul not tell you?

It is the number of visas issued, not the number of applications received or interviews held, and it says nothing about the outcome of any individual application. The Department publishes refusal rates only for B visas by nationality, not by post.

Where does this data come from?

The State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs publishes monthly nonimmigrant and immigrant visa issuance tables by post and visa class, and a Global Visa Wait Times table. Issuances on this page run March 2017 to September 2025; wait times are read from the Department's table and kept as dated snapshots (44 readings for this post).

Provenance

Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs. Monthly Nonimmigrant Visa Issuances by Post and Visa Class and Monthly Immigrant Visa Issuances by Post and Visa Class (latest NIV table, latest IV table), public domain; Global Visa Wait Times table, read on the dates shown. Issuance data through 30 Sep 2025; site generated 30 Sep 2026. Errors in processing are corrected at the next build; see corrections.