Turkish-Speaking Immigration Attorney in Fort Lauderdale

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 to get a license start 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 documents showing lawful presence in the U.S. Florida asks for two different proofs of address, such as a lease and a bill from the last 60 days. Bring originals. Check the current list on FLHSMV's immigrant page (green card holders) or its non-immigrant page (visa holders).
3. Book early. FLHSMV books appointments for Broward's license offices. Even the county Tax Collector says appointments are hard to get, so look for one as soon as you become a resident. Every applicant takes a vision test.
4. Study in English. Starting February 6, 2026, FLHSMV gives every knowledge and road-skills exam in English only, including oral exams. There are no interpreters, no translations and no printed exams in other languages.
5. Watch for the handover. Broward's independent Tax Collector's office, created in 2025, has announced it will take over local driver license services. On September 29, 2026, its homepage still listed the service as "Coming Soon." The switch could happen any week, so check both browardtax.org and FLHSMV before you go.

FLHSMV driver license offices in Broward

According to FLHSMV's Broward page, all five share one phone number, 954-497-1570, and are open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Wednesday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The page carries no update date, and the list can change as offices move to the Tax Collector, so confirm the address and hours before you go. When you book a road test, confirm that the office gives it.

A common mix-up: the office at 1113 N. Federal Highway in Fort Lauderdale handles vehicles only (tags and registration), not licenses. It is a license plate agent, not a state office, and may charge extra fees.

Some Florida counties add their own service fee on top. Ask the office for your total.

• 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. You cannot bring an interpreter.
• Where: at one of Broward's five FLHSMV license offices (see the list), by appointment. Confirm which office gives the road test when you book. The car you test in must be insured and registered.
• Coming from another U.S. state: a valid U.S. state license can exempt you from the knowledge and road tests; you still take a vision test, and the 30-day deadline applies.
• 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; you can ask your current agent to move you to a Florida policy. FLHSMV's minimums are $10,000 PIP (80% of necessary and reasonable 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 refuses, get the refusal in writing on letterhead and bring it with you. 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 an office. Go to one of the offices below. You can also renew a registration online or at the Tax Collector's self-service kiosks.

Where to handle vehicles in Broward

The Broward County Governmental Center downtown (115 S. Andrews Ave.) houses the Tax Collector's property and business tax office; vehicle registration is not done there. Full lists are on FLHSMV's Broward page and the Tax Collector's locations page.

Keep your insurance continuous

• Coverage must stay in force for the whole registration period, even if the car sits unused or does not run. 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.

• 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, a camera photographs your plate and the registered owner receives an invoice for each 30-day period, plus $2.50 per invoice. It cannot be used on Florida's Managed Lanes.
• 95 Express: the I-95 express lanes in Miami-Dade and Broward. According to 95 Express, you need an active SunPass or another compatible transponder; Toll-By-Plate is not accepted. If you enter without a transponder, the toll is billed to the registered owner with a $2.50 administrative fee plus a $25 daily violation charge. Prices change with traffic, so we do not list a fixed toll.

Sample Turnpike tolls (2-axle vehicles)

Rates from Florida's Turnpike, in effect since April 21, 2026. Check Sawgrass Expressway rates on the same page.

• Who pays reduced fares: according to BCT (fares updated August 13, 2026), seniors 65 and older with proof of age, riders with Medicare or disability proof, and youth 18 and under. Reduced Fare photo IDs are made at the Broward Central Terminal downtown (Broward Blvd. and NW 1st Ave.) and at the Lauderhill Transit Center.
• Paying: exact cash, no change. The RideBCT app takes Apple Pay and Google Pay. The SoFloGO app combines BCT, Miami-Dade Transit, Palm Tran and Tri-Rail tickets. Passes are not refundable, and lost cards are not replaced.
• Transfers: coming from Miami-Dade Transit, Palm Tran or Tri-Rail, you pay $0.50 on BCT with proof of transfer. The EASY Card is not accepted as payment on BCT.
• Alerts: BCT often lists many service alerts for construction, bridge closures and street flooding; check RideBCT before you ride. Customer service: 954-357-8400.
• Brightline: the Fort Lauderdale station is at 101 NW 2nd Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311, with a 24-hour parking garage. A shuttle from the station to FLL airport costs $12 per person plus a $3 fuel surcharge, daily 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Train fares vary, so we do not list them.
• Tri-Rail: a zone-based commuter train between Miami and Palm Beach County. Under its March 2025 tariff, a one-way ticket ran from $2.50 for 1 zone to $8.75 for 6 zones, with a flat $5 fare on weekends and holidays. Fares may have changed, so check the Tri-Rail site. A BCT transfer receipt takes $2 off a full fare. Riding without a ticket carries a $55 fine.
• Airport: Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) is at 100 Terminal Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315. A free shuttle runs from Tri-Rail's airport station to the terminals.
• Flights to Istanbul: according to Turkish Airlines, there are several nonstop flights a day between Miami (MIA) and Istanbul, about 11 hours. From Fort Lauderdale, get to MIA by Tri-Rail, Brightline or car.

1. Start service. On FPL's start-service page, you give the service address, your start date and a Social Security number, driver's license number or social insurance number. In FPL's words, without an SSN "another type of identification can be used such as a driver's license or passport number." If you have none of these, contact an FPL customer care representative.
2. Time it right. According to FPL, orders received by 12 p.m., Monday through Saturday, are connected the same day.
3. Check the deposit. According to FPL, it uses a credit scoring system. If a deposit is required, it equals about two months of expected use. Newcomers without U.S. credit history usually pay one; you can ask for the amount before you apply.

• Business accounts: use a Tax ID Number instead of personal ID.
• Separate bills: electricity comes from FPL; water, sewer and trash come from the City of Fort Lauderdale if you live inside city limits (see water and trash).

If you rent

• The rule: according to the city's new-service page, starting March 1, 2026, only property owners can establish new accounts. The tenant's bill is issued on the owner's account, in care of the tenant. Accounts are not placed in a property manager's name either.
• Existing accounts: tenant accounts opened before that date stay as they are unless service is disconnected.
• Put it in the lease: agree in writing whose name the water account is in, how you pay the bill, and whether the landlord passes it through to you.

If you own

• What you need: the Utility Service Application and Agreement, a government photo ID (driver's license, passport, alien identification card or state ID), the applicant's Social Security number, an executed settlement statement or warranty deed (not needed if the Broward Property Appraiser already shows you as owner) and a deposit.
• Deposit: required on all new accounts; it depends on meter size and services. Ask for the amount by phone.
• Apply: by email to [email protected], by fax to (954) 828-5880, by mail, or in person at the Development Services Department, 700 N.W. 19th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311, weekdays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Phone 954-828-5150, weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Processing takes 3 to 5 business days.
• Paying: card payments carry a fee; automatic bank payments (ACH) are free.

Trash and recycling

• Who collects: according to the city, WM (Waste Management) since July 31, 2023.
• How often: trash twice a week; recycling (paper, cardboard, glass and plastic containers #1-7, metal cans) and yard waste once a week; bulk pickup once a month, with piles up to 10 cubic yards. Do not bag yard waste.
• Rules: carts go out by 7 a.m. on collection day, at least 2 feet from cars, mailboxes, trees and storm drains, and come back in the same day. Put bulk items out no earlier than 24 hours before pickup.
• Find your day: use the city's address map.

The city: for non-emergency requests, use the Neighbor Support Center (954-828-8000), the Lauderserv (FixIt FTL) app or the online form. Check the number and hours on the city's site. In unincorporated areas and for county services, Broward County runs its own 311 line. In a life-threatening emergency, always call 911.

Broward County Library card

• Card types: according to the library, the All-Access Card (physical items, eMedia and computer use) is issued in person at any branch. The Instant eCard covers online resources only and is open to anyone who lives, works, studies or visits in Broward.
• ID: a Florida driver's license or ID, or else an out-of-state or foreign driver's license, a passport, a photo student or work ID, or a resident alien card. Bring a proof of address as well.
• Proof of address: a voter card, vehicle registration, utility bill, imprinted check, bank statement, standard lease or mortgage document.
• Non-residents: $38 a year.
• Late fines: none. Lost or damaged items are still charged.

Florida's deposit rules

• 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: at least 75% of the account's annualized average rate or 5% simple interest a year. A landlord who posts a surety bond instead pays 5% simple interest a year.

Read the full text of Florida Statutes §83.49. Florida Statutes §83.425, in effect since July 1, 2023, preempts the regulation of residential tenancies to the state; local rules cannot replace state rules on deposits, lease terms or notice periods.

Renting in Fort Lauderdale

• Utilities: the city water, sewer and trash account stays in the owner's name (see water and trash). Get it in writing whether those bills are included in the rent or passed through to you, and how.
• Eviction cases: filed with the Broward Clerk of Courts, 201 SE 6th Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301; (954) 831-6565. If you receive court papers, do not miss the deadline.

• 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: someone who holds legal or beneficial title and in good faith makes the home their permanent residence (§196.031). You cannot also claim a residency-based exemption in another state. Renters cannot claim it.
• March 1: the yearly filing deadline. Miss it and you lose the exemption for that year, apart from the statute's narrow exceptions (§196.011). The 2026 window has closed; if you bought in 2026, file for 2027 by March 1, 2027.
• 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).
• Moving within Florida: if you had a homestead exemption in any of the prior 3 years, you can carry your Save Our Homes benefit, up to $500,000, to a new Florida homestead (portability).

What to bring in Broward

According to the Broward County Property Appraiser:

• A recorded deed or other proof of ownership.
• A Florida driver's license (or a Florida ID if you do not drive). You must surrender any out-of-state license.
• Plus either a Florida voter registration or a power or water bill for the property in an owner's name.
• Social Security numbers for all owners and any married spouse.
• If you are not a U.S. citizen: proof of permanent residency (green card), asylum or parolee status (PRUCOL), or proof that you are the parent of a U.S.-born minor child who lives with you.

Office: Broward County Governmental Center, 115 South Andrews Avenue, Room 111, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 · 954-357-6830 · weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (address and holiday closures).

• Find your area: enter your address in the interactive evacuation map on Broward's hurricane page. According to the county, Plan A is used for Category 1 and 2 hurricanes and Plan B for Category 3 and stronger. Which areas must leave is announced for each storm. The county also stresses that not being told to evacuate does not mean you are safe.
• Shelters: Broward's hurricane page lists 35 general-population shelters, mostly schools, and only a few accept pets. Shelters open only ahead of a storm; check the county page that day for which ones are open.
• Special needs: there is registration for a Special Needs Shelter and for evacuation transportation. Register before a storm is on the way.
• State tool: Florida's Know Your Zone page also looks up zones by address.
• Leave early: if your home would be unsafe in a hurricane, leave early, even without an official order.
• Flood insurance: standard homeowners and renters policies do not cover flooding. Policies from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) are sold through FloodSmart, and a new policy generally takes effect only after a 30-day waiting period.

1. Find your school. Enter your street address and your child's grade in the "Find My School" tool on BCPS's registration page, then call that school. District headquarters: Kathleen C. Wright Administration Center, 600 S.E. Third Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301.
2. Fill out the forms. Student Registration Form, Emergency Contacts Form, Shared Housing Form, Request for Educational Records and the Student Housing Questionnaire. The forms and checklist come in English, Spanish, Portuguese and Haitian Creole; there is no Turkish version.
3. Prove your child's age. A birth certificate. A passport or a certificate of arrival is also on the accepted list. Bring English translations of documents from Türkiye.
4. Prove your address with two documents. You need one from Column A and one from Column B (table below). All documents must be current and show the enrollment address.
5. Health records. A child entering a Florida school for the first time needs a health exam from the 12 months before enrollment and a Florida Certification of Immunization (Form DH 680). Temporary exemptions exist for interstate transfers, homeless families and military families.
6. School records. The latest report card or transcript, or a Release of Information form. The school requests records from the previous school.
7. Language survey. Every Florida district uses a three-question Home Language Survey at registration. A "yes" to any question means the school must screen the student's English within the first 20 school days.

Proof of residence: one from each column

If you share a home with another family, the parent and the owner or renter sign a notarized Affidavit of Shared Residence. The owner or renter brings documents from Columns A and B, and the parent brings two Column B documents. Enrollments based on false address information are withdrawn, and false statements can be a crime.

Free pre-K (VPK)

Florida-resident children who turn 4 by September 1 can attend Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) for free. Get the Certificate of Eligibility from the county's Early Learning Coalition.

For clinic visits, also see our list of low-cost clinics.

• Broward Health financial assistance: according to the program page, it is for uninsured patients who permanently reside in Broward Health's service area. Family income at or below 300% of the Federal Poverty Level may qualify for full assistance, with a possible $10 or $25 co-pay. Applicants must provide proof of U.S. citizenship or permanent legal residency and must have lived in the service area for at least 30 days before the date of service. You are asked to apply first for other programs you may qualify for, such as Medicaid or HealthCare.gov coverage. Financial counselor line: 954-767-5344.
• Memorial Healthcare System financial assistance: according to Memorial, uninsured or underinsured patients with annual family income under 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines get discounts on a sliding scale. You apply with an evaluation form, three months of bank statements and pay stubs, a current utility bill, a Florida driver's license or photo ID, and a tax return. The policy we read does not mention immigration status, but ask before you apply. Appointment line: 954-276-5500.
• Florida KidCare: income-based coverage for Florida children under 19. Under KidCare's requirements, the child must be a U.S. citizen, an eligible immigrant or a green card holder, and must have an SSN or have applied for one. Undocumented children are not eligible.
• Florida 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.
• Broward County Health Department (DOH-Broward): immunizations, WIC, pediatric dental, tuberculosis, hepatitis and HIV services. Main line 954-467-4700. Addresses are below.
• 988: the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline answers calls, texts and chats 24/7.

Community health centers

Broward Community & Family Health Centers (BCOM)

According to its site, BCOM is a Health Center Program grantee. Services include family medicine, dental, pediatrics, women's and maternal health, behavioral health, immunizations, HIV treatment and PrEP, lab, pharmacy and help finding coverage. The pages we read do not list fees or any status rule; care is not free by default, so call and ask whether fees are based on income. Appointments: (954) 624-3200. There is no BCOM site inside Fort Lauderdale city limits; the closest are in Lauderhill and Pompano Beach.

Lauderhill: 1295 NW 40th Ave, Suite 200, Lauderhill, FL 33313 · (954) 583-4710
Pompano Medical Center: 168 N. Powerline Road, Pompano Beach, FL 33069 · (954) 970-8805
Pompano Dental Center: 162 N. Powerline Road, Pompano Beach, FL 33069 · (954) 970-7067
Hollywood: 5010 Hollywood Blvd, Suite 100-B, Hollywood, FL 33021 · (954) 967-0028
West Park Medical Center: 5800 West Hallandale Beach Blvd, West Park, FL 33023 · (954) 966-3939
All locations and hours

County health department

Florida Department of Health in Broward County (DOH-Broward)

The county's public health department; one main line for all centers, 954-467-4700. Its official pages do not list fees or income tiers, so call to ask about cost and which documents to bring.

Fort Lauderdale Health Center: 2421 SW 6th Ave., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315. Immunizations, pediatric dental (by appointment), tuberculosis, hepatitis, HIV, pharmacy, refugee health and WIC. Immunization appointments 954-467-4705; bring a photo ID and all previous immunization records. Adult and travel vaccines are offered too.
Edgar Mills Health Center: 900 NW 31st Ave., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311. Pediatric dental and WIC.
Paul Hughes Health Center: 205 NW 6th Ave., Pompano Beach, FL 33060.
South Regional Health Center: 4105 Pembroke Road, Hollywood, FL 33021.
All DOH-Broward locations

Free cancer screening

According to DOH-Broward, eligible women can receive free breast and cervical cancer screenings at various locations in Broward through the Florida Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program. The page lists these criteria: ages 40-64 for breast screening and 50-64 for cervical screening, little or no health insurance, household income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, and living in Broward or Martin County. Call the program at 954-762-3649 to check eligibility and locations.

Hospital bills

For a hospital stay or a bill after an ER visit, Broward Health and Memorial Healthcare System both have financial assistance programs. Their rules, and how they differ on immigration status, are in health care without insurance.

Questions to ask before booking

• Are you accepting new patients? Are there age, income, insurance, status or residency requirements?
• What will I pay at my income? 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.

• Where: according to the Clerk, there are four Clerk locations, all open weekdays 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and closed on holidays. No appointment is needed; the online pre-application speeds things up.
• ID: a valid photo ID such as a U.S. driver's license, a passport, a U.S. military ID, a state ID card or an Alien Registration Card (green card). It must show your correct legal name, date of birth and signature. You do not need to live in Florida or Broward.
• No SSN: according to the Clerk, noncitizens give an SSN or, if one has been issued, an Alien Registration Number. If neither has been issued, another form of ID may be required. You do not need a copy of the card.
• Fee: $86, with a 3-day waiting period. Bring the original certificate from a premarital course by a Broward-registered provider and it is $61 with no wait. There is also no wait if both of you live outside Florida and show out-of-state photo ID. Cash, cashier's checks, money orders and major credit cards are accepted.
• Prior marriages: you need the exact date of your last divorce, a spouse's death or an annulment. You sign an affidavit that you have read the Florida Bar's Family Law Handbook. No blood test is required.
• Validity: the license can be used anywhere in Florida for 60 days from its effective date. After the ceremony, the officiant returns the license to the Clerk within 10 days.
• Ceremony: in Florida, judges, the Clerk and deputy clerks, and Florida notaries can officiate. A civil ceremony at the Clerk's Marriage Division costs $30. A certified copy of the recorded license is $3.

According to DOH-Broward, you can apply in person at these offices:

• Application: you fill out the Birth Certificate Application with the person's full name, date and county of birth, the mother's full name including maiden name, and the father's full name. For mail orders, include a clear photocopy of your ID.
• ID: an unexpired photo ID such as a driver's license, state ID, passport or military ID.
• Fee: the county office's fee is not listed on its page, so ask at 954-467-4413 before you go.
• Online and phone: VitalChek is the state's only contracted vendor: VitalChek.com or 877-550-7330 (615-372-6800 from outside the U.S.). Under the state fee schedule, the first certificate is $19 and each extra copy ordered at the same time is $4; VitalChek adds a $7 processing fee.
• State office: births before 1930 and sealed records come from Florida's Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville.
• Which copy: a U.S. passport application and registering the birth in Türkiye may call for the certified long-form record; ask which type fits when you order.
• Child's U.S. passport: see the passport section.
• SSN: for your baby's Social Security number, see the SSN section.

• Which office: SSA's office list shows these offices open weekdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. SSA assigns offices by ZIP code, not distance, and addresses can change. Confirm the address and hours with the SSA office locator and book by phone 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. Under Florida law, a student does not have to provide an SSN to enroll (see school enrollment), and FPL, the electric company, accepts a driver's license or passport number when you have no SSN (see electricity). The City of Fort Lauderdale's water account, however, is opened only by the property owner and the application asks for an SSN; if you rent, sort this out with your landlord.

• No state return: Florida has no state personal income tax return. If you file with an ITIN, the federal return is the only filing.
• Businesses are different: Florida's 5.5% corporate income tax applies to companies, not individuals. If you plan to form a company, ask your accountant (see starting a business).
• Property tax: the state relies largely on sales tax and property tax. Since 2025, property tax in Broward has been collected by the independent Broward County Tax Collector. If you buy a home and it is your permanent residence, you can apply for the homestead exemption by March 1. See property tax.

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: the IRS list of Florida offices that review ITIN documents in person includes Plantation/Fort Lauderdale. The IRS does not give the street address on that page; get it when you book or check the IRS office locator.
• Appointments: IRS offices work by appointment only: 844-545-5640. It can take several weeks to get one. Every office offers phone interpretation, so you can ask for an interpreter in your language when you book.
• Expiration: an ITIN not used on a federal return for three years in a row expires.

• Formation: online through Sunbiz, available 24/7. The $125 total is lower than the $300 Texas charges.
• 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. Broward's Tax Collector also asks you to register the business name on Sunbiz first.
• 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 Receipts

1. Certificate of Use: according to the City of Fort Lauderdale, from October 1, 2026 you need a Certificate of Use, showing your location is zoned for your business, before you apply for the city receipt. Apply through the city's LauderBuild portal; zoning questions: 954-828-4295.
2. City receipt: City of Fort Lauderdale Business Tax, 101 NE 3rd Avenue, Suite 100, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301; 954-828-5207, option 1; [email protected]. Walk-ins Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; appointments weekdays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
3. County receipt: according to the Broward County Tax Collector, every business in the county needs one, including home-based businesses and sole proprietors. The fee depends on the type of business and the number of employees. In unincorporated areas, get a Certificate of Use from the county first.

• Renewal: both receipts expire on September 30 each year, and renewal opens July 1. On the county receipt, a late penalty starts October 1, and a $25 collector's fee is added from November 30.
• Tangible property tax: if your business furniture and equipment are worth more than $25,000, Broward's tangible personal property tax comes into play. Ask your accountant.

• How to apply: applications are filed online through MyACCESS. Find the nearest DCF service location in Broward on DCF's website.
• 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 is income-based coverage for children under 19. 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 uninsured families in Broward are in 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.

• Two buildings: the field office is in Oakland Park; the support center is in Lauderdale Lakes, on Oakland Park Boulevard. Interviews and fingerprints are not at the same address. The Kendall, Doral and North Miami Beach centers on USCIS's list are in Miami-Dade. Your I-797C notice tells you which one to use.
• Addresses: your case, not distance, decides which office and support center you use. The address on your notice is the one that counts. Do not mail forms to the field office.
• Appointments and questions: USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283 (TTY 800-767-1833), or book online. Appointments are free. The asylum office has no direct line for case questions; call the same Contact Center.
• Processing times: on the USCIS processing times page, pick the form, category and Oakland Park 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. At the Lauderdale Lakes center, military personnel are served without an appointment from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Our biometrics guide covers what to bring.
• Getting there: the Lauderdale Lakes center has public parking and is wheelchair accessible. From I-95, take the Oakland Park Boulevard exit; for buses, see Broward County Transit (BCT).
• Your attorney at the interview: since May 18, 2026, attorneys may no longer join field-office interviews remotely, except in limited circumstances. If you want your attorney with you, they have to be there in person.

• Hours: the Miami court is open weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; the filing window closes at 4 p.m.; closed on federal holidays. It is in a commercial office building with security screening on the court floors.
• Broward Transitional Center: ICE's detention facility in Pompano Beach. Hearings for people held there are handled by the Krome court. Visiting rules are on ICE's facility page; read them before you go.
• 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: the ERO office ICE lists for Florida is in Broward County itself: 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. There is no deferred inspection office at Fort Lauderdale airport (FLL) or anywhere in Broward. The two closest:

• Miami (MIA): General Aviation Facility at Miami International Airport, 3550 NW 57th Avenue, Miami, FL 33166. Monday to Friday, 8 to 11 a.m.; (305) 906-2573; [email protected].
• West Palm Beach: 1 East 11 Street, 2nd Floor, Riviera Beach, FL 33404. Tuesday to Thursday, 10 a.m. to noon; (561) 844-1703, ext. 249.

Call to confirm before you go. These offices fix 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). The Broward Clerk of Courts likewise says jurors are U.S. citizens aged 18 or older who live in Broward, and that noncitizens are excused.
• If you are summoned: follow the instructions on the summons to complete the Clerk'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 Broward are run by the Broward County Supervisor of Elections: 4650 NW 21st Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309, 954-357-8683. Check the address and hours on the county elections website before you go.

The Broward Clerk's four passport locations

• Hours: according to the Clerk, the Fort Lauderdale location is open weekdays 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and the other three 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed on holidays. For other facilities, such as post offices, enter your ZIP code in the passport facility locator.
• Two separate payments: the State Department fee ($130 for an adult book) is paid by check or money order only, for the exact amount. The Clerk's $35 acceptance fee and the optional $15 on-site photo can be paid in cash or by card.
• What to bring: your original naturalization certificate and your ID. Temporary IDs are not accepted.
• Children: a passport book for a child under 16 costs $100 plus the $35 acceptance fee. Both parents named on the birth certificate should attend; a parent who cannot come submits Form DS-3053 with a copy of their ID.

Urgent travel: the Miami Passport Agency

• Who qualifies: you need proof of travel within 14 days (or a foreign visa needed within 28 days), plus the $60 expedite fee.
• Booking: 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.
• Address: according to the State Department (May 2026), the agency is in the Omni Center, 1501 Biscayne Blvd, Suite 400, Miami, FL 33132, open Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., by appointment only and closed on federal holidays. Enter from NE 15th Street and take the elevator to the 4th floor; arrive 15 minutes early for security. Check the address and time against your appointment confirmation.
• Online renewal: for eligible adults, only at opr.travel.state.gov.

Heading to the Everglades? Who pays the new $100 fee?

Everglades National Park makes a day trip from Fort Lauderdale; its Shark Valley entrance is in Miami-Dade and costs $35 per vehicle (7 days). Since 2026, park visitors aged 16 and over who are not U.S. residents pay an extra $100 per person on top of the standard fee. Green card holders are exempt and pay the resident price. The documents the Park Service accepts are a U.S. passport, a U.S. state driver's license or ID card, and a green card.

Always free

• Fort Lauderdale Beach: the beach is public and free, with Las Olas Oceanside Park on the waterfront.
• Riverwalk: a waterfront path and parks along the New River downtown, easy with a stroller.
• Bonnet House shop: house and garden tours are ticketed, but the museum shop is always free to enter.

Free on certain days

• Sunday Jazz Brunch: a free outdoor jazz concert by local musicians on the Riverwalk, on the first Sunday of every month. Next dates: October 4, November 1 and December 6, 2026, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Esplanade Park. Check the website before you go.

With kids

• MODS: hands-on exhibits, shows and a separate area for young children. A hands-on exhibit included with admission runs through January 10, 2027. Check prices and hours on the website.
• Butterfly World: butterflies and lorikeets. Tickets are sold only at the gate; last entry 4 p.m. Lorikeet nectar is $2 per cup, cash only.
• Flamingo Gardens: a botanical garden and wildlife sanctuary, with a story time for young children on the first Sunday of the month (next: October 4). Check prices on the website.
• Hugh Taylor Birch State Park: picnics, walks and a canoe launch for $6 per vehicle.

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.

Getting there from Fort Lauderdale

• Brightline: the Fort Lauderdale station is downtown at 101 NW 2nd Avenue, with a 24-hour garage. Trains run to MiamiCentral (600 NW 1st Avenue) in Downtown Miami.
• Tri-Rail: the commuter train also serves MiamiCentral. Except on express trains, riders to MiamiCentral change at the Metrorail Transfer Station.
• The last leg: plan your trip from MiamiCentral to the consulate building separately. Check times and fares on the Brightline and Tri-Rail websites; schedules change.

Tips for your visit

• One appointment, one trip: the consulate is in Miami, not Fort Lauderdale, so every visit is a separate trip. A missing document means a new appointment, so prepare everything before your slot.
• Timing: in-person applications are taken only in the morning block (9 a.m. to 1 p.m.). Allow for I-95 traffic and parking in Downtown Miami.
• Holidays: check the consulate's site for closure days before you book.
• Birth registration: you need the U.S. birth certificate first (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, which for Fort Lauderdale residents is at the consulate 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.
• 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, marriage or death record first. Where to get a birth certificate in Broward is covered under birth certificates; the state Bureau of Vital Statistics is in Jacksonville.
• 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.
• Nonstop from Miami: Fort Lauderdale residents usually fly nonstop from MIA or connect from FLL. Check days, times and fares on the Turkish Airlines Miami page; fares change often.
• Getting to FLL: Tri-Rail's Fort Lauderdale Airport station has a free shuttle to the terminals, and Brightline runs a paid airport shuttle from its downtown station.
• Hosting family: relatives from Türkiye on the nonstop land at MIA, and U.S. entry (passport control and the I-94) happens in Miami.