Turkish families, professionals and companies make up a large part of our practice. This Türkiye U.S. immigration guide explains the main routes for Turkish nationals and companies coming to the United States, the Turkish documents U.S. agencies ask for, and how we support U.S. individuals and companies with interests in Türkiye.
Türkiye is not a member of the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, so Turkish citizens traveling on a Turkish passport need a U.S. visa, usually a B-1/B-2 visitor visa, for business meetings, tourism or family visits. A visitor visa does not permit employment in the United States. If you also hold the passport of a Visa Waiver Program country, tell us before you travel so that we can review which passport to use.
Türkiye is an E-2 treaty country; the Department of State treaty table lists the E-2 treaty with Turkey as in force since May 18, 1990 (the E-1 treaty trader provision since 1933). A Turkish investor who places a substantial investment in a real U.S. business and comes to develop and direct it may qualify, and at least 50 percent of the business must be owned by treaty nationals. See our investor visa page, the E-2 visa journey and our guide to E-2 source of funds.
A Turkish company can transfer a manager, executive or specialized-knowledge employee to a related U.S. company through the L-1 visa. The U.S. and Turkish entities must have a qualifying relationship, and the employee generally must have worked abroad for the company continuously for one year within the three years before the transfer. For a new U.S. office, the manager or executive must have held that year of experience abroad in a managerial or executive capacity, and the company must show a realistic plan for the U.S. operation.
Turkish engineers, physicians, researchers, academics, entrepreneurs and artists may qualify for EB-2 National Interest Waiver, EB-1A extraordinary ability or O-1 classifications. NIW and EB-1A are green card routes that do not require a job offer from a U.S. employer; O-1 is a temporary visa for people with extraordinary ability or achievement.
We form U.S. companies for founders living in Türkiye, prepare operating agreements and bylaws, assist with EIN applications, and align the structure with a future E-2 or L-1 filing where relevant. For brand protection in the United States, see our USPTO trademark services.
According to the U.S. Mission in Türkiye, the U.S. Embassy in Ankara and the U.S. Consulate General in Istanbul process nonimmigrant visas, and Ankara processes all immigrant visas. We prepare you for the interview at the post handling your case.
The Department of State’s reciprocity page for Türkiye lists the civil documents that U.S. consulates accept from Türkiye, including:
Requirements can change, so we check the current page for your case type before you order documents.
Any foreign-language document submitted to USCIS must be accompanied by a full English translation and the translator’s certification of competence and accuracy (8 CFR 103.2(b)(3)). Türkiye and the United States are both parties to the Hague Apostille Convention (in force for Türkiye since 1985), so public documents moving between the two countries are generally authenticated by apostille rather than consular legalization. Our Document Services desk coordinates translations, apostilles and record requests.
Türkiye has its own immigration system. Foreigners who plan to stay beyond their visa or visa-exemption period generally need a Turkish residence permit, and working in Türkiye requires a Turkish work permit; according to Türkiye’s Presidency of Migration Management, a valid work permit is also treated as a residence permit. These matters are governed by Turkish law and require Turkish counsel.
For U.S. clients relocating staff to Türkiye, opening a Turkish subsidiary, or handling family and property matters there, we coordinate with licensed Turkish attorneys and remain your single point of contact. On our own team, attorney E. Gizem Ersahin is admitted in New York and is a member of the Istanbul Bar, which helps us understand the Turkish side of a matter and brief local counsel efficiently. We also advise on the U.S. side: documents to be apostilled for use in Türkiye, U.S. immigration consequences of long stays abroad, and re-entry planning for green card holders.
Ozek Law Firm attorneys are admitted in Maryland, New York and the District of Columbia. California matters are handled with California-licensed co-counsel. Immigration law is federal, so we represent immigration clients across the U.S. and worldwide.
Fees depend on scope, so we give a quote at consultation. We do not promise processing times or outcomes.
Our Turkish-language pages cover the most common questions:
Tolga Ozek founded Ozek Law Firm and has spent more than 13 years guiding individuals, families, investors and companies through U.S. immigration and business law, in English and Turkish. He is admitted in Washington, D.C., Maryland and New York.
Not on a Turkish passport. Türkiye is not part of the Visa Waiver Program, so Turkish citizens need a U.S. visa, such as a B-1/B-2 visitor visa, to travel to the United States.
Yes. The Department of State treaty table lists Türkiye (as Turkey) for both E-1 and E-2 treaty status. The E-2 treaty has been in force since May 18, 1990.
The U.S. Mission in Türkiye states that Ankara and Istanbul process nonimmigrant visas, and Ankara processes all immigrant visas.
The State Department lists the Nüfus Kayıt Örneği (Extract of Vital Record) from a civil registry office, or the Doğum Kayıt Örneği (Formül A) obtained through e-Devlet or a civil registry office. We confirm the current requirement for your case type.
Yes, for USCIS filings. Every foreign-language document must include a full English translation certified by a translator who is competent to translate from the foreign language into English.
Often, through the L-1 visa. The companies must be related, and the manager generally must have worked for the company abroad for one continuous year within the three years before the transfer, in a managerial or executive role for a new office.
Turkish permits are governed by Turkish law. We coordinate with licensed Turkish attorneys for those applications and remain your single point of contact, while we handle the U.S. side ourselves.
Yes. Consultations are available in Turkish, English, Spanish and Swedish.
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