Why is it necessary for the Turkish student studying in the US to have their student status recognized by the Turkish education attaché?

Turkish citizens enrolled in degree programs in the United States, such as associate's, bachelor's, master's, or doctoral programs, must have their student status recognized by the education attaché in order to enjoy privileges such as military service postponement, fee-free passport acquisition, eligibility for student loans, and cancellation of social security debts. These privileges cannot be availed without completing the recognition process.

How to apply for the recognition of student status?

The student needs to apply to the education attaché responsible for the state where their enrolled school is located, along with the required documents. After the application, a file is created in the office on behalf of the recognized student, and all subsequent transactions are carried out through this file.

To keep their student status active, students must send their enrollment letter to the attaché office at the beginning of each new semester and transcript at the end of each semester. These two documents must be submitted in a school-sealed and stamped envelope. Alternatively, the school can send them directly to our email address, losangeles@meb.gov.tr, upon the student's request. Other methods of submitting these documents will not be accepted.

Click here to see the responsibility areas of the education attaché offices by state.

What if someone, whose student status has been recognized by the education attaché, fails to send the enrollment letter and transcript every semester?

If the student fails to submit these documents every semester, it is assumed that the student's enrollment is discontinued, and the file created for the student at the attaché office is closed. This is also reported to public institutions such as the military offices in Türkiye.

What if the student graduate, change school, or drop out?

In such cases, the student must immediately inform the education attaché office with a proof of document.

In what situations is student status not recognized by the education attaché?

• Being enrolled in distance or open education programs that do not have a compulsory attendance requirement, certificate, extension, or similar programs that do not lead to an academic degree,
• Being a ''yoklama kaçağı'' or ''bakaya'' in terms of military service before the enrollment date,
• Being enrolled in a program that is at the same level or lower than the program previously graduated from
• Being unable to provide evidence of fulfilling compulsory service obligations to the government, paying its compensation, agreeing on installment payment,
• Being enrolled in a language course
• Being a civil servant.

If the education attaché recognizes student status of an applicant, does that mean the diploma to be recieved will be valid in Türkiye?

The recognition of a student status by the education attaché does not guarantee the validity of the diploma to be obtained in Türkiye. For a diploma obtained from an academic institution in the United States to be recognized as valid in Türkiye, the student must apply for an equivalency certificate from the Turkish Council of Higher Education (YÖK). Clik here for further details.