Turkey imposes "certain limits" on visa applications for U.S. citizens

ANKARA, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- Turkey is imposing "certain limits" on visa applications for U.S. citizens in its diplomatic missions after Washington's move to suspend visa proceedings with Turkey, Deputy Prime Minister Recep Akdag said on Wednesday.

Akdag's remarks came one day after the U.S. Embassy in Turkey announced that the earliest date for visa appointments regarding non-immigrant applicants in its diplomatic missions in Turkey is January 2019.

"This matter must be fixed completely. The U.S. stance causes difficulty for U.S. citizens as well," he said, adding "we also have certain limits in terms of visas."

Akdag noted that this meaningless approach "should immediately be put aside."

In October, the U.S. embassy announced the suspension of non-immigrant visa services to Turkish nationals. The move came after the arrest of a local employee working at the U.S. Consulate in Istanbul, prompting a tit-for-tat response from Ankara.

On Nov. 4, the U.S. Embassy in Turkey announced visa applications were again being processed on a limited basis at its diplomatic missions in Turkey.

Following the U.S. move, Turkish missions in the United States also resumed processing visa applications of U.S. citizens at its diplomatic and consular missions in the U.S. on a "limited basis." Enditem