Reporting by Orwa Sousi; Translation by Rana Abdul
(Eqtsad)- Turkish officials render imposing visa on Syrians coming to Turkey to security reasons while observers consider the visa was imposed as part of the immigration deal between Turkey and European Union. Cancelling the visa is connected with the fate of the deal not with the security situations.
On January 8 2016, Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs imposed visa on Syrians coming to Turkey. The Minister of Foreign Affairs Mevlut Cavusoglu said back then that imposing a visa on Syrians coming to Turkey via sea and air came for mere security reasons pointing out whoever wants to come to Turkey can get the visa easily. Oglu mentioned that Turkey will continue its open door policy towards Syrians even with instituted visa restriction.
However, the reality of things is differnt to what Oglu said. Turkey’s doors have closed in the face of most Syrians who want to enter Turkey either because they are fleeing death in Syria or because they want to meet their families and relatives in Turkey.
Lawyer Gazwan Qurnful, concerned with Syrian affairs, said more than 95% of visa applications to Turkey were refused. Only a small percent of Syrians residing in the Gulf region like Saudi Arabia and Emirates obtained the Turkish visa while Syrians residing in EU could not obtain it.
Eqtsad observed some cases visa rejections and how it contributes to suffering and difficulties on Syrians. Mohamed resides in Turkey with his family whereas his daughter has been resident in Emirates since 6 years and works as an engineer there. Mohamed in pain and longing that Turkey rejection of his daughter’s visa deprived him of seeing his daughter and grand children despite that her papers were complete including hotel booking, airfare booking, Bank account, and medical insurance. The application cost here around 1400 Dirham. Also, her father sent her an invitation proving he is resident with his family in Turkey, still her visa was rejected.
Mohamed added, “I cannot also visit here because my return to Turkey would require me to get a visa since I do not have a tourist residence in Turkey.”
Mohanand who has been living in Germany for a year and half has applied electronically for visa in February. He sent the required documents supported by invitation from his father who resides in Turkey. Also, he provided documents showing he is working in a German company and paid the fees for the application comprising of 60 Euros. However, his application was rejected after three weeks from his interview at the Turkish Consulate in the German city of Hannover.
Two months after his application was rejected, he applied again and he was told at the interview his application is not accepted and that he has to wait for 6 months to apply again after his first rejection.
Close to Germany, Lawyer Ihab Abed resident in Sweden told Eqtsad he applied three times to obtain the Turkish visa with no use. All his applications were rejected. Also, many Syrians applications were rejected and they closed their doors in their faces.
In other Arab countries where many Syrians live like Lebanon, most of their visa applications were rejected. The same is in Egypt. Abo Mahomed tells Eqtsad he did not see his family in Turkey since three years and when he applied for a visa and provided all documents including passports, residency in Egypt, bank account, air fare booking, hotel book and a document proving his children are registered in Egyptian schools and fees estimated to be 60$. He also provided an invitation letter by a Turkish citizen, but his application as rejected after 15 days without consulate providing any reason for rejection.
The situation is different in Saudi Arabia where Turkish consulates make it easier for Syrians who reside in Arabia to obtain a Turkish visa. There are two ways to apply; the person can do directly to the consulate and file an application for visa or can apply through companies certified by Turkish consulate in Jadde to file an application.
The situation in Qatar is similar to Saudia Arabia where Turkish consulate make it easier for Syrians residing there to obtain a visa.
This painful reality in obtaining a Turkish visa increased the suffering of Syrians emotionally as well as financially. They suffer not being able to meet their families and relatives in Turkey and live on the hope the visa will be cancelled after many rumors circulated. But Lawyer Gazwan Qurnful denied the visa will be cancelled because he sees it as part of the EU-Turkey deal. Imposing visa on Syrians will limit their coming to Turkey and crossing illegally to Greece to seek asylum in other European countries.
Regarding cancellation of the visa, at least on the short term, the visa will be in place as long as the EU-Turkey deal withholds and as long as Turkey remain committed to implementing the deal.
(Eqtsad)- Turkish officials render imposing visa on Syrians coming to Turkey to security reasons while observers consider the visa was imposed as part of the immigration deal between Turkey and European Union. Cancelling the visa is connected with the fate of the deal not with the security situations.
On January 8 2016, Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs imposed visa on Syrians coming to Turkey. The Minister of Foreign Affairs Mevlut Cavusoglu said back then that imposing a visa on Syrians coming to Turkey via sea and air came for mere security reasons pointing out whoever wants to come to Turkey can get the visa easily. Oglu mentioned that Turkey will continue its open door policy towards Syrians even with instituted visa restriction.
However, the reality of things is differnt to what Oglu said. Turkey’s doors have closed in the face of most Syrians who want to enter Turkey either because they are fleeing death in Syria or because they want to meet their families and relatives in Turkey.
Lawyer Gazwan Qurnful, concerned with Syrian affairs, said more than 95% of visa applications to Turkey were refused. Only a small percent of Syrians residing in the Gulf region like Saudi Arabia and Emirates obtained the Turkish visa while Syrians residing in EU could not obtain it.
Eqtsad observed some cases visa rejections and how it contributes to suffering and difficulties on Syrians. Mohamed resides in Turkey with his family whereas his daughter has been resident in Emirates since 6 years and works as an engineer there. Mohamed in pain and longing that Turkey rejection of his daughter’s visa deprived him of seeing his daughter and grand children despite that her papers were complete including hotel booking, airfare booking, Bank account, and medical insurance. The application cost here around 1400 Dirham. Also, her father sent her an invitation proving he is resident with his family in Turkey, still her visa was rejected.
Mohamed added, “I cannot also visit here because my return to Turkey would require me to get a visa since I do not have a tourist residence in Turkey.”
Mohanand who has been living in Germany for a year and half has applied electronically for visa in February. He sent the required documents supported by invitation from his father who resides in Turkey. Also, he provided documents showing he is working in a German company and paid the fees for the application comprising of 60 Euros. However, his application was rejected after three weeks from his interview at the Turkish Consulate in the German city of Hannover.
Two months after his application was rejected, he applied again and he was told at the interview his application is not accepted and that he has to wait for 6 months to apply again after his first rejection.
Close to Germany, Lawyer Ihab Abed resident in Sweden told Eqtsad he applied three times to obtain the Turkish visa with no use. All his applications were rejected. Also, many Syrians applications were rejected and they closed their doors in their faces.
In other Arab countries where many Syrians live like Lebanon, most of their visa applications were rejected. The same is in Egypt. Abo Mahomed tells Eqtsad he did not see his family in Turkey since three years and when he applied for a visa and provided all documents including passports, residency in Egypt, bank account, air fare booking, hotel book and a document proving his children are registered in Egyptian schools and fees estimated to be 60$. He also provided an invitation letter by a Turkish citizen, but his application as rejected after 15 days without consulate providing any reason for rejection.
The situation is different in Saudi Arabia where Turkish consulates make it easier for Syrians who reside in Arabia to obtain a Turkish visa. There are two ways to apply; the person can do directly to the consulate and file an application for visa or can apply through companies certified by Turkish consulate in Jadde to file an application.
The situation in Qatar is similar to Saudia Arabia where Turkish consulate make it easier for Syrians residing there to obtain a visa.
This painful reality in obtaining a Turkish visa increased the suffering of Syrians emotionally as well as financially. They suffer not being able to meet their families and relatives in Turkey and live on the hope the visa will be cancelled after many rumors circulated. But Lawyer Gazwan Qurnful denied the visa will be cancelled because he sees it as part of the EU-Turkey deal. Imposing visa on Syrians will limit their coming to Turkey and crossing illegally to Greece to seek asylum in other European countries.
Regarding cancellation of the visa, at least on the short term, the visa will be in place as long as the EU-Turkey deal withholds and as long as Turkey remain committed to implementing the deal.
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