The U.S. Embassy in Ankara and the U.S. Consulate General in Istanbul are planning to implement new regulations for U.S. visa applicants, the embassy said in a statement released on Monday, Dec 17, according to Today’s Zaman.

The new regulations are set to come into effect on Dec 19 and will involve updated appointment scheduling, fee payment and courier delivery services, the statement said.

These changes are being made to reduce the cost of applying for a U.S. visa by eliminating the current fees for appointment scheduling and courier delivery of passports.

With the implementation of the new system, applicants will no longer have to pay separate charges to schedule an appointment. The cost of appointment scheduling will be included in the visa application fee, the statement said.