AKP member Cemal Kaya's US visa application rejected on grounds of 'asylum'

As the visa crisis in Turkey continues to grow, former AKP MP Cemal Kaya has also been affected by the situation.

According to the report in Habertürk, the latest visa application of Cemal Kaya, who served on the US Friendship Group in parliament and held 10-year US visas twice—from 2003 to 2013 and 2013 to 2023—was rejected on the grounds that he had 'applied for asylum'.

“I served as an MP for two terms, and I am a businessperson. My son is studying in Canada. It is incomprehensible that my visa application was rejected on the grounds that I applied for asylum in the US,” said Kaya, adding, “I have been to Canada once and the US twice before. I also travel to the UK frequently; my wife has permanent residency in the UK. There is no logical explanation for this rejection reason from the US.”

NOT THE FIRST ISSUE

This is not the first time the former MP has experienced problems with the US Consulate.

According to Kaya's statement, in 2018, the 10-year visas of Kaya and his family, which were valid until 2023, were canceled via an email from a US institution. Following Kaya's appeal, the institution informed him that “there had been a mistake” and reactivated the visas.

However, although Kaya's son received a new 10-year visa from the US in 2024, the visa officer asked Kaya, “Did you apply for asylum?” and rejected his visa request.

News Source: 12punto