The Middle East is continuing to be a difficult nut to crack and an even more difficult place to understand. As of October 6, 2017, Turkey and the USA had stopped issuing visas to one another's citizens. Not going to go into details, but we basically pissed each other off. Before the ban, we were able to get a 90 day Turkish visa at the border or airport for about 10 dollars. I postponed my trip eastward by a couple of months with the hopes that the two countries would kiss and make up. The kissing and making up never did happen, if anything, things got worse.
I am now in Athens, Greece and my European visa is about to lapse. For those of you wondering, "since when does an American need a visa to be in Europe," well the short answer is always (the more correct answer deals with the Schengen Accord and its member countries, but that is beyond the scope of my story). The visa process is just so seamless and easy, most people do not realize they have a visa, but the stamp that is put in the passport when an American enters the country is the visa. This visa is valid for 90 days. This visa is easy extendable for another 90 days, and then you must either seek residence or leave for 90 days, and the clock starts over. I was issued the extension upon arrival, so my visa is good for 180 days. The cool part, which I did not know until I spoke with the US Embassy here in Athens, is that the 180 day clock stops when you step out of the country. So when I was in Morocco for three weeks, and Eastern Europe for three more weeks, I was not burning days. Now that being said, my clock does expire on January 10.
The next country on my trip that will accept Greta (my motorcycle) and myself with open arms is India, but I must traverse Turkey, Iran and Pakistan to get there. My plan was to spend 6 weeks in Athens and attempt to obtain my Turkish and Iranian visas, then spend 30 days in Turkey to secure my Pakistani visa. Yes, this seems like an insane plan, but due to waiting periods and visa timeouts, it was pretty much the only option. Since Americans are currently banned from Turkey and Iran, and are not warmly received in Pakistan, it was going to be a feat to accomplish. After three days of talking with the Turkish Consulate, I did manage to secure a visa, but for only 15 days. They said they would support my request for additional time, which I had to justify with a day-by-day itinerary, to the Ministry back in Turkey. So I did submit that request.
Confusing as it is, this means that I have to obtain either both my Iranian and Pakistani visas in the next 30 days, which is next to impossible, or be granted the 45 day visa for Turkey and get my Pakistan visa there, or I am basically screwed. I would really like to ride, in lieu of flying, this part of the journey, but if that does not happen, it is not from a lack of trying. More nonsense to come.
I am now in Athens, Greece and my European visa is about to lapse. For those of you wondering, "since when does an American need a visa to be in Europe," well the short answer is always (the more correct answer deals with the Schengen Accord and its member countries, but that is beyond the scope of my story). The visa process is just so seamless and easy, most people do not realize they have a visa, but the stamp that is put in the passport when an American enters the country is the visa. This visa is valid for 90 days. This visa is easy extendable for another 90 days, and then you must either seek residence or leave for 90 days, and the clock starts over. I was issued the extension upon arrival, so my visa is good for 180 days. The cool part, which I did not know until I spoke with the US Embassy here in Athens, is that the 180 day clock stops when you step out of the country. So when I was in Morocco for three weeks, and Eastern Europe for three more weeks, I was not burning days. Now that being said, my clock does expire on January 10.
The next country on my trip that will accept Greta (my motorcycle) and myself with open arms is India, but I must traverse Turkey, Iran and Pakistan to get there. My plan was to spend 6 weeks in Athens and attempt to obtain my Turkish and Iranian visas, then spend 30 days in Turkey to secure my Pakistani visa. Yes, this seems like an insane plan, but due to waiting periods and visa timeouts, it was pretty much the only option. Since Americans are currently banned from Turkey and Iran, and are not warmly received in Pakistan, it was going to be a feat to accomplish. After three days of talking with the Turkish Consulate, I did manage to secure a visa, but for only 15 days. They said they would support my request for additional time, which I had to justify with a day-by-day itinerary, to the Ministry back in Turkey. So I did submit that request.
Confusing as it is, this means that I have to obtain either both my Iranian and Pakistani visas in the next 30 days, which is next to impossible, or be granted the 45 day visa for Turkey and get my Pakistan visa there, or I am basically screwed. I would really like to ride, in lieu of flying, this part of the journey, but if that does not happen, it is not from a lack of trying. More nonsense to come.
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