Tag: visa

Life in the UK: Osman Bozkurt & Didem Özbek of PiST/// at Castlefield Gallery

Posted by Katy Cowan in Events on Wednesday 7th September 2011. Tagged with Manchester, Art.

Castlefield Gallery is pleased to present Life in the UK, a debut UK commission by Istanbul based artists Osman Bozkurt and Didem Özbek of PiST/// for the Asia Triennial Manchester 2011. As the only artists to participate in the Triennial from Turkey, this project focuses on the issue of freedom of travel exploring one of the most salient issues of our time; the migration of people from one place to other parts of the world.

For this ambitious multi artform project, Bozkurt and Özbek will transform the gallery into a temporary VISA application centre using the exterior and interior of the gallery as a mechanism to explore real stories fused with history and fiction. Examining the growth of the VISA ‘industry’ in Istanbul as its starting point, the project that combines the theatrical and participatory with installation and film, and will explore the radical impact that migration has had on demography, identity, politics, global economic changes, community and belonging.

This exhibition is co-curated by Lora Sariaslan, curator at Istanbul Modern and Castlefield Gallery.

Osman Bozkurt b. Istanbul 1970 is a photographer and video artist. He was recently featured in the Independent newspaper as one of the world’s ‘up and coming international artists’, nominated by Alistair Hicks, art advisor for the Deutsche Bank Collection. His work has been exhibited at the Tate Modern; Platform Garanti Contemporary Art Centre, Istanbul; Villa Manin Centro d’Arte Contemporanea, Udine; Palais des Beaux-Arts, Lille; Frieze Art Fair, 2008 among many others.

Didem Özbek b. 1970 lives and works in Istanbul. Her work has been exhibited at Akbank Sanat, Istanbul; Umetnostna Galerija Maribor, Slovenia; International Design Centre Nagoya, Japan among others. She also developed and created other conceptual projects for PiST/// such as Artist Information, Tea Stand and White Sugar Cube Book.

PiST/// is an interdisciplinary project space that creates new platforms for discourse and presentation from young and emerging artists, writers, critics, architects or musicians to generate an international dynamic in the art scene of Istanbul and Turkey. Located on 3 neighbouring shop fronts in Pangalti, Istanbul, PiST/// is an independent project run by artists Didem Özbek and Osman Bozkurt founded in May 2006.

Asia Triennial Manchester 2011 (ATM11) The UK’s only Asian Art Triennial opens 1 October – 27 November 2011 in Manchester. Initiated and led by Shisha, ATM11 will showcase current contemporary visual art and craft from Asia. ATM11 is a festival of visual culture that features a series of exhibitions, commissions and interventions by international and UK artists exploring the theme of Time and Generation, presenting new site-specific work alongside work not seen before in the UK, and challenging stereotypical viewpoints of contemporary Asian artistic practice.

via Life in the UK: Osman Bozkurt & Didem Özbek of PiST/// at Castlefield Gallery | North West | Creative Boom Magazine.

September 8, 2011
Turkish Airlines cause change in visa policy

New Visa Rules For African Citizens Turkish Airlines cause change in visa policy

By Wolfgang H. Thome, eTN | May 03, 2011

(eTN) – Turkish Airlines has reportedly prevailed upon their immigration service in changing visa rules for African citizens, flying with Turkish from the airline’s growing network across the African continent, connecting in Istanbul for their final destination.

A source close to the airline in Kampala confirmed, while discussing the related issue of a Turkish Food Festival, that any passenger, wishing to do a stopover in Istanbul, or travel to see the ancient sites along the Mediterranean Sea and further inland, could now do so, as long as s/he already holds a valid Schengen visa, a visa to the United States or the UK.

This change in policy seems to emulate the successful campaign Emirates has been running for decades now in which they assist travelers from Africa with the procurement of a visitor visa, and Turkey will have taken a lead from this success and now implemented measures to bring more visitors and more cash into their own country.

Travelers from Africa, especially those already cleared for visa to Europe, the UK and the US/Canada pose a minimal risk to jump and remain while enroute outbound or homebound, and it was probably for such considerations that the Turkish authorities listened to Turkish Airlines in their quest to capture more passengers and bring more visitors to Turkey.

The airline presently flies several times a week between Istanbul and Entebbe, before flying on to Dar es Salaam.

Alongside these changes, Turkey has also of late embarked on a diplomatic offensive in those African countries they fly to, bringing in government and private sector delegations aimed to discuss increased trade links, tourism, and generally closer economic and political ties with key African countries. Turkish Airlines has one of the fastest-growing fleets and is a member of Star Alliance, the global aviation industry leader.

via New Visa Rules For African Citizens Turkish Airlines cause change in visa policy – eTurboNews.com.

May 5, 2011
Eased Visa Regulations from Turkish Airlines

Citizens flying Turkish Airlines from 46 countries in sub-Saharan Africa will be granted visas at Istanbul’s Ataturk airport if they also have valid Schengen, UK or US visas in their passports.

Among those sub-Saharan Africa countries are Angola, Burundi, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Gambia, Cameron, Comoros, Congo, D. Congo, Melawi, Niger, Nigeria, Ruanda, Senegal, Somali, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

With the reinforcement of this new regulation a boom in the commercial ties and the number of passengers flying Turkish Airlines is being expected.

Emphasizing on the efforts for eased visa regulations Mr. Hamdi Topcu, the Chairman of Board of Directors of Turkish Airlines, said “It has been difficult for citizens to apply for visa because of the remote locations of Turkish Embassies in many countries in Africa. With the attempt of Turkish Airlines eased visa regulations have been agreed on and reinforced by both Interior Ministry and Foreign Affairs Ministry. Our President and our Prime Ministered did contribute to the positive outcome of this issue as well. We kindly thank them. The implementation of this decision regarding eased visa regulations for citizens of those African countries with Schengen, UK or US visas in their passports will increase the keen interest to both for Turkey and Turkish Airlines.”

The rules of eased visa regulations for citizens from sub-Saharan African countries are as follows:

* Valid passport,

* Date of expiration should have minimum 6 months of period,

* They should have valid Schengen, UK or US visas in their passports and have not being rejected or deported by those countries before,

* They should be traveling on tourism or business purposes and should have necessary documents (hotel reservation, sufficient monetary funds such as amount of $50 per diem, etc),

* Round-trip flight ticket from Turkish Airlines,

* They should not be among those who were forbidden entering Turkey or have been deported by Turkey before.

Businessmen from SAGA countries are going to be granted six-month valid single entry visas giving a 30 day residence permit in exchange for 20 Dollars or 15 Euros provided that they arrive in Turkey for holiday or within the framework of business or trade talks and are also the bearers of valid Schengen, UK or US visas.

Published by Ozgur Tore

April 26, 2011
British Expats in Turkey

Following the bilateral consular meeting that was held back in December with the Turkish authorities, the Turkish Ministry of the Interior and Ministry of Foreign Affairs have confirmed that there will be permit fees for British Nationals in Turkey, it has been agreed with the British Ambassador’s request to reduce the permit fee to $80/60 Euros a year as from the first of April, the fees will be charged as followed, the first month will be charged at $25 and then $5 for each month subsequent after.

Further information can be obtained from the Alien’s dept. in your local area. The Turkish Government have been thanked for listening to concerns and its hope that British nationals will take advantage of the reduced rate and continue to regularise their stay in Turkey.

Turkish Visa System

The British Embassy have continued to ask for an expiry date to be placed on visa stickers and have pointed out how confusing British Nationals find it to receive visa stickers that state they are valid for 90/180 days which are actually just for 90 days. They have continued to ask for a notification period of 3 months in advance, Turkish authorities have not set a date for the implementation of this 90/180 day visa.

The British Embassy would like to make it clear to all Brits travelling to Turkey and gaining a holiday visa that you should be sure to leave within 90 days of the date of first issue. If you leave within 90 days and then re-enter Turkey and your stay will exceed the 90 days from the date it was issued you must buy a new visa, If you don’t you are at risk of overstaying and may be given a fine or even a ban from re-entering Turkey in the future.

The British Embassy will be having further meetings with the health authorities to clarify their position in regards to the confusion as to whether the Universal Healthcare Scheme is compulsory for British Residents. For the meantime they advise all British Nationals living overseas to obtain healthcare that covers their needs or have access to funds to cover medical care should they need it.

Property The Ministry of Foreign affairs has assured the British Embassy that the Turkish Government are working towards making buying in Turkey more secure for British Nationals and are reviewing the systematic issues that have affected British Nationals and to have been taken these matters very seriously.

The British Embassy recognise that they cannot get involved in individual disputes but are continuing to do all they can and work with the Turkish Authorities on these matters. Conclusion The British Embassy’s conclusion/feedback states that its clear the Turkish Authorities value the contributions of the British Residents and visitors that make the economy and they are willing to tackle the problems if they can.

This has been proven by the reduction of the Residence Permit Fee and the British Embassy that they are grateful to the community for identifying problems and possible solutions and will continue to meet with the Turkish Authorities and follow up the issues raised and any further issues that affect British Nationals in Turkey. You can find more information regarding this update on offical British Home Office website by visiting , if you like.

Didim Today

April 23, 2011
Turkey eases visa requirements for African businessmen

Turkey has said it will grant visas at border gates for businessmen from African countries for stays up to 30 days if certain conditions are met as part of its ongoing efforts to facilitate visa requirements for African businessmen.

The Foreign Ministry said in a statement released on Tuesday that Turkey has decided to issue visas at the entry point in İstanbul’s Atatürk International Airport starting today for businessmen and citizens from 46 African countries who travel with Turkish Airlines (THY) and for businessmen who hold a valid 6-month Schengen, British or American visa. This will be applicable to the citizens of 46 sub-Saharan African countries, including Angola, Chad, Somali, Sudan, Uganda, Kenya and Nigeria.

The statement also said Turkish authorities will consider those who enter Turkey for tourism purposes or on business to be eligible to obtain a visa at Atatürk International Airport if they also have the necessary documents in line with their travel purpose such as a hotel reservation, sufficient financial funds for the duration of their stay ($50 per day) and a roundtrip ticket from THY. They will also be required to pay 15 euros, or $20, as a visa fee.

The statement also added that citizens of the African nations included on the list should have entered the US, the UK or a Schengen-area country at least once prior to their arrival in Turkey and that they should not have been denied entry or deported from these countries in order for their visa, of at least six months, for these three areas to also be applicable for entry into Turkey.

April 20, 2011
Portugal accept visa applications from Turkish citizens

The Embassy of Portugal in Ankara is pleased to announce that, starting from 15th March 2011, the Consulate General of Hungary in Istanbul will also be competent to accept the visa applications from Turkish citizens that wish to travel to Portugal, under an agreement recently concluded between the Embassies of Portugal and Hungary in Ankara. This agreement is aimed at assisting those applicants who live in Istanbul and the surrounding areas.

The documents necessary to be enclosed to the visa application will remain the same as those listed on the website of the Portuguese Embassy in Ankara. These should be translated in one of the working language (s) used by the Hungarian Consulate General in Istanbul (e.g. English or Turkish). Costs of translation have to be supported by the applicants.

For nationalities for which consultation is required, the consultation will be executed by the representing state (Hungary).

The visa fee will be charged by the Hungarian authorities

The Consular Section of the Portuguese Embassy in Ankara continues to accept visa applications in the normal way.

The Embassy of Portugal in Ankara is pleased to announce that, with effect from 30th March 2011, holders of Turkish Special ( green ) and Service ( grey ) Passports will no longer require visas for entry to Portugal, under the Agreement between the Portuguese Republic and the Republic of Turkey on the Suppression of Visas for Holders of Service and Special Passports, signed on 14 July 2010.

April 7, 2011