Turkish-Speaking Immigration Attorney in Fort Lee, 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 Fort Lee

The Wallington agency handles REAL ID only, by appointment, so pick one of the other agencies for a first license. The "MVC" link on Fort Lee's borough website leads to the state site, not to a local office. 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. That includes people moving to Fort Lee from New York. 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 Fort Lee

Stations are open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays and 7 a.m. to noon on Saturdays, closed Sundays. 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.

Street parking in Fort Lee: Parking Authority registration

• The rule: in Fort Lee's residential permit zones, vehicles not registered with the borough may park for no more than 2 hours, Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Registered residents may park up to 48 hours. Unregistered vehicles can be ticketed or towed. Commercial vehicles are not eligible.
• Cost: $5 per vehicle, valid for 2 years, including 2 free visitor permits per household. Extra visitor permits are $1 per vehicle per day. Permits are digital.
• What to bring: a valid New Jersey driver's license with a Fort Lee address (otherwise two proofs of Fort Lee residency), a valid vehicle registration, and 3 photos of the car (both sides and the rear with the plate). Apply online or at the Parking Authority, 231 Main Street, 2nd floor, 201-592-3500 ext. 1518.
• Zone A: you must show that no off-street parking is available to you, and overnight street parking from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. is prohibited.
• Meters: $1 per 30 minutes in Zones A and B. Municipal lots with pay stations charge $2 an hour for the first 3 hours (some lots excepted).

George Washington Bridge tolls (car, July 2026)

• Peak hours: weekdays 6 to 10 a.m. and 4 to 8 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Direction: the toll is charged only entering New York. There is no bridge toll on the way back to Fort Lee.
• Discount rules: the Port Authority's E-ZPass rates apply only to New York and New Jersey E-ZPass accounts. Mount the tag correctly; if it cannot be read, you pay the higher mid-tier rate.
• Opening an account: online at ezpassnj.com, by mail or by phone at (888) 288-6865. An E-ZPass New Jersey account costs $1 a month, and the Standard Plan has no sign-up requirements.
• No tag: cameras read the plate, and the toll bill goes to the registered owner by mail, usually within 30 days. Extra fees apply after the due date, and unpaid bills can go to a collection agency.
• 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. Drivers who come through the Lincoln or Holland Tunnel get up to $3 off at peak; drivers who use the George Washington Bridge do not.
• Example: cross the bridge with E-ZPass at 8 a.m. on a weekday and drive on to Midtown, and you pay $16.79 for the bridge plus $9 for congestion pricing, $25.79 in total.
• 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. The Port Authority also runs a Green Discount Plan that requires enrollment.

• Routes: under NJ Transit's official names, 153 Fairview-Fort Lee-NY, 154 Fort Lee-Palisades Park-NY, 156 Englewood Cliffs-Fort Lee-NY, 158 Fort Lee-Edgewater-New York and 159 Fort Lee-New York. Routes 181, 182, 186 and 188 run toward New York (GWB). Local routes 751, 755 and 756 link Fort Lee and nearby Edgewater, Cliffside Park and Englewood Cliffs with Paramus. Construction can move stops, so check current stops in the Trip Planner.
• Fares: on interstate buses (into New York), an adult one-way ticket is $2.20 for 1 zone, $4.20 for 2 zones, $5.45 for 3 zones and $7.30 for 4 zones. Riders 62 and older, riders with disabilities and children 5 to 11 pay a reduced fare ($1.85 for 2 zones). A 2-zone monthly pass is $129. Check the zone count for your route from Fort Lee in the app or on the route diagram.
• Paying: mobile tickets in the NJ TRANSIT app, ticket machines, cash on board (exact fare on some routes), or a contactless credit card tap on all buses. Transfers are not issued or accepted on interstate trips.
• Coming back: if you board at the Port Authority Bus Terminal or the George Washington Bridge Bus Terminal, buy your ticket before boarding. The GWB Bus Terminal is at 4211 Broadway, New York. Its ticket office is open weekdays 6 to 10 a.m. and 2 to 5:30 p.m. and weekends 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with two ticket machines.
• Ferry: NY Waterway runs weekday commuter-hour ferries from the landing in neighboring Edgewater to W. 39th Street in Manhattan. A one-way adult ticket is $12.50, children 6 to 11 pay $8.50, and children 5 and under ride free. NY Waterway says these fares do not include a 6% fuel surcharge.
• Seniors and residents with disabilities: the Fort Lee Parking Authority runs a free local bus for seniors and free non-emergency medical rides on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, by appointment, to hospitals in Teaneck, Englewood and Hackensack. Reservations: 201-592-3500 ext. 1518, weekdays 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Airport: Newark Liberty (EWR) is New Jersey's major airport and has Turkish Airlines nonstops to Istanbul. Its AirTrain is being replaced, with the new system expected to open in 2030. Until then, the current AirTrain keeps running between the terminals 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.
4. Internet and TV: the borough's utilities page lists the internet and cable providers serving Fort Lee (such as Optimum, Verizon, Spectrum and AT&T). You sign up with the company directly, not through the borough.

Water (Veolia Water New Jersey)

• Starting service: Veolia's online start-service page says "coming soon," so service is started by phone. Veolia's start-service page lists (877) 565-1456; its customer service directory lists 800-422-5987 for Veolia Water New Jersey.
• No SSN requirement: citing the New Jersey rule (N.J.A.C. 14:3-3.2(h)), Veolia's tariff says a utility shall not require a Social Security number as a condition of service.
• Deposit: applicants without established credit may be asked for a deposit equal to the estimated average bill for one billing period plus one month. Deposits earn simple interest and are refunded when the account closes.
• Rates (since August 1, 2026): $8.0595 per 1,000 gallons, plus a monthly facilities charge by meter size: $22.58 a month for the 5/8-inch meter common in homes and apartments. A Veolia rate filing is pending with the state board, so rates may change again.
• Sewer: sewer payments go to the Fort Lee Tax Collector, and the Bergen County Utilities Authority (BCUA) handles treatment. If you rent, check your lease to see who pays for water and sewer.

Trash and recycling (Fort Lee)

• Days: Fort Lee is split into three groups: Monday and Thursday, Tuesday and Friday, and Wednesday and Saturday. Find your group in the street list on the borough's trash page.
• Bulk waste: on your second garbage day of the week, 2 items at most. For white goods such as a refrigerator or washer, call IWS to schedule: 866-342-5497. Apartment buildings follow their management's rules.
• Electronics and batteries: computers, small electronics and rechargeable batteries go to the DPW yard at 530 Jane Street. Appliances, air conditioners, vacuums and microwaves are not accepted there.
• Yard waste: Mondays from April to October, in paper lawn bags; branches must be under 4 feet. Leaves are collected weekly from October to December, set at the curb without plastic bags.
• Hazardous waste: paint, chemicals and similar items go to BCUA collection events: 201-641-2552.
• Free paper shredding: Saturday, October 10, 2026, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Fort Lee Recreation Center (1500 Stillwell Ave). For Fort Lee residents with proof of residency, up to 4 bags.
• Questions: for a missed pickup, call IWS at 866-342-5497. For general questions, call the DPW at 201-592-3632.

Requests and complaints: report roads, trash, noise or maintenance issues through the Report a General Concern form. The borough switchboard is 201-592-3500: Tax Collector ext. 1504, Parking Authority ext. 1518, Health Department ext. 1510. In an emergency, always call 911.

Alerts: register with Nixle for storm, road closure and emergency notices. The borough also has a mobile app.

Fort Lee Public Library card

• Free for: Fort Lee residents. The library's card page asks for one proof of Fort Lee residency: a New Jersey driver's license, bank statement, credit card bill, lease or tax bill. No SSN is mentioned.
• What you get: books, movies and eBooks, borrowing from other BCCLS libraries across Bergen County, museum passes, computers and programs. The world language collection has more than 10,000 items in Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Russian and Spanish; there is no Turkish section.
• English classes: the library runs an ESL program with volunteer tutors ([email protected]). Registration periods are limited, so ask about the next session.
• Hours: the library's page lists Monday to Thursday 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Holiday hours vary, so call 201-592-3614 before you go.

Fort Lee rent leveling

• Coverage: all rented housing, except hotels and motels, owner-occupied buildings with fewer than three units, and units owned by the Fort Lee Housing Authority.
• Increases: no more than 5% a year, and no sooner than 12 months after the last increase. For senior and disabled tenants who qualify under the Senior Citizens and Disabled Protected Tenancy Act, no more than 3.5%. An increase above these caps is void.
• Notice: the landlord must send you the increase with its calculation by certified mail and send a copy to the Rent Leveling Board. Landlords must register with the board.
• Single-family homes, condos and co-ops: when such a unit becomes vacant, the landlord can set a new rent freely but must register the new tenant and rent with the board within 60 days. If you move to another apartment in the same building, the new rent can be at most 15% above the old one.
• Complaints: the tenant complaint fee is $20. The rent leveling office is at the Fort Lee Housing Authority, 1403 Teresa Drive (off 10th Street): 201-676-3008. Forms are on the Rent Leveling Board page.
• Finding the owner: owners of non-owner-occupied buildings with 1 or 2 units register with the Borough Clerk; buildings with 3 or more units register with the state Bureau of Housing Inspection.

Deposits and evictions (state rules)

• Deposit: no more than 1.5 months' rent. The landlord must keep it in an interest-bearing account at a New Jersey bank and tell you in writing, within 30 days, the bank, account type, interest rate and amount. The interest belongs to you. A yearly increase in the deposit cannot exceed 10% of the current deposit.
• Refund: within 30 days after the lease ends, with an itemized list of deductions, by personal delivery or certified or registered mail. Deductions are allowed only for damage beyond ordinary wear and tear or money owed under the lease. If the deposit comes back late or not at all, you can sue for double the amount plus court costs.
• 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.

Paying in Fort Lee

• Tax Collector: 309 Main Street, Room 208, 201-592-3500 ext. 1504, weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Online payment and tax lookup are on the borough's website.
• Late payment: there is a 10-calendar-day grace period after each due date. After that, interest runs at 8% on the first $1,500 and 18% above it. There is no discount for paying early.
• Deductions: the borough's Tax Assessor handles senior, disabled and veteran deductions.

State relief programs

• 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.

1. Start online. Fill out the registration forms in the Genesis registration system. The Registration Office is at 231 Main Street, 3rd Floor, Fort Lee, NJ 07024; phone 201-585-4612 ext. 7506.
2. Gather documents. Ask the Registration Office for Fort Lee's current document list. Under state rules, a district may ask for proof of the child's age and your address, but must let you prove them with many different documents. Immunization records are also required for school entry. Have Turkish documents translated into English.
3. Keep your proof of address current. The district says it maintains a "very strict" residency policy, that students found in violation are subject to removal, and that every change of address must be reported to the Registration Office promptly. Keep documents in your name such as a lease, tax bill or utility bill.

• Schools: Fort Lee School No. 1, 2, 3 and 4, Lewis F. Cole Intermediate School, Lewis F. Cole Middle School and Fort Lee High School.
• Age rules: kindergarten, age 5 by October 1; grade 1, age 6 by October 1.
• Registration calendar: for 2026-27, kindergarten and grades 1 to 12 registration opened March 5, 2026, and Pre-K registration ran April 1 to May 1, 2026. The next year's schedule is usually announced in the spring. If you move mid-year, call the Registration Office.
• Free and reduced-price meals: the district's website has an online application and a parent letter in English and Spanish.
• Vaccines: New Jersey requires certain vaccines for school entry. The Bergen County Department of Health Services says uninsured children can be referred to a site with free vaccines for eligible residents: 201-634-2600.
• Language: the district's website has a translation menu in 10 languages, including Korean, Chinese and Spanish, but not Turkish. It also has an "Access for ELLs" page for English learners.

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. Say at registration that you want to apply for Charity Care or financial assistance. The financial assistance office of Bergen New Bridge Medical Center, the county hospital in Paramus, is listed below.
• 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.
• Fort Lee Health Department: 309 Main Street (behind Borough Hall), 201-592-3500 ext. 1510. It handles marriage licenses, vital records, pet licenses and health notices. Its page lists no regular medical clinic, but it runs events such as a health fair and blood pressure checks during the year.
• Bergen County Department of Health Services: One Bergen County Plaza, 4th Floor, Hackensack, 201-634-2600. It runs public health nursing, communicable disease and TB control, and cancer screening programs.
• Free medical rides: Fort Lee seniors and residents with disabilities can ride the borough's free bus to hospitals in Teaneck, Englewood and Hackensack on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, by appointment: 201-592-3500 ext. 1518.
• 988: the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline answers calls, texts and chats 24/7.

Free care (with eligibility rules)

Bergen Volunteer Medical Initiative (BVMI) · Hackensack and Garfield

Free care for adults without health insurance: primary care, an annual physical with labs, chronic disease care, an annual well-woman exam with a mammogram for women 40 and older, mental health support, and referrals to outside doctors. To qualify, you must be 18 or older, live in Bergen County, have someone working in the household, earn up to 250% of the federal poverty level and have no health insurance. Applicants are screened and bring proof of Bergen County residency, proof of earned income (tax returns, pay stubs or an employer letter) and a medical history; screening is repeated every year. The website is in English, Spanish and Korean.

Addresses: Lynn Diamond Healthcare Center, 75 Essex St., Suite 100, Hackensack, NJ 07601 (Monday 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Wednesday to Friday 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.); Russell Berrie Healthcare Center, 529 Midland Ave., Garfield, NJ 07026 (Wednesday and Thursday only, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.).
Hackensack: 201-342-2478 · Garfield: 551-380-4800 · Services and eligibility

Borough and county programs

Fort Lee Health Fair · October 3, 2026

Saturday, October 3, 2026, 9 a.m. to noon, Jack Alter Community Center (1355 Inwood Terrace). The borough's flyer lists free screenings for body mass index, blood pressure, cholesterol, skin cancer, glucose and hearing. Flu shots are free for people 65 and older with Medicare Part B and $5 for everyone else. Bloodwork is paid (panels from $40 to $60, for example), requires a 12-hour fast and needs pre-registration: 201-592-3500 ext. 1510. Bring ID and your insurance card for vaccines.

Ask the Nurse · Fort Lee Public Library

The borough nurse answers questions and checks blood pressure at the library (320 Main Street): October 14, 2026 at 2 p.m., and November 4 and December 2, 2026 at 11 a.m. The flyer says the sessions are open to all and lists no fee. Questions: 201-592-3500 ext. 1510.

Bergen County CEED · cancer screening

Screenings for people without symptoms: breast (women 40 and older), cervical (21 and older), colorectal (45 and older) and prostate (men 55 and older), or earlier with higher risk. The county says its services are free to those who qualify. The program does not treat diagnosed cancer.
201-634-2660 · 201-336-3350 · CEED page

Center with income-based fees

North Hudson Community Health Center · Hackensack and Englewood

A Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) with a sliding fee discount program for uninsured patients based on family size and income; fee amounts are not published. It accepts Medicaid, Medicare and private insurance and has a discount pharmacy program. Its website lists adult medicine, pediatrics, women's health, podiatry and dental care at the Hackensack site. Addresses: East Salem Street, Hackensack, NJ 07601, and 197 South Van Brunt St, Englewood, NJ 07631. The website shows two different street numbers for Hackensack, so call before you go.
201-210-0200 · Patient information

Hospital financial assistance

Bergen New Bridge Medical Center · Paramus

The county's public hospital says its mission is to provide emergency and medically necessary hospital services regardless of ability to pay. You can apply for Charity Care, or for a Compassionate Billing Discount if you do not qualify for full assistance; bring proof of identity, income and assets. Staff in Room 130 of the Main Building help with the application.
Financial assistance: 201-967-4114 · Appointments: 201-225-7130 · Charity Care page

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 the Charity Care income scale and emergency care.

• Where: the Fort Lee Health Department, 309 Main Street (behind Borough Hall). When you call, ask for a registrar. If neither of you lives in New Jersey, apply in the New Jersey town where the ceremony will take place; the license is then valid only there.
• What to bring: ID showing legal name and date of birth for both of you (driver's license, passport, or state or federal ID); proof of Fort Lee residency for the resident (driver's license, utility bill or a notarized landlord letter); a witness 18 or older; and $28. Ask about accepted payment methods when you book. Foreign-language documents need a certified English translation.
• Previous marriages: if divorced, the former spouse's name and the date and place the marriage ended; if widowed, the spouse's name and the date and place of death.
• SSN: Fort Lee's page asks for a Social Security card or number "for applicants who are U.S. citizens" and says it will be kept confidential. If you are not a U.S. citizen, your passport serves as ID; if unsure, ask at your appointment.
• Timing: there is a 72-hour wait after you apply. Before the license is issued, you provide the ceremony date and place and the officiant's name and address. Fort Lee's page says the license must be used within 30 days of pickup or it expires. The state Department of Health says the application is valid for 6 months from the date it is accepted, or up to 1 year with the registrar's approval. Check the validity period with the registrar before you set a date.
• Who can officiate: a minister of any religion (including an imam), certain officials such as a mayor or County Clerk, civil celebrants and judges of certain courts.
• Certified copies: for marriages performed in Fort Lee, certified copies are available from the Fort Lee Health Department: $25 for the first copy and $2 for each additional copy ordered at the same time, according to the borough. You can also order from the state Office of Vital Statistics and Registry in Trenton.

• 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. Local fees vary by municipality.
• Events in Fort Lee: certified copies of births, deaths and marriages that took place in Fort Lee come from the Fort Lee Health Department (309 Main Street, 201-592-3500 ext. 1510). The borough lists $25 for the first copy and $2 for each additional copy ordered at the same time.
• State office: the New Jersey Office of Vital Statistics and Registry holds birth records from 1925 on. The search and first certified copy cost $25, and each additional copy ordered at the same time is $2. 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.
• Who can order: vital records are not public and cannot be searched online. A certified copy requires ID and proof of your relationship to the person on the record. Check accepted IDs on the state's ordering 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: the SSA office closest to Fort Lee appears to be at Continental Plaza, 401 Hackensack Avenue, Hackensack, NJ 07601. SSA assigns offices by ZIP code, not distance, so enter your Fort Lee ZIP code (07024) in the SSA office locator before you go and check the floor and hours there. 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.

What can I do in Fort Lee without an SSN?

• Driver's license: the New Jersey MVC accepts an SSN, an ITIN, or a notarized affidavit from people eligible for neither for a standard license or ID. See the driver's license section.
• School: state regulations (N.J.A.C. 6A:22-3.4) bar schools from making enrollment depend on an SSN or immigration status (see school enrollment).
• Taxes: people who must file but cannot get an SSN use an ITIN (see the tax section below).

• 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 follows the federal EITC requirements apart from the age rule, 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 office with ITIN services is in Paramus. Its address is listed as 1 Kalisa Way, Suite 319, Paramus, NJ 07652; confirm it with the IRS office locator before you go. Other offices in the state are in Newark, Paterson, Parsippany, Springfield, Edison, Freehold, Cherry Hill and Mays Landing.
• 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. Fort Lee is in Bergen County: Bergen County Clerk, 1 Bergen County Plaza, Hackensack, NJ 07601, (201) 336-7000. 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.

Registering with the Borough of Fort Lee

• Business Registration Form: under Borough Ordinance 96-10, every business operating in Fort Lee must register with the borough. The form is due back within 10 days.
• Business Certificate of Occupancy (BCO): a separate certificate for the premises you use. Both forms are on the borough's forms page. Ask the borough about the fee and inspection before you apply.
• Where to ask: Borough Clerk, 309 Main Street, Room 102, Fort Lee, NJ 07024, 201-592-3500 ext. 1505.

• 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: on September 14, 2026, more than 20 states filed one lawsuit and cities led by New York City filed another. As of September 25, 2026, no court has blocked the rule.

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. If your attorney is taking part, they must be there in person with you.
• 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: the Newark court is open weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; the filing window closes at 4 p.m., and it is closed on federal holidays. Expect metal-detector screening at the entrance, so 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 New Jersey unit 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 18 by Election Day (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. Fort Lee is in the Bergen 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. According to the Borough of Fort Lee elections page, early voting for the November 3, 2026 general election runs from Saturday, October 24 through Sunday, November 1 at the Jack Alter Community Center, 1355 Inwood Terrace, with a ballot drop box in front of the building. On Election Day, polls are open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. The county election offices are at 1 Bergen County Plaza in Hackensack.

• Bergen County Clerk: 1 Bergen County Plaza, Hackensack, NJ 07601, (201) 336-7000. Passport applications are accepted without an appointment. Call for the office hours before you go. The Clerk also runs occasional passport outreach days in nearby boroughs; check the Clerk's site for dates.
• Other acceptance facilities: for post offices and other locations, enter the Fort Lee ZIP code (07024) 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.

• Visitor Center: the Fort Lee Historic Park Visitor Center is closed for building maintenance through October 9, 2026. After it reopens, it is open daily 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. through October 31, then Wednesday to Sunday 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. from November 1. Phone: 201-461-1776.
• Free parking days: Palisades parking is free on October 12, November 3 (Election Day), November 11 and Thanksgiving.
• Giant Stairs: closed to all use for a rockfall assessment, with no reopening date. Do not plan a hike there.

Free

• Palisades programs: guided hikes, Visitor Center film screenings and history programs are open to all at no charge, with no registration. Budget for parking at the meeting point.
• Wednesdays at Ross Dock: from April to October, parking is free on Wednesdays at the Ross Dock, Englewood and Alpine picnic areas.
• Fort Lee Public Library: 320 Main Street. According to the library's site, a card is free with one proof of Fort Lee residency, such as a New Jersey driver's license, bank statement, lease or tax bill. It offers English (ESL) classes with volunteer tutors for adults, children's and teen programs, digital books and museum passes for cardholders. Call 201-592-3614 for current hours and class sessions.
• Borough events: events such as the health fair and shredding day are posted on the Fort Lee calendar.

With kids

• Fort Lee Historic Park: a reconstructed officers' hut, bridge views and living-history events through October and November.
• Ross Dock: a riverside playground and picnic area. You need a car to get there.
• Bergen County Zoo: inside Van Saun County Park. Bergen County residents pay $6 for adults and $4 for ages 3 to 14; other visitors pay $10 and $7. The train and carousel are $3 per ride. No pets. Check hours on the zoo's page before you go.
• American Dream: an indoor amusement park and water park for rainy days. 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

• By bus: the consulate is in Manhattan, across the George Washington Bridge from Fort Lee. NJ Transit routes 156 and 159 run from Fort Lee to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan; from there you transfer to the subway or a city bus. Check stops and routing in NJ Transit's trip planner before you leave.
• By car: the George Washington Bridge is tolled in the New York direction (see tolls). Driving into Manhattan south of 60th Street also triggers the Congestion Relief Zone toll, and the consulate is inside the zone. Allow time for bridge 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. If your baby was born at a hospital outside Fort Lee (for example in Englewood, Teaneck or Hackensack), the certificate comes from the town where the hospital is (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. A New York record, such as the certificate for a wedding held in Manhattan, must be authenticated in New York.

• 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: check days and times on the Turkish Airlines Newark page.
• JFK to Istanbul: see the Turkish Airlines New York page. It is worth comparing both airports on price and timing.