I see that things have not changed in the Turkish Consulate of Chicago, lol. There was no such thing as a Google Review when I first needed their services several years ago, but I'm still so aghast at their unprofessionalism that I really want to share my story. I received a job offer from a Turkish organization in January (again this was some years ago, to be fair, but... as I said, looks like little has changed). The work permit application was started immediately, and I was in constant communication with the HR person throughout the spring. She kept reassuring me that everything was on track. My job ended in June, and I was scheduled to start the new job in August, so as the summer rolled on, I began to panic. The HR person (whom I had never met) kept telling me everything would work out. TWO WEEKS before I was supposed to move, and after much phone calling (and the consulate not always picking up), I got confirmation from someone in the consulate system (in Houston, no less!) that my work permit was ready. So I flew to Chicago two days later to pick it up. I was there when the consulate opened, and I was let in by a sour-faced guard who spoke no English. I sat in the lobby for a bit, and then this weirdly-affected woman (trying to be gracious but not quite pulling it off, looking down her nose the whole time) shuffled through some papers, and then told me that my permit was NOT ready, and could I come back tomorrow? I LOST IT. I never yell at people, but the absolute months-long incompetence of the whole process and the unwelcoming attitude of the people there made me BLOW HER HAIR BACK. I shouted at her -- about the ridiculous amount of time it took, the unanswered phone calls, the inaccurate information, the last-minute flight to Chicago that I paid for, the hotel I had to pay for, and the fact that my plane was leaving in three hours. NO I CANNOT WAIT. She looked stunned. Then she asked if I could come back in half an hour. I growled out a yes, and told her that I'd be back in EXACTLY half an hour. I did come back at the appointed time, just on cue to watch the good ol' boys roll in late with their Starbucks coffee, every last one of them. No getting to work on time with this crew, nope, not on the government's dime. Wonder whose brothers-in-law they were? Five minutes later, I had my signed permit papers, and I was out of that dump and on my way to the airport. It was definitely an educational experience summing up Turkey's bureaucracy. I ended up living in Istanbul for a number of years, and the people are wonderful, but bureaucrats (and banks) are nepotistic, cronyist, incompetent and tedious, and will generally want to make you pluck out your eyelashes one by one, or else throttle a complete stranger. Eventually you get lucky and find the one angel in the office who both cares AND knows what they're doing, and who will solve your problem. Afterwards, you drag yourself out of the horrible, crowded, seat-deficient, cigarette-stinking space that you were stuck in, and breathe the fresh air, and pray it's months before you have to do it all over again. Folks, I loved my time in Turkey, and I love the Turkish people, but as the consulate goes, so goes the nation. Good luck!!

Hi everyone. Telling my experience to getting touristic visa. I came in at the appointment time. Security greeted me and tell me to fill up the paperwork and wait outside. In 5 minutes old lady came up to me with a smile and politely ask 3 simple questions why I’m going to Turkey. After a quick conversation she took stack of my paperwork and left.( make sure you come prepared with all documents, photos and cash) I was waiting outside probably 25 min, after that she came back with visa in my travel document ( I’m refugee) . I didn’t step inside once. And I’m fine with that as long as I got what I needed in a fast manner. I agree with people who said only locals go inside and foreigners must wait outside. But anyway overall was nice experience. Good luck to everyone!

A den of dysfunctionality and unprofessionalism. They are extremely slow, not trained well to perform their work but very cocky and rude. They just wanna chat with each other, ingore you, they don't care about working at all. I wonder how the country turkey would be. Do your best to stay away from turkey. Its a middle eastern hell. We have a justice issue in turkey and we are seeking resolution with no luck at all. The Midnight Express' doors start at the Consulate General Turkey office.

We came in for an urgent matter from outside of Chicago. They didn't even let us in. The old lady at the door is extremely unprofessional and rude. She didn't even want to answer our questions and just walked away. She raised her voice as well. I haven't experienced anything like this in any embassy or consulate. She is very cocky and narcissistic. I think her name is 'Lale'. The whole experience was a mess. We waited for hours and had to leave after nobody cared to help us.

We sent our address change papers together with my husband. They updated his address on the system but not mine! We cannot get any response how one of the two papers from the same envelope not being processed while other one was successfully processed! No phone call, no email. Nothing! A paper evaporated and now probably they will charge me because I updated my address after 20 days of moving! Impossibly to do something with trust!

This place absolutely refuses to answer their phone. It's ridiculous, I've even tried waiting by the phone early in the morning to call as soon as they open at 9AM. All the numbers and extensions for both service in TÜRKÇE and service in İNGİLİZCE all go to voicemail boxes.

The staff is super helpful and friendly. Try to communicate with the consulate before visiting; they provide detailed information on what they need (if any). Also, my appointment was after my travel plans, and the staff helped me get an earlier appointment.

Hi guys! worked very slowly. plus we were admitted after 3 hours of the appointed time. The workers were not polite. The interview took place right in the waiting room. just awful!

%100 Turkish consulate . They will never answer your call or do anything what you need. Welcome back to turkey

Waw i never ever seen place like this I check in 1130am and Out 12:00pm Freindly peaple smile