Turkish-Speaking Immigration Attorney in Clifton, NJ

1. Pick your card. There are two options: a Standard license and a REAL ID. A Standard license does not require an SSN or proof of lawful U.S. presence, but it is not REAL ID-compliant: since May 7, 2025 it cannot be used on its own to board a domestic flight or enter a federal building, so carry another ID such as a passport. A REAL ID requires an SSN verified with the SSA and documents showing lawful presence. You can upgrade to REAL ID right away or when your Standard license is renewed.
2. Book an appointment. First-time licenses, ID cards, permits, out-of-state or foreign transfers and knowledge tests are all by appointment. Book through the MVC appointment system. Agencies are open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays, closed Sundays.
3. Get a permit and take the knowledge test. The first-license process starts with an Initial Permit, which gives you 2 years to finish every step. If you fail the vision or knowledge test, you can retake it after 7 days.
4. Practice, then take the road test. With the permit you practice for 3 months if you are 21 or older, 6 months if you are younger. Drivers under 21 also need 50 supervised hours, 10 of them at night. If you fail the road test, you can retake it after 14 days. Passing gets you a probationary license first.

MVC agencies nearest Clifton

The Wallington agency in Bergen County (450 Main Ave) handles REAL ID only, by appointment. The current list is on the MVC locations page.

How do the 6 Points of ID add up?

You combine one primary document (4 points) with secondary documents to reach 6 points. On top of that you need one proof of New Jersey address and an SSN. If you are not eligible for an SSN, bring an official document showing your ITIN; if you are not eligible for either, sign the MVC's notarized affidavit. No document may be expired for more than 3 years, and documents not in English need a certified translation.

MVC agencies take Amex, Mastercard, Visa, Discover, checks, money orders and cash.

The MVC recognizes license exchanges without tests for two countries only: Taiwan and South Korea. A valid license from another U.S. state, Washington, D.C., or a U.S. territory such as Puerto Rico or Guam can be transferred without tests: you get a 4-year New Jersey license and surrender the old one. A Turkish license is not on the list, so you follow the first-license steps above.

• Visitors: up to 1 year on a foreign license, together with an International Driving Permit (IDP) issued in your country of residence. Get the IDP before you leave Türkiye.
• New residents: the MVC says to move your license and vehicle registration to New Jersey within 60 days of moving, or before your current license and registration expire, whichever comes first.
• Useful as ID: a Turkish driver's license together with another government-issued document counts as a 4-point primary document for a Standard license (see the 6 Points table).
• Studying: as of September 2026, the New Jersey Driver Manual is published in English, Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, Gujarati, Korean, Arabic, Haitian-Creole and Portuguese. There is no Turkish edition.

1. Buy New Jersey insurance. Under the state's 2026 buyer's guide, the Standard Policy minimums are $35,000 per person and $70,000 per accident for bodily injury and $25,000 per accident for property damage. The cheaper Basic Policy has no bodily injury liability by default (a $10,000 per accident option exists) and $5,000 of property damage coverage. You need an insurance ID card for each vehicle; an electronic card is accepted.
2. Book an MVC appointment. Registration is by appointment only. Bring the title, 6 Points of ID, your New Jersey insurance card or the company name and policy number, and a completed Form BA-49. A car coming from another state also needs an Application for Certificate of Ownership. Financed or leased cars need the lienholder's details.
3. Pay the fees. The title is $60, $85 with one lien and $110 with two. The registration fee depends on the vehicle type and includes plates. Fully electric vehicles pay an annual fee that started at $250 on July 1, 2024 and rises by $10 a year for 4 years. For sales tax questions, call the Division of Taxation at 609-984-6206.
4. Watch your inspection date. Inspections are every two years and can be done up to 2 months before the due date. Most gas passenger cars get an emissions-only inspection. Vehicles less than 5 model years old, fully electric vehicles and motorcycles are exempt.

Inspection stations nearest Clifton

Bring the originals of your license, registration and insurance card. Copies, faxes and PDFs are not accepted, except for electronic insurance cards. Besides the state stations, licensed private inspection facilities also inspect cars for a fee. Driving with an expired inspection sticker can bring a $100 to $200 fine or up to 30 days in jail, and the MVC can revoke the registration. Check the current list of open stations on the MVC inspection page.

People eligible for federal Medicaid with hospitalization can buy a special medical-only auto policy for $365 a year.

• Opening an account: online at ezpassnj.com, by mail or by phone at (888) 288-6865. Tag holders may pay lower toll rates than drivers without a tag.
• No tag: cameras read the plate, and the toll bill goes to the registered owner. Extra fees apply after the due date, and unpaid bills can go to a collection agency.
• Discount plans: plans used with an E-ZPass NJ tag include the Senior Citizens Discount Plan for drivers 65 and older and the Green Pass for vehicles rated at 45 MPG or more, or SULEV.
• Congestion pricing: the zone is Manhattan at and below 60th Street, excluding the FDR Drive, the West Side Highway and the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel connections. Peak hours are 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends. With E-ZPass it is $9 at peak and $2.25 overnight; vehicles without a tag pay a higher rate.
• Bridge or tunnel: E-ZPass users who pay a toll at the Lincoln or Holland Tunnel get up to $3 off the peak congestion toll. The George Washington Bridge, the natural route from Clifton into Manhattan, is not on that list: you pay the bridge toll plus the full congestion toll.
• Current rates: NJ Turnpike, Garden State Parkway and Port Authority bridge and tunnel tolls change often, so check njta.com and the Port Authority directly.

• Routes and fares: find the routes through Clifton and Paterson, schedules and fares in NJ Transit's Trip Planner. If you pay cash on the bus, have coins or $1 bills ready. Ticket offices and machines take cash, credit and debit cards. A monthly pass can save up to 30% on a daily commute.
• App: the NJ TRANSIT Mobile App sells mobile tickets, plans trips and tracks buses and trains in real time (MyBus, DepartureVision).
• FARE-PAY: NJ Transit's reloadable contactless card is free for now. Load $5 to $500 in whole dollars and tap on buses and the three light-rail lines. Tapping again within 2 hours on a one-zone trip applies a transfer. Register the card to protect the balance if it is lost.
• Train tickets: one-way (valid 30 days, non-refundable), monthly (unlimited between two stations), weekly, ten-trip, and FlexPass, which gives 20 one-way tickets on the same route at 15% off.
• Discounts: riders 62 and older and riders with disabilities pay half the regular one-way fare or less at all times. From Friday 7 p.m. to Monday 6 a.m., up to two children aged 5 to 11 ride free with a paying adult (Family Fare).
• Newark Airport (EWR): the AirTrain is being replaced. Construction started in October 2025, and the new system is expected to open in 2030. Until then, the current AirTrain keeps running between the terminals, parking, the rental-car center and the Newark Liberty Airport Rail Link Station, where NJ Transit and Amtrak trains stop.

1. Open a PSE&G account. The online form asks for the new address, a start date, your name, email, phone, date of birth and SSN. Without an SSN, call 1-800-436-7734, weekdays 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturdays 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. The same number is PSE&G's general customer service line.
2. Be home for the turn-on. If service at the address is off, PSE&G turns it on remotely or sends a technician. For an in-person visit, it recommends that someone 18 or older be at home.
3. Choosing a supplier is optional. In New Jersey you can buy electricity and gas from a third-party supplier while PSE&G keeps delivering and metering it. Compare suppliers, with fixed and variable rates, on NJ Power Switch, the official site of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU). The site is for education only; each supplier is responsible for its own prices and marketing.

Water (PVWC)

• Service area: Clifton, Paterson, Lodi, North Arlington, Passaic and Prospect Park; PVWC also bills Elmwood Park and Garfield. The office is open weekdays 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; email [email protected].
• Paying: in person at 1525 Main Avenue, at the 24-hour Quick Pay drop box by the entrance, by mail (check or money order, no cash) to PVWC, PO Box 11393, Newark, NJ 07101-4393, by phone 24/7 at 973-340-4300 or 1-877-772-7077 (card or e-check), or online through Paymentus.
• Late bills: a bill unpaid after 30 days gets a 1% late charge every 30 days. After 60 days, the account is scheduled for disconnection with a final-notice fee, and service can be shut off 7 days after that notice. To restore it you pay the full balance plus a reconnection fee; water comes back within 24 hours.
• Help paying: income-qualified households behind on their bill can get help through PVWC's partnership with the SHARES Municipal Customer Assistance Program (MCAP).
• Medical needs: if someone at home has a critical medical condition, call 973-340-4300 so PVWC knows in case of an outage.
• Digging: state law requires you to call 1-800-272-1000 at least 4 full days before you dig.

Trash and recycling (Clifton)

• Trash: twice a week, up to 3 barrels or securely tied bags per pickup, in containers of 35 gallons or less. Put them at the curb after 6 p.m. the night before and take empty containers in the same day.
• Bulk waste: mattresses, furniture, wooden cabinets and doors, tables, and lumber or rugs cut to 4-foot lengths and tied. Collected only on your first garbage day of the week (Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday routes), 2 items at most. Put them out after 6 p.m. the night before. Never set bulk waste out on Thursday, Friday or Saturday.
• Not collected at the curb: electronics and propane tanks. Take them to the Recycling Center (900 Clifton Ave) or the Public Works Yard (307 E. 7th St).
• Recycling: the city is divided into numbered sections. Use the Recycle Coach app or the city's 2026 Recycling Guide for your own calendar.
• Questions: Public Works/Recycling Division, 973-470-2239, [email protected], weekdays 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Living in Paterson? Water also comes from PVWC. Trash is collected by a private contractor, FILCO, twice a week by zone; for a missed pickup, call FILCO at 1-833-463-4526. Bulk pickup is free but must be scheduled online in advance, so check the current process with the city.

Citizen Request Tracker: the request system has more than 40 categories, including animal control, fire, tree maintenance, housing inspection, potholes, graffiti, water issues and trash complaints. Log in to track the requests you open. In an emergency, always call 911.

The drop box at the City Hall entrance is for tax payments. Water bills go in PVWC's own box (see water and trash).

Clifton Public Library card

• Free for: anyone who lives, works or owns property in Clifton.
• Documents (18 and older): one ID and one proof of address. The library asks for documents dated within the last 30 days and does not accept digital IDs or cards. Accepted IDs include a driver's license, passport, military ID, Passaic County ID, state non-driver ID or green card. For the address: a utility bill, lease, cable bill, tax bill, bank statement, car insurance or pay stub.
• Under 18: a parent or legal guardian must come along.
• Work in Clifton, live elsewhere: a free courtesy card with a dated employer letter or a recent pay stub showing a Clifton employer address, plus ID and proof of home address.
• Everyone else: $50 a year for full privileges, including Museum Passes. A lost card is $3. Cardholders from libraries in the Open Borrowing network can borrow in Clifton without a separate card.
• Where: the circulation desk at the Main Library (973-772-5500) or the Allwood Branch (973-471-0555).

• Increases: a yearly increase in the deposit cannot exceed 10% of the current deposit.
• Bank notice: within 30 days of receiving the deposit, the landlord must tell you in writing the bank, account type, interest rate and amount. If the landlord does not, you can demand in writing that the deposit plus 7% a year be applied to rent; once that happens, the landlord cannot collect another deposit from you for the rest of the tenancy.
• Interest: the landlord may not deduct administrative fees from it. Interest is paid in cash each year or credited toward rent.
• Deductions: only for damage beyond ordinary wear and tear or money owed under the lease, and none while you still live there. The refund goes by personal delivery or certified or registered mail.
• Faster refunds: 15 business days if the lease ended under the Safe Housing Act (domestic violence), and 5 business days if you were displaced by fire, flood or condemnation.
• Exemption: owner-occupied buildings with 2 or fewer rental units are exempt, although the tenant can opt in with 30 days' written notice.
• Disputes: deposit claims up to $5,000 go to the Small Claims Section of Superior Court; $5,000 to $10,000 go to the Special Civil Part.
• Evictions: a New Jersey landlord needs one of the "good cause" grounds in the law to evict you or refuse to renew your lease. Changing the locks, removing your belongings or shutting off utilities without a court order is illegal. Only a judge can order an eviction; call the police if a landlord tries it.

• ANCHOR: for New Jersey residents who own or rent their main home and are within the income limits. The state filed automatically for most homeowners under 65 (not on SSDI) and most renters. Seniors and people on disability benefits file PAS-1 themselves. Check your status in the application portal.
• Stay NJ: for homeowners 65 and older who owned and lived in the home all of 2025, with income up to $200,000. Renters and mobile-home owners are not eligible. Benefits are paid quarterly; the 2025 benefit is paid in February and May 2027.
• Senior Freeze: reimburses property tax increases over a base year for seniors and people with disabilities who have stayed eligible since that base year.

The "Taxes" link on the city's website opens a lookup where you can see the tax on your own property.

• Water: Totowa buys its water wholesale from the Passaic Valley Water Commission (PVWC), but the borough sends the bill. For your water account you deal with the borough's water office, not PVWC (537 Totowa Road, 1st floor, weekdays 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., ext. 1001). Bills come four times a year and are due within 30 days. Ask the office what a new account requires. For Clifton's setup, see water and trash.
• Trash and recycling: you do not sign up with a private hauler. The borough's Department of Public Works collects (136 Furler Street, ext. 1071). On the 2026 schedule, Zone 1 is Monday and Thursday, Zone 2 Tuesday and Friday, Zone 3 Wednesday and Saturday. If a holiday falls on your day, pickup moves to the next day. Recycling is every other week, loose in the bin; recycling in plastic bags is not collected. The schedule PDF on the DPW page lists which streets are in each zone.
• School enrollment: first e-mail the registrar ([email protected]) with the parent's name, address and phone and the child's name, birth date and grade. Do not book an appointment until the registrar replies. The document list depends on your housing: homeowners bring the deed plus 2 documents dated within 30 days (bank statement, utility bill, pay stub and similar); renters with a lease of a year or more signed by both sides bring the lease plus 2; renters without a lease, month-to-month tenants and people living with family bring a notarized affidavit from the homeowner, the homeowner's current property tax statement and 3 more documents. All three lists ask for the child's original birth certificate with a raised seal, the parent's photo ID, immunization records and a physical exam form. Ask Passaic Valley Regional High School (973-890-2500) about high school registration. General rules are in school enrollment.
• Driver's license: there is no MVC office in Totowa. The nearest is the Wayne agency (481 Route 46 West); Paterson (125 Broadway) is also close. Check the MVC location list before you go. Documents are in driver's license.
• Health: the borough contracts public health nursing to the Wayne Department of Health. Every Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Totowa Public Library hosts blood pressure checks, adult immunizations and TB tests. There is a child health clinic for Totowa children with no health insurance, and a dental clinic by appointment for Totowa residents 5 and older with no dental insurance (973-694-1800, ext. 3237). Clifton's clinics serve only Clifton and Little Falls residents; see free clinics.
• Property tax: due February 1, May 1, August 1 and November 1, with a 10-day grace period. Postmarks are not accepted, so the payment has to reach the borough in time. Details are on the tax collector's page (ext. 1002).

1. Gather documents. Everything must be translated into English: the original proof of the child's birth date (birth certificate, passport or other legal document), the original immunization record with the physician's name and address, a Universal Child Health Record physical stamped by a U.S. physician within the last 365 days, and a transcript, current report card or transfer card.
2. Choose proofs of address. Submit no more than three, such as a tax bill, deed, contract of sale, lease, mortgage, a notarized landlord letter (the district has an Affidavit of Landlord form), driver's license, bank statement, utility bill, delivery receipts, court orders, or employment or benefit records. A Residency Verification Sworn Statement form is also available.
3. Start registration. The fastest route is online pre-registration. You can also go to the Welcome Center: during the school year, weekdays 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (walk-ins 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.); in summer, 8:15 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
4. Submit documents. After you register online, an automated email asks you to upload documents. You can upload them, email them to a registration representative or drop them off at the Welcome Center. Registration line: 973-458-6709.

• Kindergarten: the child must turn 5 by October 1.
• Free preschool (CELA): full-day and free for every Clifton child who is 3 or 4 by October 1, 2026, as long as you can drop off at 9 a.m. and pick up at 3 p.m. Registration is online, first come, first served. There are three sites: CELA Brighton (290 Brighton Road), CELA Allwood (39 Allwood Road) and CELA Speer (37 Speer Avenue). Do not go to the Welcome Center for preschool; call 973-458-6709 for an appointment.
• Special needs: a free preschool program serves Clifton children aged 3 to 5 with developmental concerns such as delayed speech, vision or hearing impairment. Special Services: 973-470-2286.
• Turkish bilingual program: the district serves more than 1,400 multilingual learners who speak over 50 home languages. K-5 bilingual programs are Spanish (Schools 12, 13 and 17), Ukrainian (School 12), Turkish (School 13) and Arabic (School 14). Other languages get ESL support in every school. High school students get 2 to 3 periods of ESL a day. K-8 program supervisor: 973-470-2267.
• English testing: all multilingual learners take the WIDA ACCESS 2.0 test every February. New Jersey's exit score is 4.5 or higher on a 6-point scale.
• Students without stable housing: children sharing housing, living in a motel or in a shelter enroll under McKinney-Vento without the standard documents. Clifton's liaison line: 973-470-5697.
• Living in Paterson? Register with Paterson Public Schools' Central Registration (90 Delaware Ave., 973-321-2501) with two proofs of Paterson residence. The district runs a Newcomers High School for students new to the U.S. with limited English. Its pages list different office hours, so call before you go.

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

• NJ FamilyCare: New Jersey's Medicaid and children's health program. It covers doctor visits, prescriptions, vision, dental, mental health and hospital care. Apply online or at 1-800-701-0710 (TTY 711; Monday and Thursday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.).
• Cover All Kids: since January 1, 2023, children under 19 can enroll in NJ FamilyCare regardless of immigration status. The program's other requirements still apply. NJ FamilyCare says its eligibility rules will change starting fall 2026, so check the current rules on its site before you apply.
• Charity Care: a state program at every acute care hospital in New Jersey. At or below 200% of the federal poverty level, the hospital bill is fully covered; between 201% and 300%, the patient pays 20% to 80%. You must live in New Jersey, lack adequate insurance and not qualify for Medicaid or another program. Asset limits are $7,500 for an individual and $15,000 for a family. It covers inpatient and outpatient hospital services, but not private physician fees, anesthesiology, radiology readings or outpatient prescriptions.
• How to apply: at the hospital's registration or billing office, with income and asset documents. The hospital must decide within 10 business days. St. Joseph's University Medical Center in Paterson (703 Main St, 973-754-2000) is one of these hospitals. Say at registration that you want to apply for Charity Care or financial assistance.
• Buying insurance: New Jersey runs its own marketplace, Get Covered NJ, where 8 in 10 consumers qualify for financial help. Open enrollment for 2027 runs November 1, 2026 to January 31, 2027. A qualifying life event lets you enroll during the year.
• Clifton Health Department: 900 Clifton Avenue, 2nd floor, 973-470-5760, weekdays 8:15 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Its free children's clinics are listed below.
• 988: the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline answers calls, texts and chats 24/7.

Municipal clinics

Clifton Health Department · Nursing & Health Services

Clinics and screenings are available to Clifton and Little Falls residents only. The Well Baby Clinic offers health appraisals, pediatric exams and immunizations for uninsured infants and preschool children up to age 5; it is not for sick children. The Immunization Clinic gives required shots to preschool and school-age children who are uninsured or have Medicaid Part A. The Dental Clinic serves school-age children without dental insurance, and the Flu Clinic serves adults and children. Blood pressure screening is by appointment, and vein screenings are free. Ask about the cost of other screenings run with outside partners.

Address: 900 Clifton Avenue, 2nd floor, Clifton, NJ 07013.
973-470-5760 · Clinics and screenings

Paterson Division of Health · Multiservice Clinic

The Well Baby Clinic offers physicals, screenings and immunizations for children from 2 months to 4 years without health insurance, or whose insurance does not cover affordable preventive care. The Childhood Immunization Clinic serves children aged 4 to 18 without adequate insurance on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.; bring the child's immunization records, and a parent or legal guardian must attend. Adults can get blood pressure screening, seasonal flu shots and health counseling. A podiatry clinic for seniors meets the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month by appointment and charges $20 per visit to patients without insurance.

Address: 176 Broadway, Paterson, NJ 07505.
973-321-1277 · Multiservice Clinic page

Free care (restricted eligibility)

Eva's Village Medical Clinic · Paterson

Care is free, but the clinic is not open to the general public: it treats people who live in Eva's Village shelters and halfway houses or attend its outpatient programs. Services include primary care, immunizations, chronic care management, medication monitoring, mental health and addiction treatment, and referrals to other doctors.

Address: 393 Main Street, Paterson, NJ 07501.
973-523-6220 · Clinic page

Centers with income-based fees

Paterson Community Health Center · Two Paterson locations

A Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) that serves patients with and without insurance and says no one is turned away because of their financial situation. Its sliding fee discount is based on household income and size; you apply when you register. Proof of income can be recent pay stubs, a tax return, a W-2, an employer letter, or unemployment or disability benefit statements, or a written self-attestation if nothing else is available. It also offers a state dental discount, NJCEED cancer screenings, a family planning discount and pharmacy discounts. Fees go down with income, but care is not free.

Addresses: 32 Clinton Street, Paterson, NJ 07522 and 227 Broadway, Paterson, NJ 07501.
Clinton Street: 973-790-6594 · Broadway: 973-278-2600 · Discount programs

Questions to ask before booking

• Are you accepting new patients? Are there age, income, insurance or residency requirements?
• Are visits, lab tests, medications, dental care and outside referrals charged separately?
• Which documents should I bring, and is an interpreter available?

For more options, use the HRSA health center finder; not every listed center is free. See health care without insurance for Charity Care at hospitals and emergency care.

• Where: if either of you lives in Clifton, the Clifton City Clerk's Office, 900 Clifton Avenue, 1st floor. If neither of you lives in New Jersey, apply in the New Jersey town where the ceremony will take place. The office is open weekdays 8:15 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.; phone 973-470-5824.
• Appointments: all marriage applications are by appointment, with no walk-ins. Appointments run weekdays 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; the scheduling line is 973-470-5825. Because demand is high, call at least 2 months ahead.
• What to bring: the first page of the completed application; an unexpired driver's license, state or federal ID, or passport; two proofs of Clifton residency if your ID does not show a Clifton address (vehicle registration or insurance, a phone bill, a bank or credit card statement); a witness 18 or older; and $28 in cash or check. Credit cards are not accepted. Foreign-language documents need a certified English translation.
• SSN: Clifton's page says a Social Security number is "required by law for US citizens" and will be kept confidential. The state Department of Health's marriage page does not mention an SSN. If you do not have one, ask the Clerk's Office what to bring before your appointment.
• Timing: there is a 72-hour wait after you apply. Clifton's page says the license must be used within 30 days of pickup and is valid only in New Jersey. The state Department of Health says the application is valid for 6 months, extendable to 1 year with approval. Check the validity period with the Clerk's Office before you set a date.
• Who can officiate: the City of Clifton does not perform ceremonies. A minister of any religion (including an imam), certain officials such as a mayor or County Clerk, civil celebrants and judges of certain courts can.
• Certified copies: order them from the state Office of Vital Statistics and Registry in Trenton or from the town that issued the license.

• Ask the hospital first: after the birth, ask the hospital's medical records or birth registration desk which municipality holds the record. You can request the certificate from that town's registrar.
• State office: the New Jersey Office of Vital Statistics and Registry holds birth records from 1925 on. Order through VitalChek online 24/7 or by phone at 877-622-7549. Same-day walk-in service is at 140 E. Front Street in Trenton; the counter has not taken cash since June 18, 2026. Mail: PO Box 360, Trenton, NJ 08625-0360.
• Privacy: vital records are not public and cannot be searched online. Check fees and accepted IDs on the state's Vital Statistics page.
• Which copy: ask for the certified long form for a U.S. passport application or to register the birth in Türkiye.
• 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: both are open weekdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. SSA assigns offices by ZIP code, not distance, so confirm 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.
• Lost card: replacement is free, usually started online, and the card arrives in 5 to 10 business days.

According to SSA, you do not need an SSN for a driver's license, school registration or private health insurance. In New Jersey, state regulations bar schools from requiring one for enrollment (see school enrollment).

• State return: Form NJ-1040, filed with the NJ Division of Taxation. Check current rates and forms on the Division's site.
• No separate state number: New Jersey uses the ITIN issued by the IRS. An ITIN is a tax number only; it does not authorize work or change immigration status.
• NJEITC: according to the state's EITC FAQ, New Jersey's earned income credit generally follows the federal EITC requirements, and the federal EITC is not available to ITIN filers. If you file with an ITIN only, ask a tax preparer before claiming it.
• Moving from Texas? Factor the state tax into any salary offer.

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).

• IRS offices: according to the IRS list, the closest offices with ITIN services are in Newark and Paterson. Others in the state are in Paramus, Parsippany, Springfield, Edison, Freehold, Cherry Hill and Mays Landing. Look up the address with the IRS office locator.
• Appointments: IRS offices work by appointment only: 844-545-5640. It can take several weeks to get one.
• Expiration: an ITIN not used on a federal return for three years in a row expires.

• Formation: file the Certificate of Formation online through the NJ Business Formation portal. The $100 fee is lower than the $300 Texas charges.
• Annual Report: $75 a year. It keeps the company's members or managers, business address and registered agent current in the public record.
• Trade name: sole proprietors and general partnerships register with the County Clerk of the county where they do business. Clifton and Paterson are in Passaic County, whose seat is Paterson. Call the Passaic County Clerk to confirm the fee and required documents before you file.
• LLCs and corporations register an alternate name with the state Division of Revenue, not the county.

• 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.
• Health coverage for children: every child under 19 in New Jersey can enroll in NJ FamilyCare (Cover All Kids) regardless of immigration status. Apply on the NJ FamilyCare site or at 1-800-701-0710. The program's site says eligibility rules will change starting in fall 2026, so check the current rules before you apply. See health care.
• 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.

• Addresses: your case, not distance, decides which office and support center you use. The address on your notice is the one that counts.
• Appointments and questions: USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283 (TTY 800-767-1833), or book online. Appointments are free.
• Processing times: on the USCIS processing times page, pick the form, category and "Newark NJ" as the office. Times update monthly.
• Biometrics: 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. Our biometrics guide covers what to bring.
• 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.
• Asylum office: no in-person information services since April 2026. Enter through the first-floor Suite 199 entrance; interviews are on the 16th or 17th floor.

• Hours: both courts are open weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; the filing window closes at 4 p.m. Arrive early.
• 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 Newark: ICE's page lists the office at 970 Broad Street, 11th Floor (the same building as USCIS and the court), (862) 445-9200. It covers all of New Jersey. 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. The closest unit to Clifton is at Newark Liberty Airport, Terminal B International Arrivals, open weekdays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., (973) 565-8000 ext. 8010 or 8011. Call to confirm the hours before you go. It fixes only mistakes made at the time of entry.

• Who can register: U.S. citizens who are at least 18 (pre-registration is possible at 17) and have lived in the county for at least 30 days before the election. Registration closes 21 days before each election.
• At the MVC and on forms: if the MVC 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 New Jersey law (N.J.S.A. 2B:20-1), jurors must meet six requirements, one of which is U.S. citizenship. Clifton and Paterson are in the Passaic vicinage of the state courts.
• If you are summoned: complete the Juror Qualification Questionnaire online in the MyJuryService portal, using the 10-digit participant ID and ZIP code from your summons, or on paper, and answer the citizenship question truthfully. The courts say every juror must complete it even when asking to be excused or rescheduled, and it is not handled by phone. Failing to respond leads to further court action.
• Scams: courts do not call or email asking for your SSN, and they do not demand fines by phone.

Recently naturalized? You can register through the New Jersey Division of Elections. Registration closes 21 days before each election, so check the date for the election you want to vote in.

• Find an acceptance facility: enter your Clifton or Paterson ZIP code in the passport facility locator. These locations accept new applications (DS-11) only.
• 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.
• New York Passport Agency: Greater New York Federal Building, 376 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014. Weekdays 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., appointment only.
• Philadelphia Passport Agency: Robert N.C. Nix Federal Building, 9th and Chestnut Streets (9th Street entrance, Suite 100), Philadelphia, PA 19107. Weekdays 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., appointment only.
• Urgent travel rules: 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). Appointments are free; third parties charging for them are scams.
• Online renewal: for eligible adults, only at opr.travel.state.gov.

Always free

• Paterson Great Falls: no entrance fee; the grounds are open 24 hours, and visits are recommended from sunrise to sunset. Ranger tours run Monday to Thursday at 2 p.m. and Friday to Sunday at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. They depend on staffing, so call 973-523-0370 that day. The main parking lot closes at night.
• Garret Mountain Reservation: a county park with no admission fee. The trail from Lambert Castle up to Lambert Tower is closed indefinitely.
• Liberty State Park: gates open daily 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., no entrance fee. The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island ferry is ticketed separately.
• Paterson Museum: free; a $2 donation is suggested but not required.
• Clifton's parks: neighborhood parks such as Weasel Brook, Albion and Athenia charge no admission.
• Paterson's Main Street: walking past the Turkish bakeries and cafés costs nothing.

With kids

• Great Falls: overlooks of the falls and the NPS Junior Ranger program.
• Garret Mountain: Barbour Pond, a boathouse, picnic areas and a riding stable. Leashed dogs are welcome.
• Lambert Castle: a 90-minute tour. Under 6 free, $5 for ages 7 to 17, free for veterans and active-duty military. No photos without permission and no pets inside.
• Hinchliffe Stadium: New Jersey Jackals independent-league baseball. See the team's site for the schedule.
• American Dream: an indoor amusement park and water park. Attractions are priced separately; check the website before you go.

To book: konsolosluk.gov.tr → Randevu Al → Türk Vatandaşları İçin Konsolosluk İşlemleri → New York. The 24/7 Consular Call Center: 1-888-566-76-56 (+90 312 292 29 29 from outside the U.S.). After-hours emergency line: +1 646 204 0011. Email: [email protected].

Fees change during the year. Check the current amounts on the consulate's site before you pay.

Tips for your visit

• Getting there: the consulate is in Manhattan. From Clifton, people drive or take NJ Transit. Check the route in NJ Transit's trip planner before you leave and allow time for bridge and tunnel traffic.
• Timing: services run in a morning and an afternoon block. Be at the building before your slot.
• Holidays: check the consulate's site for closure days before you book.
• Birth registration: you need the U.S. birth certificate first. Clifton has no birthing hospital, so the certificate usually comes from the town where the baby was born (see birth certificates).
• Documents for Türkiye: New Jersey documents are apostilled in Trenton, 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, plus a transfer fee (ask the consulate for 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. 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 the consulate's Education Attaché.

• Order online: create and prepay the request on the NJ apostille portal, then send the printed confirmation with the original document. A $2.50 card fee or $1 e-check fee is added.
• Standard service (mail): PO Box 452, Trenton, NJ 08646, by first-class mail, USPS Priority or Certified Mail.
• Expedited service (in person or courier): Customer Service Counter, 33 West State Street, 5th Floor, Trenton, NJ 08608. No USPS for expedited requests; hand-deliver or use UPS/FedEx. Walk-in drop-off runs 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the wait can reach 2.5 hours. Call 609-292-9292 to check same-day availability.
• Vital records: get the certified birth, marriage, divorce or death record from the NJ Department of Health, Office of Vital Statistics and Registry, first. If you attach a notarized translation, you get two apostilles and pay two fees. Questions: 609-292-4087.
• No county clerk step: unlike some states, New Jersey does not require a separate County Clerk certification first. DORES certifies signatures of New Jersey notaries, county clerks, Superior Court judges and the State Registrar directly.
• Other states' records: DORES cannot apostille vital records from another state; they 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.
• Newark to Istanbul: Newark Liberty is closer to Clifton than JFK or LaGuardia in New York. Check days and times on the Turkish Airlines Newark page.
• JFK option: for Istanbul flights from JFK, see the Turkish Airlines New York page. It is worth comparing both airports on price and timing.
• Newark by train: NJ Transit and Amtrak trains stop at the airport's Rail Link Station, where AirTrain connects to the terminals. A new AirTrain is under construction (service expected in 2030); the current one keeps running in the meantime.