Turkish-Speaking Immigration Attorney in Fairfax, VA

1. Pick your card. Residents who can document lawful presence get a regular license. REAL ID is optional and costs a one-time $10 on top of the license fee. Since May 7, 2025, you need a REAL ID or another ID such as a passport to board domestic flights, enter secure federal facilities or access military bases. A REAL ID requires one proof of identity, two proofs of Virginia residency, proof of lawful presence and proof of your SSN if one has been issued. All documents must be originals.
2. No proof of lawful presence? Get a Driver Privilege Card. It is a driving credential for Virginia residents who are not U.S. citizens. You must have reported income from Virginia sources, or been claimed as a dependent on a Virginia tax return, in the past 12 months. DMV verifies the income electronically with the Virginia Department of Taxation.
3. Appointments and walk-ins. Book through the DMV appointments page. Road skills tests also take walk-ins: be at the office by 4:30 p.m. on weekdays or 11:30 a.m. on Saturdays.
4. Take the tests. The two-part knowledge exam is offered in many languages, including Turkish. The road skills test is in English only; you may bring an interpreter who is 18 or older and holds an unexpired U.S. driver's license, and DMV does not provide one. You supply the test vehicle, which needs a valid safety inspection sticker, plates and registration. After a first or second failure you wait 2 days to retest; after a third, you must complete the matching part of a driver education course first.

DMV customer service centers in the Fairfax area

All are open weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays 8 a.m. to noon. Hours can change, so check the DMV locations page before you go.

Driver Privilege Card documents

• The Driver and Identification Privilege Card Application
• Two proofs of identity (a Turkish passport can be one of them)
• Two proofs of Virginia residency, such as a lease or a utility bill
• Proof of your SSN if you have one, or your ITIN
• Tax return documentation

Documents must be originals. Anything not in English needs a certified English translation by a professional translator. The card is valid for up to 8 years. First-time applicants 18 and older (before January 1, 2027) pass the knowledge exam and get a learner's permit, then either finish a state-approved driver education program and pass the road test, or hold the permit for at least 60 days and pass the road test.

DMV takes Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, Apple Pay, Google Pay, cash, checks and money orders.

Virginia DMV states it plainly: drivers 18 and older with a valid license from a country other than those six are not eligible for foreign reciprocity. Türkiye is not on the list.

1. Book an appointment. Go to any DMV customer service center with your Turkish license and your identity and residency documents (see the office list).
2. Knowledge exam and vision screening. Choose Turkish for the exam; it is on DMV's official language list.
3. Road skills test. The test is in English. You may bring an interpreter who is 18 or older and holds an unexpired U.S. license.

• Under 18: a foreign license cannot be exchanged, so every standard step applies.
• Driver Privilege Card: if your Turkish license is valid or expired less than a year ago, a Driver Privilege Card applicant can usually follow the exchange route rather than every first-time step. The tests still apply.

1. Buy Virginia insurance. For policies effective on or after January 1, 2025, the minimums are $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident for bodily injury and $25,000 for property damage. Driving uninsured brings a $600 noncompliance fee and an SR-22 filing for 3 years.
2. Emissions inspection. If the car is kept in Fairfax County or the City of Fairfax, it needs an emissions inspection before you register it, unless it already has a valid emissions certificate less than 12 months old. The program is run by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ): 703-583-3900.
3. Title and register. At any DMV customer service center, bring the Application for Title and Registration, proof of address, the out-of-state title or registration card, and proof of the purchase price if you bought the car in the last 12 months.
4. Safety inspection. Every vehicle in Virginia needs a valid annual safety inspection sticker. Inspections are done at licensed private repair shops, not at DMV. For questions, call the Virginia State Police at (804) 674-2000.

Because Fairfax is an emissions area, vehicles garaged here generally cannot get the three-year registration discount, and first-time registrations never qualify for it.

How the car tax works

• Rate: Fairfax County taxes most personal property at $4.57 per $100 of assessed value. The county values cars mainly with J.D. Power.
• PPTRA subsidy: for personal-use vehicles, the state pays part of the tax on the first $20,000 of assessed value. Vehicles worth $1,000 or less owe no car tax. Business vehicles do not qualify.
• Automatic filing: since January 1, 2023, the county files the personal property return for you when you register a vehicle with DMV. If the county does not receive the DMV registration within 60 days of the purchase or move-in date, a penalty of 10% or $10, whichever is greater, applies.
• Also: a separate county Local Vehicle Registration Fee, which varies by vehicle type and weight, comes on top of the car tax.
• Contact: Fairfax County Department of Tax Administration, Personal Property Division, 703-222-8234, [email protected].

The City of Fairfax is a separate city and collects its own car tax at its own rate. If you live inside city limits, check the rate on the City of Fairfax personal property tax page.

• E-ZPass Virginia: open an account and get a tag at ezpassva.com. Customer service is 1-877-762-7824, weekdays 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. An E-ZPass Reload Card lets you add cash at participating stores.
• Express Lanes (495, 95, 395): operated by Transurban, with prices that change in real time with traffic. Pay with E-ZPass or, without a tag, through Pay-By-Plate. The app shows live toll prices and traffic cameras. Customer service: 1-855-495-9777. This brand does not cover I-66.
• I-66 Express Lanes: separately branded toll lanes on I-66, inside and outside the Beltway (495). Rates and rules differ from the Express Lanes, so check the current rates before you use them.
• Dulles Toll Road: run by MWAA, the authority that operates the Washington airports. It runs through the Fair Oaks, Chantilly, Reston and Herndon corridor toward Dulles Airport and takes E-ZPass and Pay By Plate. Current rates are on dullestollroad.com.

Fairfax Connector (county buses)

• Transfers: with SmarTrip, bus-to-bus transfers are free and unlimited within 2 hours. Riders paying cash pay the full fare when moving from Metrorail to the bus.
• Cash: exact fare only; drivers carry no change, and pennies are not accepted.
• Kids and students: children 12 and under ride free with a paying adult. Fairfax County middle and high school students ride free with a valid Student Bus Pass.
• Contact: 703-339-7200, weekdays 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., weekends 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

CUE bus (City of Fairfax)

The independent City of Fairfax runs its own CUE bus, fare-free throughout the city. It connects Old Town, neighborhoods, schools, George Mason University and the Vienna/Fairfax-GMU Metrorail station. Service runs roughly 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays. Phone: (703) 385-7859.

Metro (WMATA)

• Lines: in the county, the Silver Line stops at McLean, Tysons, Greensboro, Spring Hill, Wiehle-Reston East, Reston Town Center and Herndon on its way to Dulles Airport. The Orange Line runs from Vienna/Fairfax-GMU, Dunn Loring-Merrifield and West Falls Church into Washington. In the south of the county, the Blue Line ends at Franconia-Springfield and the Yellow Line at Huntington. Fairfax Connector buses feed these stations.
• Fares: Metrorail costs $2.25 to $6.75 by distance on weekdays from 5 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. ($1.10 to $3.35 reduced), and $2.25 to $2.50 on weekday evenings after 9:30 p.m. and on weekends. Metrobus is $2.25.
• Paying: tap a SmarTrip card or a contactless card when you enter and exit, using the same one both times. With SmarTrip, bus-to-rail and rail-to-bus trips within 2 hours get a $2.25 discount.
• Kids: up to two children aged 4 and under ride free with each paying adult.
• VRE: the Virginia Railway Express commuter train connects Northern Virginia with Washington Union Station on the Manassas and Fredericksburg lines. See vre.org for stations and fares.

Airports

• Washington Dulles (IAD): the region's main international airport, partly in Fairfax County and partly in Loudoun County, operated by MWAA. Turkish Airlines is among the airlines serving Dulles. The Silver Line has its own station at the airport (Washington Dulles International Airport).
• Reagan National (DCA): in Arlington, served directly by Metrorail's Blue and Yellow lines.

1. Find your electric company. Dominion Energy serves most of the county; NOVEC (Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative) serves parts of the rural western county and neighboring counties. The boundary varies by neighborhood, so you can also ask your landlord or real estate agent.
2. Dominion Energy: start, stop, move or reconnect service on its Start, Stop or Move Service page.
3. NOVEC: for new service, transfers and stops, call customer care at 703-335-0500. NOVEC's rules require notice of a change of occupancy or responsibility a reasonable time before the change; if you do not give it, you can be held responsible for power used after you leave.
4. Washington Gas: start gas service through the Start and Stop Service section of its website.

Water service is through Fairfax Water (see water and trash).

Water (Fairfax Water)

• Service: fairfaxwater.org offers online start and stop service, a customer portal and one-time online payments.
• Phone: customer service 703-698-5800, weekdays 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Main line 703-698-5600, weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. After-hours line, 24/7: 703-698-5613.
• Headquarters: 8570 Executive Park Ave., Fairfax, VA 22031.

Trash and recycling

• County or private hauler? The county website has a "Does Fairfax County Pick Up My Trash?" lookup. If the answer is no, pick a company from the county's list of permitted and registered collection companies and sign up with it. If you rent, check your lease or ask your landlord who arranges trash service.
• County Collection districts: homes where the county collects pay a Refuse Fee of $630 per dwelling unit for tax year 2026. It appears on the real estate tax bill, due in two installments on July 28 and December 5.
• Drop-off: anyone can take trash to the I-66 Transfer Station or the I-95 Landfill Complex. Fees depend on volume or weight, and you must show proof of Fairfax County residency, such as a utility bill or driver's license. Most recyclables are accepted free at both sites.
• Hazards: never put rechargeable lithium-ion batteries (e-bikes, vapes, power tools) or pressurized gas containers in the trash or recycling. The county warns they can cause fires and explosions.
• Questions: Department of Public Works and Environmental Services, trash and recycling line 703-324-5230, [email protected].

If you live in the City of Fairfax or in a town inside the county, ask your own local government how trash pickup works (see county or City of Fairfax?).

County or City of Fairfax?

"Fairfax" can mean two different governments. Fairfax County is the large county that includes Fair Oaks, Oakton, Annandale, Centreville, Tysons and Reston; most of our readers live here. The City of Fairfax sits in the middle of the county but is an independent city under Virginia law, with its own government, tax rates and services. A "Fairfax, VA" mailing address does not mean you live inside city limits. For property tax, car tax and trash, first find out which government your address belongs to.

Reaching the county

• Main line: 703-324-7329 (703-FAIRFAX), TTY 711.
• Online: the Fairfax Virtual Assistant chat tool on the county website and the county's mobile app.
• Address: Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, VA 22035.
• Emergencies: always call 911 when life is at risk.

Fairfax County Public Library card

• Cost: library cards are free.
• Sign-up: register through the library's online self-registration.
• Branches: nine regional branches, 13 community branches and an Access Services branch for patrons with accessibility needs.

We could not confirm on the official page which ID and address documents the library asks for. Ask your nearest branch before you sign up.

• Cap: the deposit cannot exceed two months' rent.
• Allowed deductions: unpaid rent (including reasonable late fees in the lease), damage beyond ordinary wear and tear, other charges provided in the lease, and actual damages from breaking the lease.
• Refund: within 45 days, with a written itemized statement. With several tenants, the refund goes as one check payable to all of them, sent to a forwarding address one of them provides. Give your new address in writing when you move out.
• Interest account: unlike New Jersey, Virginia does not require the deposit to be held in an interest-bearing account.

Fairfax County tenant-landlord help

• What it does: if you cannot settle a dispute, file a complaint online or with a form. A county consumer services staff member contacts both sides and tries to reach a solution through voluntary mediation.
• Contact: Cable and Consumer Services, Consumer Services Division, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 433, Fairfax, VA 22035. Phone 703-222-8435 (TTY 711), [email protected], weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Languages: the complaint page is also available in Spanish, Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese and Arabic.
• Discrimination: fair housing complaints based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, disability and other grounds go to the county's Office of Human Rights and Equity Programs (OHREP).

• Assessment: values are set as of January 1 each year. The average residential assessment rose 3.99% for 2026. The Board of Supervisors sets the rate each year with the budget.
• Relief for seniors and people with disabilities: residents 65 and older or permanently and totally disabled who meet income and asset limits can get real estate and car tax relief. Current limits and an eligibility check are on the county's tax relief page.
• Other exemptions: there are real estate and vehicle exemptions for active-duty military, disabled veterans, and surviving spouses of service members or first responders killed in the line of duty.
• Contact: Department of Tax Administration, Real Estate Division, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 357, Fairfax, VA 22035. Phone 703-222-8234 (TTY 711), [email protected].

If you bought in the City of Fairfax, the city collects property tax at its own rate, and this table does not apply to you.

1. Check eligibility. The child must live with a parent in Fairfax County. For kindergarten, the child must be 5 by September 30. The cutoff is set by Virginia law, and FCPS makes no exceptions.
2. Decide where to register. English-only families and students transferring from another U.S. school register at their local school. Families whose Home Language Survey shows another language and whose child comes from a school outside the U.S. go to the closest Welcome Center.
3. Gather documents (see the list below).
4. Fill out forms. Complete them online or on paper (Student Registration Form IT-19). The paper form also comes in Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, Urdu and Vietnamese, but not Turkish.
5. Make an appointment. The student and at least one parent must attend in person.

Student Registration Welcome Centers

All three are open weekdays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. FCPS registration questions: 703-204-6769.

Required documents

• Residency: the FCPS Residency Attestation plus a deed, a lease signed by the rental office, or a resident manager's letter. If you live with someone else, the attestation plus three documents from the FCPS list, such as a pay stub or employer letter, a Virginia driver's license, car registration or insurance, utility bills (electric, water, gas, phone, internet), a 1099 or W-2, or bank statements. The parent must physically live at the address.
• Age: an original birth certificate. If you do not have one, an affidavit plus a supporting record such as a passport or hospital record is accepted.
• Parent ID: a government-issued photo ID of the parent who comes to register. Only a parent named on the birth certificate may enroll the child; FCPS has separate rules for other situations.
• Health: immunization records. Children entering preschool or elementary school for the first time also need a physical exam from the last 12 months by a U.S.-licensed physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant. The Fairfax County Health Department's five clinics give school-required immunizations.
• TB screening: required only for students born in, living in, or visiting for 4 or more consecutive weeks a country on the CDC's High TB Burden Country List. Check the current list before you register.

• Uninsured families: the Mason and Partners (MAP) Clinic, run by FCPS and George Mason University, is in the same Dunn Loring building as the Welcome Center. Uninsured families registering there can use it free through a referral from the FCPS registrar (703-204-6740; see the clinic directory).
• English support: FCPS identifies Multilingual Learners with the WIDA screener and supports more than 36,000 students. It has dedicated registrars for Arabic, Farsi, Korean, Spanish and Urdu, but not Turkish.
• Free preschool (VPI): the Virginia Preschool Initiative serves 3- and 4-year-olds from families at or below 350% of the federal poverty level at more than 30 locations across the county. Some groups, such as children with an IEP, children experiencing homelessness and children in foster care, qualify regardless of income. Contact: 703-324-8100, [email protected].

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

• FAMIS Prenatal: the state's own page is explicit: you do not need to meet immigration status rules, provide immigration documents or have a Social Security number to qualify. The requirements are an expected due date, the number of babies expected, Virginia residency, an income limit and being uninsured.
• Children and pregnancy: the federal H.R. 1 law narrows Medicaid eligibility for noncitizen adults starting October 1, 2026. Virginia's Medicaid agency (DMAS) says FAMIS Prenatal and the rules for children and for pregnant and postpartum coverage are not affected.
• Information: the state's Cover Virginia site has a page on health coverage for noncitizens, covering Medicaid, FAMIS and insurance options.
• Inova financial assistance: at Inova hospitals, including Inova Fairfax Hospital, uninsured Virginia residents with household income at or below 400% of the federal poverty guidelines who apply with income, family size and residency documents get a 100% financial assistance discount. You must apply for Medicaid or another government program first. Apply online or through MyChart. You can appeal a decision in writing within 45 days.
• County clinics: Fairfax County's Community Health Care Network (CHCN) gives primary care to residents with income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. Details are below.
• Immunizations: the Fairfax County Health Department's clinics give school-required shots.
• 988: the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline answers calls, texts and chats 24/7.

County program

Fairfax County Community Health Care Network (CHCN) · Three clinics

The county's primary care program for low-income, uninsured residents. To qualify, you must live in Fairfax County, the City of Fairfax or the City of Falls Church, lack access to primary health care, and have family income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. The county's page says demand exceeds capacity, so CHCN currently has a waitlist. Services include check-ups, vaccines and flu shots, acute and chronic care, limited lab, x-ray and pharmacy help, specialty referrals, limited behavioral health and nutrition services. A walk-in family planning clinic runs Mondays and Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., at select sites for $25 a visit. CHCN patients also qualify for Neighborhood Health's sliding fee scale. Since July 1, 2026, the Merrifield and South County clinics have been operated by Neighborhood Health and the North County clinic by HealthWorks for Northern Virginia.

Merrifield: 8221 Willow Oaks Corporate Dr., Suite 450, Fairfax, VA 22031 · 703-237-3446
North County (Lake Anne): 11484 Washington Plaza West, Suite 300, Reston, VA 20190 · 703-689-2180
South County: 8350 Richmond Highway, Suite 301, Alexandria, VA 22309 · 703-704-5333
Hours: Monday and Tuesday 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Wednesday to Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. · CHCN page

Free or low-cost care (income or referral rules)

Culmore Clinic · Falls Church

A nonprofit clinic for uninsured adults with household income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. The clinic lists the limits as $27,180 a year for one person and $55,500 for a family of four. You document your income and address through accessible, reasonable means; no specific document type is required. Services include primary care, lab tests, specialty referrals when available, diabetes and blood pressure management, mental health counseling by licensed volunteers, HIV and STD testing, physical therapy, EKGs and dental care. It is open four days a week, in person and by telemedicine.

Address: 6400 Arlington Blvd., Suite 940B, Falls Church, VA 22042.
703-260-8429 · Services and eligibility

Mason and Partners (MAP) Clinics · George Mason University

A nurse-managed clinic network run by George Mason University's College of Public Health. It gives free or low-cost care to uninsured and underinsured residents of Fairfax and Prince William counties. Two Fairfax County sites:

Culmore/Falls Church: 3400 Charles Street, Falls Church, VA 22041. Thursdays 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., appointments necessary, limited walk-ins.
Dunn Loring (FCPS): 2334 Gallows Road, Room 219, Dunn Loring, VA 22027. Mondays and Wednesdays 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Direct referral appointments from the FCPS registrar only; no walk-ins.
All sites and hours

Centers with income-based fees

Neighborhood Health · Merrifield Center

A Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) with a discounted sliding fee scale for low-income patients who are uninsured or have high copays or deductibles. The income bands are not published on its site, so ask when you register. Services include family and internal medicine, pediatrics, women's health and behavioral health. Fees go down with income, but care is not free.

Address: 8221 Willow Oaks Corporate Drive, Suite 450, Fairfax, VA 22031.
703-535-5568 · All locations

Inova Cares for Families · Herndon

Inova's primary care clinic network for patients who qualify for Medicaid, FAMIS or Inova's Financial Assistance Program, or who are uninsured. Ask about fees and discounts when you book.

Address: 365 Herndon Pkwy, Suite 105, Herndon, VA 20170.
703-464-6094 · Monday to Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. · Program page

Questions to ask before booking

• Are you accepting new patients, and is there a waitlist? 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 Inova's hospital financial assistance and emergency care.

• Where: Fairfax Circuit Court Clerk's Office, Fairfax County Courthouse, Suite 116 (first floor), 4110 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax, VA 22030. The Clerk's Office phone is 703-691-7320.
• No residency requirement: you do not have to live in Fairfax or in Virginia to apply.
• ID: a valid photo ID such as a driver's license, passport or military ID. A Turkish passport works.
• Information requested: the court's page asks for each applicant's Social Security number (the card itself is not needed) and the full names of each applicant's parents, including middle names as they appear on their birth certificates. If you do not have an SSN, call the Clerk's Office before you go and ask what is accepted.
• Payment: $30, cash or Visa or Mastercard. Card payments carry a 4% processing fee.
• Timing: there is no waiting period, so the license can be used the day it is issued. It is valid for 60 calendar days, and the ceremony must take place in Virginia. No blood test is required.
• Certified copies: after the wedding, order certified copies from Fairfax County's vital records windows or the state Office of Vital Records in Richmond (addresses below). The Fairfax windows issue marriage records from 1932 on.

• Walk-in only: all four windows serve walk-ins; they do not take appointments.
• Payment: cash, check, money order, major credit cards, and Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay.
• Records: Virginia birth and death records from June 1912, marriage records from 1932 and divorce records from 1918.
• State office: Virginia Office of Vital Records, 8701 Park Central Drive, Suite 100, Richmond, VA 23227. Customer care (804) 662-6200, weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The lobby serves walk-ins weekdays 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Order online through the VDH ordering system, or use VitalChek for express delivery.
• 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: the Reston office is open weekdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. SSA assigns offices by ZIP code, not distance, so confirm yours with the SSA office locator before you go. National line: 1-800-772-1213.
• Appointments: since January 2025, every in-person SSA service, including a new card, requires an appointment.
• 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 Virginia, state law bars schools from requiring a student's or parent's SSN (see school enrollment).

• State return: Form 760, filed with the Virginia Department of Taxation. The brackets are set in Code of Virginia § 58.1-320 and have not changed since 1990. Check the Department's site for yearly details such as the standard deduction or any rebate.
• ITIN filers: Virginia has no separate state number; the ITIN issued by the IRS is used on the state return too. An ITIN is a tax number only; it does not authorize work or change immigration status.
• Car tax: Fairfax County's rate is $4.57 per $100 of assessed value. When you register the vehicle with Virginia DMV, the county files the tax return for you automatically. If the county does not receive the DMV registration within 60 days of your purchase or move, a 10% penalty (at least $10) applies. For personal-use vehicles, the state subsidizes the tax on the first $20,000 of value (PPTRA). Details are on the county's vehicle tax page and under car registration.
• City of Fairfax: as an independent city, it sets and collects its own car and real estate taxes. If you live inside city limits, check the current rate with the city.
• Moving from Texas? Factor the state income tax and the car 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 office: according to the IRS list, the office in Fairfax County that reviews ITIN documents is in Vienna: 7980 Quantum Drive, First Floor, Vienna, VA 22182, (703) 336-4029, weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with a lunch closure from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Others in Virginia are in Charlottesville, Hampton, Lynchburg, Norfolk, Richmond and Roanoke. 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 Articles of Organization with the Virginia SCC. The $100 fee (Code of Virginia § 13.1-1005) is lower than the $300 Texas charges. Registering an LLC formed in another state also costs $100.
• Annual fee: $50, first due on the last day of the 12th month after formation, then every year. A late payment adds a $25 penalty, and the SCC sends a warning that the company's existence may be cancelled.
• Trade name (fictitious name): if you do business in Virginia under a name other than your legal name, you must register it. Since January 1, 2020, new certificates go to the SCC, not the county court.
• What the Fairfax Circuit Court still does: according to the court's own page, the Clerk's Office now accepts only dissolutions of trade names filed there before 2020. It is at 4110 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax, VA 22030, 703-691-7320, weekdays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• County office: Department of Family Services, Public Assistance and Employment Services, 12011 Government Center Parkway, Suite 232 (Pennino Building), Fairfax, VA 22035. Call center 703-324-7500, weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• 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 changes: Virginia Medicaid (DMAS) says eligibility rules for noncitizen adults narrow on October 1, 2026. Pregnancy coverage (FAMIS Prenatal) and the rules for children's Medicaid and FAMIS do not change. FAMIS Prenatal does not require any immigration status or an SSN. See health care and Cover Virginia's page for noncitizens.
• 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 "Washington DC" 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.

• Hours: both courts are open weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; the filing window closes at 4 p.m. Arrive early.
• Arlington court: older papers may mention the Arlington Immigration Court. Its docket moved to Annandale in 2022.
• 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 Washington: the ICE field office for Washington, D.C. and all of Virginia is in Chantilly, inside Fairfax County (14797 Murdock Street, Chantilly, VA 20151, (703) 633-2100). Check-ins are scheduled at checkin.ice.gov. Confirm the address on your check-in notice, and 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 Fairfax is at Washington Dulles International Airport, Main Terminal, Lower Level, West End, (703) 661-2800 ext. 7116 (per CBP's list, Monday to Thursday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; mailing address 1 Saarinen Circle, Sterling, VA 20166; email [email protected]). Hours change, so always call before you go. It fixes only mistakes made at the time of entry.

• Who can register: according to the Virginia Department of Elections, you must be a U.S. citizen and a Virginia resident, be 18 (17-year-olds who will be 18 by the next general election can pre-register), and not be registered in another state.
• At DMV and on forms: Virginia DMV offices are one of the places that take voter registrations. If you are offered voter registration while getting a Driver Privilege Card or doing any other DMV business, decline and 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.
• The jury list: according to the Fairfax Circuit Court's jury FAQ, prospective jurors are picked at random from voter registration lists, and about 55,000 people receive a Juror Questionnaire each year.
• If you are summoned: the court says you must respond, and people who do not can be held in contempt of court. Jury Department: Fairfax County Courthouse, 4110 Chain Bridge Road, Suite 503 (5th floor), Fairfax, VA 22030, 703-246-2292, weekdays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• For citizens who serve: jurors are paid $50 for each day they report. An employer may not fire or penalize an employee for missing work for jury duty.

Recently naturalized? You can register online, by mail or at your local voter registration office through the Virginia Department of Elections. Check the registration deadline for the election you want to vote in.

• Find an acceptance facility: enter your ZIP code in the passport facility locator. Post offices in Fairfax, such as the Fairfax Main Post Office at 10660 Page Avenue, are among them. These locations accept new applications (DS-11) only.
• Fairfax Circuit Court: the court's own page does not list passport services. Always find your acceptance facility through the 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.
• Washington Passport Agency: in Washington, D.C., appointment only. The address is on your appointment confirmation.
• 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.

Where can I find Turkish cultural events?

ATA-DC (American Turkish Association of Washington DC), a Turkish-American cultural association, moved into a permanent home in Falls Church (7115 Leesburg Pike) in 2025. It organizes events such as a Turkish Festival, a Republic Day Ball and the Atatürk Children School for kids. Check its website for the current calendar.

Always free

• Smithsonian Udvar-Hazy Center: free admission and no timed passes. Parking is $15 a day, free for drop-offs under 30 minutes and after 4 p.m.
• Wolf Trap: the grounds are open daily from 7 a.m. to dusk (closed New Year's Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas), with free parking. Some areas may close during performances.
• Burke Lake Park: always free for Fairfax County residents. Non-residents pay $12 per vehicle only on weekends and holidays from April through October.
• Mosaic District and Old Town Fairfax: walking around, window shopping and the playgrounds cost nothing.
• Smithsonian museums in Washington, D.C.: free admission; a few require timed-entry passes.

Free on certain days

• Great Falls Park: normally $20 per vehicle, $15 per motorcycle and $10 per person on foot or bike. The remaining 2026 fee-free days are October 27 and November 11. From 2026 the Park Service limits free entrance on these days to U.S. citizens and residents; non-residents pay the regular entrance fee, and at some parks a non-resident fee on top of it. The Park Service page does not say who counts as a resident, so if you are not a citizen, check before you rely on it.
• City of Fairfax Fall Festival: October 10, 2026, free admission.

With kids

• Burke Lake Park: a miniature train, a carousel and mini golf. In October there are Goblin Golf (October 11) and Ghost Town (October 24); Ghost Town is free for children under 2.
• Udvar-Hazy Center: Space Shuttle Discovery and thousands of aviation and space artifacts.
• Mosaic District: the Strawberry Park playground and splash pad.
• Meadowlark Botanical Gardens: ponds and nature walks. Under 5 free, $5 for ages 6 to 17.
• Cox Farms: hayrides and a corn maze through November 8. Tickets are sold online only and can sell out; check prices on the farm's website.

To book: konsolosluk.gov.tr → Randevu Al → Türk Vatandaşları İçin Konsolosluk İşlemleri → Washington. The 24/7 Consular Call Center: +90 312 292 29 29. After-hours emergency line: +1 202 304 3889. General email: [email protected].

Fees and document lists change during the year. Check the current details on the Embassy's site before you pay.

Tips for your visit

• Getting there: the Embassy is in Washington's Sheridan-Kalorama neighborhood. From Fairfax, people drive or take Metro. Check the route before you leave and allow time for traffic.
• Timing: the consular section's reception hours may be shorter than the Embassy's general hours. Be at the building before your slot.
• Holidays: check the Embassy's site for closure days before you book.
• Birth registration: you need the U.S. birth certificate first. In Fairfax County, certified copies are issued at the vital records offices in the county's public health centers (see birth certificates).
• Documents for Türkiye: Virginia documents are apostilled in Richmond, not at the Embassy (see apostille).
• Military service (askerlik): men born in 2007 must complete their registration (yoklama) by December 31, 2026, at the Embassy 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 Embassy 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 Embassy's consular 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 Embassy's Education Attaché.

• By mail (USPS): 1111 East Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23219. Send the document with the cover letter generated in the online system, payment and a prepaid return mailer. Turnaround is 7 to 10 business days from receipt.
• In person or by courier: 400 East Cary Street, Richmond, VA 23219, which is also the address for FedEx, UPS and DHL.
• In-person appointments: slots are released only on Fridays at 10 a.m., for the following week only. Up to 2 people and 10 documents per appointment. Bring a valid photo ID. Most properly prepared documents are authenticated the same day.
• Contact: the office lists no phone number; email [email protected].
• Vital records: get the certified birth, marriage, divorce or death record first from a Fairfax County vital records office or the state Office of Vital Records in Richmond (see birth certificates).
• Other states' records: Virginia authenticates only documents issued or signed in Virginia. A document from another state must be authenticated in that state.

• 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.
• Dulles to Istanbul: Washington Dulles sits on the Fairfax-Loudoun county line and is the natural gateway for Fairfax residents. Reagan National (DCA) has no long-haul international service. Check days, times and fares on the Turkish Airlines website.
• I-94 errors: if your I-94 was issued incorrectly when you entered at Dulles, go to the CBP unit at the airport (see immigration court and I-94).