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The US Says Visa Services Will Resume In Turkey After Dispute

The U.S. stopped issuing non-immigrant visas after a Turkish employee of the U.S. Consulate in Istanbul was arrested.

By: Lindsey Pulse

Posted at 1:28 PM, Dec 28, 2017

and last updated 2017-12-28 13:28:42-05

The U.S. State Department says all visa services will resume in Turkey after tensions peaked earlier in 2017.

The U.S. stopped issuing non-immigrant visas in Turkey after a Turkish employee of the U.S. Consulate in Istanbul was arrested in October. Reports say the man was accused of having ties to followers of the cleric blamed for 2016's failed coup.

The State Department says Turkey "adhered to the high-level assurances" that no other local employees are under investigation and that local staff of the U.S. embassy and consulate won't be arrested for doing their jobs.

But the department also says it still has concerns about existing allegations against local employees and against U.S. citizens arrested under the state of emergency.