A petition campaign appealing to keep the Didim Migration Office (GOC) open saw a delegation of foreign nationals meet the Didim Governor District Governor Can Kazım Kuruca to express their concerns.

Last week, Voices revealed that the Didim GOC office would no longer be accepting residency permit applications amid major interim changes. It will close either Monday or Tuesday this week, but remain open for paperwork to be completed. This, despite the town having citizens from 86 different countries residing within its borders.

Eventually Public Notary Offices will handle applications instead, but the present temporary arrangements will see foreign nationals having to trek to Kusadasi or Aydin to apply for residence permits and other issues.

The District Migration Administration office operates within the Didim District Governorship under the Aydın Provincial Directorate of Migration Administration.

Foreign nationals in Didim stated that the decision to close the District Immigration Office, which is responsible for carrying out regular and irregular migration, international protection and temporary protection-related work and procedures, is not right.

Samantha Gorduemel, who works for a legal translator at the Vision office, which is behind HSBC Bank, launched the petition and circulated it to many business, restaurants and bars.

Citizens meet the Didim District Governor on Thursday

On Thursday, Samantha and a delegation of 14 foreign nationals met the the Didim District Governor Can Kazım Kuruca at his office for an hour-long meeting. As well as handing in the petition signatures, the nationals related their own experiences and opinions and the potential costs arising from the applications process being handled by Notary Office.

After the meeting, Ms Gorduemel told Voices: “He sat and listened to everyone’s story, accepted the signatures and asked Immigration to join the meeting. He was shocked at the potential costs involved at the Public Notary and a mobile unit might be an option. However, the unit is only equipped to catch illegal migrants, but they could look at adopting it for applications.”

She said: “I explained that foreign nationals are not feeling wanted in Turkiye with all the rule changes. He was shocked at that but he balanced that with the difficult process experienced by those Green Passport holders trying to get visas for the UK.

“Everyone expressed their opinions and he appealed for more signatures so that he can fight our corner. It was a good and productive meeting.”

She said the aim of the campaign was to raise support to have a GOC presence to remain in the town, such as provision for the a mobile unit or for the office to remain open on a part-time basis.

In images above, citizens across the town sign the petition

With the action being endorsed by other translators in the town, she said: “I raised the petition in the hope that we can collectively make a difference. The Didim immigration office will be closed in about 2 weeks and they will no longer accept residency applications.

“The reason they are giving is that their office is not used enough. They have also said eventually it will be possible to do your applications at the notary office with a charge.

“However an application will be directed to the closest immigration office. If there is a problem and a person has lost their card, need guidance or have a query you would have to visit that office which would be Kusadasi or Aydin.”

Samantha Gorduemel

She said that service was much needed in Didim particularly for the elderly expatriate community. “In cooperation with a few other nationalities, we created a petition for all residency holders to sign. Together we can make a difference. Let’s be united and try to overturn this!”

Ms Gorduemel said that many were unsure what the Public Notary will charge and that they would not have access to the full immigration system, and the office would still post all paperwork to the closest immigration office.

Citizens can sign petitions at various businesses in town such as Vision, Smile, My Bar, Bar4u. Yasins and 2day Cafe Bar, Caspers, Cashs, Ali Bar, Al Dente and Mavi Kitchen.

She thanked all the businesses, bars and volunteers who were helping to collect signatures.

Anyone who wants to sign or seek further information, contact Samantha on 0530 175 1000.