PRESS RELEASES
U.S. Visa Issuances to Students and Exchange Visitors Up by 25 Percent in Turkey
Ankara, November 21, 2008
The U.S. Mission to Turkey issued approximately 20,500 student and exchange visitor visas in fiscal year 2008 (October 1, 2007-September 30, 2008), which represented a 25 percent increase over the previous year.
During fiscal year 2008, the U.S. Department of State issued a record high of 710,631 student and exchange visitor visas. This represented a 9.1 percent increase in student and exchange visas issued compared to fiscal year 2007, and a more than 26 percent increase over fiscal year 2001.
This is the third fiscal year in a row the State Department has broken records in issuing student and exchange visitor visas. The State Department continues to issue student and exchange visas well above levels before 9/11. The State Department, along with the Department of Homeland Security and other U.S. government agencies, recognizes that one of the foundations of the U.S. academic and scientific communities is vibrant international participation. America’s outstanding academic and research institutions are as valuable to U.S. national security as protection of our borders.
For more information on visas to the U.S., please visit www.travel.state.gov .