Turkish-Speaking Immigration Attorney in Philadelphia

1. Gather the documents for your status. PennDOT's document chart for non-U.S. citizens (PUB 195NC) covers about 50 statuses one by one. Every category needs a Social Security card or an SSA ineligibility letter, two proofs of residency showing your name and Pennsylvania address, and your status documents. The table below covers the statuses newcomers from Türkiye use most.
2. Pick a Driver License Center. Search Philadelphia locations and their services by ZIP code in PennDOT's locator. Non-U.S. citizen transactions are a routine service at the centers. Centers do not have their own phone numbers; questions go to PennDOT's call center. Cards, checks and money orders are accepted; cash is taken only at the Harrisburg Riverfront Office Center.
3. Pass the knowledge test and get a learner's permit. The test has 18 multiple-choice questions and you need 15 right. It comes with a vision screening. If you fail, you can retest the next business day. Passing gets you a learner's permit, valid for 2 years.
4. Practice, then take the road test. Drivers under 18 need 65 hours of supervised driving and a parent-signed certification form. On the road test, the examiner first checks the car's safety equipment, then asks you to parallel park in a space 24 feet long and 8 feet wide. Bring your learner's permit.

Which documents does each status need?

Proof of residency examples: postmarked mail or package labels, a W-2 or pay stub, a lease or mortgage document, tax records, a Pennsylvania vehicle registration, an auto insurance card, or a computer-generated utility bill (cellphone, cable, electric, gas). No bills in your name? Bring the person you live with, their license or ID, and a second proof of residency at their address.

Moving from another state

PennDOT says new residents must get a Pennsylvania license within 60 days of establishing residency. Go to a center, surrender your old license (valid or expired 6 months or less), pass a vision screening and complete Form DL-180R. No knowledge test is required in that case.

REAL ID

You need a REAL ID to board a domestic flight or enter certain federal facilities. For noncitizens, an unexpired EAD or green card works as proof of identity. You also need proof of your SSN (a Social Security card, a W-2 or a pay stub showing the full number) and two proofs of residency. Any Driver License Center can issue REAL ID, and dedicated REAL ID Centers issue it the same day to applicants who were pre-verified. Your first REAL ID carries a one-time $30 fee on top of the regular fee. See the current list on PennDOT's REAL ID page.

• How long a foreign license works: up to 1 year from your U.S. entry date, unless the license itself expires sooner. Get an International Driving Permit (IDP) before you leave Türkiye.
• Turkish license holders: follow the first-license steps above: knowledge test, learner's permit and road test. You can ask at a Driver License Center about the current list of test waivers.
• Test in Turkish: PennDOT offers the knowledge test in 29 languages, Turkish included, in written or audio format, on request at every Driver License Center. Ask for Turkish when you check in.
• From another U.S. state: a valid out-of-state license means no tests. You have 60 days after establishing Pennsylvania residency to switch (details).
• Studying: the Pennsylvania Driver's Manual is online on PennDOT's website. The test has 18 questions, and 15 correct answers pass.

1. When does the 20-day clock start? PennDOT counts you as a resident once you accept a job, lease or buy a home, or enroll your children in a local school in Pennsylvania.
2. Buy Pennsylvania insurance. You need proof of Pennsylvania insurance: an insurance ID card, a declaration page, a binder or a copy of the insurance application.
3. Gather the documents. Your valid out-of-state title, proof of insurance, a VIN verification and Form MV-1 (Application for Certificate of Title). MV-1 is not a self-service online form; an authorized agent completes it. Leased vehicles also need Form MV-1L. An inspection mechanic or a notary can verify the VIN.
4. Go to an authorized agent. Most notaries, dealers and messenger services are PennDOT agents and can issue a temporary registration on the spot.
5. Inspection within 10 days. A newly registered vehicle must pass a safety inspection within 10 days of registration.

Emissions testing in Philadelphia

Only 25 of Pennsylvania's 67 counties require emissions testing. Philadelphia is one of them, along with neighboring Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties. Vehicles registered in Philadelphia that are model year 1975 or newer and 9,000 lbs GVW or under get an emissions test on top of the safety inspection. Models from 1996 on get an onboard computer (OBD) check and a gas-cap test; 1975 to 1995 models get a visual anti-tampering check.

• Opening an account: sign up for E-ZPass Pennsylvania online, in the PA Toll Pay app, at retail Go Pak locations, or by phone or mail at 1-877-736-6727.
• Replenishment: with automatic replenishment, $35 per transponder is charged to your bank account or card when the balance drops to $10 or less. If you top up manually, you get a notice at $15.
• Toll By Plate: without a tag, a camera photographs the plate and an invoice is mailed to the registered owner. Pay by check, money order or credit card.
• Open-road tolling: since January 5, 2025, the Turnpike east of Reading, including the Northeast Extension, has no toll booths; overhead gantries collect the toll and you never stop or slow down. The stretch west of Reading is scheduled to switch in January 2027.
• Rate changes: Turnpike tolls last rose on January 4, 2026. Check the current rate for your route at paturnpike.com. More than 80% of Turnpike transactions now use E-ZPass.
• Crossing into New Jersey: the Delaware River bridges between Philadelphia and New Jersey charge tolls too, and E-ZPass works there as well. Bridge tolls are separate from the Turnpike schedule, so check current rates with the agency that runs the bridge.

Bus, Metro and trolley

• Fare: $2.90 with every payment method: a contactless credit or debit card, a phone wallet, a SEPTA Key card, or cash and Quick Trip.
• Transfers: riders paying with SEPTA Key or contactless get up to 2 free transfers within 2 hours, as long as they use the same card for every leg. Cash and Quick Trip riders get no transfers. Moving between Metro lines at 15th St/City Hall, 13th St or Drexel Station at 30th Street needs no extra tap.
• SEPTA Key card: the card costs $4.95, refunded if you register it at septakey.org within 30 days. Load it with Travel Wallet funds or a daily, weekly or monthly pass. The Multi-Rider feature lets up to 5 people ride on one card.
• Metro lines: the Market-Frankford Line, Broad Street Line, Subway-Surface Trolleys, Route 15 Trolley, Media-Sharon Hill Line and Norristown High Speed Line.
• Discounts: children under 12 ride free with a paying adult. Seniors 65 and older ride free with a Senior Fare Card. Riders with disabilities pay half fare with a Reduced Fare card.

Weekly and monthly TransPass+ also work on Regional Rail to and from Center City, Zone 1 and the Airport, and systemwide on weekends and major holidays.

Regional Rail

• Zones: CC (the five Center City stations: Penn Medicine, 30th Street, Suburban, Jefferson and Temple University), Zones 1 to 4 and an NJ zone. The airport is in Zone 4. The more zones you cross, the higher the fare; even a trip between two stations in the same zone can cost more if it passes through Center City.
• Tap on and tap off: on Regional Rail you tap SEPTA Key at the start and the end of the trip, and the fare is based on the two taps. On buses and the Metro you tap only when boarding.
• No free transfers: connections between Regional Rail and buses or the Metro cost an extra fare.

Train to the airport (PHL)

The Airport Line stops at Terminal E/F, C/D, B and A-East, runs through Eastwick to the five Center City stations, and leaves every 30 minutes. All Airport Line stations are wheelchair accessible. Get a SEPTA Key card from kiosks at the airport or any Center City station; they take cash, credit and debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay. The airport's SEPTA information line is 215-580-7800.

What happened to SEPTA in 2025 and 2026?

Facing a budget gap of about $213 million, SEPTA cut bus and Metro service by 20% on August 24, 2025. A court put the fare increase and Regional Rail cuts planned for September 1, 2025 on hold, and in September 2025 ordered the service cuts reversed. The state approved using capital funds for SEPTA's operating budget; full service began returning on September 14, 2025, and the 21.5% fare increase took effect the same day, which is when the base fare became $2.90. On September 28, 2026, SEPTA's fares page still lists these fares, and no new fare change has been announced. Because fares and service depend on state transit funding, check SEPTA's fares page for current prices and service.

Electricity: PECO

1. Start service. Moves are handled through your account on PECO's website. If the SSN-based identity check fails, or you have no SSN, use PECO's New Service Identity Verification Application.
2. Send two IDs. Accepted documents on the form: driver's license, passport, Social Security card, college ID, visa (employment, immigrant or student), green card, state ID, military ID, employee ID and birth certificate. At least one must have a photo.
3. Email it. Send the completed form and both IDs to [email protected] with the subject line "Start Service - POS ID". PECO replies within 3 business days, and the start date must be at least 3 business days out.

Gas: PGW

• Who provides it: Philadelphia Gas Works is the largest municipally owned gas utility in the country and serves most of Philadelphia's gas customers. It is a separate company from PECO's gas territory.
• New service: give at least 7 days' notice. Customer line (215) 235-1000, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Business new accounts: (215) 684-6730.
• Choosing a gas supplier: through PGW's Gas Choice program you can buy gas from another supplier, while PGW keeps delivering and metering it.

Choosing an electric supplier

In Pennsylvania you can buy electricity from another company while PECO keeps delivering it. Compare suppliers and rates by ZIP code on PA Power Switch, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission's official shopping site.

Water (Philadelphia Water Department)

• What tenants need: the landlord's written consent to water service in your name; the landlord's valid street address; one current, government-issued photo ID (the city's own PHL City ID is accepted); proof of residency (a copy of the lease, a rent book or a canceled check); current utility bills in your name at the property; and a water meter reading.
• No meter? The landlord must call (215) 685-6300 to have one installed.
• Applying: email the documents to [email protected]. Questions: (215) 685-6300 or [email protected].
• Paying: online, by phone, by mail or in person, from a bank account, by credit card (with a processing fee), check or eCheck. Cash is taken only in person at the Municipal Services Building.
• Trouble paying: one combined application covers the city's water bill assistance programs.

Trash and recycling

• Who collects it: the Department of Streets (Sanitation Division) runs curbside trash and recycling pickup.
• Your collection day: enter your address on the city's collection day page. The same page shows whether collections are on schedule.
• Bulky items: pickup is scheduled separately.
• Missed pickup: report it through 311 (see city services).
• Where the trucks are: StreetSmartPHL tracks trash and recycling trucks, snow plowing and paving in real time.

Philly311

• How to reach it: 311 inside the city, (215) 686-8686 from outside. There is also the Philly311 website and a free iOS and Android app.
• Interpreters: phone interpretation in more than 200 languages. You can ask for a Turkish interpreter.
• Hours: the phone line runs Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• What it is for: non-emergency requests such as missed trash, bulky items, and street or sidewalk problems. In an emergency, always call 911.

Free Library of Philadelphia card

• Free for: anyone who lives, works, pays taxes or attends school in Philadelphia, plus any Pennsylvania resident.
• One document: a single Pennsylvania-issued photo ID is enough: a driver's license, non-driver photo ID, the city's PHL City ID, or an official photo voter ID.
• Two documents: two documents that match your name and address also work. The list includes a passport, a birth certificate, a bank statement, a credit card, an employer or school letter, a utility bill, mail postmarked within 60 days, a lease, an insurance card or Pennsylvania vehicle registration, and a Social Security card. A P.O. Box is not accepted as a home address.
• Applying: online or at any branch. Online applicants with a verifiable Pennsylvania address get a digital card right away. Children 12 and under apply in person with a parent or guardian.
• Form languages: the paper application comes in English, Arabic, Chinese, Dari, French, Haitian Creole, Pashto, Russian, Spanish, Tajik, Ukrainian, Uzbek, Vietnamese and Yoruba. There is no Turkish version.

Security deposits (state rule)

• Cap: 2 months' rent in the first year, 1 month's rent from the second year. Once the tenancy passes its first year, the landlord must return anything above one month's rent.
• Interest: for tenancies of 2 years or more, deposits over $100 go into an interest-bearing escrow account. The interest belongs to the tenant, minus up to 1% a year the landlord may keep as a fee.
• Refund: within 30 days after the lease ends. If there are deductions, the landlord must send a written, itemized list of damages with the balance.
• Penalty: a landlord who misses the 30-day list loses the right to keep any of the deposit for damages. After you give your forwarding address in writing, you can sue for double the amount wrongfully withheld.

Good Cause: when can a landlord end a lease?

The city's Fair Housing Commission explains the rule on its unfair rental practices page:

• Which leases: leases for less than one year, including leases that convert to month to month. The landlord cannot end or refuse to renew them without a good cause reason.
• Notice: the landlord must give at least 30 days' written notice that states the good cause reasons.
• Leases of one year or more: this rule does not cover them. Check your lease for its non-renewal terms, and ask a tenant legal aid group if you are unsure.
• Examples of Good Cause: habitual non-payment or late payment of rent, breaking a material term of the lease, nuisance activity, substantial damage to the property, refusing the landlord access, refusing to sign a lease extension or accept a reasonable rent increase, the owner or an immediate family member moving in, or renovating the unit while empty.
• If there is no Good Cause: file a complaint with the Fair Housing Commission within 15 business days of receiving the notice, and notify the landlord. You can also raise it as a defense if the landlord goes to court.

Eviction Diversion Program

• Mandatory: under Philadelphia Code § 9-811, a landlord must take part in good faith for at least 30 full days after the application is approved before filing an eviction for unpaid rent.
• How it works: the landlord first sends you the Notice of Diversion Rights, then applies online. The case goes to mediation, direct negotiation or financial assistance.
• Targeted Financial Assistance: if the back rent is $3,500 or less and no court complaint was filed for the same landlord, tenant and unit in the past year, a one-time payment to the landlord can cover the arrears plus two more months of rent.
• Your part: attend mediation and send any requested documents within 5 days. The landlord must also show an active rental license and an updated ledger.

Fair Housing Commission

The city agency that enforces Philadelphia's Fair Housing Ordinance: 601 Walnut St., Suite 300 South, Philadelphia, PA 19106; (215) 686-4670; [email protected]. Walk-in hours are Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. It holds hearings on unsafe or poorly maintained housing and checks landlords' rental licenses.

Homestead Exemption

• Who qualifies: owners who live in the Philadelphia home as their primary residence. A mortgage or a delinquent tax balance does not disqualify you. Homes with a 10-year tax abatement must wait until the abatement ends.
• How to apply: online through the Philadelphia Tax Center, by phone at (215) 686-9200, or by mail.
• Dates: the final deadline is December 1 each year. Apply by October 1 for faster processing on the current tax bill.

LOOP (Longtime Owner Occupants Program)

Tax relief for owners who have lived in the home for 10 years or more and whose assessment rose more than 50% from the year before, or more than 75% over the past 5 years. Income limits apply at 120% of Area Median Income, roughly $103,050 for one person up to $217,900 for a household of 10 or more. LOOP cannot be combined with the Homestead Exemption, so you ask to remove Homestead when you apply for LOOP. Applications for the 2026 cycle closed on September 30, 2026; ask the city about the 2027 date.

Pennsylvania's Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program

The state rebate is open to homeowners and renters, but only to residents 65 and older, widows and widowers 50 and older, and people with disabilities 18 and older. Household income must be $48,110 a year or less.

Lower-income homeowners with a high tax burden may get a supplemental $190 to $500. The deadline for the current cycle is December 31, 2026. Apply online at myPATH.pa.gov, by mail, or at assistance sites around the state; the program hotline is 1-888-222-9190.

• Local tax: those are the rates in the state's DCED local tax register as of June 15, 2026; Keystone Collections Group collects for all three townships. A Bucks County employer withholds this tax, while a Philadelphia employer withholds the city's Wage Tax. Ask a tax preparer how the two offset each other.
• Marriage license: no trip to Doylestown needed. The Bucks County Register of Wills also serves the Lower Bucks County Government Services Center in Levittown (7321 New Falls Road, 267-580-3585). You apply online, then both of you sign in a video meeting with photo ID. The county's fee table lists $85 in total, but it is dated 2021, so confirm before you apply. There is a 3-day waiting period and the license is valid for 60 days.
• U.S. passport: the Prothonotary's passport division is in the same building, open 8 a.m.-3 p.m. (closed noon-1 p.m.). Appointments are recommended and walk-ins are welcome; phone 215-348-6191. See U.S. passport for the steps.
• Driver's license: there is no PennDOT center in Levittown. The nearest full Driver and Photo License Center is in Bensalem (Neshaminy Square, 4201 Neshaminy Blvd, Suite 131), closed Mondays, open Tuesday to Saturday 8:30 a.m.-4:15 p.m. Other sites are in PennDOT's location finder; documents are in driver's license.
• Trash and water: these are handled by your township or a local water utility, not by Philadelphia. In Bristol Township, for example, Waste Management collects trash once a week, and water comes from different utilities depending on the section. Call your township before you move to ask about your pickup day and water account.
• School enrollment: Levittown is split among three districts: Bristol Township SD, Pennsbury SD and Neshaminy SD. Your street address decides which one, not "Levittown" on your mail or your ZIP code. Bristol Township SD: 267-599-2020. Neshaminy SD registers online: 215-809-6547. General documents are in school enrollment.
• Train: SEPTA's Trenton Line stops at Levittown-Tullytown, so you can reach Center City without a car. For fares, see transit.

1. Gather documents. The district's list: your child's birth certificate, immunization records, a parent or guardian photo ID and proof of Philadelphia residency. For residency, bring a deed, mortgage statement or fully signed lease plus one more approved document, or three approved documents if you have none of those. The district may also verify residency with a home visit.
2. Living with someone else? If nothing shows the address in your name, a notarized Residency Affidavit signed by you and the property owner or renter can substitute.
3. Register. Go to your neighborhood school or the district's Office of Student Enrollment and Placement, 440 North Broad Street, Suite 111.
4. Complete the Home Language Survey. Every family fills it out at first enrollment. It decides whether your child gets English as a Second Language (ESL) services, and under state rules it cannot delay enrollment.

Confirm district-specific details (document list, kindergarten age, office address) on the district's enrollment page or with your school before you go.

• Kindergarten: the child must be 5 on or before September 1, and the district makes no exceptions. Pennsylvania has no statewide cutoff; each local school board sets its own.
• Free pre-K (PHLpreK): free for Philadelphia 3- and 4-year-olds, with no income or employment requirement. For 2026-27 the child must be 3 or 4 by September 1, 2026; applications opened January 20, 2026. Bring the provider you choose one proof of age (birth certificate, passport, Social Security card, or medical or school records), one proof of Philadelphia residency (state ID, driver's license, voter ID, lease or Social Security award letter) and the PHLpreK application. Helpline: 1-844-PHL-PREK (844-745-7735) or (215) 686-0310.
• English support: the district's Office of Multilingual Curriculum and Programs runs ESL services; call 215-400-4240. In the 2022-23 school year, families in the district spoke 160 home languages.
• Newly arrived teens: the Newcomer Learner Academy serves students aged 14 to 20 (grades 9 to 12) who recently arrived in the U.S. and test at a beginning English level (1.0 to 1.9). It combines language instruction with English, math, science and social studies.
• Students without stable housing: they enroll immediately under McKinney-Vento without proof of residency, and unaccompanied youth can enroll on their own, without documents.
• Missing paperwork: under state rules, a child should normally start the next school day after you apply, and in all cases within 5 business days.

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

• City Health Centers: Ambulatory Health Services, part of the Philadelphia Department of Public Health (1101 Market Street, 11th floor), manages the city's health centers. They serve Philadelphians of all ages regardless of insurance status or ability to pay: primary care, chronic and acute illness, cancer screenings, immunizations, sexual health, dental, behavioral health, prenatal and pediatric care, and treatment for opioid use disorder. Staff also help patients apply for insurance. Addresses are on the city's page.
• Medicaid (Medical Assistance) after October 1, 2026: under the federal H.R. 1 law, eligibility for immigrants narrows to lawful permanent residents, Cuban and Haitian entrants, and citizens of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands and Palau (COFA). Pennsylvania chose to keep CHIP coverage open for lawfully residing children and pregnant people. Emergency Medicaid remains available for a true medical emergency. The state Department of Human Services (DHS) is sending letters to affected beneficiaries ahead of the change.
• Buying insurance: Pennsylvania runs its own marketplace, Pennie. Open enrollment for 2027 runs November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027; enroll by December 15, 2026 for coverage starting January 1. Premium help for some lawfully present immigrants narrows in 2027, so check your eligibility directly with Pennie.
• Community health centers: search federally funded centers in the HRSA health center finder.
• 988: the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline answers calls, texts and chats 24/7.

City-run health centers

City Health Centers · Philadelphia Department of Public Health

Primary and preventive care sites open to all Philadelphia residents. Uninsured patients pay a small fee based on family size and income, so care is not always free. Services include diagnosis and treatment of illness, preventive care, dental, behavioral health and vaccinations; most insurance is accepted, and staff help patients apply for coverage. Some of the centers:

• Health Center 1: 1930 S Broad St.
• Health Center 2: 1700 S. Broad St., Unit 201
• Health Center 3: 555 S. 43rd St.
• Health Center 4: 4400 Haverford Ave.
• Health Center 5: 1900 N 20th St.
• Health Center 6: 301 W. Girard Ave.
• Mattie L. Humphrey Health Center: 131 E. Chelten Ave.
• Health Center 10: 2230 Cottman Ave.
• Strawberry Mansion Health Center: 2840 West Dauphin St.

Full list of centers

Free care

United Community Clinic (UCC) · West and Southwest Philadelphia

A free clinic run by University of Pennsylvania medical, nursing, dental, social work and undergraduate students. It opens at two locations on a rotating schedule of specific Monday evenings, 5 to 7 p.m., through the year. It is not open every Monday, so check the clinic calendar before you go.

UCC New River: 4159 W Girard Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19104.
UCC Cedar: 501 S 54th St, Philadelphia, PA 19143 (enter through the hospital's main ER entrance, then go to the 1st floor cardiology unit).
Clinic dates and locations

Centers with income-based fees

Spectrum Health Services · Four Philadelphia locations

A community health center that says it will never turn anyone away for inability to pay. It offers a sliding fee discount based on family size and income to eligible uninsured and underinsured patients. Fees go down with income, but care is not free.

Addresses: 5201 Haverford Avenue (19139); 2300 West Master Street (19121); 1325 South 33rd Street, Suite 300 (19146); 3525 Cottman Avenue (19149).
Spectrum Health Services

Philadelphia FIGHT · Center City

A nonprofit network of community health centers. It says no one will be denied services for inability to pay and that services are available regardless of insurance status. Its sliding fee schedule is based on the federal poverty guidelines (family size and income); it is a discount, not free care for everyone.

Addresses (all Philadelphia, PA 19107): 1233 Locust Street; 1207 Chestnut Street (John Bell Health Center, FIGHT Family Dentistry, Pediatric and Adolescent Health Center, Y-HEP Adolescent and Young Adult Health Center); 1211 Chestnut Street (Diana Baldwin Clinic); 315 South Broad Street (Broad Street Love Health Center).
Locations · Community health centers

Stephen Klein Wellness Center (Project HOME) · North Philadelphia

A Health Care for the Homeless site that describes itself as open to all. It mainly serves people with low incomes or experiencing homelessness but does not limit care to them. Uninsured patients get a sliding fee discount; care is not free by default.

Address: 2144 Cecil B. Moore Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19121. Weekdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
215-320-6187 · Center page

Questions to ask before booking

• Are you accepting new patients? Are there age, income, insurance or residency requirements?
• Are visits, lab tests, medications, dental care and outside referrals charged separately?
• Which documents should I bring, and is an interpreter available?

For more options, use the HRSA health center finder; not every listed center is free. See health care without insurance for emergency care and Medicaid.

• Where: Register of Wills, Marriage License Bureau, City Hall (1400 John F. Kennedy Boulevard), Room 413, Philadelphia, PA 19107; phone (215) 686-2233. The Register of Wills' main office is in the same building, Room 180. In Pennsylvania, each county's Register of Wills issues marriage licenses.
• Applying: both applicants must appear in person. Walk-ins are accepted Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. If you need a translator, contact the office at least one week ahead.
• First document, photo ID: a current driver's license, state photo ID, international driver's license, U.S. or foreign passport, military ID or PHL City ID.
• Second document, SSN or ITIN proof: a Social Security card or printout, an IRS ITIN document, a pay stub, W-2 or tax return. If you have neither an SSN nor an ITIN, bring a birth certificate (officially translated, if necessary) or another acceptable photo ID instead. If you plan to use a Turkish birth record, have it translated ahead of time.
• Fee: $90 for a regular license, $100 for a Quaker or self-uniting license.
• Timing: Pennsylvania has a 3-day wait; the license becomes valid on the third day after you apply and remains valid for 60 days from issue. No blood test is required.

• Philadelphia office: 110 N. Eighth St., Suite 108, Philadelphia, PA 19107-2412, one of six walk-in public offices in the state. Check its hours on the Department of Health's page before you go.
• Online: mycertificates.health.pa.gov, 24/7. A $10 service fee is added to the $20 per copy.
• By mail: send the Application for Birth Certificate to PO Box 1528, New Castle, PA 16103. The main office is at 105 Nesbitt Road, New Castle, PA 16105, weekdays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Who can order: anyone 16 or older (18 for online orders) who is the person named, a parent, spouse, sibling or legal representative.
• Records: the state has kept birth records since 1906.
• Child's U.S. passport: for children under 16, a passport book is $100 plus a $35 acceptance fee. See the passport section.
• SSN: for your baby's Social Security number, see the SSN section.

• Card Center: the SSA Philadelphia region's only Social Security Card Center is in Center City at 2 Penn Center, 1500 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Suite 2000B, Philadelphia, PA 19102. It handles new and replacement cards.
• Other offices: SSA also has offices at 9300 Ashton Road, 3901 Market Street, 4240 Market Street, 3400 Aramingo Avenue, 701 East Chelten Avenue and 3336 S. Broad Street (Stadium Plaza). Most are open weekdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Which office: SSA assigns offices by ZIP code, not distance, and changes those assignments from time to time. Confirm the address and hours with the SSA office locator before you go. National line: 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).
• 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. In Pennsylvania, schools may neither request nor require one for enrollment (see school enrollment).

• What the Wage Tax is: according to the city, a tax on salaries, wages, commissions and other compensation. Your employer usually withholds it from your pay. The rates dropped slightly on July 1, 2026 under a multi-year reduction plan, so watch for further changes.
• Refunds: nonresidents can request a refund for days they worked outside Philadelphia (for example, remote-work days). People approved for Pennsylvania tax forgiveness (Schedule SP) can request a refund down to a reduced 1.5% rate.
• State return: Form PA-40, filed with the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue. Pennsylvania has no separate state number; ITIN filers use the same ITIN on the state return. An ITIN is a tax number only; it does not authorize work or change immigration status.
• Moving from Texas? Factor the state tax and the Wage Tax together into any salary offer.

How do I get an ITIN?

1. Complete Form W-7 and attach it to your federal return unless an exception applies.
2. Get documents verified. Mail originals to the IRS in Austin, use a Certifying Acceptance Agent (CAA), or book a free document review at an IRS office. With a CAA or IRS office, your passport does not go in the mail; documents are returned at the end of the appointment.
3. Wait. Processing takes about 7 weeks, or 9 to 11 weeks during tax season (January 15 to April 30).

• IRS office: according to the IRS list, the Philadelphia office offering ITIN document review is at 600 Arch Street. Confirm the 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: file the Certificate of Organization (Form DSCB:15-8821) with the Pennsylvania Department of State. The $125 fee is a little higher than New Jersey's $100 and lower than the $300 Texas charges.
• Annual Report: Act 122 of 2022 replaced the old once-a-decade report with an annual one. For LLCs the fee is $7 a year and the deadline is September 30. A company that does not file is administratively dissolved, and its name becomes available to other businesses. Because the rule is new, check the Department of State for any transition rules for the first filing years.
• Fictitious name: anyone doing business under a name other than their own, whether a sole proprietor, partnership or company, registers it with the Department of State on Form DSCB:54-311 for $70. The City and County of Philadelphia share the same borders, but the filing still goes to the state, not the county.
• Newspaper notice: if an individual is a party to the registration, you must also run a one-time notice in two newspapers of general circulation in Philadelphia County, one of them a legal newspaper.
• No exclusive rights: registering a fictitious name does not give you an exclusive right to use it.

• Who lost SNAP: according to DHS, refugees, asylees, people granted withholding of removal, certain parolees, trafficking victims and VAWA-based applicants no longer qualify based on that status. Current recipients who are no longer eligible keep benefits until their next renewal date.
• Medicaid and CHIP: Pennsylvania Medical Assistance (Medicaid) narrows for noncitizens starting October 1, 2026. Pennsylvania chose to keep CHIP coverage open for lawfully residing children and pregnant people, and emergency Medicaid continues. 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. Ask an attorney about the rule's current status before you apply.

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.

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 field office address comes from an older USCIS page and current map listings; 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 "Philadelphia PA" as the office. Times update monthly.
• Biometrics: the center is assigned on your I-797C notice; you do not choose it. If the center closes, the appointment is rescheduled automatically. You can reschedule for good cause, at least 12 hours before the existing appointment, through your USCIS online account. Our biometrics guide covers what to bring.
• Your attorney at the interview: since May 18, 2026, attorneys may no longer join field-office interviews remotely, except in limited circumstances. Your attorney has to attend in person.
• Asylum interviews: the asylum office you report to is listed on your interview notice.

• Filings: the court does not accept faxed or electronic submissions unless court staff or the judge specifically asks for them. Arrive before 3 p.m. Email: [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 ERO Philadelphia: covers Pennsylvania, Delaware and West Virginia. Check-ins are scheduled at checkin.ice.gov. If you have a check-in, talk to your attorney before you go.
• Do not mix them up: the Philadelphia Passport Agency (9th and Chestnut Streets) has a different address from the court. For a hearing, go to 900 Market Street, Suite 504.

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. Philadelphia's unit is inside the airport: Philadelphia International Airport, Terminal A West, 3rd Floor. Mind the hours: weekdays 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. only, with no morning or weekend service. Phone (215) 863-4247. It fixes only mistakes made at the time of entry.

• Who can register: people who have been U.S. citizens for at least one month before the election, have lived in Pennsylvania and their election district for at least 30 days before it, and register at least 15 days before it. For the November 3, 2026 election, registration closes October 19, 2026.
• At PennDOT and on forms: if PennDOT or any other agency offers to register you to vote, answer the citizenship question truthfully and decline. 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: U.S. citizenship is one of the requirements for jury service in Pennsylvania. In Philadelphia, jury service is run by the Jury Commission of the First Judicial District: (215) 683-7170, [email protected].
• If you are summoned: complete the questionnaire online through the eJuror system or return the paper form by mail, and answer the citizenship question truthfully. Requests to postpone, be excused or be disqualified also go through eJuror. See the city's jury duty page.
• Scams: be wary of calls or emails asking for your SSN or demanding a fine. If in doubt, call the Jury Commission at the official number above.

Recently naturalized? You can register on Pennsylvania's voter registration site or at 1-877-VOTESPA (1-877-868-3772). The deadline depends on each election, so register at least 15 days before the one you want to vote in.

• Find an acceptance facility: enter your ZIP code in the passport facility locator. These locations accept new applications (DS-11) only.
• What to bring: your original naturalization certificate and your ID.
• Children: a passport book for a child under 16 costs $100 plus the $35 acceptance fee.
• Philadelphia Passport Agency: Robert N.C. Nix Federal Building, 9th and Chestnut Streets (9th Street entrance, Suite 100), Philadelphia, PA 19107. Weekdays 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., appointment only, closed on federal holidays.
• 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.

Always free

• Liberty Bell: no ticket or reservation, daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Independence Hall: no-ticket open house from 9 to 10:30 a.m. For later tours, reserve on Recreation.gov (a non-refundable $1 processing fee per ticket) or at 1-877-444-6777. Next-day tickets are released at 5 p.m. the day before. If the day is not sold out, the Independence Visitor Center may have same-day tickets.
• Fairmount Park and city parks: no admission. Venues inside the park system, such as the zoo, charge separately.
• Reading Terminal Market: browsing is free, daily 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Spruce Street Harbor Park: seasonal and free to enter. The 2026 summer season ended September 27; watch the park's site for the next season.

Discount days and the ACCESS card

• Philadelphia Museum of Art: pay what you wish for everyone on the first Sunday of each month, with no ID or residency test. The museum says Friday evenings after 5 p.m. are also pay what you wish through June 25, 2027. Visitors 18 and under are free every day.
• ACCESS card: Pennsylvania's benefits (EBT) ACCESS card gets up to 4 people into the Franklin Institute and the Philadelphia Zoo for $2 each, into the Barnes Foundation for free, and a discount at Longwood Gardens. If you already have a card, there is nothing extra to apply for. If you are thinking of applying for a new benefit, read the public benefits section first.

With kids

• The Franklin Institute: the giant walk-through heart and the planetarium make it a classic family stop.
• Philadelphia Zoo: America's first zoo. Reserve online in advance; prices vary by date.
• Fairmount Park: free playgrounds and trails.
• Independence Park: the Liberty Bell is free. The Benjamin Franklin Museum inside the park charges a separate fee; under 5 free.
• Spruce Street Harbor Park: in season, hammocks, a boardwalk and games, free to enter.

To book: konsolosluk.gov.tr → Randevu Al → Türk Vatandaşları İçin Konsolosluk İşlemleri → New York. The 24/7 Consular Call Center: 1-888-566-76-56 (+90 312 292 29 29 from outside the U.S.). After-hours emergency line: +1 646 204 0011. Email: [email protected].

Fees change during the year. Check the current amounts on the consulate's site before you pay.

Tips for your visit

• Getting there: the consulate is in Manhattan. Plan the round trip around your appointment time and leave room for traffic or train delays.
• Timing: services run in a morning and an afternoon block. Be at the building before your slot.
• Holidays: check the consulate's site for closure days before you book.
• Birth registration: you need the U.S. birth certificate first. Pennsylvania's vital records division has a public office in Philadelphia (see birth certificates).
• Documents for Türkiye: Pennsylvania documents are apostilled in Harrisburg, not at the consulate (see apostille).
• Military service (askerlik): men born in 2007 must complete their registration (yoklama) by December 31, 2026, at the consulate or on e-Devlet. The paid military service option (dövizle askerlik) for July to December 2026 is the foreign-currency equivalent of 472,653.60 TL, paid in U.S. dollars at the Turkish central bank rate of the payment day, plus a transfer fee (ask the consulate for the current amount); the amount changes on January 1, 2027. It requires a U.S. residence or work permit, 3 years (1,095 days) of work abroad, the MSB online training, residence in the consulate's district and an in-person appointment. Dual citizens born in the U.S. or who came before 18 can defer until the end of age 35 after registering their U.S. citizenship. F-1 students defer through the consulate's Education Attaché.

• Office: Pennsylvania Department of State, Office of Notaries, Commissions and Legislation, North Office Building, Room 201, 401 North Street, Harrisburg, PA 17120. Phone (717) 787-5280, email [email protected].
• By mail: send the original documents with a cover letter or the official Request for Legalization form, payment and a self-addressed stamped return envelope to the address above. The fee is per document, not per page.
• In person: no appointments; walk-ins are served first come, first served. Check current hours on the Department of State's page before you go. Payment by check, money order or credit card; no cash.
• Which copy to send: for a birth certificate, a certified copy issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Health (not a notarized photocopy); for a death certificate, a copy signed by the state registrar (not a local registrar); for a marriage certificate, one signed by the county Register of Wills / Clerk of the Orphans' Court. If you married in Philadelphia, that is the Register of Wills at City Hall (see marriage licenses).
• Apostille or certification: apostilles are for Hague Apostille Convention countries. For other countries the office issues a certification, which may also need legalization at that country's embassy.

• 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.
• From PHL: flight search sites generally show Philadelphia to Istanbul itineraries with one stop, usually at a European hub. Routes change by season, so check current schedules on the Turkish Airlines site before you book.
• To PHL by train: SEPTA's Airport Line connects all four PHL terminals with the Center City stations, every 30 minutes. The fare is $6.75 with a SEPTA Key card or $8.75 paying cash or card on board. Details on the airport's site.
• Newark to Istanbul: Turkish Airlines flies nonstop from Newark Liberty. Amtrak and NJ Transit trains stop at the airport's Rail Link Station. Check days and times on the Turkish Airlines Newark page.
• JFK option: for Istanbul flights from JFK, see the Turkish Airlines New York page. It is worth comparing all three airports on price and timing.