Turkish-Speaking Immigration Attorney in New York State

1. Gather your documents. DMV asks for a combination of documents that prove your name, date of birth and New York residency. The Green Light Law page explains which documents count. If you have never been issued an SSN, you sign an affidavit saying so.
2. Pick your card type. There are three, all requested at the same DMV counter (see the table below). If you plan to fly within the U.S., the standard card is not enough.
3. Pass the knowledge test. The permit test has 20 multiple-choice questions; you need 14 right (70%), including at least 2 of the 4 road-sign questions. It is offered in 20 languages, including Turkish, Arabic, Russian and Spanish, on a touch screen or on paper.
4. Take the 5-hour course. It is required before you can book a first road test. Providers charge roughly $39 to $80. Drivers 18 and older with a valid learner permit can take it online.
5. Take the road test. Your application fee includes two road-test attempts. If you fail both, $10 buys two more.

Every DMV office page on dmv.ny.gov has its own reservation button. For New York City offices and how appointments work there, see our New York City guide.

Standard, REAL ID or Enhanced: what is the difference?

What does it cost?

What is the MCTD? The Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District: New York City's five boroughs plus Dutchess, Nassau, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Suffolk and Westchester counties. Residents pay $1 extra for every 6 months the card is valid, so the same license costs more on Long Island than in Albany or Buffalo. Current amounts are on the DMV fee page.

Family members who will not drive can get a non-driver ID in the same three tiers. You cannot hold a license and a non-driver ID at the same time.

• Translation: if your license is not in English, you need an International Driving Permit or a certified translation for the road test. The translation must show your name, date of birth, the license expiration date and the vehicle classes you may drive, and it must be certified by a consulate, the U.S. Department of State or an official government agency.
• Reciprocity is with Canada only: New York's only exchange agreements are with Canadian provinces. A 2023 state law lets DMV negotiate agreements with other countries, but as of September 25, 2026 no other country, Türkiye included, appears on DMV's pages.
• Coming from another U.S. state: exchange your license within 30 days of becoming a New York resident; living in New York for 90 days is strong evidence of residency. The license must have a photo, be valid or expired less than 24 months, and have been issued at least 6 months earlier. Only a vision test is required, no knowledge or road test. The new license is valid for up to 5 years.
• Moving from Texas: a Texas license counts as an out-of-state license, so it exchanges without tests on the terms above.
• Students: out-of-state students are usually not considered residents and do not have to exchange.

With a foreign license, follow the first-license steps above. You can start with the knowledge test in Turkish.

1. Buy New York insurance. DMV will not register a car without an active New York policy and its insurance ID card (FS-20). The minimums are in the table below.
2. Title and register at DMV. The title fee is $50 and new plates are $25. Registration is based on vehicle weight, roughly $26 to $140 for a two-year period, plus a $30 vehicle use tax for two years. Sales tax is also figured at original registration: the 4% state rate plus the local rate, about 8% to 8.875% depending on your county.
3. MCTD surcharge. If you live in New York City, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Dutchess, Orange, Putnam or Rockland, add $50 per two-year registration. Albany and Buffalo residents do not pay it.
4. Get it inspected. Every registered vehicle must be inspected at least every 12 months, before the sticker expires. In the New York City area the maximum fee for a standard passenger car is $37. Vehicles less than 2 model years old or more than 25 model years old are exempt from the emissions test.

Check current registration fees on DMV's registration page and inspection rules on the state inspection program page.

• How to get one: sign up online at e-zpassny.com, or buy a prepackaged tag at a participating retailer, use it right away and register it afterward. Tags ordered online usually arrive in 5 to 7 days.
• How much more Tolls by Mail costs: according to the MTA, Tolls by Mail on New York City bridges and tunnels runs up to 50% higher than E-ZPass. On the Thruway, the cash and mail rate is about 30% higher plus a flat $2 administrative fee. Example: a full New York City to Buffalo Thruway trip costs about $27.90 with E-ZPass and about $41.85 by mail.
• No toll booths: the Thruway has been fully cashless since 2020; tags or plate readers collect the toll. Thruway E-ZPass rates go up about 5% on January 1, 2027.
• Manhattan congestion toll: since January 5, 2025, vehicles entering Manhattan at or below 60th Street pay a Congestion Relief Zone toll on top of any bridge or tunnel toll: $9 at peak times and $2.25 overnight with E-ZPass, charged once a day. To get the E-ZPass rate, your current plate must be linked to your account. Details are in our New York City guide.
• Other states and Canada: E-ZPass also works on toll roads in many East Coast and Midwest states, and at the Peace Bridge in Buffalo for crossings into Canada.

• OMNY: tap a contactless bank card, Apple Pay/Google Pay or an OMNY Card at the turnstile or bus reader. MetroCard still works during the transition. Express buses are $7.25.
• Weekly cap: in New York City, once you pay $35 for subway and local bus rides within 7 days on the same card or device, the rest of that week is free.
• LIRR and Metro-North: most fares rose up to 8%, and weekly and monthly passes up to 4.5%, on January 4, 2026. Monthly passes are still under $500.
• Fair Fares NYC: half-price subway and bus fares for low-income New York City residents aged 18 to 64, regardless of immigration status. Income limits and how to apply are in our New York City guide.

How do I get to the airports?

• JFK: AirTrain is $8.75. Take the A, E or J train to Sutphin Blvd-Archer Av-JFK, or the A train to Howard Beach-JFK, then AirTrain: $11.75 in total. LIRR to Jamaica plus AirTrain costs about $14 to $16.
• LaGuardia: the Q70 "LaGuardia Link" bus is free and connects to the E, M and R subway lines in Jackson Heights, so the trip to Manhattan costs just the $3 subway fare.
• Newark (EWR): it is in New Jersey and not part of the MTA. NJ Transit trains reach New York Penn Station in about 30 minutes for $17.25, AirTrain included.
• Flights to Istanbul: Turkish Airlines flies nonstop to Istanbul from JFK and from Newark. Time difference and flights are in the Türkiye section.

• New York City: the state's biggest population center has its own rules: the Manhattan congestion toll, rent stabilization, the FARE Act (the landlord's broker cannot charge the tenant), IDNYC (a free municipal ID for residents 10 and older) and a city income tax. All of it is in our New York City guide.
• Long Island: the LIRR connects it to Manhattan, and E-ZPass works on its parkways and bridges. It is in the same MCTD as New York City, so licenses and registrations cost more than in Albany.
• Albany: the state capital and home base of the state's apostille office. The New York State Capitol offers free guided tours on weekdays.
• Buffalo: in Western New York at the west end of the Thruway, a short drive from Niagara Falls, with the Peace Bridge crossing into Canada. The city has an immigration court and one of the state's walk-in apostille offices.

Outside New York City, water and trash service is set by each municipality. Ask your town or your landlord which agency serves your address.

1. Find your utility. It depends on your address. In New York City, a move from Manhattan to Brooklyn keeps Con Edison as your electric company but means opening a new gas account with National Grid. If in doubt, ask your landlord.
2. Start service. Con Edison asks for valid ID for new service or charges a deposit instead. Online move-in requests must be dated within 30 days. Customer service is 1-800-752-6633; the move line is 1-877-779-6943.
3. Know the deposit. It is generally about two months of estimated bills, held for about a year and refunded with interest if you pay on time. New customers can sometimes pay it in installments: half up front and the rest over two months.
4. Choosing an ESCO is optional. ESCOs are licensed by the Public Service Commission (PSC) to sell electricity or gas. The utility still owns the lines, reads the meter and bills you, and it remains your supplier if you leave the ESCO. The option is not available in every area.

Before you pick an ESCO: read "What You Should Know Before Choosing an Electricity or Natural Gas Supplier" on the Department of Public Service ESCO page and compare the offer with your utility's 12-Month Trailing Average price. ESCOs must follow the Uniform Business Practices, including standard renewal notices, and the ESCO Consumer Bill of Rights.

Heads up: on April 16, 2026, the PSC approved a $71 million settlement with nine NRG-affiliated ESCOs, including Green Mountain Energy and Direct Energy, over allegations that they mishandled contract transitions and served some low-income customers they should not have. About 278,000 current and former customers are covered.

Water and trash: in New York City, water is billed by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and is usually included in rent. Since June 1, 2026, buildings with 1 to 9 units must set out trash only in official NYC Bins, and fines have been issued since September 8, 2026. Outside the city, water and trash rules vary by municipality.

• Advance payments: the same law bars landlords from collecting first and last month's rent in advance on top of the deposit.
• Move-in and move-out inspections: the law created an inspection procedure for both ends of a tenancy. Take dated photos of the unit's condition.
• Rent stabilization: a system where a board caps yearly rent increases. In practice it is a New York City system covering about a million apartments. The NYC Rent Guidelines Board's adopted range for leases starting October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027 is 0% to 2% for one-year leases and 0% to 4% for two-year leases. Stabilized tenants get extra protections.
• Elsewhere in the state: apart from a few areas under older laws, no such cap applies. The deposit and refund rules are the same everywhere.
• Broker fees in New York City: under the FARE Act, in force since June 11, 2025, whoever hires the broker pays the broker, so a landlord's broker cannot charge the tenant. Credit-check fees are still allowed. Details are in our New York City guide.

• A credit, not an exemption: owners who had the STAR exemption before 2015 can keep it for the same home, but no one can newly enroll in the exemption. New owners get the STAR credit and use it to pay school taxes.
• Primary residence: the Tax Department looks at how much of the year you spend there, your voter registration address and the address on your vehicle registration and ID.
• Enhanced STAR: only one resident owner needs to be 65 or older by December 31 of the benefit year. The income limit is $110,750 for 2026 and $113,550 for 2027.
• Which year's income: the 2026 benefit is based on your 2024 federal Form 1040 or New York Form IT-201.
• The property tax itself: your town, city or county assessor sets the assessment. New York City uses four tax classes, and a condo or co-op falls in a different class than a one-family house. Details are in our New York City guide.

Check eligibility and current income limits on the Tax Department's STAR page.

1. Find your district. New York school districts are organized by city, town or village, not by county, and there are hundreds of them. Your address decides which one you belong to. Each district sets its own enrollment steps, document list and Pre-K rules.
2. Gather documents. Districts usually ask for proof of the child's age, immunization records if you have them, the latest report card and proof of address. In New York City, for example, a birth certificate, passport or baptism record proves age, and two proofs of address are required.
3. Enroll right away. The school must enroll the student immediately, even before residency documents are complete; you then have 3 days to provide them. Children of migrant workers and students living in shelters are also enrolled without delay.
4. Fill out the language questionnaire. Every family completes a Home Language Questionnaire. If a language other than English is spoken at home, the school tests the child's English and places the child with the parent's involvement.

Which are the largest districts?

• New York City: by far the largest, with more than 1 million students. Most children enroll directly at their zoned school; families without one go to a Family Welcome Center. Free 3-K and Pre-K for All programs serve 3- and 4-year-olds. These programs are specific to New York City, not available everywhere in the state. Addresses and the document list are in our New York City guide.
• Other large districts: Buffalo, Rochester, Yonkers and Syracuse, plus the many districts on Long Island and in Westchester, set their own enrollment process and Pre-K rules. Check the district's own website or enrollment office.

• Compulsory attendance: school is required through age 16 in New York. Newly arrived youth older than that can still enroll full-time in high school if they want to.
• No vaccine records yet: students in shelters or temporary housing (McKinney-Vento) are enrolled even without immunization records. The first vaccine dose is due within 14 days of attending.

• NY State of Health: the place to apply for Medicaid, the Essential Plan, Child Health Plus and private plans. Apply online, by calling 855-355-5777 or with an in-person assistor. In New York City, 311 can also point you there.
• Essential Plan: for ages 19 to 64, no premium and no deductible, with dental, vision, hospital and prescription coverage; you can apply any time. Income limits run from about $31,920 a year for one person to $111,440 for a household of eight. Immigration status: U.S. citizens, green card holders, refugees and asylees. The income limit dropped on July 1, 2026, and DACA recipients lost eligibility on June 30, 2026.
• Medicaid: free coverage; you need proof of citizenship or immigration status to apply. Undocumented immigrants of any age can get emergency Medicaid. Undocumented immigrants who are 65 or older or pregnant can get full Medicaid if they meet the other rules, such as income and New York residency. People under 65, pregnant people and children apply through NY State of Health. People 65 and older or with a disability apply through HRA in New York City and generally through their county's Department of Social Services elsewhere.
• Child Health Plus: every child in New York can enroll, regardless of immigration status or income.
• If you live in New York City: NYC Care gives you a primary care doctor at NYC Health + Hospitals, with fees from $0 and no questions about immigration status. Details are in our New York City guide.
• Health centers: find sliding-fee community health centers near your address with HRSA's locator.
• 988: the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, with interpreters available.

• Where: at any town or city clerk in the state; you do not have to apply where you live. A power of attorney or a notarized affidavit cannot replace appearing in person.
• Fee: $40 outside New York City. It includes the Certificate of Marriage Registration, which is mailed to you within 15 days after the officiant returns the signed license.
• New York City: the fee is $35, and you can apply only by appointment through Project Cupid; no walk-ins. Details are in our New York City guide.
• Proof of age and identity: a certified birth record, a passport, a driver's license, any government-issued photo ID, an immigration record or a naturalization record. Each clerk decides which documents it accepts, so call ahead.
• Waiting period and validity: the ceremony cannot take place within 24 hours of issuance, unless a New York State Supreme Court justice or the county judge of either party's county of residence waives it. The license is valid for 60 days from the day after issuance, or 180 days for active-duty military.
• Other rules: no blood test or premarital exam. No one under 18 can get a license. A New York license is valid only for ceremonies within New York State.
• Name change: neither spouse has to change their name. If you do, update your Social Security record afterward; it is free.

• NYS DOH (outside New York City): mail to NYS DOH, Vital Records Certification Unit, P.O. Box 2602, Albany, NY 12220-2602, or order online through VitalChek, the state's authorized vendor. Credit cards are accepted online only; by mail, send a check on a U.S. bank or a money order, no cash. Call center: (855) 322-1022. Check the ID requirements on the application form, DOH-4380.
• New York City (DOHMH): 125 Worth Street, Manhattan, by appointment for in-person orders. Copies are $15 plus an online, mail or counter processing fee. A foreign passport alone counts as primary ID. Details are in our New York City guide.
• Apostille: a certificate issued directly by NYS DOH needs no County Clerk certification before the state apostille. A certificate from a local registrar must first be certified by the County Clerk of the issuing county. The apostille is $10 per document (see below).
• Ask for a certified copy: a U.S. passport application and registering the birth in Türkiye generally require a certified full copy of the birth certificate, so check what you are ordering.
• SSN: if you request your baby's SSN at the hospital when the birth is registered, 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's New York Region runs more than 100 field offices across New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Find the one that serves your address with the SSA office locator. The process is the same in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Albany or on Long Island.
• Example, New York City: residents of Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx and Queens can apply for an original or replacement SSN only at one of four Social Security Card Centers, which serve citizens and noncitizens alike. Manhattan: 123 William St, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10038. Brooklyn: 154 Pierrepont St, 6th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201. Bronx: 820 Concourse Village West, 2nd Floor, Bronx, NY 10451. Queens: 155-10 Jamaica Ave, 2nd Floor, Jamaica, NY 11432. Staten Island residents should check the locator.
• National line: 1-800-772-1213. A replacement card is free and can often be started online.
• Name change after marriage: update your Social Security record at any SSA office, free of charge.

According to SSA, you do not need an SSN for a driver's license, school registration or private health insurance.

State and city income tax

• Three layers: federal tax goes to the IRS and state tax to the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. New York City residents pay the city tax with their state return. Residents elsewhere in the state pay federal and state tax.
• 2026 brackets: as of September 25, 2026, the newest table on the state's tax rates and tables page is for 2025. The rates above are approximate; wait for the official 2026 table for exact brackets.
• Moving from Texas? Build state tax, and city tax if you will live in New York City, into your budget when you compare salary offers.

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: in New York City, appointment-only offices include Harlem (2116 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd., New York, NY 10027) and Downtown (290 Broadway, New York, NY 10007). Appointments: 844-545-5640. Elsewhere in the state, use the IRS office locator. Check the IRS list for offices that review ITIN documents.
• Expiration: an ITIN not used on a federal return for three years in a row expires.

1. Articles of Organization: filed with the New York Department of State; the fee is $200, payable by cash, check, money order or credit card.
2. Registered agent: unlike Texas, you do not need to hire one. The Secretary of State is automatically the LLC's agent for service of process, and you give an address where documents are forwarded.
3. Operating Agreement: members adopt a written operating agreement within 90 days of filing. It stays with the company and is not filed with the state.
4. Publication: within 120 days, publish a formation notice for six consecutive weeks in two newspapers (one daily, one weekly) designated by the county clerk of the LLC's county. Then file a Certificate of Publication with both papers' affidavits and a $50 fee.

• Citizenship: the Department of State's formation information does not require members to be U.S. citizens or New York residents.
• DBA for sole proprietors: sole proprietors and general partnerships using a business name file a Business Certificate (Form X-201 for sole proprietors, X-74 for partnerships) with the county clerk of every county where they do business. Fees vary by county, so ask your county clerk.
• LLCs and corporations file an assumed name with the Department of State (Certificate of Assumed Name), not the county.

• Where to apply for SNAP: HRA in New York City, and your county Department of Social Services elsewhere in the state. Either way, every noncitizen's status is screened at application and at recertification. Some categories now face a new 5-year bar.
• U.S.-citizen children in the household may still receive SNAP and Medicaid in their own right, even when a parent does not qualify.
• Health programs: undocumented New Yorkers of any age can get emergency Medicaid, and full Medicaid at 65 or older or while pregnant. Since July 1, 2026, the Essential Plan is limited to U.S. citizens, green card holders, refugees and asylees; DACA recipients lost eligibility on June 30, 2026. Child Health Plus covers every child regardless of status.
• 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, the Essential Plan, 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: two lawsuits were filed on September 14, 2026: one by more than 20 states led by New York State, and one by cities and counties led by New York City. 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.

• Upstate: if you live around Albany, Buffalo, Rochester or Syracuse, your appointment notice tells you which office will hold your interview. Take the address only from the notice.
• Same building, different floors: USCIS, the immigration court and ICE all sit on different floors of 26 Federal Plaza. 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, category and the office handling your case. Times update monthly.
• Biometrics: the center is assigned on your I-797C notice; you do not choose it. Do not go to any center without a notice. 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 attends, it has to be in person.

• Hours: Federal Plaza is open weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with filing from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Buffalo is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with filing until 4 p.m. There is security screening, and cameras and recording devices are not allowed in courtrooms.
• 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: the ICE ERO New York City office is at 26 Federal Plaza, 9th Floor, Suite 9-110, (212) 436-9315. Upstate, your check-in paperwork shows which ICE office you report to. If you have a check-in, talk to your attorney before you go. Check-ins are scheduled through ICE's online system.

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, and any deferred inspection office at an international airport can help, whichever airport issued the document. At JFK, the office is in JetBlue's Terminal 5, 1st Floor Arrivals, Room 1i-110, Jamaica, NY 11430, open Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., (718) 553-3683. 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 16 and 17) and have lived in the state and county for at least 30 days before the election.
• Beware of old news: New York City's Local Law 11, which took effect in 2022, would have let green card and work permit holders vote in municipal elections. It was blocked in court and struck down as unconstitutional by the New York Court of Appeals in March 2025. Today noncitizens cannot vote in any New York election.
• Licenses and voting: a standard license issued under the Green Light Law, regardless of status, does not affect voter eligibility.
• 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.
• Jury summons: New York courts require jurors to be U.S. citizens, but a Juror Qualification Questionnaire can still reach noncitizens. Answer "No" to the citizenship question and include a copy of the requested document (visa, passport, green card or EAD), or appear in person and show the clerk your passport. Ignoring a summons can bring penalties. Juror records are confidential under New York law.
• Scams: courts do not call or email asking for your SSN, and they do not demand fines by phone.

Recently naturalized? The rules and ways to register are on ny.gov's voter registration page. Registering online requires a New York DMV license, permit or non-driver ID, the ZIP code on file with the DMV, and your SSN.

• Find an acceptance facility: wherever you live in the state, use the passport facility locator. 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: 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., closed on federal holidays. Appointment only, with proof of travel within 14 days (or a foreign visa needed within 28 days). Book online or at 877-487-2778; appointments are free. The expedite fee is an extra $60.
• Online renewal: for eligible adults, only at opr.travel.state.gov.

How do state park fees work?

At state parks such as Niagara Falls, Watkins Glen, Bear Mountain and Jones Beach, the fee is per vehicle, not per person; people who walk or bike in usually pay nothing. Fees change by season and are highest on summer weekends. If you plan several park trips a year, the Empire Pass (from $80 a year for the 2026 season) covers the vehicle fee at most State Parks and most DEC facilities and usually pays for itself after 3 or 4 visits.

The Canadian side of Niagara: the Ontario side across the river is another country. Crossing requires a passport, and going to Canada means leaving the United States. If you have a pending green card application or any doubt about your status, ask your attorney before you cross the bridge.

Free

• Niagara Falls State Park: always free to walk in. Parking and attractions such as Cave of the Winds and the Maid of the Mist cost extra.
• Walkway Over the Hudson: a pedestrian bridge 212 feet above the river between Poughkeepsie and Highland, free to walk, jog or bike.
• Fire Island National Seashore: the National Park Service charges no entrance fee anywhere on the island. Access points may charge: parking at Robert Moses State Park and Smith Point County Park, and tickets on the Davis Park and Sayville ferries.
• Always free in New York City: Central Park, the Brooklyn Bridge promenade, the High Line, the Staten Island Ferry (runs 24/7 and has no tickets, so anyone selling one is running a scam) and MoMA PS1 in Queens.
• Resident deals: New York State residents pay what they wish at the Met and AMNH every day the museums are open. Bring ID: the Met accepts a New York driver's license or ID, a current bill with a New York address, or a New York library card, among others. It works whether you live in Buffalo, Albany or Brooklyn. MoMA is free for state residents on Friday evenings, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., with an advance reservation.
• Empire Pass: saves the vehicle fee if you visit several state parks a year.

With kids

• Bronx Zoo: 265 acres. Wednesdays are pay-what-you-wish by donation; tickets open online at 5 p.m. the Monday before and sell out fast, so do not go without a reservation.
• American Museum of Natural History: dinosaur halls, the Hayden Planetarium and the Butterfly Vivarium.
• Bear Mountain Trailside Museum and Zoo: no admission charge; a $1 donation per person is suggested (cash only). Open 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., April to November.
• Niagara Falls: the Maid of the Mist boat tour, the Cave of the Winds walk to the base of the falls (expect to get soaked) and the aquarium in the park.
• Corning Museum of Glass (Finger Lakes): live glassblowing demonstrations.
• Lake Placid (Adirondacks): tubing at the Olympic Sports Complex.

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 English site is newyork-cg.mfa.gov.tr.

Fees differ by consulate and change during the year. Check the current fee and the conditions for mail applications on the consulate's site before your appointment.

Tips for your visit

• Coming from upstate: whether you live in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse or Albany, services are handled in Manhattan. 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. Leave early to allow for building security.
• Birth registration: when registering a U.S.-born child with the Turkish civil registry, use the certified long-form copy of the birth certificate.
• Attachés in the same complex (821 First Avenue): Education Attaché +1 212 687 8395 ([email protected]), Commercial Attaché +1 212 687 1530. The religious services, economic and culture and tourism offices are in the same building; their numbers are on the consulate's contact page.
• 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 in New York 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 York State 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. F-1 students defer through the Education Attaché (+1 212 687 8395).

1. Check who issued the document. Birth, death and marriage certificates from local officials are first certified by the County Clerk of the county where they were issued. Certificates issued directly by the New York State Department of Health skip this step.
2. Notarized documents: the notary's signature is certified by the County Clerk of the county where the notary is registered.
3. Apostille: New York Department of State, Division of Licensing Services, Apostille and Authentication Unit. $10 per document.

• Same-day limit: walk-in offices process up to 10 documents per customer.
• By mail: NYS Department of State, Division of Licensing Services, Apostille and Authentication Unit, PO Box 22001, Albany, NY 12201-2001. Express delivery: 1 Commerce Plaza, 99 Washington Avenue, 6th Floor, Albany, NY 12231.
• Questions: (518) 474-4429, weekdays 8:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Federal documents: FBI background checks and naturalization certificates go to the U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications, Form DS-4194, $20 per document.

• 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.
• JFK to Istanbul: Turkish Airlines flies between John F. Kennedy International (JFK) in Queens and Istanbul Airport (IST) almost every day; the flight averages 9 hours 45 minutes. Check current times on turkishairlines.com.
• Newark to Istanbul: there is also a near-daily nonstop from Newark Liberty International (EWR) in New Jersey. See the Newark schedule.