Turkish-Speaking Immigration Attorney in New Jersey

1. Pick your card. There are two tracks, the Standard license and REAL ID (see the table below). Both are issued by appointment at the same MVC Licensing Centers.
2. Collect 6 points. You need one primary document (4 points) plus at least 2 points of secondary documents. A Turkish passport counts on its own as a 4-point primary document. A Turkish driver's license also counts as a primary document when you bring another government-issued document with it. Secondary examples: a school or college photo ID with a transcript from any country (3 points), or a diploma from any country, a bank statement or a health insurance card (1 point each, two at most).
3. Add proof of address and a number. Bring one document showing you live in New Jersey (a lease, a utility bill or a bank statement, for example) and your SSN. If you cannot get an SSN, bring proof of your ITIN; if you are eligible for neither, sign MVC's notarized affidavit. Documents not in English need a certified translation, and no document may be expired more than 3 years.
4. Book an appointment. First licenses, ID cards, permits, out-of-state transfers and knowledge tests are appointment only. Book on MVC's appointment site. Licensing Centers are open 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays and 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturdays, closed Sundays.
5. Take the tests. For a first license, you get a permit and take the knowledge and vision tests (retest after 7 days if you fail). If you are 21 or older, you practice for 3 months, then take the road test (retest after 14 days). You then receive a probationary license.

Standard license or REAL ID: what is the difference?

What does it cost?

Current amounts are on MVC's fee page. MVC takes credit cards, checks, money orders and cash.

Where are the MVC Licensing Centers?

There are many around the state. Newark's center is at 228 Frelinghuysen Avenue, and North Bergen's, on the Hudson County side, is at 8901 Bergenline Avenue. In Bergen County, the Oakland center is at 350 Ramapo Valley Road, and the Wallington center handles REAL ID only, by appointment. For the centers nearest Clifton and Paterson (Wayne, Paterson and Lodi), see our Clifton guide. The full list is on MVC's locations page.

• Your Turkish license as ID: even though it cannot be exchanged, it counts as a 4-point primary document in the 6 Points of ID system when you bring another government-issued document with it. Bring a certified translation if it is not in English.
• Test language: MVC publishes the driver manual in English, Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, Gujarati, Korean, Arabic, Haitian Creole and Portuguese. There is no Turkish manual, so plan to study in English.
• Coming from another U.S. state: transfer your license and your vehicle registration within 60 days of moving, or before your old license or registration expires if that comes first. With a current, valid, non-provisional U.S. license, the knowledge and road tests are waived. You get a 4-year New Jersey license and surrender the old one.
• Moving from Texas: a Texas license counts as an out-of-state license and transfers without tests on the terms above. Note that the 90 days you had in Texas is 60 days here.

With a foreign license, follow the first-license steps above: permit, knowledge test, practice and road test.

1. Buy New Jersey insurance. Each vehicle needs an insurance ID card (paper or electronic). Coverage minimums are in the table below.
2. Book an MVC appointment. Registration is not done on a walk-in basis. Bring the title, your license or ID (6 points), your New Jersey insurance card and a completed Form BA-49. If the car comes from another state, also complete the Application for Certificate of Ownership. A business-owned vehicle needs an Entity ID Number first (Form BA-8).
3. Pay the fees. The title fee is $60, or $85 with one lien and $110 with two. The registration fee depends on the vehicle type and includes plates. New, never-titled vehicles get a 4-year registration. For sales tax questions, call the Division of Taxation at 609-984-6206.
4. Keep track of inspection. Cars are inspected every two years, and you can go up to 2 months early. Most gas passenger cars get an emissions-only inspection. Taxis, limousines and commercial-plated vehicles get an annual safety and emissions inspection.

The Basic Policy is cheap but barely covers damage you cause to others. On both policies, PIP pays up to $250,000 for certain catastrophic injuries. You also choose a lawsuit option, Limited or Unlimited Right to Sue. Details are on the Department of Banking and Insurance (DOBI) site. People eligible for federal Medicaid with hospitalization can buy a special medical-only policy for $365 a year.

What should I know about inspection?

• Exempt: fully electric vehicles and motorcycles. A car less than 5 model years old is exempt until it turns 5.
• Where: state inspection facilities, or licensed private garages that charge a fee. The state station in Newark has closed permanently. Open stations near Clifton and Paterson are in our Clifton guide.
• Bring: the originals of your license, registration and insurance card. Copies and PDFs are not accepted, except an electronic insurance card.
• Expired sticker: police can fine you $100 to $200, and MVC can revoke the registration.

Electric vehicle fee: since July 1, 2024, fully electric vehicles pay an annual fee at registration and every renewal. It started at $250 and rises by $10 a year for four years. Check the current amount on MVC's registration page.

• How to sign up: online at ezpassnj.com, by mail, or by calling (888) 288-6865.
• A tag usually costs less: E-ZPass New Jersey says tag holders may pay a lower toll than drivers without one. Unpaid toll bills pick up extra fees after the due date, then per-transaction fees, and can go to a collection agency.
• Current toll rates: Turnpike and Parkway rates are on the New Jersey Turnpike Authority site; bridge and tunnel rates are on the Port Authority site.
• Discount plans: with a New Jersey E-ZPass tag, the Turnpike Authority offers a Senior Citizens Discount Plan (65 and older) and a Green Pass Discount Plan for vehicles rated 45+ MPG or SULEV.

What does it cost to drive into Manhattan?

Since January 5, 2025, vehicles entering Manhattan at or below 60th Street pay the Congestion Relief Zone toll on top of any bridge or tunnel toll. According to the MTA, it is $9 at peak times with E-ZPass and $2.25 overnight. Peak hours are 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends.

The George Washington Bridge is the natural route into Manhattan from Bergen and Passaic counties, but it earns no credit. Drivers from Jersey City who use the Holland Tunnel do get it. There are no credits overnight on any crossing.

• Tickets and app: check routes and fares with the trip planner on NJ Transit's site. The NJ TRANSIT Mobile App sells mobile tickets and shows buses and trains in real time.
• Bus: fares go by zone. A monthly bus pass is $67 to $122 for one zone and over $570 for 18 zones. A monthly pass saves up to 30 percent on a daily commute.
• Rail: one-way tickets (valid 30 days), monthly and weekly passes, ten-trip tickets, and FlexPass, which sells 20 one-way trips between two stations at 15 percent off.
• FARE-PAY: a reloadable contactless card you load with $5 to $500. Tap it on buses and on the Hudson-Bergen, Newark and River LINE light rail lines. Register it so your balance is protected if you lose it.
• Family Fare: from Friday 7 p.m. to Monday 6 a.m., up to two children aged 5 to 11 ride free with a paying adult.

PATH and Newark Penn Station

NJ Transit, Amtrak and PATH trains all meet at Newark Penn Station. PATH links Hudson River cities such as Jersey City with Manhattan. Current fares and payment options are on the Port Authority's PATH page.

How do I get to Newark airport (EWR)?

• The AirTrain still runs: construction of a $3.5 billion replacement AirTrain began in October 2025, with service on the new system planned for 2030. Until then, the current AirTrain keeps connecting the terminals, parking, the rental car center and the Rail Link Station.
• By train: NJ Transit and Amtrak trains stop at the Rail Link Station.
• Flights to Istanbul: Turkish Airlines flies nonstop between Newark and Istanbul. See the Türkiye section for the time difference.

For transit around Clifton and Paterson, see our Clifton guide.

• Water and trash: each municipality handles these. Clifton, for example, collects garbage twice a week, while in Paterson a private contractor collects it for the city. Ask your town hall or landlord who serves your address.
• Getting into Manhattan: drivers from Bergen and Passaic counties mostly take the George Washington Bridge; from Hudson County, the Holland or Lincoln Tunnel. The congestion-toll difference is explained in the E-ZPass section.
• Turkish consulate: it is in New York, not New Jersey, and serves Turkish citizens in New Jersey too (see below).

1. Find your utility. It depends on your address. If you are not sure, ask your landlord or town hall.
2. Open the account. PSE&G's form asks for the new address, a start date, your name, email, phone, date of birth and SSN. The SSN goes to Experian, a credit bureau, for identity and credit checks. The phone line is open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays.
3. Connection day. If service is off, the utility schedules a remote or in-person turn-on. PSE&G recommends that someone 18 or older be at home when power is connected.
4. Choosing a supplier is optional. In New Jersey you can buy electricity or gas from a third-party supplier. The lines, meter and delivery stay with PSE&G or your local utility. Compare suppliers' fixed and variable rates on NJ Power Switch, run by the Board of Public Utilities (BPU).

Water and trash: these vary by town. In Clifton and Paterson, water comes from the Passaic Valley Water Commission; see our Clifton guide. Before any digging, New Jersey law requires you to call 1-800-272-1000 (Call Before You Dig) at least 4 full days ahead.

• Increase cap: the deposit can go up by no more than 10 percent of the current deposit per year.
• Account notice: within 30 days of receiving the deposit, the landlord must tell you in writing the bank, account type, interest rate and amount. The same notice is due within 30 days of any transfer.
• Interest: it belongs entirely to the tenant, and the landlord cannot deduct administrative fees. It is paid each year in cash or credited toward rent.
• If the landlord breaks the rules: if the landlord skips the notice or does not deposit the money properly, you can demand in writing that the deposit plus 7 percent a year be applied to your rent. After that, the landlord cannot collect another deposit from you for the rest of your tenancy.
• Return: within 30 days, by hand or by certified or registered mail. Deductions are allowed only for damage beyond normal wear and tear, or for money you owe under the lease. Tenants ending a lease because of domestic violence get it back within 15 business days; tenants displaced by fire, flood or condemnation, within 5 business days.
• Exemption: owner-occupied buildings with two or fewer rental units are exempt, but a tenant can opt in with 30 days' written notice.
• Disputes: deposit claims up to $5,000 go to the Small Claims Section of Superior Court.

Can my landlord make me leave?

New Jersey's Anti-Eviction Act requires "good cause," one of the grounds listed in the law, for almost every eviction and even for refusing to renew a lease. Nonpayment, lease violations and retiring a building from residential use are some of the grounds, and each has its own notice period. Changing the locks, removing your belongings or cutting off utilities without a court order is illegal: call the police if it happens. Only a judge can order an eviction. See the Department of Community Affairs' eviction bulletin and security deposit bulletin.

• Automatic filing: most homeowners under 65 (not on disability benefits) and most renters of any age were filed for ANCHOR automatically, with confirmation letters mailed on August 10, 2026. Seniors and people receiving disability benefits file PAS-1 themselves.
• Stay NJ payments: paid quarterly; the 2025 benefit pays out in February and May 2027.
• One statement: after you file PAS-1, a single statement shows what you qualify for under each program.
• Where: apply and check status on the state's property tax relief site. Program rules are on the Division of Taxation's ANCHOR page.

Your town sets and collects the property tax itself. For Clifton tax questions, see our Clifton guide.

1. Find your district. Your address decides it. Each district sets its own registration process, kindergarten age cutoff and Pre-K programs; there is no single statewide enrollment portal.
2. Choose your proof of address. The regulation lists documents districts can accept, including a lease, a deed or property tax bill, a notarized landlord letter, a utility bill, a driver's license, bank or employment records, benefit letters, sworn statements, and any other document issued by a government agency. A district may not refuse enrollment because you lack one particular document when you offer other proof.
3. Fill out the language survey. Every family answers a Home Language Survey at registration. If a language other than English is spoken at home, your child may take the WIDA ACCESS English test. It is given every winter, and students exit English learner services with a score of 4.5 out of 6.
4. Finish missing paperwork later. The New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) tells districts to set reasonable timelines for late documents. Students without a fixed home, including those staying in shelters or doubled up with others (McKinney-Vento), are enrolled right away without the usual documents.

How does registration work in the big districts?

• Paterson: Paterson Public Schools' Central Registration office is at 90 Delaware Avenue. The district serves more than 9,000 multilingual learners speaking over 30 languages and runs a separate Newcomers High School for students new to the U.S. with limited English.
• Clifton: registration is at the Welcome Center, 745 Clifton Avenue. School 13 runs a Turkish bilingual program, and free full-day preschool (CELA) is available for 3- and 4-year-olds. Details are in our Clifton guide.
• Newark, Jersey City and other districts: each runs its own registration office and calendar. Get the details from the district's website or registration office.

• NJ FamilyCare: free or low-cost coverage for doctor visits, prescriptions, vision, dental, mental health and hospital care. Apply online or call 1-800-701-0710 (Monday and Thursday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., other weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.). The program's own site says eligibility rules will change starting in fall 2026, so check the current rules before you apply.
• Cover All Kids: no immigration requirement for children under 19. All other NJ FamilyCare rules still apply.
• Get Covered NJ: New Jersey's own marketplace, used instead of healthcare.gov since 2021. The state says 8 in 10 consumers qualify for financial help. Open enrollment starts each November 1, and a life event such as marriage or a move lets you enroll during the year.
• Charity Care: the state's hospital payment assistance program, available at every acute care hospital in New Jersey. At or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level, hospital charges are fully covered; between 201 and 300 percent, you pay 20 to 80 percent. You must live in New Jersey, lack adequate insurance and not qualify for Medicaid. The asset limit is $7,500 for an individual and $15,000 for a family. Apply at the hospital's billing or admissions office; the hospital must decide within 10 business days. Private physician fees, anesthesiology, radiology readings and outpatient prescriptions are not covered.
• Health centers: find sliding-fee community health centers near you with HRSA's locator. Free and low-cost clinics in Clifton and Paterson are listed in our Clifton guide.
• 988: the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, with interpreters available.

• Where: the municipality where either applicant lives. Each town sets its own appointment process and may ask for extra documents, so call before you go.
• ID: a driver's license, passport, or state or federal ID. A valid Turkish passport works. Documents not in English need a certified English translation.
• Waiting period and validity: you wait 72 hours after filing with the local registrar. The license is valid for 6 months from the date the application is accepted and can be extended to a maximum of 1 year with the registrar's prior approval.
• Witness: one witness aged 18 or older must be present.
• Local differences: in Clifton, for example, applications go to the City Clerk by appointment only, you should book at least 2 months before the wedding, and the fee is cash or check only. Details are in our Clifton guide.
• Marriage certificate: certified copies of a recorded marriage come from the state Office of Vital Statistics and Registry in Trenton or from the municipality that issued the license.
• Name change: optional. If you change your name, update your Social Security record for free.

• State office (Trenton): walk-in counter at 140 E. Front Street, Trenton. Mailing address: PO Box 360, Trenton, NJ 08625-0360. Vital records are not public and cannot be searched online. Fees and accepted IDs are on the Department of Health's vital records page.
• Local registrar: you can also order from the municipality where the birth took place. If your baby was born at a hospital in another town, the record is with that town's registrar. Clifton, for example, has no birthing hospital, so many Clifton babies are born at a Paterson hospital and the record is filed in Paterson.
• Ask for a certified long-form copy: that is what a U.S. passport application and a Turkish civil registration usually require.
• Apostille: New Jersey has no county certification step. A record issued by the state vital records office goes straight to the apostille office in Trenton (see below).
• SSN: if you request your baby's Social Security number when the birth is registered at the hospital, the card arrives by mail and you do not need to visit an SSA office.

• 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.
• Which office: SSA decides which office serves you by ZIP code, not by distance. Check the SSA office locator before you go. For example, Passaic County has offices in Clifton (935 Allwood Road, 2nd Floor) and Paterson (200 Federal Plaza, 1st Floor), open weekdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• National line: 1-800-772-1213.

What can I do in New Jersey without an SSN?

• Driver's license: the New Jersey MVC accepts an SSN, an ITIN or, for people eligible for neither, a notarized affidavit for a Standard license or ID. The Standard license does not ask about immigration status. Details are on the MVC's 6 Points of ID page.
• School enrollment: state rules (N.J.A.C. 6A:22-3.4) bar districts from making enrollment depend on a Social Security number or immigration status.
• Taxes: people who must file but cannot get an SSN use an ITIN (see the tax section below).

State income tax

• Two returns: the federal return goes to the IRS and the state return (NJ-1040) to the New Jersey Division of Taxation. Current forms and rates are on the Division of Taxation's website.
• Moving from Texas? Texas had no state income tax. Build New Jersey tax into your budget when you compare salary offers.
• NJ EITC and the ITIN: according to the Division of Taxation's NJEITC FAQ, the state Earned Income Tax Credit follows the federal EITC rules except for age. The federal EITC is not available to ITIN filers, so ITIN-only filers most likely cannot claim the NJEITC either. The FAQ does not mention ITINs by name; if you are unsure, ask the Division of Taxation.
• Another use for your ITIN: the MVC accepts an IRS or Division of Taxation document showing your ITIN, or a New Jersey tax refund notice with the ITIN, from applicants without an SSN.

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 an appointment at an IRS office that reviews ITIN documents. With a CAA or an 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, New Jersey offices that review ITIN documents in person are in Cherry Hill, Edison, Freehold, Mays Landing, Newark, Paramus, Parsippany, Paterson and Springfield. Appointments: 844-545-5640; it can take several weeks to get one. Find addresses with the IRS office locator.
• Expiration: an ITIN not used on a federal return for three years in a row expires.

1. Certificate of Formation: filed with DORES through the state business formation portal; the fee is $100. The same filing costs $300 in Texas.
2. Annual Report: $75 a year. It keeps members or managers, the business address and the registered agent current in the public record.
3. Trade name: sole proprietors and general partnerships file with the County Clerk where the business operates (for example, the Passaic County Clerk for Clifton and Paterson). LLCs and corporations register an assumed name with the Division of Revenue, not the county.

• Who still qualifies for SNAP: refugees and asylees no longer qualify based on that status alone; once they get a green card they qualify without the 5-year wait. The 5-year wait still applies to other green card holders, with exceptions such as children under 18.
• U.S.-citizen children in the household may still receive benefits in their own right.
• NJ FamilyCare and Cover All Kids: NJ FamilyCare is New Jersey's combined Medicaid and CHIP program. Since January 1, 2023, children under 19 can enroll regardless of immigration status; the other rules still apply. Apply on the NJ FamilyCare website 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.
• 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, such as a child in their own right, 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.

• Same building, different floors: the USCIS Newark office, the Newark immigration court (Room 1200) and ICE (11th Floor) are all at 970 Broad Street. Go to the floor and room on your notice.
• Appointments and questions: USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283, or book online. Appointments are free.
• Processing times: on the USCIS processing times page, pick the form, the category and "Newark NJ" or "Mount Laurel NJ" as the office. Times update monthly.
• Biometrics: the center is assigned on your I-797C notice; you do not choose it. To reschedule, ask through your USCIS online account at least 12 hours before the appointment. Our biometrics guide covers what to bring.
• Asylum office: no in-person information services since April 20, 2026. Enter through the first-floor Suite 199 entrance; interviews are on the 16th and 17th floors. Email: [email protected].

• Hours: both courts are open weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with filing until 4 p.m.
• Email: [email protected] and [email protected].
• 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: according to ICE's page, the ERO Newark Field Office is on the 11th Floor of 970 Broad Street, (862) 445-9200, and covers all of New Jersey. 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. New Jersey's office is at Newark Liberty International Airport, Terminal B International Arrivals, Newark, NJ 07114, open weekdays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., (973) 565-8000 ext. 8010 or 8011. It fixes only mistakes made at the time of entry.

• Who can register: U.S. citizens who are at least 18 (pre-registration is allowed at 17) and have lived in the county for at least 30 days before the election. Registration closes 21 days before an election.
• At the MVC: a Standard license is issued regardless of status and does not make you eligible to vote. If the MVC or any other agency offers to register you, answer the citizenship question truthfully.
• 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 state law (N.J.S.A. 2B:20-1), jurors must be U.S. citizens, New Jersey residents, at least 18 and able to read and understand English.
• If a summons arrives: the courts say every juror must complete the Juror Qualification Questionnaire, even when asking to be excused or rescheduled. Complete it on the MyJuryService portal with the 10-digit Participant ID and 5-digit ZIP code from your summons, or on the paper form. The questionnaire asks about citizenship directly; this is not handled by phone. Failing to respond leads to further court action.

Recently naturalized? The rules and ways to register are on the New Jersey Division of Elections page. Remember that registration closes 21 days before each election.

• Find an acceptance facility: use the passport facility locator to find the nearest post office or other facility. These locations accept new applications (DS-11) only. The acceptance fee is paid separately from the passport fee.
• Children: a passport book for a child under 16 costs $100 plus the $35 acceptance fee.
• Urgent travel: you need proof of travel within 14 days, or of a foreign visa needed within 28 days. The expedite fee is an extra $60.

• Appointments: free, at passportappointment.travel.state.gov or 877-487-2778 (weekdays 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., weekends 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Eastern Time). Third-party sites that charge to book an appointment are scams. Both agencies are closed on federal holidays.

How do park fees work?

Liberty State Park is always free, with gates open daily 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Paterson Great Falls has no ticket booth either; the grounds are open around the clock. Entering the Delaware Water Gap is free; only areas such as swimming beaches and boat launches charge $10 per vehicle per day. High Point State Park charges per vehicle in the summer season between Memorial Day and Labor Day: $5 for New Jersey residents and $10 for others on weekdays, $10 and $20 on weekends and holidays. Outside that season, entry is free.

Statue of Liberty ferry: Statue City Cruises is the official ticket seller, and the New Jersey ticket office is inside the CRRNJ Terminal. Prices change by date, so check the official site.

Free

• Liberty State Park: always free, with views of Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty. The park office is open daily 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Paterson Great Falls: no entrance fee. There is no indoor visitor center; portable restrooms are available 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Delaware Water Gap: free to enter. Only some beaches and boat launches charge $10 per vehicle per day, and people just dropping off or passing through do not pay.
• High Point State Park: free from Labor Day to Memorial Day.
• Boardwalks: walking the Asbury Park and Atlantic City boardwalks costs nothing.
• Hoboken and Jersey City: Hudson River parks across from Manhattan, easy to reach by ferry or PATH train. Hoboken's ResilienCity Park is New Jersey's largest resiliency park, built to store stormwater.
• Princeton: strolling Nassau Street and Palmer Square is free.

With kids

• Six Flags Great Adventure: 14 roller coasters, the Wild Safari drive-through (one of the largest safari parks outside Africa) and the Hurricane Harbor water park next door. With children under 13, visit in the daytime rather than on Fright Fest nights.
• Adventure Aquarium: on the Camden waterfront, directly across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, open 364 days a year (closed on Thanksgiving). Ticketed.
• Cape May: the beach, the 199-step lighthouse climb and family tours at the Emlen Physick Estate.
• Paterson Great Falls: free ranger-led walks at 2 p.m. Monday to Thursday and at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Friday to Sunday. Times depend on staffing, so call 973-523-0370 the same day.
• Liberty State Park: the ferry to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, and immigration history at the CRRNJ Terminal.

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. After-hours emergency line: +1 646 204 0011. Email: [email protected]. The consulate's website (in Turkish) is newyork-bk.mfa.gov.tr.

Fees are updated from time to time. Check the current fee and the conditions for mail applications on the consulate's site before your appointment.

Tips for your visit

• Services are in Manhattan: whether you live in Newark, Paterson, Trenton or Cape May, consular services are handled in New York. Have every document ready before your appointment; a missing paper means a new appointment and another trip.
• Timing: there are two service blocks, 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Allow for bridge and tunnel traffic and leave early.
• Birth registration: when registering a U.S.-born child with the Turkish civil registry, use the certified long-form copy of the birth certificate. In New Jersey it comes from the state Office of Vital Statistics and Registry or from the local registrar of the town where the birth took place.
• Military service (askerlik): men born in 2007 must complete their registration (yoklama) by December 31, 2026. The paid military service option (dövizle askerlik) for July to December 2026 is the foreign-currency equivalent of 472,653.60 TL, collected by the New York consulate 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. All of New Jersey is in the consulate's district. 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; contact details are on the consulate's contact page.

1. Get the right certified copy. Birth, marriage, divorce and death records come from the New Jersey Department of Health's Office of Vital Statistics and Registry. DORES cannot apostille another state's vital records; those are handled in the state that issued them.
2. Order online. Create and prepay the request in the NJ online apostille system, then print the confirmation.
3. Send the original. Standard service: mail it with the confirmation to PO Box 452, Trenton, NJ 08646. Expedited service: deliver in person or by UPS or FedEx (not USPS) to the Customer Service Counter, 33 West State Street, 5th Floor, Trenton, NJ 08608.

• No County Clerk step: unlike some states, New Jersey has no separate county certification step. DORES apostilles documents signed by New Jersey notaries, County Clerks, Superior Court judges and the State Registrar directly.
• In person: drop-off 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Waits can reach 2.5 hours depending on the workload. Call 609-292-9292 and choose the walk-in option to check same-day availability. A 1 to 2 hour accelerated service exists at substantially higher fees.
• Translations: if a notarized translation is attached to a vital record, DORES issues two apostilles and charges two fees.
• Vital records questions: 609-292-4087.

• 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: Turkish Airlines runs a nonstop route between Newark and Istanbul. Check current days and fares on the airline's Newark page.
• Getting to EWR by train: the AirTrain links the terminals, parking, the rental car center and the Newark Liberty Airport rail station, where NJ Transit and Amtrak trains stop. A replacement AirTrain is under construction (passenger service expected in 2030); the current one keeps running in the meantime.