Turkey e-visa with expired H-1B but valid I-797A
I am an Indian citizen living in the US. I am planning to travel to Turkey in November. My US visa is expired but I have a valid extension document (I797A) until July 2019. At the Turkish consulate they confirmed that I am eligible for an e-visa.
Has anyone entered Turkey with an expired US visa but valid I-797? Looking for real-life experience if you have lived through it. Any pointers will be helpful.
Best Answer
From the e-visa Website:
I have a valid Supporting Document (Valid visa OR valid residence permit from one of the Schengen Countries, USA, UK or Ireland). E-visas are not accepted as supporting documents.
It's a self-check based application, meaning you have to cross the checkboxes to proceed. If you don't fulfil all of the criteria (in this case, because your US visa is expired), youe e-visa won't be valid, and if you get a strict officer (particularly likely at Istanbul-Atatürk airport), you will be refused entry and sent back, and the airline will be heavily fined for transporting you.
Turkish border police do not mess about, and a lot of them speak zero English at all, meaning they'll hardly understand what an I-797 is, nor will they bother to find out.
So, in essence, you need a regular visa, despite what the embassy says.
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How long is a Turkish E-visa valid for?
The Turkey e-visa is typically valid for 180 days after arrival (the validity will also depend on your current nationality.)What happens if your visa expires in Turkey?
If your visa expires while you are in Turkey If you want to stay in Turkey until after the date indicated on your visa, you need to report to the local police. Here, it is possible to arrange for an extension or a (permanent) residence permit.How do I check if my Turkish visa is still valid?
Just fill your information as requested form bellow, you will know your visa status in 30 minutes via email.Is original i797 required for visa stamping?
1 attorney answerGenerally, US consulate processing does not require the original I-797. A valid passport, current visa, a copy of the I-797, and recent paystubs should be acceptable for US admission...How to Get Turkish Visa Online in 2022✔ Step-by-Step Tutorial
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