Turkish-Speaking Immigration Attorney in Jacksonville

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. To keep driving on Florida roads, you need a Florida license within 30 days of that date.
2. Gather your documents. You apply in person and take a vision test. Noncitizens bring proof of identity, proof of lawful presence in the U.S., an SSN if eligible, and proof of Florida residence, as originals or certified copies. Check the list for your status on FLHSMV's page for immigrants.
3. 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.
4. Walk in for the road test. Duval County does not take appointments for road tests. They are given only on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at the Soutel, Westside, Mandarin, Neptune Beach, Roosevelt and St. Johns Square branches. Bring your learner's permit (if you have one), proof of insurance and the vehicle registration.

Jacksonville branches that handle driver's licenses

Branches are open weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; the main line is (904) 255-5700. Every branch in the table gives learner's permit and CDL exams (8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Yates, Soutel and Westside). To book an appointment or join the same-day virtual line, pick your branch on the branch page. The Kernan branch closed on July 24, 2026, and the Hogan branch on September 2, 2026; the St. Johns Square branch replaced both. Do not go to the old Hogan or Kernan address.

• 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 waivers: FLHSMV says new residents may skip the written or road test depending on where their prior license came from. Confirm the list at the office rather than assuming.
• Test language: since February 6, 2026, knowledge and road tests are in English only. You cannot bring an interpreter.
• Road test: walk-in only in Duval, Tuesday to Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at select branches (see the branch table). The car you test in must be insured and registered.
• 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 medical costs, regardless of fault) and $10,000 PDL. Bodily Injury Liability (BIL) is not required for ordinary passenger cars.
2. Sort out the title. If the car has a loan, ask the out-of-state lienholder to send the title to Florida; if it agrees, you use Form HSMV 82040. If it refuses, get the refusal in writing on letterhead 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 a branch. In Jacksonville, all eight Tax Collector branches offer registration and title services (addresses in the license section).

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, a good choice if you drive to the Northeast often.
• 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 a Toll Enforcement Invoice for each rolling 30-day period, plus $2.50 per invoice. It cannot be used on Florida's Managed Lanes, where a transponder is required.
• Other uses: SunPass also pays for parking at major Florida airports.

• App: buy passes and plan trips in JTA's MyJTA app.
• First Coast Flyer: JTA's bus rapid transit network, 58 miles of routes, same fare as a regular bus.
• Transfer hub: the Regional Transportation Center at LaVilla (opened May 2020) brings the Skyway, buses, the First Coast Flyer, intercity buses and rail into one building.
• College and vocational students: the "My Ride to Train" pilot charges $1 per ride or $35 for a 31-day pass.
• Riders with disabilities: Connexion paratransit costs $3 per trip for ADA riders and $3.50 for Transportation Disadvantaged riders.
• Airport: Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) serves domestic routes only, on Southwest, American, United, Delta, Allegiant, Avelo and Breeze. Turkish Airlines flies nonstop to Istanbul from Miami (MIA), about 11 hours. From Jacksonville, you first take a domestic flight to Miami or another major hub.

1. Pick your route. With an SSN, you can sign up online 24/7. To sign up without giving an SSN, bring two IDs from JEA's accepted list (valid, unexpired, with a photo that matches you) to a JEA Customer Business Center.
2. Bring two IDs. The list includes a U.S. driver's license, a state ID, a U.S. government or military ID, a U.S. passport, a green card, a foreign passport with an I-94, a foreign passport with an I-551 stamp, and a B-1/B-2 visa with a Border Crossing Card. A Turkish passport with your I-94 counts as one item, so you need a second one from the list, such as a Florida driver's license or a green card.
3. Check the deposit. If you give an SSN and pass JEA's credit check, the deposit may be waived. Otherwise it is twice the address's average monthly bill or the minimum below, whichever is higher.
4. Time the start date. Requests made by 2 p.m. on the start date are connected the same business day; later requests start the next business day. The connection fee is $10, or $25 if you ask for same-day service in the afternoon. Addresses that have never had service can take longer.

• Deposit interest: deposits earn interest at the 12-month Treasury Bill rate, credited once a year. After 12 months of continuous service and a good payment record, the deposit may be applied to your balance.
• Moving out: if you leave JEA's service area, the deposit and interest go toward your final bill, and any refund is issued within 4 to 6 weeks.
• JEA MyWay: pay as you go, with no deposit, credit check, late fees or reconnection fees. You add money when the balance runs low, and there is no traditional monthly bill. An existing deposit is credited to your MyWay balance.
• Business service: (904) 665-6250.

• Water and sewer: both come from JEA, set up together with electricity.
• Collection days: garbage, recycling and yard waste days are address-specific. Call 630-CITY or enter your address in MyJax.
• Solid waste fee: charged to owners of parcels with four or fewer residential units, occupied or not, as a non-ad valorem assessment on the property tax bill. As of March 2025, it was $12.65 a month ($151.80 a year). The rate is reviewed every year, and there are no discount programs. For waiver affidavits and disputes, call 904-255-7500.
• Apartments: the city does not collect curbside recycling at most multifamily complexes. Ask your building management.
• Hazardous waste: not allowed at the curb. Put needles and sharps in a sealed, sturdy plastic or metal container (not glass or clear) in the middle of your regular garbage, or use Florida Health Duval County's SHARPS program.
• Building debris: homeowner-generated debris goes out on regular garbage day, up to 1 cubic yard a week, in areas without automated collection, and every other week on bulk day in automated areas. Contractors must haul away their own debris.

630-CITY: the city's general request line for collection days, missed pickups and similar problems. You can open the same requests online through MyJax. In a life-threatening emergency, always call 911.

Jacksonville Public Library card

• Duval residents: a free Resident Card with proof of Duval residence and one ID. The library's page gives a driver's license or a permanent resident card as examples and does not ask for an SSN or citizenship.
• Under 18: a parent or guardian co-signs with their own ID and is responsible for borrowed items.
• How: online or at any branch. People who live outside Duval must apply in person.
• Rules: no overdue fines. Items renew automatically up to 5 times; lost or damaged items are still charged.
• For newcomers: free GED test prep and ESOL classes at the Center for Adult Learning.
• Non-residents: a free Connect Card for computers, study rooms and databases, or a paid Nonresident Card for borrowing.
• Phone: (904) 255-2665.

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

Read the full text of Florida Statutes §83.49.

• 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 (or a dependent's). You cannot also claim a residency-based exemption in another state (§196.031).
• March 1: the filing deadline. Miss it and you lose the exemption for that year, with two narrow exceptions: a documented postal error, or filing within 25 days after tax notices are mailed with proven extenuating circumstances (§196.011).
• 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).
• Trash fee: the city's residential solid waste fee also appears on the property tax bill (see trash).

• Zones: according to JaxReady, Zone A covers the most vulnerable areas, including manufactured and mobile homes, and evacuates first. Risk decreases from B to E. Zone F is different: it covers areas at risk from rainfall and inland flooding rather than storm surge.
• Why Duval is different: the St. Johns River and the Atlantic interact, so Duval's zone system is more complex than most counties'. It was developed with NOAA, the National Weather Service and the North East Florida Regional Planning Council.
• State tool: Florida's Know Your Zone page also looks up zones by address. For Duval, JaxReady is more detailed.
• Leave early: most of Duval's low-lying, flood-prone areas are along the coast and the rivers. If your home would be unsafe in a hurricane, leave early, even without an official order.
• Buildings: Florida homes built after 2002 include hurricane-resistant features required by the state building code.
• Flood insurance: standard homeowners and renters policies do not cover flooding. 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. Buying one when a storm is on the way is too late.

1. Know the requirements. DCPS's new student enrollment page lays out five steps: know the requirements, gather documents, complete the online application, receive the confirmation email, and create a linked parent account. There are step-by-step enrollment webinars and a Spanish-language guide.
2. Gather documents. A birth certificate or other valid proof of the child's date of birth; a Florida Certification of Immunization (Form DH 680) or an exemption; a physical exam from the past year for students new to Florida schools; and proof of residence such as a utility bill, a pay stub or a vehicle registration. If transferring, bring the latest report card or transfer record, and proof of guardianship if it applies.
3. Submit the application. After you apply online, you get a confirmation email and then link your parent account to the student. If you need help, walk in to the Parent Resource Center or book an appointment; waits can be long in summer.

For newcomer families: the Center for Language and Culture

DCPS runs a dedicated center for newly arrived, immigrant and refugee families: the Center for Language and Culture (CLC), 5354 Betty Ann Ln., Jacksonville, FL 32207, (904) 390-2526.

• Testing: initial English proficiency testing for every new non-English-speaking student, advice on program options (Home School, Dual Language, Newcomer), and help with registration paperwork, including school lunch and transportation.
• Orientation: information about American schools and service agencies, clinics and health care, translations, and referrals to VPK centers and the city's summer programs.
• Resource center: school orientation meetings, safety sessions with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, immunization information, parent workshops, and U.S. citizenship test preparation sessions.

• Home Language Survey: at registration you answer three questions about languages used at home. A "yes" to any of them means, under Florida rules, the student's English proficiency is screened within the first 20 school days. DCPS has more than 6,600 English Language Learners speaking 36 languages.
• Free pre-K (VPK): free for Florida residents who turn 4 on or before September 1. You apply through the Early Learning Coalition of Duval, not the school district: create a Family Portal account, submit the application with proof of Florida residence and the child's age, receive the Certificate of Eligibility by email and give it to the VPK provider you choose. The standard window is January 1 to February 28, and there is a late-enrollment process. Parents of children born between February 2 and September 1 may wait a year to start VPK. Phone: 904-208-2044. Offices: Southside (6500 Bowden Road, Suite 290) and Northside (2255 Dunn Avenue, Bldg. 100, Suite 102).
• District office: 1701 Prudential Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32207; 904-390-2000 (TDD/TTY: dial 711).

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

• UF Health Jacksonville financial assistance: under its policy, patients with family income below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines may get a discount of up to 100%. Uninsured patients who do not qualify for full assistance may get 45% off gross charges. Applicants must also apply for other programs they may qualify for, such as Medicaid, ACA coverage or disability. The page states no immigration-status requirement. Applications come in English, Spanish and Chinese.
• Where to apply: UF Health Jacksonville Admissions (655 West 8th Street), UF Health North Admissions (15255 Max Leggett Parkway) or the Financial Eligibility Department (1833 Boulevard). Financial counselors: (904) 244-4015, [email protected]. UF Health provided $42.9 million in charity care in 2022.
• Florida KidCare: the state's health coverage for children under 19, with income limits. The child must be a U.S. citizen or a lawfully residing noncitizen, such as a refugee, an asylee or a green card holder with 5 or more years. Undocumented children are not eligible.
• Florida Medicaid: narrowed 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 here under a Compact of Free Association; refugees, asylees and parolees are not on that closed list. Green card holders generally still face a 5-year wait. Undocumented immigrants could not get full Medicaid before and still cannot. A state option may still cover lawfully residing pregnant women and people under 21, so ask Florida whether it has taken it. The rule is section 71109 of Public Law 119-21. 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.
• Duval County Health Department (DOH-Duval): Central Health Plaza, 515 West 6th St., 904-253-1000, weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Services include WIC, immunizations, family planning, maternity care, dental care, STD testing and a refugee health program. Details are below.
• 988: the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline answers calls, texts and chats 24/7.

Free care (for the working uninsured)

Volunteers in Medicine Jacksonville (VIM-Jax) · Two locations

A free clinic for working adults without health insurance. Primary care, 15 specialties, mental health counseling, lab work, screenings and medications are provided at no cost. To qualify you must be 18 to 64; you or your spouse or partner must work at least 20 hours a week; you must be uninsured; and household gross income must fall within the clinic's published range. Bring a government-issued photo ID and proof of income for every working adult in the household: four weeks of recent pay stubs, a signed employer letter, or, if self-employed, three months of bank statements. Ask the clinic for the current income range before you apply.

South San Marco (downtown): 3728 Philips Highway, Suite 34, Jacksonville, FL 32207 · (904) 399-2766
West Jacksonville: 5126 Timuquana Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32210 · (904) 539-3020
Patient qualifying guidelines

Centers with income-based fees

Agape Family Health · Four Jacksonville locations

A Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). In its own words, no individual or family is turned away for inability to pay. Its Sliding Discount Program lowers the cost of care for uninsured patients based on income and family size, and insured patients may also qualify. Services include primary care, behavioral health, vision and pharmacy. All locations close for lunch from noon to 1 p.m.

Southside: 3101 University Blvd South, Suite 200, Jacksonville, FL 32216, weekdays 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Northside: 1680 Dunn Avenue, Suite 35-38B, Jacksonville, FL 32218, weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Downtown: 120 King Street, Jacksonville, FL 32204, weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Westside: 5460 Blanding Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32244, weekdays 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Main line: (904) 760-4904 · Locations

Duval Family Health Center · Three locations

Accepts most insurance plans and offers a sliding fee scale. Its site says that if you do not have insurance or cannot afford to pay, you will still be seen. Services include primary care, behavioral health, outpatient substance-use care, dental care, optometry, women's health and specialty care such as cardiology, pulmonology and endocrinology. Fees go down with income, but care is not free by default.

Downtown: 611 E Adams St, Jacksonville, FL 32202 · medical (904) 394-1660, dental (904) 394-8060
Village: 5455 Springfield Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32208 · medical (904) 394-4958, dental (904) 394-4963
Beaches: 850 6th Ave S, Suite 500, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250 · (904) 224-3550
Duval Family Health Center

County health department

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

Pediatric and women's health, dental care, maternity care, family planning, immunizations and communicable disease services. According to the department, services are open to all residents and visitors and citizenship is not required. Fees follow a sliding scale based on household income and size, proof of income may be requested, and no one is denied service for inability to pay. Care is not free by default; bring your Medicaid card if you have one. The department runs several clinic sites and mobile units across the county.

Central Health Plaza: 515 West 6th St., Jacksonville, FL 32206, weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
(904) 253-1000 · Clinical services

Hospital bills

For a hospital stay or a bill after an ER visit, look at UF Health Jacksonville's income-based discount program; details are in health care without insurance. Financial Evaluation Department: 655 West 8th Street, Jacksonville, FL 32209, (904) 244-4015.

Questions to ask before booking

• Are you accepting new patients? Are there age, income, work, 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.

• Where: Duval County Courthouse, 501 West Adams Street, Room 2403, Jacksonville, FL 32202 (walk-in only), or the Beaches Branch, 1543 Atlantic Blvd, Neptune Beach, FL 32266 (walk-in, or by appointment through the eMarriage pre-application system). Phone: (904) 255-2000.
• Hours: the downtown courthouse is open weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; processing takes about 30 minutes, so arrive by 4:30 p.m. The Beaches Branch is open weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., so go early.
• ID: a valid government photo ID: a driver's license, passport, military ID, state ID card or alien registration card (green card). You do not need your Social Security card, only the number.
• No SSN: under Fla. Stat. 741.04, applicants state their Social Security number "or any other available identification number," so an alien registration number or another ID number can take its place.
• Fee: $86, or $61 with proof of an approved premarital course taken within the year before you apply, with both of you attending. The state's statutory base is $52; counties add their own fees.
• Waiting period: for Florida residents, the license takes effect after 3 days. A premarital course certificate removes the wait entirely. If neither of you lives in Florida, there is no wait.
• Validity: the license is good for a ceremony anywhere in Florida within 60 days of issue.

• In person: Bureau of Vital Statistics, 1217 N. Pearl St., Jacksonville, FL 32202, weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Cash, check, money order, Visa and Mastercard are accepted.
• 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.). The first certificate is $19 (including the $9 search fee and a $10 rush fee), plus VitalChek's $7 processing fee; each extra copy is $4.
• Mail: Florida Department of Health, Vital Statistics, P.O. Box 210, Jacksonville, FL 32231-0042. Computer-generated certificates are processed in 3 to 5 business days, not counting shipping. Priority processing adds a $10 rush fee.
• County health department: DOH-Duval also takes birth certificate orders; county health department fees can differ.
• Office and mail fees: $9 for the first computer-generated certificate (the non-refundable search fee), $4 for each extra copy. A manually produced photocopy certificate is $14 for the first copy and $4 for each extra, available only from the Bureau; same-day walk-in service for it needs a $10 rush fee. Mail orders add a $1 shipping and handling fee.
• ID: a valid photo ID such as a driver's license, state ID, passport or military ID.
• Which copy: a U.S. passport application and registering the birth in Türkiye may call for the detailed long-form record; ask which type fits when you order.
• Child's U.S. passport: for children under 16, a passport book is $100 plus a $35 acceptance fee, and a passport card is $15 plus $35. See the passport section.
• SSN: for your baby's Social Security number, see the SSN section.

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

According to SSA, you do not need an SSN for a driver's license, school registration or private health insurance. Under Florida law, a student does not have to provide an SSN to enroll (see school enrollment), and JEA, Jacksonville's electric and water utility, does not require one to open an account (see electricity).

• 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. If you buy a home and it is your permanent residence, you can apply for the homestead exemption by March 1 each year. 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: according to the IRS list, Jacksonville has a Taxpayer Assistance Center that reviews ITIN documents in person. Others in North Florida are in Gainesville, Daytona Beach and Tallahassee. Look up the current address with the IRS office locator.
• Appointments: IRS offices work by appointment only: 844-545-5640. It can take several weeks to get one.
• Expiration: an ITIN not used on a federal return for three years in a row expires.

• Formation: 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. Check the current fee on Sunbiz before you file.
• Filing services: the Florida Department of State warns that third-party filing services are not required and can be misleading. The official site shows the state seal and the Sunbiz logo. Questions: (850) 245-6000.

• 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. Undocumented immigrants still cannot get full Medicaid, but Emergency Medicaid covers emergencies, including labor and delivery.
• Health coverage for children: Florida KidCare covers children under 19, but only U.S. citizens and lawfully residing noncitizens. Undocumented children are not eligible. See health care.
• U.S.-citizen children in the household may still receive benefits in their own right. A child's own benefits generally do not count in a parent's public charge review.
• The new public charge rule: for green card applications filed on or after September 18, 2026, officers may consider any means-tested benefit (SNAP, Medicaid, housing assistance and others) received on or after that date. Benefits received earlier count only if they were cash assistance or long-term institutional care. Benefits received by family members are generally not counted.
• Who is exempt: humanitarian categories such as asylees and refugees, T and U visa holders, VAWA self-petitioners and TPS. Family-based, most employment-based and diversity visa applicants are subject to it.
• Litigation: lawsuits against the rule were filed in mid-September 2026. As of September 25, 2026, no court has blocked it.

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

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

• Addresses: your case, not distance, decides which office and support center you use. The address on your notice is the one that counts.
• Appointments and questions: USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283 (TTY 800-767-1833), or book online. Appointments are free.
• Processing times: on the USCIS processing times page, pick the form, category and Jacksonville 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. Military personnel are served without an appointment from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Our biometrics guide covers what to bring.
• Getting there: parking at the building is limited; it is wheelchair accessible. For transit, call JTA at 904-630-3181.
• Your attorney at the interview: since May 18, 2026, attorneys may no longer join field-office interviews remotely, except in limited circumstances. Your attorney has to attend in person.

• Hours: all three courts are open weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; the filing window closes at 4 p.m. Given the drive, consider leaving the day before.
• Krome: inside a detention facility. It also hears cases of people held at the Broward Transitional Center in Pompano Beach.
• Online lookup: ACIS needs only your A-number (A + 8 or 9 digits). Your hearing notice is still the official source; the system may show new dates late.
• ICE ERO: ICE's office list shows no separate ERO office in Jacksonville. It lists the Miramar Sub Office as covering all of Florida: 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. Jacksonville's unit is at the airport, 10426 Alta Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32226, open only Tuesday and Wednesday, 8 a.m. to noon; (904) 714-3100, [email protected]. Call to confirm before you go. It fixes only mistakes made at the time of entry.

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

Recently naturalized? You can register at RegisterToVoteFlorida.gov. For the November 3, 2026 general election, registration closes on October 5, 2026. Duval County Supervisor of Elections: 105 E. Monroe Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202, 904-255-8683 (904-255-VOTE), weekdays 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

• What the Clerk handles: new passports for adults and children, renewals of children's passports, and renewals of passports that expired more than 5 years ago. Both locations also take appointments. Phone: (904) 255-2000.
• Two separate payments: the State Department fee ($130 for an adult book) must be paid by check or money order; the Clerk's $35 acceptance fee can be paid in cash, by card or by money order. The Clerk also takes passport photos for $18.
• Other acceptance facilities: enter your Jacksonville ZIP code in the passport facility locator.
• What to bring: your original naturalization certificate and your ID.
• Children: a passport book for a child under 16 costs $100 plus the $35 acceptance fee.
• Urgent travel 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.

MOSH (Museum of Science and History) is closed. Its Southbank building closed on September 1, 2025. A new building on the Northbank is expected to open in summer 2028; until then the museum cannot be visited.

Always free

• Jacksonville Beach: under Florida law the beach itself is open to the public.
• Riverside Arts Market: every Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at 715 Riverside Ave under the Fuller Warren Bridge.
• Timucuan Preserve: no entrance fee anywhere in the preserve. Fort Caroline is open Wednesday to Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed Thanksgiving, December 25 and January 1. Phone: 904-641-7155.
• Kingsley Plantation: free admission and a free self-guided audio tour with 17 stops.
• St. Augustine: walking the historic district costs nothing. The fort is ticketed, except for U.S. citizens and residents on National Park Service fee-free days.

Free on certain days

• Cummer Museum: free for everyone on the third Tuesday of each month, 4 to 8 p.m. Children 5 and under are always free.

With kids

• Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens: age 2 and under free. Prices change by date, so check the website; tickets bought in advance cost less than at the gate.
• Kingsley Plantation: 20-minute ranger talks on the porch, Wednesday to Sunday at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
• Little Talbot Island: dunes, a natural beach and birdwatching. $5 per vehicle (up to 8 people), $2 for pedestrians and cyclists. Current fees are on the park page.
• Castillo de San Marcos: free for ages 15 and under. Cannon-firing demonstrations run five times a day on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
• MOSH: the science museum is closed until summer 2028, so leave it off your list for now.

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

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

Tips for your visit

• Distance: Miami is a drive of more than 5 hours from Jacksonville; most people drive or fly. Handle by mail whatever can be mailed, and plan in-person services for one trip.
• Timing: in-person applications are taken only in the morning block (9 a.m. to 1 p.m.). Be at the building before your slot; with the long drive, consider staying in Miami the night before.
• Holidays: check the consulate's site for closure days before you book.
• Birth registration: you need the U.S. birth certificate first. Florida's state Bureau of Vital Statistics is in Jacksonville, so you can get it in person (see birth certificates).
• Documents for Türkiye: Florida documents are apostilled in Tallahassee, not at the consulate (see apostille).
• Military service (askerlik): men born in 2007 must complete their registration (yoklama) by December 31, 2026, at the consulate or on e-Devlet. The paid military service option (dövizle askerlik) for July to December 2026 is the foreign-currency equivalent of 472,653.60 TL, paid in U.S. dollars at the Turkish central bank rate of the payment day (ask the consulate about any transfer fee and the current amount); the amount changes on January 1, 2027. It requires a U.S. residence or work permit, 3 years (1,095 days) of work abroad, the MSB online training, residence in the consulate's district and an in-person appointment in Miami. Dual citizens born in the U.S. or who came before 18 can defer until the end of age 35 after registering their U.S. citizenship. F-1 students defer through an education attaché; ask the consulate which one applies to you.

• Address: Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations, Apostille Section, 2415 N. Monroe Street, Suite 810, Tallahassee, FL 32303. Instructions are on the state's apostille page.
• 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 from the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics first. That office is in Jacksonville, at 1217 N. Pearl St. (see birth certificates).
• 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.
• JAX: Jacksonville International Airport has no nonstop flight to Istanbul, so you connect through another airport.
• Via Miami: Turkish Airlines flies nonstop between Miami (MIA) and Istanbul, about 11 hours in the air. Check days and times on the Turkish Airlines Miami page. A domestic flight connects Jacksonville to Miami.
• Other options: Turkish Airlines also flies to Istanbul from Atlanta (ATL), and other major U.S. and European hubs work too. Compare price and total travel time.