Turkish students protest outside Italian consulate over visa delays

Turkish students who have been admitted to Italian universities but remain in limbo due to delayed or denied visas gathered outside the Italian Consulate in Istanbul’s Beyoğlu district on Wednesday, voicing frustrations over visa issues that threaten their educational pursuits. Joined by concerned parents, the students placed a black wreath at the consulate in protest, demanding timely resolutions from the Italian authorities.

Each year, hundreds of Turkish students enroll in Italian institutions for undergraduate and graduate programs. Despite being accepted to Italian universities, nearly a thousand students this year have encountered significant obstacles in obtaining student visas. Without visas, students who do not arrive in Italy by November 30 risk losing their spots in their academic programs.

Speaking on behalf of the group, student Senol Beyaz shared his experience, saying, “My friends and I have applied for study visas in Italy, investing a great deal of effort for undergraduate and graduate education. After months without a response, we felt compelled to make our situation known.

Istanbul and Izmir consulates have not processed our applications for four to five months. Our documents are complete, and we’ve provided even more than requested, including over €6,200 in funds, but we’re left with no answer. Those who received denials reapplied but have waited over two months without any feedback.”

Beyaz noted that some rejections cited “inconsistent” reasons, and even included errors such as misspelled names and incorrect gender markers. “Even when Italian schools sent letters requesting our attendance, we were denied for what they termed ‘asylum risk,’” he said, adding that the semester started on September 20 and that they should have been able to begin classes in person.

“We’ve already incurred significant costs, with some students losing airfare multiple times and paying rent in Italy despite being unable to travel. If we can’t get there by the end of November, we’ll lose our right to study. We hope this issue is resolved soon.”

Canan Yılmaz, a parent of one of the affected students, expressed frustration with the delays. “It’s heartbreaking that our children have been waiting for months just because of visa issues.

They earned their places at these universities, but now, scholarships have been forfeited. We’ve had to book flights seven times. I appeal to the President and Foreign Minister for assistance. We initially thought this issue only affected our family, but nearly a thousand students are in the same situation. Even if visas come after November 30, it will be too late.”

Yılmaz highlighted the students’ achievements, noting that “these are students who graduated with honors and will return to serve Türkiye.”

Another student, Ceyda, who was accepted into Bologna University and is awaiting her visa, explained that the delay has jeopardized her scholarship.

“I’m missing out on financial aid and housing assistance because of the visa delay. It’s been a huge loss, especially as I was awarded a scholarship at one of Italy’s top universities,” she said.

Following the statements, students and parents left a black wreath at the entrance to the consulate, symbolizing their frustration and urging Italian officials to expedite the visa process.