Turkish-Speaking Immigration Attorney in Boca Raton

1. Know your deadline. According to FLHSMV, you become a Florida resident when you start a job, enroll a child in a Florida public school, register to vote, file for homestead exemption, or live in Florida for more than 6 consecutive months. Your 30 days run from that date.
2. Gather your documents. You need proof of identity, your SSN (if you have one) and proof of your Florida address. Noncitizens also need proof of lawful presence in the U.S. Florida asks for two separate proofs of address, such as a lease and a bill from the last 60 days. Bring originals. Green card holders can check FLHSMV's immigrant page; visa holders, the non-immigrant page.
3. Make a reservation. According to the Tax Collector's reservations page, in-person service at all six centers is by reservation only, with no walk-ins. Reservations go only to people who can show a Palm Beach County address (or documents for an upcoming move to the county). Call (561) 355-2264, weekdays 8:15 a.m. to 5 p.m.
4. Study in English. Starting February 6, 2026, FLHSMV gives every knowledge and road-skills exam in English only, including oral exams. According to the Tax Collector's first-license page, first-time applicants 18 and older complete the Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education (TLSAE) course, a vision test, the knowledge exam and the driving skills exam. Road tests are suspended in hazardous weather.

Tax Collector centers closest to Boca Raton

The full list is on the Tax Collector's locations page. The pages do not say which centers give road tests, so ask when you book.

The state's own fee is $48 for a first Class E license (learner's permit included) and $25 for an ID card. The Palm Beach County Tax Collector's amounts are $6.25 higher, and the table amount is what you pay at the office. Check current amounts in the fee table.

• When residency starts: when you start a job in Florida, enroll a child in a public school, register to vote, file for homestead exemption, or live in Florida for more than 6 months. The 30-day license deadline runs from that date.
• Test language: since February 6, 2026, knowledge and road tests are in English only. The Tax Collector says outside translation is no longer permitted.
• Booking: the closest center to Boca Raton is in Delray Beach. A reservation is required, and only Palm Beach County residents can book (see the center table). The car you test in must be insured and registered.
• Coming from another U.S. state: with a valid U.S. state license, you may skip the knowledge and road tests; the vision test still applies. The 30-day deadline applies to you too.
• Your car has a deadline too: separate from the license, you must insure and register your car in Florida within 10 days of starting a job or enrolling a child in school (see car registration).

1. Buy Florida insurance. The policy must come from a carrier licensed to sell insurance in Florida. FLHSMV's minimums are $10,000 PIP (80% of necessary medical costs, regardless of fault) and $10,000 PDL. Bodily Injury Liability (BIL) is not required for ordinary passenger cars.
2. Sort out the title. If the car has a loan, ask the out-of-state lienholder to send the title to Florida; if it agrees, you use Form HSMV 82040. If it refuses, get the refusal in writing on letterhead. Without a loan, bring ID for every owner, proof of Florida insurance, the original out-of-state title and a signed HSMV 82040.
3. Get the VIN verified. For a car previously titled or registered in another state, the vehicle identification number is checked on HSMV 82040 or on HSMV 82042. A law enforcement officer, a military police officer, a licensed Florida dealer or a Tax Collector employee can do it.
4. Finish at a center. The closest to Boca Raton is South County, 501 S. Congress Ave, Delray Beach. A reservation is required; call (561) 355-2264. Details are on the Tax Collector's registration page. That page gives newcomers 30 days, but Florida Statutes 320.38 gives someone who takes a job or enrolls a child in public school 10 days. Go by the shorter legal deadline.

Renewing your registration

• Registration expires at midnight on the first registered owner's birthday. A late fee applies if you pay after the 10th day of the month following the birthday.
• You can renew online, at a center by reservation, at MV Express kiosks in several Palm Beach County Publix stores, through the drop box at any center (5 to 7 business days) or by mail (10 to 15 business days).

Keep your insurance continuous

• Coverage must stay in force for the whole registration period, even if the car sits unused. Surrender the plate before you cancel the policy.
• A lapse can suspend your license and plate for up to 3 years, with no hardship license for an insurance-related suspension. Reinstatement can cost up to $500.

Inspection

Florida has not required emissions testing since 2000 and has no periodic safety inspection for passenger cars. Registration renewal has no inspection step.

Turnpike tolls near Boca Raton (2-axle vehicle)

Amounts come from Florida's Turnpike's South Florida rate booklet dated August 3, 2026. Rates change from time to time, so check before you drive.

• SunPass Mini: $4.99 plus tax. It sticks to the windshield and works in Florida, Georgia, Kansas, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Texas; not for motorcycles.
• SunPass PRO: $14.95 plus tax. It moves between vehicles, works on motorcycles and also works anywhere E-ZPass is accepted.
• Where to buy: Publix, CVS, Walgreens, SunPass service centers, SunPass.com or 1-888-TOLL-FLA (phone orders arrive in 4 to 5 business days).
• Adding money: automatic Easy Pay from a card or bank account, manual top-ups online or by phone, or cash at retail locations.
• Toll-By-Plate: without a transponder, the registered owner gets one invoice for each 30-day period, plus $2.50 per invoice. SunPass users always pay the lowest rate. Toll-By-Plate cannot be used on Florida's Managed Lanes, where a transponder is required.

Palm Tran buses

• Paying: the Paradise Pass card or app, Apple, Google or Samsung Pay, a contactless debit or credit card (not Amex), or exact cash; no change is given. Who qualifies for half fare is on Palm Tran's fares page.
• Boca Raton routes: 1 (along US-1), 1 Limited "The Bolt" (to downtown West Palm Beach), 2 (Congress Ave), 3 (Military Trail), 91 (Glades Rd), 92 (Palmetto Park Rd) and 94. Route 94 runs between FAU and the Boca Tri-Rail station and is free for FAU and Palm Beach State College students and staff with ID.
• BocaConnect: the city's on-demand shuttle, booked through the Circuit app. Rides that start and end in the "red" zone are free; rides that start or end in the blue or green zone cost $2 per rider plus $1 for each additional rider (capped at $5 a ride). The service is a 12-month pilot. The zone map and hours are on the city's page.

Trains: Tri-Rail and Brightline

• Tri-Rail: Boca Raton's station is on Yamato Road, and parking is free for Tri-Rail riders. The line also serves Miami Airport and Fort Lauderdale Airport stations. Under the March 2025 tariff, a one-way fare runs $2.50 to $8.75 depending on the number of zones, and a weekend or holiday day pass is $5. Tickets are not sold on board; buy from a machine or the app before you ride. Check current fares on tri-rail.com.
• Brightline: the Boca Raton station is at 101 NW 4th St., Boca Raton, FL 33432, with trains to Miami, Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Orlando. Its garage is at 151 NW 4th St.; daily parking starts at $12 booked ahead and $20 on arrival.

Airports

• Palm Beach International: renamed President Donald J. Trump International Airport on July 9, 2026; its code has been DJT (formerly PBI) since August 18, 2026. It is at 1000 James L. Turnage Blvd, West Palm Beach. Its nonstop list shows international flights only to Canada and the Bahamas.
• Istanbul: in South Florida, Turkish Airlines flies nonstop to Istanbul from Miami (MIA), several times a day, in about 11 hours. From Fort Lauderdale (FLL) or Palm Beach you connect.

The time difference is in the Türkiye section.

1. Start service. On FPL's start-service page, you give the service address and a Social Security number, driver's license number or social insurance number. If you have none of these, you can still submit the order and upload another verifiable ID.
2. Check the deposit. According to FPL, it runs a credit check. If a deposit is required, it equals about two months of expected use at the address, based on its past usage. Newcomers without U.S. credit history usually pay one.
3. Ask about a non-cash option. An Unconditional Guarantee contract with a qualifying guarantor can be accepted instead of a cash deposit.

• Refund: after 23 months of good-standing service, the deposit is refunded with interest.
• Business accounts: use a Tax ID Number instead of personal ID.
• Separate bills: water, sewer and trash do not come from FPL but from the city or the county, depending on your address (see water and trash).

City water: City of Boca Raton Utility Services

1. Apply. Under the city's service policies, you complete the application on the Customer Portal and send a copy of your lease (or your home settlement statement) at least 24 hours in advance.
2. Deposit: based on meter size and location. For homes it is typically $100 to $125 for owners and $300 to $375 for renters. It is billed at opening, due within 30 days, earns interest each year and is refunded when you close the account.
3. Billing: bimonthly, covering water, sewer and garbage together. Pay within 30 days of the bill date, online or by automatic bank draft.
4. Contacts: water billing and customer care (561) 393-7750, weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., 201 W. Palmetto Park Road, Suite 152 (City Hall). For a main break or sewer backup, call (561) 338-7339 during business hours or (561) 338-7325 after 5 p.m.
5. Temporary change: from September 27 to October 11, 2026, the city disinfects with free chlorine instead of chloramine and flushes hydrants. Water may taste of chlorine or look discolored; dialysis patients and aquarium owners are advised to take precautions.

Trash and recycling

• Cost: since October 1, 2025, $27.90 a month for residential curbside service and $16.89 a month for multifamily, added to the water bill.
• Schedule: garbage twice a week; recycling, yard waste and bulk once a week. Your days depend on your area; see the map on the city's curbside page.
• Two bins: yellow for paper and cardboard, blue for glass, plastic and aluminum. Bins are delivered free to homes inside city limits: Sanitation, (561) 416-3367.
• Bulk items: picked up weekly on recycling day. Loads over 2 cubic yards need a paid pickup, starting at $161.71.

Outside city limits

The city's water utility also serves some addresses outside city limits. Other addresses get water from Palm Beach County Water Utilities (561-740-4600). City trash service covers only homes inside city limits; elsewhere the Solid Waste Authority (561-697-2700) collects trash. Before you sign a lease, ask the landlord who provides water and trash.

• Reporting problems: Report a Concern or the My Boca app. Requests are public. Under Florida law, code enforcement complaints require your name and address.
• Alerts: sign up for AlertBoca for storm and sanitation notices. For sanitation alerts, you can also text "SanitationAlert" to 38276.
• City Hall: 201 W. Palmetto Park Road, Boca Raton, FL 33432.

Boca Raton Public Library card

• Free for: residents of the City of Boca Raton or the Greater Boca Raton Beach & Park District. The library has two locations, Downtown and Spanish River.
• What to bring: a photo ID (valid driver's license, state ID or current passport) and one proof of address, such as a signed lease longer than 3 months, an FPL or water bill from the last two months, vehicle registration, a deed or this year's property tax bill.
• Non-residents: $200 a year, or $300 for a family card. Cards run October 1 to September 30, are nonrefundable and are not prorated.
• Phone: (561) 393-7852, option 2. Details are on the city's library card page.

Palm Beach County Library System

Boca Raton is not among the municipalities whose residents get a free county library card. But according to the county library, children who live anywhere in Palm Beach County or attend a county school can get a free card. If your address is outside city limits, ask the library whether you qualify for a county card.

• Cap: none. The amount is set in the lease.
• 15 days: with no claim, the full deposit is due back within 15 days after the tenancy ends.
• 30 days: a landlord who intends to make a claim must send written notice, with the reasons, within 30 days.
• Objection: you have 15 days after receiving the notice to object in writing.
• Interest: owed only if the landlord chooses an interest-bearing account; then it is at least 75% of the account's annualized average rate or 5% simple interest a year, paid at least once a year in cash or as a rent credit. A landlord who posts a surety bond instead pays 5% simple interest a year.

Read the full text of Florida Statutes §83.49. The county courthouse closest to Boca Raton is the South County Courthouse in Delray Beach, which also hears eviction cases. The Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County helps low-income tenants with landlord-tenant disputes; call 561-655-8944 and ask about eligibility.

• First $25,000: comes off the assessed value for all levies, including school taxes.
• Second $25,000: applies to assessed value between $50,000 and $75,000, for all levies except school district levies. This slice is adjusted for inflation each year.
• Who qualifies: owners who hold title and in good faith make the home their permanent residence (§196.031). You cannot also claim a residency-based exemption in another state. Renters do not get this exemption.
• March 1: the filing deadline, with two narrow exceptions: a documented postal error, or filing within 25 days after tax notices are mailed with proven extenuating circumstances (§196.011).
• Bought mid-year? The exemption is not automatic. You file for a home you hold title to on January 1, so apply by March 1 of the following year.
• Save Our Homes: the assessed value of a homesteaded property can rise by no more than 3% or inflation per year, even if market value rises faster (§193.155).
• Portability: if you had a homestead exemption in any of the prior 3 years, you can carry the savings, up to $500,000, to a new Florida homestead.

Filing in Palm Beach County

• Documents: according to the Property Appraiser, the Social Security numbers of all applying owners and spouses; a valid Florida driver's license (or Florida ID for non-drivers); proof of permanent residency (green card) if you are not a U.S. citizen; and one of the following: Florida vehicle registration, Florida voter registration, a Declaration of Domicile, a federal tax return or utility bills for the property.
• How: online, at a service center or by mail. If nothing changes, the exemption renews automatically.
• Closest office to Boca Raton: South County Service Center, 14925 Cumberland Drive, Delray Beach, FL 33446, 561-276-1250, weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Confirm the address and hours on its website before you go.
• Tax bills: according to the Tax Collector, 2026 property taxes open for payment on November 1, 2026, with a 4% discount in November, 3% in December, 2% in January and 1% in February (important dates).

• Find your zone: Palm Beach County's Know Your Zone page has separate lookups for evacuation zones (storm surge) and flood zones. Type the address without punctuation. Florida's Know Your Zone page also looks up zones by address.
• Who must leave: in a hurricane warning, the county requires residents of manufactured and mobile homes and substandard housing to evacuate.
• Barrier island: according to the city, many buildings on the barrier island will likely lose power (elevators, lighting, A/C, water), so the city strongly urges residents there to evacuate.
• Information lines: during storms the city's Citizen Information Center opens at 561-982-4900, and city radio is on AM 1650. The county Emergency Information Center is 561-712-6400. Sign up for AlertBoca.
• Shelters: they open only when the county announces them. Pet-friendly shelters require pre-registration. For a ride to a shelter, pre-register with Palm Tran Connection (561-649-9838).
• Buildings: Florida homes built after 2002 include hurricane-resistant features required by the state building code.
• Flood insurance: standard homeowners and renters policies do not cover flooding. National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) information is on FloodSmart, and a new policy generally takes effect only after a 30-day waiting period. Buying one when a storm is on the way is too late.

1. Find your school. Your address decides your school. Enter it in the district's "Find My School" tool to get the school and its phone number.
2. Choose how to register. According to the district's registration page, you either register online by uploading the forms and documents, or call the school to set a time to bring them in.
3. Gather documents. Two proofs of residence in Palm Beach County; an immunization record (Form DH 680 or DH 681); a physical exam (DH 3040, pages 1 and 2); and proof of birth, such as a birth certificate or passport. Records from the previous school help. Bring English translations of documents from Türkiye.
4. Fill out the forms. Every new student needs six forms: Student Registration (PBSD 2688), Contact and Pickup Information (PBSD 2687), Health Information and Consent (PBSD 2667), Informed Notifications, Consents and Releases (PBSD 2690), Release/Transfer of Student Information (PBSD 2689) and the Student Housing Questionnaire (PBSD 2479). They come in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Chinese, Vietnamese, Arabic, French and Russian, not Turkish.
5. Answer the language survey. Florida registration includes a three-question Home Language Survey. A "yes" to any question means the school must screen your child's English within the first 20 school days.

If you get stuck

The district's Admissions & Family Experience office offers multilingual support, grade placement and review of previous school records: 3300 Forest Hill Blvd., Building E-50-116, West Palm Beach, FL 33406, (561) 434-8197. Your zoned school is the first stop; this office is the backup.

Free pre-K (VPK)

• Who: Florida residents who turn 4 on or before September 1. The program is free.
• Where: not the school district but the Early Learning Coalition of Palm Beach County, through the state's Family Portal. Once you have the eligibility certificate, you choose a VPK provider.
• Family hotline: 561-514-3300.

For free and low-cost options, see our clinic directory.

• Health Care District of Palm Beach County: the county's public health system. In its own words, its health centers are available to all regardless of insurance status, and no one is denied services due to an inability to pay. Patients who qualify for the federal sliding fee scale pay less based on income and family size. Services include adult, pediatric, women's health, dental, optometry and behavioral health. Appointments: 561-642-1000.
• District Cares has closed: the District's program for uninsured residents no longer accepts new applications, and existing patients' services ended December 31, 2025. Do not try to apply; call the health centers directly.
• County health department: the Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County, main line 561-840-4500. It holds community immunization sessions at different sites; see the schedule on its website.
• Florida KidCare: income-based coverage for children under 19 who live in Florida. KidCare's requirements say the child must be a U.S. citizen, an eligible immigrant or a lawful permanent resident, and must have an SSN or have applied for one. Undocumented children are not eligible. Ask KidCare (1-888-540-5437) which statuses qualify before you apply.
• Medicaid: this changed on October 1, 2026. Federal law now pays a state for full Medicaid only for U.S. citizens and nationals, lawful permanent residents, Cuban and Haitian entrants, and people living here under a Compact of Free Association. Refugees, asylees and parolees are not on that closed list, so from that date they no longer have federally funded full Medicaid. Most green card holders still face the 5-year wait. Undocumented immigrants could not get full Medicaid before and still cannot. Two things survive: emergency Medicaid for everyone, and a state option a state may take for lawfully residing pregnant women and people under 21, so ask Florida whether it has taken that option rather than assuming. The rule is section 71109 of Public Law 119-21. Note what it actually bars: it stops the federal payment to the state, so ask what is left rather than assuming nothing is. Emergency Medicaid covers emergencies, including labor and delivery for qualifying pregnant women.
• Buying insurance: Florida has no state exchange of its own and uses the federal HealthCare.gov marketplace.
• 988: the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline answers calls, texts and chats 24/7.

Free care (income-limited)

Caridad Center · Boynton Beach

According to its website, the largest free and charitable clinic in Florida. It provides free primary and specialty medical care, eye, dental and behavioral health care and social services to uninsured children and adults who live in Palm Beach County at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. New patients bring proof of income, a photo ID and proof of Palm Beach County residence (plus a birth certificate for anyone under 18), and registration must be completed before scheduling. Care is by appointment. The dental clinic is not taking new patient registrations right now (notice on its site as of September 29, 2026). We found no statement about immigration status on its site, so call and ask whether you qualify.

8645 W Boynton Beach Blvd., Boynton Beach, FL 33472 · medical clinic Tuesday to Thursday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday and Saturday 8 a.m. to noon, closed Monday (the eye clinic is also closed Saturday) · medical and eye appointments 561-737-6336, ext. 102; eligibility registration ext. 126 · Services · Contact

Centers with income-based fees

Health Care District of Palm Beach County · C. L. Brumback health centers

Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). In their own words, they welcome all patients regardless of ability to pay, and no one is denied services due to an inability to pay. A sliding fee scale based on household size and income is available for patients without insurance. Care is not free by default.

West Boca: 9960 South Central Park Blvd, Suite 450, Boca Raton, FL 33428 · weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. · adult primary care and mental health
Delray Beach: 200 Congress Park Drive, Suite 100, Delray Beach, FL 33445 · weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. · adult medical, dental and pharmacy
Appointments (24/7): 561-642-1000 · All locations · Fees and insurance

FoundCare · Boynton Beach

A nonprofit Federally Qualified Health Center. In its own words, it accepts most insurance plans, offers a sliding fee scale based on family size and income for patients without insurance, and turns no one away for inability to pay. The new-patient document list on its homepage says undocumented and uninsured patients must provide a notarized Letter of Support with valid dates and the supporter's contact information. Services include adult primary care, women's health, chronic disease care, an on-site lab and behavioral health.

1901 S. Congress Avenue, Suite 100, Boynton Beach, FL 33426 · weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. · (561) 432-5849 · free walk-in HIV testing Tuesdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. · All locations

Questions to ask before booking

• Are you accepting new patients? Are there age, income, insurance or residency requirements?
• Which income documents do I need to apply for the sliding fee or free care?
• Are lab tests, medications, dental care and outside referrals charged separately, and is an interpreter available?

For more options, use the HRSA health center finder; not every listed center is free.

1. Complete the online form. On the Clerk's Marriage & Domestic Partnership Kiosk, you enter your details and both acknowledge that you have read the Florida Family Law Handbook. Tick the box if you took a premarital course. You get a transaction number at the end.
2. Book an appointment. Marriage licenses and ceremonies are by appointment, booked for a Clerk office on its website.
3. Go together. Bring the transaction number, your course certificate if you have one, and ID for each of you. Both parties must be present.

• Closest office to Boca Raton: South County Courthouse, 200 W. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach, FL 33444, (561) 274-1557, weekdays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Parking in the garage across the street is free.
• ID: a U.S. driver's license, a federal or state ID card, or a passport showing your name and date of birth; it must not be expired. According to the Clerk's requirements page, birth certificates and green cards are not accepted as ID.
• No SSN: Fla. Stat. 741.04 asks for a Social Security number or any other available identification number.
• Fees: license $86, or $61 after a premarital course. A courthouse ceremony is $30. The Clerk's online license option is $136, online notary included.
• Waiting period: if either of you lives in Florida, the license takes effect after 3 days. A premarital course removes the wait. If neither of you lives in Florida, there is no wait.
• Previous marriages: you need to know when and how your last marriage ended. No divorce decree, death certificate or blood test is required.
• Validity: the license is good for a ceremony anywhere in Florida within 60 days of issue.

Confirm fees and appointment options on the Clerk's fee page before you go.

• Delray Beach: DOH-Palm Beach Vital Statistics office, Delray Beach Health Center, 225 S. Congress Ave., Delray Beach, FL 33445, weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Confirm hours before you go.
• West Palm Beach: the main office, 800 Clematis St., West Palm Beach, FL 33401.
• Fee: $15 per birth certificate, according to the health department's page. Online orders cost differently.
• ID and form: a valid, unexpired photo ID such as a driver's license, state ID, passport or military ID, plus the application form (English, Spanish or Creole). It asks for the full name, date of birth, county of birth, the mother's full name including maiden name, and the father's full name.
• Notary: $10 per document at the Delray Beach and West Palm Beach offices. Bring the unsigned document and your photo ID.
• Tax Collector: the Tax Collector's site also has a birth certificate page, listing $21.25 per copy, cash only. If you plan to go there, call (561) 355-2264 first to confirm the service is available.
• Which copy: a U.S. passport application and registering the birth in Türkiye may call for the detailed long-form record; ask which type fits when you order.
• Child's U.S. passport: for children under 16, a passport book is $100 plus a $35 acceptance fee, and a passport card is $15 plus $35. See the passport section.
• SSN: for your baby's Social Security number, see the SSN section.

• Which office: all three are open weekdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. SSA assigns offices by ZIP code, not distance, so a Boca Raton address may point you north or south. Confirm the address and hours with the SSA office locator before you go. National line: 1-800-772-1213.
• What to bring: current immigration documents (green card, I-94 or EAD) with a valid passport, and a birth certificate if you have it. No photocopies or notarized copies. SSA suggests waiting 10 days after arrival so DHS records can be verified.
• F-1 and J-1: an SSN is available only once you are authorized to work (on-campus job, CPT, OPT), not just for enrolling in school. FAU students should talk to the university's international student office first.
• Lost card: replacement is free, usually started online, and the card arrives in 5 to 10 business days.

What can I do in Boca Raton without an SSN?

• School: under Florida law (Fla. Stat. 1008.386), a student does not have to provide an SSN to enroll. See school enrollment.
• Marriage license: Florida law (Fla. Stat. 741.04) accepts another identification number, such as an A-number, instead of an SSN, and the Palm Beach County Clerk accepts a passport as ID. See marriage license.
• Taxes: people who must file but cannot get an SSN use an ITIN (see taxes below).

• One return: the Florida Constitution (Article VII, Section 5) effectively rules out a state tax on individuals' income. For wages and other income you file only the federal return (Form 1040); there is no state income tax return.
• Businesses are different: Florida's corporate income tax applies to companies, not individuals. If you plan to form a company, ask your accountant (see starting a business).
• Sales and property tax: the state relies largely on these. Current rates are on the Florida Department of Revenue site. If you buy a home and it is your permanent residence, apply for the homestead exemption with the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser by March 1 (see property tax).
• Property tax calendar: according to the Palm Beach County Tax Collector, 2026 property taxes open for payment on November 1, 2026. Paying early earns a discount: 4% in November, 3% in December, 2% in January and 1% in February.

How do I get an ITIN?

1. Complete Form W-7 and attach it to your federal return unless an exception applies.
2. Get documents verified. Mail originals to the IRS in Austin, use a Certifying Acceptance Agent (CAA), or book a free document review at an IRS office. With a CAA or IRS office, your passport does not go in the mail; documents are returned at the end of the appointment.
3. Wait. Processing takes about 7 weeks, or 9 to 11 weeks during tax season (January 15 to April 30).

• Nearest IRS offices: according to the IRS list, the Taxpayer Assistance Centers in West Palm Beach and Plantation/Fort Lauderdale review ITIN documents in person. Check their addresses and hours with the IRS office locator.
• Appointments: IRS offices work by appointment only: 844-545-5640. It can take several weeks to get one. Bring photo ID, your Social Security card if you have one, and any IRS letters.
• Expiration: an ITIN not used on a federal return for three years in a row expires.

State: Sunbiz

• Formation: online through Sunbiz, available 24/7, $125 in total.
• Annual Report: $138.75 a year, due May 1. A report received after May 1 costs $538.75, including the $400 late fee. No financial information is required.
• Other fees: according to the LLC fee schedule, a name reservation is $25, a certificate of status $5 and a change of registered agent $25.
• Fictitious name: in Florida it is filed with the state through Sunbiz, not with a county clerk. Check the current fee on Sunbiz before you file.
• Filing services: the Florida Department of State warns that third-party filing services are not required and can be misleading. The official site shows the state seal and the Sunbiz logo. Questions: (850) 245-6000.

City and county: business tax in Boca Raton

• Who needs it: according to the city's page, every business operating in Boca Raton needs a Business Tax/Certificate of Use. Apply within 15 days of moving into your space or of the start date on your Sunbiz filing. Home-based businesses have a separate checklist, especially if clients visit.
• How: online through Boca eHub (bocaehub.com). Business Tax Authority: 200 NW 2nd Ave, Boca Raton, FL 33432; 561-393-7937; [email protected].
• One-time fees: per the fee page, $30 application, $50 Certificate of Use, $45 code inspection and $45 fire inspection; each re-inspection is $50. The city's annual business tax is $105 unless the City Code sets a different amount.
• Tax year: certificates run October 1 to September 30. Current certificates expire on September 30, 2026; renewals for the new year have been open since July 1, 2026. Late payment adds penalties, plus an extra $250 if not paid by March 1.
• County receipt: you also need a Palm Beach County Local Business Tax Receipt. The city's page says city zoning approval comes first, and the county application goes in alongside it.

• Who still qualifies for SNAP: refugees and asylees no longer qualify based on that status alone; once they get a green card, they qualify without the 5-year wait. For other green card holders, the 5-year wait still applies, with exceptions such as children under 18.
• Medicaid: since October 1, 2026 federal funding for full Medicaid reaches only U.S. citizens and nationals, lawful permanent residents, Cuban and Haitian entrants and people here under a Compact of Free Association, so refugees, asylees and parolees are no longer on the list; most green card holders still face a 5-year wait. A state option may still cover lawfully residing pregnant women and people under 21, so ask Florida whether it has taken it (section 71109 of Public Law 119-21). Undocumented immigrants still cannot get full Medicaid, but Emergency Medicaid covers emergencies, including labor and delivery.
• Health coverage for children: Florida KidCare covers children under 19, but the child must be a U.S. citizen, an eligible immigrant or a lawful permanent resident, and must have an SSN or have applied for one. Undocumented children are not eligible. Options for the uninsured are under health care and free clinics.
• U.S.-citizen children in the household may still receive benefits in their own right. A child's own benefits generally do not count in a parent's public charge review.
• The new public charge rule: for green card applications filed on or after September 18, 2026, officers may consider any means-tested benefit (SNAP, Medicaid, housing assistance and others) received on or after that date. Benefits received earlier count only if they were cash assistance or long-term institutional care. Benefits received by family members are generally not counted.
• Who is exempt: humanitarian categories such as asylees and refugees, T and U visa holders, VAWA self-petitioners and TPS. Family-based, most employment-based and diversity visa applicants are subject to it.
• Litigation: lawsuits against the rule were filed in mid-September 2026. As of September 25, 2026, no court has blocked it.

1. Log in to your USCIS account and open Change of Address. Reporting online satisfies the legal requirement; no paper AR-11 is needed.
2. Enter the receipt number of every pending case. Otherwise notices may still go to the old address.
3. Tell USPS separately. A post office change of address does not update USCIS, and USPS does not forward USCIS mail.
4. If you are in court proceedings, file Form EOIR-33/IC within 5 days. The court changes your address only through this form.
5. If you have ICE reporting obligations (for example, check-ins set when you were released), update ICE too through the ICE Portal. ICE's page asks for updates within 5 business days of moving.

A and G visa holders and Visa Waiver visitors are exempt from the USCIS requirement.

• The address is on your notice: USCIS's West Palm Beach field office page says the office works by appointment only. Go to the address your notice gives. If it names another South Florida office, go there; your case, not distance, decides.
• Biometrics center: per USCIS's directions, take I-95 exit 66 to Forest Hill Boulevard, then Congress Avenue. There is public parking and the building is accessible. For transit, call Palm Tran at 561-841-4200. Bring your notice and photo ID. You cannot file applications at an ASC.
• Rescheduling: the center is assigned on your I-797C notice; you do not choose it. You can reschedule for good cause at least 12 hours before the existing appointment, through your USCIS online account or at 800-375-5283. Our biometrics guide covers what to bring.
• Appointments and questions: USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283 (TTY 800-767-1833), or book online. Appointments are free.
• Paying at the office: according to the field office page, fees for some forms (I-131, I-212, I-765, G-884, EOIR-29) can be paid at the office through Pay.gov by appointment. Otherwise, the office does not take payments.
• Processing times: on the USCIS processing times page, pick the form, category and the office that has your case. Times update monthly.
• Your attorney at the interview: since May 18, 2026, attorneys may no longer join field-office interviews remotely, except in limited circumstances. Your attorney has to attend in person.

• Which court: EOIR's pages do not say which court hears cases of Palm Beach County residents. Do not guess; go to the court on your hearing notice.
• Hours: all three courts are open weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; the filing window closes at 4 p.m. The Miami court has security screening at the entrance and paid parking next door. For a morning hearing, allow for I-95 traffic and leave early.
• Krome: inside a detention facility. It also hears cases of people held at the Broward Transitional Center in Pompano Beach.
• Online lookup: ACIS needs only your A-number (A + 8 or 9 digits). Your hearing notice is still the official source; the system may show new dates late.
• ICE ERO: ICE's office list shows no separate ERO office in Palm Beach County. For Florida it lists the Miramar Sub Office: 2805 SW 145th Ave, Miramar, FL 33027, (954) 843-5800. Check-ins are scheduled at checkin.ice.gov. If you have a check-in, talk to your attorney before you go.

Where do I find my I-94, and how do I fix an error?

Download your most recent I-94 from CBP's website. Errors made at entry (wrong visa class, name or admit-until date) are corrected by CBP Deferred Inspection. Palm Beach County's unit is in Riviera Beach: 1 East 11 Street, 2nd Floor, Riviera Beach, FL 33404. It is open only Tuesday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to noon; (561) 844-1703 ext. 249, [email protected]. The window is very short, so call to confirm before you go. It fixes only mistakes made at the time of entry.

• Who can register: U.S. citizens who live in Florida and are at least 18. Registration closes 29 days before each election.
• At the license office and on forms: if the driver license office or any other agency offers to register you to vote, answer the citizenship question truthfully. Claiming to be a U.S. citizen may be treated by USCIS as a false claim of citizenship. A driver's license does not make you eligible to vote.
• Consequences: registering or voting as a noncitizen is a federal crime (18 U.S.C. 611 and 1015(f)). In immigration law it can mean permanent inadmissibility, deportability and denial of naturalization.
• Do not fill out voter registration forms handed out door to door or at events.
• Who can serve on a jury: under Florida law (Fla. Stat. 40.01), a juror must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18, a legal resident of Florida and of the summoning county, and hold a Florida driver license or ID card (or have signed the affidavit the law allows instead). In Palm Beach County, the Clerk's office runs jury service.
• If you are summoned: follow the instructions on the summons to complete the county's qualification process, and answer the citizenship question truthfully. If you are unsure what to do, ask an attorney first.

Recently naturalized? You can register at RegisterToVoteFlorida.gov. For the November 3, 2026 general election, registration closes on October 5, 2026. Elections in Boca Raton are run by the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections; check office addresses and hours at votepalmbeach.gov before you go.

• Passports at the Clerk: according to the Palm Beach County Clerk's passport page, first-time applications (DS-11) and renewals of passports that expired more than 5 years ago are handled by appointment at the Delray Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Royal Palm Beach and Belle Glade offices. The Delray Beach office is at the South County Courthouse (200 W. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach, FL 33444); confirm the exact location on your appointment confirmation.
• Photos: a passport photo at the Clerk costs $16; it is free for veterans, active-duty service members and reservists with proof.
• Passports at the library: the Palm Beach County Library System's Main Library accepts applications by online booking on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 3 to 8 p.m., and Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. to noon and 1:30 to 4 p.m.; 561-233-2788. The library does not take photos, so bring yours.
• Payment: the State Department fee ($130 for an adult book) must be paid by check or money order. The $35 acceptance fee is a separate payment.
• Adult renewals: adults generally renew through the State Department's own renewal process; eligible adults can renew online at opr.travel.state.gov.
• Other acceptance facilities: enter your Boca Raton ZIP code in the passport facility locator.
• What to bring: your original naturalization certificate and your ID.
• Children: a passport book for a child under 16 costs $100 plus the $35 acceptance fee.
• Urgent travel: you need proof of travel within 14 days (or a foreign visa needed within 28 days), plus the $60 expedite fee. Book online or at 877-487-2778 (weekdays 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., weekends 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Eastern). The agency for the region is the Miami Passport Agency (1501 Biscayne Blvd, Suite 400, Miami); confirm the address and hours on your appointment confirmation. Appointments are free; third parties charging for them are scams.

Who counts as a beach "resident"? An annual permit for residents of the city and the Greater Boca Raton Beach and Park District covers all three parks. The Palm Beach County resident permit covers South Beach only. Anyone can buy a daily pass, valid only at the park where it is bought. A Boca Raton mailing address does not always mean you live in the city, so check your address on the city's map.

Always free

• Gumbo Limbo Nature Center: free general admission, donations welcome. Kids love the sea turtles and outdoor aquariums. Outdoor areas close when there is lightning.
• Children's Science Explorium: a free science center for ages 5 to 12. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.
• Sugar Sand Park: the park and its science playground are free; the carousel is $1 per person.

Free on certain days (2026)

• Telescope night: Monday, October 19, 8 to 9:30 p.m., in the parking lot behind the Explorium. No registration; if it is cloudy, an inflatable planetarium is used.
• Night Market: Thursdays October 1, November 5 and December 10, 6 to 9 p.m., in Sanborn Square. Entry is free; vendors' goods are not.
• Holiday Tree Lighting: Saturday, November 21, 6 to 10 p.m., Mizner Park Amphitheater. Live music and a craft station; the tree is lit at 7:30 p.m. Mizner Park's interior roads close to cars from 5 p.m.
• Holiday Street Parade: Wednesday, December 2, 7:30 to 9 p.m., Downtown. Route changes are expected because of roadwork on Federal Highway, so check the city's page before you go.

With kids (paid)

• Halloween by the Sea: Sunday, October 18, at Gumbo Limbo for children ages 2 to 6. $10 per child for city residents, $13 for others; parents free. Advance registration is required.
• Morikami: ages 6 to 17 $12, 5 and under free. Closed Mondays.
• Lion Country Safari and Butterfly World: ticketed; check prices on the Lion Country Safari and Butterfly World websites.
• Beach parks: vehicle entry needs an annual permit or a daily pass. Fees rise on October 1, 2026; current rates are on the city's page.

To book: konsolosluk.gov.tr → Randevu Al → Türk Vatandaşları İçin Konsolosluk İşlemleri → Miami. On-call emergency line: +1 305 646 8208. Email: [email protected]. The building entrance is at the corner of 1st Avenue and 9th Street.

Fees and mail-in document lists change during the year. Check the current details on the consulate's site before you pay.

Tips for your visit

• Getting there: Miami is about an hour's drive from Boca Raton on I-95 or Florida's Turnpike without traffic. I-95 backs up often, so leave plenty of time before your slot.
• Timing: in-person applications are taken only in the morning block (9 a.m. to 1 p.m.). Be at the building before your slot, and handle by mail whatever can be mailed.
• Holidays: check the consulate's site for closure days before you book.
• Birth registration: you need the U.S. birth certificate first. In Palm Beach County you can get it in person from the Florida Department of Health offices in West Palm Beach or Delray Beach (see birth certificates).
• Documents for Türkiye: Florida documents are apostilled in Tallahassee, not at the consulate (see apostille).
• Military service (askerlik): men born in 2007 must complete their registration (yoklama) by December 31, 2026, at the consulate or on e-Devlet. The paid military service option (dövizle askerlik) for July to December 2026 is the foreign-currency equivalent of 472,653.60 TL, paid in U.S. dollars at the Turkish central bank rate of the payment day (ask the consulate about any transfer fee and the current amount); the amount changes on January 1, 2027. It requires a U.S. residence or work permit, 3 years (1,095 days) of work abroad, the MSB online training, residence in the consulate's district and an in-person appointment in Miami. Dual citizens born in the U.S. or who came before 18 can defer until the end of age 35 after registering their U.S. citizenship. F-1 students defer through an education attaché; ask the consulate which one applies to you.

• Address: Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations, Apostille Section, 2415 N. Monroe Street, Suite 810, Tallahassee, FL 32303. Instructions are on the state's apostille page. From Boca Raton, you can send your request to this address by mail.
• Fees: $10 per document for most requests; $20 for documents certified by any Clerk of Court ($10 for the apostille plus $10 for a Certificate of Incumbency).
• Payment: check or money order payable to the "Florida Department of State." No cash, no credit cards.
• Which documents: Florida-issued birth and death certificates, marriage and divorce records, court documents, school transcripts, vehicle titles, notarized documents and criminal background checks. Send the original or a certified copy; photocopies are not accepted.
• Vital records: get the certified birth certificate first. Where to get one in Palm Beach County is under birth certificates. The Department of Health office in Delray Beach (225 S. Congress Ave.) also offers notary service for $10 in the same visit.
• Other states' records: Florida apostilles only documents issued in Florida; records from another state must be authenticated in the state that issued them.

• U.S. clock changes: daylight saving time starts on the second Sunday of March and ends on the first Sunday of November: November 1, 2026 and March 14, 2027.
• The Palm Beach airport has a new name: formerly Palm Beach International (PBI), it is now President Donald J. Trump International Airport, according to its own site. Its airport code has been DJT since August 18, 2026, so watch for this when searching fares or checking older bookings.
• International flights from there: the airport's nonstop list shows only Canada (Montreal, Toronto) and Marsh Harbour in the Bahamas as international destinations. There is no nonstop to Istanbul or Europe.
• Via Miami: Turkish Airlines flies nonstop between Miami (MIA) and Istanbul, about 11 hours in the air. Check days and times on the Turkish Airlines Miami page. Tri-Rail has a Miami Airport station; its Boca Raton stop is the Yamato Road station.
• Other options: other major U.S. and European hubs work too. Compare price and total travel time.