Blue card and extended visas update

Residence Visa

Encouraging progress but still presenting timing problems if the Residence visa only extends to the expiry of the Transit Log. For example, my visitors visa expires late September at which time I will be cruising in Turkey from our base in Marmaris. My TL expires late October. So I must either leave the boat in Turkey and ferry to/from Greece just before/after 180 days at end September and then apply for a Residence visa immediately a new TL is issued late October OR sail to Greece before end September and sacrifice a month on the TL and get a new TL and Visitors visa on returning. If I decide to remain in Turkey next year I will probably need to get a Residence visa at the start of the season.
 
Good evening:

Pinetops]For example, my visitors visa expires late September at which time I will be cruising in Turkey from our base in Marmaris. My TL expires late October. So I must either leave the boat in Turkey and ferry to/from Greece just before/after 180 days at end September and then apply for a Residence visa immediately a new TL is issued late October OR sail to Greece before end September and sacrifice a month on the TL and get a new TL and Visitors visa on returning. If I decide to remain in Turkey next year I will probably need to get a Residence visa at the start of the season. [/I]

It is not clear from your comments but it appears that you are now in Turkey in which case your 90 day visa will end long before the end of Sept. Your 180 day period might well end at the end of Sept at which point you will be able to get a new 90 day visa but what will you do in the meantime??

A very useful calculator was published in a local paper which you will find here - http://www.akbukturkey.com/tourist_visas.html - download from link near the mniddle of the paper. I suggest you punch in the applicable dates in the calculator which will give you the applicable dates for your present visa after which you can decide what to do about a residence permit.

If you apply for a residence permit now you can get one for x number of months remaining on your transit log after which it should be a simple process of renewing it for a longer period.

I recently got a 3 year residence permit on the basis of having a one year marina contract so I don't know if they will restrict your residence permit to the period of your transit log or not.

Cheers

Squeaky
 
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Residence Visa

Squeaky says "so I don't know if they will restrict your residence permit to the period of your transit log or not". This is the point I was trying to make, because if it does it creates difficulties. I am only using my circumstances as an example.

Because I am moving back and forth I will not have used up the 90 days when my Visitors visa expires towards the end of Sept, but I want to spend the whole of September and onwards in Turkey. So I will be in Turkey as my visa approaches its end date and I do not think it can be renewed without leaving the country just before 180 days and returning just after, which is inconvenient. However, I understand I can apply for a Residence visa whilst in the country under a Visitors visa but maybe only for the remaining period of the Transit Log.

OK - live with the cost but what happens one year later if the Residence visa and TL expire on the same date? Presumably get the TL renewed a bit early and then apply for the Res visa. How long must one allow for all of that - days or weeks. And you need to be in Turkey at that time.

As I said, there are encouraging signs which are welcomed, but some attention is needed on the timing aspects.
 
Good morning:

Pinetops: You have 15 days after the expiration of the residence permit to apply for a new permit which means that you can renew the TL and then apply for a new permit.

Regretfully not every regulation can be drafted in such a way that it suits every situation that can arise.

Cheers

Squeaky
 
Visa change for yachtsmen in Turkey update

Hi

It is apparent that the Turkish authorities recognise their new visa system is not a 'one size fits all' and have implemented this change in the law. It is signed by Yahya Bilgiç on behalf of the Minister Head of Department of Immigration Chief Constable of first degree.

The information below was dated 24/5 and is the complete document.

Türkçe aslından İngilizce'ye çeviridir

REPUBLIC OF TURKEY MINISTRY OF INTERIOR GENERAL DIRECTORATE OF SECURITY

File number : B.05.1EGM.0.13.49570-49619-14714-100009 Subject : Change of the Law 5683 14 May 2012

TO THE DIRECTORATE OF THE SHIPPING CHAMBER Meclisi Mebusan Caddesi No. 22 Fındıklı / Istanbul)

Ref. : a) Act of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism dated 01.03.2012 with file number B.016.0.YİG.0.71.00.314.00.00-47513 b) Act of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security dated 08.03.2012 with the file number B.13.0.ÇGM.0.00.00.00/106.99/3338 c) Our act to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs dated 20.04.2012 with the file number B.16.0.YİG.0.71.00314.00.00-83239 d) Our act to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs dated 20.01.2012 with the file number B.05.1.EGM.0.13.19570-49619- Visa - 5-12585-86915 e) Act of the Directorate of the Shipping Chamber dated 25.04.2012 with the file number 1626 f) Act of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs dated 04.05.2012 with the file number B.06.0.KOG.0.03.00-519.30-2012/6630373

1- In the above mentioned acts "a" and "c" it was stated that the new regulation concerning the stay of foreign citizens in Turkey could negatively affect foreigners intending to stay longer in our country, particularly yachtsmen visiting Turkey could prefer neighboring countries, so that the tourism sector of our country could suffer from this regulation as already criticized by the written and visual media.

It was also stated that foreign yachtsmen visiting Turkey sail in Turkish waters for about half a year and sign a berthing agreement shortly before they leave the country and that they could be discouraged from a stay in Turkey because of the time to be spent for the long procedure required for the residency permit.

It is for the benefit of the Turkish tourism sector that the regulation should be amended in accordance with exemptions and exceptions of special conditions for those benefiting of the tourism sector, instead of a general practice for residency permits.

2- The Transit Log, delivered in accordance with Maritime Tourism Regulations and approved by the Harbour Master is the relevant document for the residency permit application of yachtsmen subject to visa or with visa exemption, his spouse, children, crew and other employees of the yacht. As, according to the named Regulations, this document contains all declarations and formalities of the yacht, no further documents (like marina agreement, crew agreement, seaman's license, proof of income) are required.

3- It is accepted that yachtsmen could declare their yachts as their residency address, next to addresses of a house, hotel or pension.

4- Please find attached our act "d" to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs referring to the amendment of the law 5683 concerning the stay of foreign citizens in Turkey, our act "f" and a copy of the Cabinet


There is no mention of DIY online transit logs, I can't imagine why they would as the process is about making money for the state and the agents. From our experience when there is a small inconsistency with your paperwork which would cause a rejection of the application, a good agent can make the wheels turn. For all the Greekophiles out there, no one is criticising them for having to trudge from office to office for half a day as there is no online system

Kevin
 
Good morning:

My objection to the present process for obtaining a Transit Log in Turkey has nothing to do with trudging from office to office which has been necessary in some countries for years. My objection is that the current system forces us to use an agent when a few small tweaks could enable us to do it ourselves.

I understand that agents need to buy shoes for their children but I object to contributing funds for this purpose especially when I could achieve the aim myself with a few minor changes to the system.

I am sure there will still be lots of opportunities for agents to earn their living if for other reason than there will always be some who won't want the bother of tackling the system on their own behalf.

Cheers

Squeaky
 
Residence Visa/Transit Log

Thanks Squeaky
Do you know if there is a restraint on how many days before expiry one can renew the Residence Visa or Transit Log. Is it like the UK MOT which can be renewed up to 1 month before but the new one starts from the expiry of the old one.
 
Good afternoon:

Pinetops: I don't know as I have never tried but I imagine if one were to appear at the passport police with a suitable story such as leaving the country x amount of time before the expiry date that the police might be willing to help.

There is, however, a good possiblity that they will suggest you return on a tourist visa (90/180) and apply for a new residence permit after settled.

If the timing was ok you could wait until almost the expiration of the tourist visa before renewing the residence permit thereby getting 90 days for 10 quid which is lot less than 3 months on the residence permit.

Persumably you would have put your yacht in bond so you would have to take it out of bond which I think would restart your transit log for another full year.

Timing is everything when dealing with authorities - what works for one doesn't work for another.

Cheers and good luck

Squeaky
 
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