Action line #80704- Stornesting and residency permits

  • Published
  • By Anonymous
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  Complaint:

I'm one of those who stork-nested in Ankara. Once I returned on the 29th of May I proceeded to take the paperwork to Pass and Id where the Turkish national handles the residency paperwork. Most military members know to always make a copy of any paperwork that you hand over to someone and always get the persons name.

I filled out the newborn form while sitting at his desk. This is the only form needed for a child born in Turkey to apply for a residency permit. Otherwise you most apply for a command sponsor package and no-fee passport which takes about 2 months. I even returned a few days later because my wife prior military was applying as well.

We know most of the military personnel who work in Pass and Id since the base is really small and they are always really helpful. The Turkish national said it takes about 4 weeks for the Residency permit. Following up about a month later he could not find the paperwork. His reply was that we took the paperwork, even showing him the copy that was made in Pass and Id on May 29, he refused to acknowledge he received the paperwork.

It's been 30 days now, and you only have 15 to apply or you will be fined. So, I'm being fined because he lost the paperwork. Now I must wait on the command sponsor package and no-fee passport to apply all because he has misplaced the original paperwork which will continue the amount of the fine to increase.

Why do we not hold Turkish personnel accountable? US personnel pay more fines because of situations that are out of our control. There must be something that can be done to change who handles essential paperwork. It's almost been 2 months now and I'm still waiting on the paperwork and the fine is still growing?

Response:

Congratulations on your new family member, and thank you for the opportunity to respond to your concerns.

When your completed package was submitted, you received a receipt for the payment. Please bring your receipt to the Pass & Registration NCOIC immediately and we will start the process for reimbursement of late fees.

I apologize that your experience with Pass & Registration was frustrating. In the future, I recommend in situations like this you immediately ask for a supervisor and/or higher authority. Additionally, I and my commanders are looking into this; we take allegations of poor customer service very seriously and yours is not the first. Rest assured, all personnel are held accountable, American and Turkish. We have a full court press on to make sure this type of issue does not happen again... Our goal is to provide world class service.