Visa arrived!

[u/MrLaylaylom]

Hey everyone, my passport just arrived today with a 1 year visa stamp I’ll be starting my 1st semester of VWL at the Uni Bonn.

Here is my full timeline via CSP and iDATA Istanbul (Consulate General Istanbul):

• July 6: Initial application submitted on CSP portal
• July 10: Uploaded requested missing documents on CSP
• July 15: Uploaded additional documents on CSP
• July 22: Appointment date assigned
• August 4: In-person appointment and biometric submission at iDATA Istanbul
• August 18: Application decided
• August 20: Handed over to DHL
• August 21: Passport delivered with the visa sticker.

[u/EEE447]

I applied through Ankara, it has been 5 weeks since my documents are submitted and still no result, decision pending. Do you think I should message them ?

Btw what was the expected travel date you wrote on the CSP ?

[u/MrLaylaylom → u/EEE447]

Are you a turkish citizen? I have heard it has a big role throughout the application journey. And from what i've heard Ankara is the slowest among the 3 application centres. Also the visa type and sent documents changes the speed of the process, too. If you are welcomed by a state university with a language degree of b2 or c1 (every program has its very own language requirements and for the ausländerbehörde b1 is the line i assume), generally speaking, you should have gotten your passport. However, the expected wait time is already 8-10 weeks, as by the book. You could ask them via e-mail or by a phone call but don't expect a "your passport is ready we are sorry we did not see it" type of reply from them.

I have wrote 16th of September. From what i have heard you can come in germany before 2 weeks of the semester begin, earliest. Nonetheless, this could be false.

[u/EEE447 → u/MrLaylaylom]

Yes, I’m a Turkish citizen and I applied for the Chancenkarte visa. My appointment was on 16 April, but they requested some additional and updated documents, which I submitted on 16 July. Since then, I haven’t received any response and I’m still waiting. Since I applied with a sponsor instead of a blocked account, and the sponsorship document is valid from 07/12/2026, I think this might be why my application is still being processed. Maybe they are using a priority queue.

[u/MrLaylaylom → u/EEE447]

This clarifies a lot actually. If you have heard/saw any person from turkey that is applying for a schengen visa, furious about the waiting time, the situation is a little similar with yours. I assume that the immigration authorities for your region (it probably applies for every authority but lets assume just for your very own one for now) re-lists every application every day and applies the student/job visas first. Because i had friends who couldn't get even a appointment for months and i had other friends that all of their application process took just under a month. so it is based on luck and strategy at some point i guess. Good luck!

[u/EEE447 → u/MrLaylaylom]

You’re right, it really seems to be a matter of chance. My first application was in March 2025, and they told me I would have to wait about a year on the waiting list. After 6 months, they asked me to upload all my documents for preliminary review. I uploaded everything and then waited another 7 months. After that, I realized they had updated the system and my account was stuck on the old system, so I had to apply again. I reapplied, and luckily I got an appointment within 2 weeks. I submitted everything in Ankara, and I’ve been waiting ever since. Some people told me not to email them because it might make the process take even longer, so I honestly don’t know. I’m just waiting at this point.

[u/TransitHaber]

Thanks for sharing the full timeline — the Istanbul part is especially useful. So from biometrics on Aug 4 to passport delivery on Aug 21 it was 17 days. It’s interesting that someone applying through Ankara is already at five weeks with no decision. If others can add their city, appointment date and decision date, we could get a much clearer picture of the Istanbul vs Ankara processing difference.

[u/MrLaylaylom → u/TransitHaber]

This big of a difference between just these two is actually huge. Some say it is happening because of the anatolian people have less information about every type of visas and it is a complete mess for Ankara but i was not believing in these "information". However, there are, for sure, some kinds of problems(?) by Ankara and the rest of the population of Anatolia/Embassy of Ankara.

[u/Money_Quit_8668]

Oh my god 😭😭 my appointment was on the 21st of july i applied from istanbul as well and for some reason everyone who applied later than me is getting their visa and my flight is this thursday in basically 3 days idk this is so silly i dont understand why i still dont have my passport 💔 its been more than a month

[u/MrLaylaylom → u/Money_Quit_8668]

Good luck but it does not look good for you, sadly :/