Turkish-Speaking Immigration Attorney in Virginia Beach

1. Pick your card. Residents who can document lawful presence get a regular license. REAL ID is optional and costs a one-time $10 on top of the license fee. Since May 7, 2025, you need a REAL ID or another ID such as a passport to board domestic flights, enter secure federal facilities or access military bases. A REAL ID requires one proof of identity, two proofs of Virginia residency, proof of lawful presence and proof of your SSN if one has been issued. All documents must be originals.
2. No proof of lawful presence? Get a Driver Privilege Card. It is a driving credential for Virginia residents who are not U.S. citizens. You must have reported income from Virginia sources, or been claimed as a dependent on a Virginia tax return, in the past 12 months. DMV verifies the income electronically with the Virginia Department of Taxation.
3. Go to the right office. Licenses, learner's permits, ID cards and REAL ID are handled only at full-service DMV customer service centers. Book through the DMV appointments page. Road skills tests also take walk-ins: be at the center by 4:30 p.m. on weekdays or 11:30 a.m. on Saturdays.
4. Take the tests. The two-part knowledge exam is offered in many languages, including Turkish. The road skills test is in English only; you may bring an interpreter who is 18 or older and holds an unexpired U.S. driver's license, and DMV does not provide one. You supply the test vehicle, which needs a valid safety inspection sticker, plates and registration. After a first or second failure you wait 2 days to retest; after a third, you must complete the matching part of a driver education course first.

DMV customer service centers in and near Virginia Beach

According to DMV's August 2026 listing, all are open weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays 8 a.m. to noon. Hours can change, so check the DMV locations page before you go.

What the City Hall DMV Select does, and does not do

The Municipal Center (2401 Courthouse Drive, Building 1) has a DMV Select, open weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for walk-ins. It handles vehicle transactions such as registration and plates, sells E-ZPass, and also does boat registrations and hunting and fishing licenses. It does not issue driver's licenses, learner's permits, ID cards or REAL ID. For those, go to Buckner or Hilltop.

Driver Privilege Card documents

• The Driver and Identification Privilege Card Application
• Two proofs of identity (a Turkish passport can be one of them)
• Two proofs of Virginia residency, such as a lease or a utility bill
• Proof of your SSN if you have one, or your ITIN
• Tax return documentation

Documents must be originals. Anything not in English needs a certified English translation by a professional translator. The card is valid for up to 8 years. First-time applicants 18 and older (before January 1, 2027) pass the knowledge exam and get a learner's permit, then either finish a state-approved driver education program and pass the road test, or hold the permit for at least 60 days and pass the road test.

DMV takes Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, Apple Pay, Google Pay, cash, checks and money orders.

Virginia DMV states it plainly: drivers 18 and older with a valid license from a country other than those six are not eligible for foreign reciprocity. Türkiye is not on the list.

1. Book an appointment. Go to a full-service DMV center such as Buckner or Hilltop with your Turkish license and your identity and residency documents (see the center list). The City Hall DMV Select does not handle this.
2. Knowledge exam and vision screening. Choose Turkish for the exam; it is on DMV's official language list.
3. Road skills test. The test is in English. You may bring an interpreter who is 18 or older and holds an unexpired U.S. license.

• Under 18: a foreign license cannot be exchanged, so every standard step applies.
• Driver Privilege Card: if your Turkish license is valid or expired less than a year ago, a Driver Privilege Card applicant can usually follow the exchange route rather than every first-time step. The tests still apply.

1. Buy Virginia insurance. For policies effective on or after January 1, 2025, the minimums are $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident for bodily injury and $25,000 for property damage. Driving uninsured brings a $600 noncompliance fee and an SR-22 filing for 3 years.
2. Title and register. Bring the Application for Title and Registration, proof of address, the out-of-state title or registration card, and proof of the purchase price if you bought the car in the last 12 months. You can do this at the Buckner or Hilltop DMV centers or at the City Hall DMV Select (2401 Courthouse Drive, Building 1, weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., walk-in).
3. No emissions test. Every locality on the state's emissions inspection list is in Northern Virginia. Virginia Beach is not on it, so no emissions test is needed before registration.
4. Safety inspection. Every vehicle in Virginia needs a valid annual safety inspection sticker. Inspections are done at licensed private repair shops, not at DMV. For questions, call the Virginia State Police at (804) 674-2000.

How the car tax works

• Rate: Virginia Beach taxes vehicles at $4.00 per $100 of assessed value. The value comes from the January J.D. Power (NADA) loan value.
• PPTRA relief: for qualifying personal-use vehicles, the state pays part of the tax on the first $20,000 of assessed value.
• Billing: vehicles registered with DMV by March 31 are billed in May, due June 5. Vehicles new to the area registered after March 31 get a prorated supplemental bill between August and the end of the year.
• Late payment: a penalty of 10% or $10, whichever is greater.
• Contact: the Commissioner of the Revenue assesses the tax (757-385-4251) and the Treasurer collects it (757-385-4445), both at the Municipal Center, 2401 Courthouse Drive.

Virginia Beach is an independent city with no county above it, so the city itself collects both car tax and real estate tax. Details are on the Commissioner of the Revenue's personal property page.

• E-ZPass Virginia: open an account and get a tag at ezpassva.com. Customer service is 1-877-762-7824, weekdays 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. You can also buy a tag at the City Hall DMV Select.
• Hampton Roads Express Lanes (I-64): according to VDOT, the Chesapeake Express Lanes (about 14 miles from Bowers Hill to the I-264 interchange in Norfolk) are tolled 24/7, and the Norfolk reversible Express Lanes have full-time tolling. General-purpose lanes stay free. You need an E-ZPass Flex to get the HOV discount.
• Elizabeth River tunnels (Downtown and Midtown): tolled. We could not confirm current rates on an official page, so check the operator's site before you drive.
• Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (CBBT): the bridge-tunnel from Virginia Beach to the Eastern Shore, with its own toll schedule and peak pricing Friday to Sunday from May 15 to September 15. E-ZPass is accepted. Current rates are on cbbt.com.

October 2026: HRBT weekend overnight closures

The Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel (HRBT, I-64) between Hampton and Norfolk closes in one direction on several weekend nights for the expansion project. According to HRT's alert, each closure runs from Friday 9 p.m. to Monday 5 a.m.:

On those nights, HRT routes 961, 966 and 972 detour through the Monitor-Merrimac tunnel. Dates can change, so check VDOT and HRT alerts before you travel.

HRT fares

HRT's fare page is headed "Fares as of 7/1/2023." These are the amounts it showed on September 29, 2026; confirm the current fare before you ride.

• Discounted fare: for seniors 65 and older, Medicare cardholders and people with disabilities. Show a government or military photo ID with your age, an HRT Discounted Fare ID badge, or a Medicare card with a photo ID.
• Kids: children 17 and under ride free with a fare-paying adult. Unaccompanied riders aged 13 to 17 ride free with a Student Freedom Pass; other unaccompanied riders under 18 pay the discounted fare.
• Cash: exact fare only; fare boxes do not make change and there are no refunds. HRT's mobile fare app is the cash-free option.
• Contact: HRT customer service, 757-222-6100.

Which line goes where?

• The Tide (light rail): runs from Downtown Norfolk and ends in Virginia Beach at Newtown Road Station. It does not go to the Oceanfront.
• Route 20 express: connects the Downtown Norfolk Transit Center with the Virginia Beach Oceanfront.
• VB Wave: the seasonal Oceanfront trolleys, at the regular HRT fare. HRT's 2026 schedule runs from May 10 through the Neptune Festival: Route 30 (Atlantic Avenue) daily, and Routes 31 (Aquarium and campground) and 35 (Bayfront) Friday to Sunday only from September 11. The festival is usually held in late September, so the season may already be over. Check whether the routes are still running, and the current schedule, on HRT's VB Wave page.
• Virginia Beach routes: HRT's official list is 12, 15, 20, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 33, 35, 36, 960, 966, 967, 972 and 981. For example, Route 25 serves Military Circle, TCC Virginia Beach and Sentara Princess Anne Hospital, and Route 26 serves TCC and Lynnhaven Mall.

Airport

The local airport is Norfolk International (ORF). There is no nonstop from ORF to Istanbul; the usual trip connects through Washington Dulles. See the time and flights section.

1. Dominion Energy (electricity): start service on the Start, Stop or Move Service page. Have your address, full legal name, email and SSN ready for the online form. The connection charge is $5.70. New customers and customers without a good 12-month payment history may pay a security deposit, refunded after 12 months of good payment. Service orders are worked weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
2. Virginia Natural Gas (gas): the online start form asks for your date of birth and whether you have a Social Security number. A soft credit check decides whether a deposit applies, and an initial deposit is required if you do not provide an SSN. You can pick a start date from tomorrow up to 90 days out, and you must be 18 or older. Customer care is 1-888-642-6748 (weekdays 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.); the same number takes gas emergencies 24/7.
3. Water, sewer and trash: all on one city bill (see water and trash).

If you struggle with the bill

The city's Department of Human Services takes fuel assistance applications each year from the second Tuesday of October to the second Friday of November. By that rule, the 2026 window is October 13 to November 13. Apply through CommonHelp, by phone at 1-855-635-4370, or with a paper application in the drop box at 3432 Virginia Beach Blvd. Check who qualifies on Human Services' energy assistance page.

Water (Public Utilities)

• Service: start, stop or transfer service through Public Utilities online services, giving your account number (if any), address, name and phone. Phone 757-385-4631; customer service center at 2403 Courthouse Drive, weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Utility Connection Office in the same building only books connection-fee appointments for new construction and does not start service.
• Billing: every 28 to 32 days. Water is metered; stormwater, trash, sewer and service availability are fixed daily charges. A new or transferred account pays an account set-up fee on the first bill.
• HRSD bill: sewer customers also get a separate wastewater-treatment bill from the Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD), based on the water they use.
• Paying: ACH is free with paperless billing or autopay and $1.75 without; credit and debit cards cost $3.50.
• After hours: for urgent water problems on evenings and weekends, call 311.
• Help with the bill: Human Services' Water Assistance Program pays up to $350 once per fiscal year toward the City Services Bill and up to $300 for a plumbing repair (757-385-6700).

Trash and recycling

• Schedule: trash weekly, recycling every other week, yard debris weekly. Find your pickup day on the city website or in the VB Connect app.
• Carts: 95-gallon trash (black) and recycling (blue) carts cost $100 each and are bought from the city's Waste Management division. Pay by card, personal check or money order payable to "Treasurer, City of Virginia Beach"; business checks are not accepted. If you rent, ask your landlord whether the home already has carts.
• Recycling rules: put the blue cart out between 5 p.m. the day before and 7 a.m. on collection day. Overflowing carts are not collected.
• Bulky items: request a pickup online, by phone, by email or in person at least three days before your regular trash day.
• Contact: Waste Management, 3024 Holland Road, 757-385-4650, [email protected]. Weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.).
• Recycling drop-off: 2500 West Neck Road, Monday to Saturday 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., no trailers.

What does "independent city" mean?

Some Virginia cities belong to no county, and Virginia Beach is one of them. For schools, taxes, trash, water, the health department and local courts, you deal with the city. If a form asks for your "county or city," choose "City of Virginia Beach."

Reaching the city

• VB311: 311 inside the city, 757-385-3111 from outside, [email protected]. 311 also takes code enforcement complaints and urgent after-hours water problems.
• Address: City Hall, Municipal Center, 2401 Courthouse Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23456.
• VB Connect: the city's official mobile app.
• VBAlert: text "VBAlert" to 67283 for emergency alerts. You can also create a Smart911 profile.
• Hurricane season: June 1 to November 30. The city names flooding, tropical storms and sea level rise as its top risks. Preparedness information is on the ReadyVB page.
• Emergencies: always call 911 when life is at risk.

Pets and parking

• Pet licenses: all dogs and cats over 4 months old must be licensed. The standard tag is free; get it online, at a Treasurer's office or by mail.
• Oceanfront parking: residents of the Oceanfront resort area can get a $50 annual Resident Parking Voucher. Apply online with a valid driver's license and one document showing a Virginia Beach address.

Virginia Beach Public Library card

• Who qualifies: cards are free to Virginia residents (and residents of Currituck County, North Carolina).
• Sign-up: online or at any of the 10 library locations. Phone 757-385-0150, [email protected].
• Limits: up to 30 items (5 for teens), 21-day loans, automatic renewal of print items, up to 30 holds. Accounts are blocked for address-verification problems or fees over $50.

We could not confirm on the official page which ID and address documents the library asks for. Call the library before you apply.

• Cap: the deposit cannot exceed two months' rent.
• Allowed deductions: unpaid rent (including reasonable late fees in the lease), damage beyond ordinary wear and tear, other charges provided in the lease, and actual damages from breaking the lease.
• Refund: within 45 days, with a written itemized statement. With several tenants, the refund goes as one check payable to all of them, sent to a forwarding address one of them provides. Give your new address in writing when you move out.
• Interest account: unlike New Jersey, Virginia does not require the deposit to be held in an interest-bearing account.

City services for Virginia Beach renters

• Code complaints: report serious maintenance and safety problems to the city's Code Enforcement through 311 (757-385-3111 from outside the city).
• Rental inspections: the city's Certificate of Compliance program inspects rental units in 109 designated areas. Inspections follow written notice to the owner, the owner pays the $50 fee, and a unit that passes is exempt for four years.
• At risk of losing your home: the Housing Resource Center (104 N. Witchduck Road) sees people who are homeless or at risk on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m. to noon. The Regional Housing Crisis Hotline is 757-227-5932, weekdays 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

• Rate: the general rate is $0.97 per $100 of value. Sandbridge and other Special Service Districts have their own rates; check the rate for your address on the Assessor's tax rates page.
• Installments: the city's fiscal year runs July 1 to June 30, and the tax is paid in arrears in two installments due December 5 and June 5. Late payments carry a penalty of 10% or $10, whichever is greater, plus 9.6% annual interest.
• Assessment questions: Real Estate Assessor, 2424 Courthouse Drive, 757-385-4601, [email protected].
• Paying: Treasurer, weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., 757-385-4445. Offices: City Hall first floor (2401 Courthouse Drive), the Beach office (420 Birdneck Circle), the Thalia office (4001 Virginia Beach Blvd, Suite 112) and the Kempsville office (1830 Kempsville Road, Suite 107). Real estate tax line: 757-385-8258.

Relief for seniors and people with disabilities

• Who: residents 65 and older or totally disabled.
• Income limits: $87,419 for the exemption and $114,062 for the tax freeze.
• Asset limit: $350,000, excluding the home and up to 10 acres.
• Car tax relief: one vehicle; combined income up to $29,500 and net worth up to $70,000.
• How to apply: by appointment between February 1 and June 30 at the Commissioner of the Revenue (Municipal Center, Building 1, 757-385-4251).

We found no general homestead exemption for ordinary homeowners on these pages. Relief in Virginia is tied to age, disability and veteran status.

1. Find your school. Your address determines your zoned school; the school locator on the VBCPS site shows it. For kindergarten, the child must be 5 by September 30.
2. Fill out the online form. New-student registration starts online and requires an active ParentVUE account. Create one under "More Options > Create a New Account" on the sign-in screen.
3. Book an appointment with the school. The online form is not enough; call the school to schedule an appointment to finish registration. A parent or legal guardian must come with the student.
4. Bring your documents (see the list below).

Required documents

• Two proofs of residence: a lease or mortgage statement, plus a current gas, electric or water bill. Handwritten leases, and leases not arranged through a licensed agency, must be notarized.
• Living with someone else: if you live with a Virginia Beach resident and the lease or deed is not in your name, you complete a Shared Housing Disclosure Form every year. Families without a permanent address can enroll under the federal McKinney-Vento Act.
• Age: a certified birth certificate or a birth affidavit for a child entering public school for the first time.
• Physical exam: for kindergarten and elementary entry, an exam within the previous 12 months (Virginia Form MCH-213G or similar).
• Immunizations: required for every entering student, covering DTaP, polio, measles, hepatitis A and B, varicella, meningococcal (MenACWY) and Tdap. A child missing shots can be admitted conditionally with at least one dose and a schedule to finish the rest.

International Welcome Center

The VBCPS International Welcome Center (IWC) helps families of English learners with registration, schedules the WIDA English language screener, reviews foreign transcripts for high school course placement, and connects families with community resources. Families start at their zoned school, which refers them to the IWC if needed.

• Address: 641 Carriage Hill Road, Suite 233, Virginia Beach, VA 23452
• Phone and email: 757-263-2096, [email protected]

Help lines

• Registration questions: your school registrar or the Office of Student Leadership, 757-263-2020. ParentVUE problems: 757-263-1111.
• Student health: Student Health Services, 757-263-2025.
• Free shots: VBCPS points families to the city health department for school-required childhood immunizations. They are by appointment, so call ahead for clinic hours: 757-518-2700 (see the clinic directory).

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

• FAMIS Prenatal: the state's own page is explicit: you do not need to meet immigration status rules, provide immigration documents or have a Social Security number to qualify. The requirements are an expected due date, the number of babies expected, Virginia residency, an income limit and being uninsured.
• Children and pregnancy: the federal H.R. 1 law narrows Medicaid eligibility for noncitizen adults starting October 1, 2026. Virginia's Medicaid agency (DMAS) says FAMIS Prenatal and the rules for children and for pregnant and postpartum coverage are not affected.
• Information: the state's Cover Virginia site has a page on health coverage for noncitizens, covering Medicaid, FAMIS and insurance options.
• Where to apply: apply for Medicaid online through CommonHelp, by phone at 855-635-4370, on paper, or in person at the city's Department of Human Services (3432 Virginia Beach Blvd). Human Services' main line is 757-385-3200; its benefits line is 757-385-4306.
• Health department: the Virginia Beach Department of Public Health (4452 Corporation Lane, 757-518-2700) no longer provides maternity care and refers pregnant patients to Human Services to apply for Medicaid. It accepts a passport, visa or immigration record as ID. Details below.
• WIC (nutrition for mothers and young children): the city has four WIC sites: the health department on Corporation Lane, the Oceanfront (1091 Norfolk Avenue, Suite 206), NAS Oceana (Building 531) and Indian River (900 Commonwealth Place, Suite 106). Ask about eligibility before you apply.
• Hospital bills: Sentara's financial assistance program covers its hospitals, including Sentara Virginia Beach General and Sentara Princess Anne. See the clinic directory for details.
• Mental health: the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline answers calls, texts and chats 24/7. The city's Mental Health Emergency Services line is 757-385-0888, 24/7.

City health department (free, flat-fee and sliding-fee services)

Virginia Beach Department of Public Health · Pembroke

The Virginia Beach office of the Virginia Department of Health (VDH). Some services are free, some carry a flat fee, and others are charged on a sliding scale (full fee, 95%, 75%, 50%, 25%, 10% or free, by income).

• Free: school-required childhood immunizations (birth to the 19th birthday), testing of contacts of TB cases, and referrals for communicable disease investigation.
• Flat fee: adult TB skin tests required for school or work, and routine adult vaccines (vaccine cost plus an administrative fee).
• Sliding scale: TB treatment, dental care for children aged 6 months to 18 (free for children in the school lunch program; Medicaid accepted), and some STI services. For HIV and sexual health services, the page says people unable to pay will not be turned away.
• Medications: clinic patients get medications at reduced or no cost.
• ID and income: bring ID and proof of income. Accepted IDs include a passport or visa and an immigration or naturalization record; a Social Security card is only one option. Pay stubs, a W-2 or a tax return work as proof of income.

Address: Pembroke Corporate Center III, 4452 Corporation Lane, Virginia Beach, VA 23462.
757-518-2700 (press 1 for clinic and immunization appointments) · Weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. · Scheduled patients have priority; walk-ins are seen as space allows. Email your vaccination record to [email protected] before an immunization visit. · Clinic services

Free or charitable clinics (income limits apply)

Beach Health Clinic · Holland Road

A volunteer-staffed nonprofit charitable clinic founded in 1986. Its site says it provides health and dental care to Virginia Beach residents under 200% of the federal poverty level, including family care, preventive screenings, chronic conditions and women's health. The site does not say whether visits carry a fee. A 2023 version of its eligibility page asked for photo ID, proof of residency, proof of household income including a spouse's, and W-2s with a federal tax return (IRS transcript). Call to confirm whether those rules and hours still apply.

Address: 3396 Holland Road, #102, Virginia Beach, VA 23452.
757-428-5601 · Beach Health Clinic

HOPES Free Student-Led Clinic · Norfolk

A free clinic run by medical students. It serves residents of Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Portsmouth, Hampton and Newport News who are 18 to 64, have income under twice the federal poverty level, are uninsured or underinsured, and are not pregnant (the page says pregnancy is covered through CHIP). The clinic runs Thursday evenings from 6 to 9:30 p.m., with specialty care on select Wednesday evenings. Patients join a waitlist. Services include primary care, dermatology, ENT, gynecology, mental health, ophthalmology, orthopedics and help enrolling in Medicaid. In-person and phone interpreters are available.

Address: 830 Southampton Avenue, Norfolk, VA 23510.
Waitlist: 757-446-0366 · General questions: 757-446-7148 · HOPES page

ODU Community Care · for people with unstable housing

A clinic run by Old Dominion University's nursing program for people experiencing homelessness or unstable housing. Its Virginia Beach site is at the Housing Resource Center (104 N. Witchduck Road). Its page does not list fees, and it is not a general clinic for the uninsured. The program also holds a free back-to-school and sports physicals event for children each July. Phone 757-452-2737.

Centers with income-based fees

Hampton Roads Community Health Center (HRCHC) · Norfolk

A Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) with no Virginia Beach site; the nearest centers are in Norfolk. Uninsured patients bring proof of income (Form 1040, an SSA award letter, a SNAP letter or a VEC form), a government photo ID and a Social Security card, and pay a nominal copay set on a sliding scale. The Social Security card requirement can be a barrier for people without an SSN, so ask before you go. Care is not free.

East Oceanview Medical and Dental Center: 9581 Shore Drive, Norfolk, VA 23518
Little Creek Family Medical Center: 7447 Central Business Park Drive, Norfolk, VA 23513
Appointments: 757-393-6363 · Hours and locations on the site may be out of date, so call first · All locations

Hospital bills

Sentara financial assistance

Not a clinic, but help with hospital bills at Sentara hospitals such as Sentara Virginia Beach General, Sentara Princess Anne and Sentara Norfolk General. According to Sentara's page, care is free for uninsured patients with household income at or below 300% of the federal poverty level and less than $50,000 in available assets. Income between 300% and 400% gets an 80% discount, and uninsured patients who do not qualify get a separate 50% discount. Application forms are on Sentara's financial assistance page.

Questions to ask before booking

• Are you accepting new patients, and is there a waitlist? 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? Do you require an SSN or a tax return? Is an interpreter available?

For more options, use the HRSA health center finder and the Virginia Association of Free and Charitable Clinics' clinic list; not every listed center is free. See health care without insurance for emergency care and FAMIS Prenatal.

• Where: Virginia Beach Circuit Court Clerk's Office, Building 10B, third floor (enter through Building 10), 2425 Nimmo Parkway, Virginia Beach, VA 23456. Marriage license line: 757-385-8926.
• Hours: weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Arrive by 3:30 p.m. for a license.
• No residency requirement: you can apply at any Circuit Court Clerk's Office in Virginia, and out-of-state residents can apply too.
• ID: ID from each of you: a driver's license, military ID or passport. A Turkish passport works. Both of you must be 18 or older.
• SSN: the Virginia Beach page does not say whether the application asks for an SSN. If you do not have one, call the Clerk's Office before you go and ask what is accepted.
• Payment: $30, cash or card. Card payments carry a $2 fee.
• Timing: there is no waiting period. The license is valid for 60 days, and the ceremony must take place in Virginia. No blood test or witnesses are required, and divorced applicants do not need to bring a divorce decree.
• Same-day ceremony: a person authorized to perform marriages is on duty at the Clerk's Office weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. No appointment is needed; the fee is $75, cash only. Cameras and cell phones are not allowed in the building.
• Certified copies: order a certified copy of the marriage license from the Clerk's Office in person or by mail for $2.50 per copy, paid by money order, certified check or in-state personal check payable to "Circuit Court Clerk." Include a self-addressed stamped envelope with mail requests. State vital records also issue copies (see below).

• Virginia Beach Vital Records Office: the health department's Vital Records Office is open weekdays 8:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. and takes no applications or payments after 4 p.m. Ask before you go which records it can issue the same day (757-518-2700).
• Who can order: mother, father, spouse, child, brother, sister and grandparents, with valid ID. Legal guardians apply with custody papers. Aunts, uncles, cousins and in-laws cannot.
• State office: Virginia Office of Vital Records, 8701 Park Central Drive, Suite 100, Richmond, VA 23227. Customer care (804) 662-6200, weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The lobby serves walk-ins weekdays 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Online and by phone: order through VDH's vital records page or VitalChek (online or 1-877-572-6333).
• DMV: Virginia DMV customer service centers also sell certified copies of Virginia birth records. Call the center to confirm before you go.
• Which copy: ask for the certified long form for a U.S. passport application or to register the birth in Türkiye.
• Child's U.S. passport: for children under 16, a passport book is $100 plus a $35 acceptance fee. In Virginia Beach, the City Clerk's Office takes applications by appointment. See the passport section.
• SSN: if you request your baby's Social Security number when the birth is registered at the hospital, the card arrives by mail. See the SSN section.

• Which office: per SSA's office list, the Virginia Beach office is open weekdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Hampton and Newport News have their own offices. SSA assigns offices by ZIP code, not distance, so confirm yours with the SSA office locator before you go. National line: 1-800-772-1213.
• Appointments: since January 2025, every in-person SSA service, including a new card, requires an appointment.
• 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 Virginia, state law bars schools from requiring a student's or parent's SSN (see school enrollment). The Virginia Beach health department clinic also accepts a passport, visa or immigration record as ID; a Social Security card is just one option (see health care).

• State return: Form 760, filed with the Virginia Department of Taxation. The brackets are set in Code of Virginia § 58.1-320 and have not changed since 1990. Check the Department's site for yearly details such as the standard deduction or any rebate.
• ITIN filers: Virginia has no separate state number; the ITIN issued by the IRS is used on the state return too. An ITIN is a tax number only; it does not authorize work or change immigration status.
• Car tax: Virginia Beach charges $4.00 per $100 of value, based on the January J.D. Power guide. For personal-use vehicles, the state subsidizes the tax on the first $20,000 of value (PPTRA). The year's first bill is due June 5; vehicles that arrive later get prorated supplemental bills from August on. Late payment adds 10% (at least $10). Renters with a car pay it too. Details are on the Commissioner of the Revenue's vehicle tax page and under car registration.
• Real estate tax is a different rate: $0.97 per $100 (see property tax). Do not mix the two up.
• Moving from Texas? Factor the state income tax and the car tax into any salary offer.

How do I get an ITIN?

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

• IRS office: according to the IRS list, the Hampton Roads offices that review ITIN documents in person are in Norfolk and Hampton. None in Virginia Beach is on the list. Look up the address and hours 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.

1. Form the company: file Articles of Organization with the Virginia SCC. The $100 fee (Code of Virginia § 13.1-1005) is lower than the $300 Texas charges. The $50 annual registration fee is first due on the last day of the 12th month after formation; paying late adds a $25 penalty.
2. Register your trade name with the SCC: if you do business under a name other than your legal name, you need a Certificate of Assumed or Fictitious Name. Under § 59.1-69, since January 1, 2020, it is filed with the SCC, not a local court. And under § 59.1-74, the Commissioner of the Revenue cannot license a business until it shows proof of that filing. The order matters: SCC first, then the city.
3. Get the city business license: the Commissioner of the Revenue's business license unit is in the Municipal Center, Building 1, first floor, 2401 Courthouse Drive; 757-385-4515, [email protected]. Its page says revenue agents interview every applicant. Fees depend on the business classification set by City Council; ask the office for the current amount.
4. Renew every year: licenses expire December 31. Renewal notices are mailed in the first week of January, and payment is due by March 1; after that, penalty and interest apply and the business counts as unlicensed. You can also pay online through VBePay.

• Short-term rentals: if you rent out a home or apartment for 30 days or less, you must register with the Commissioner of the Revenue every year and remit transient occupancy taxes monthly.
• Near NAS Oceana: some kinds of business are restricted around the naval air station. Call city Zoning (757-385-8074) before you sign a commercial lease.
• Free help: the city's small business center, The HIVE, is at 140 Independence Boulevard; 757-385-2470, weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• City office: Department of Human Services, 3432 Virginia Beach Boulevard, with a satellite at the Housing Resource Center, 104 N. Witchduck Road, Suite 316. Main line 757-385-3200; benefits contact center 757-385-4306. Medicaid applications are also taken by phone at 855-635-4370. Apply online through CommonHelp.
• On a SNAP application: the city's SNAP page lists household members' SSNs and expense proof (lease, utility bills) among the verifications. If some household members are not applying or have no SSN, ask what to provide before you apply.
• Who still qualifies for SNAP: refugees and asylees no longer qualify based on that status alone; once they get a green card, they qualify without the 5-year wait. For other green card holders, the 5-year wait still applies, with exceptions such as children under 18.
• Medicaid changes: Virginia Medicaid (DMAS) says eligibility rules for noncitizen adults narrow on October 1, 2026. Pregnancy coverage (FAMIS Prenatal) and the rules for children's Medicaid and FAMIS do not change. FAMIS Prenatal does not require any immigration status or an SSN. See health care and Cover Virginia's page for noncitizens.
• Energy help: the fuel assistance application window is October 13 to November 13, 2026. It is also a means-tested benefit, so read the public charge rule below first.
• U.S.-citizen children in the household may still receive benefits in their own right. A child's own benefits generally do not count in a parent's public charge review.
• The new public charge rule: for green card applications filed on or after September 18, 2026, officers may consider any means-tested benefit (SNAP, Medicaid, housing assistance and others) received on or after that date. Benefits received earlier count only if they were cash assistance or long-term institutional care. Benefits received by family members are generally not counted.
• Who is exempt: humanitarian categories such as asylees and refugees, T and U visa holders, VAWA self-petitioners and TPS. Family-based, most employment-based and diversity visa applicants are subject to it.
• Litigation: lawsuits against the rule were filed in mid-September 2026. As of September 25, 2026, no court had blocked it.

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

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

• Addresses: your case, not distance, decides which office and support center you use. USCIS says notices can come from a different field office, while biometrics are usually at the nearest center. The address on your notice is the one that counts.
• Getting there: per the USCIS Norfolk ASC page, take HRT bus 20 to the Salter and Princess Anne stop or bus 27 to Newton and Virginia Beach. There is parking, and the building is accessible.
• Military: the same page says military personnel are seen weekdays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. without an appointment.
• 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 "Norfolk VA" as the office. Times update monthly.
• Biometrics: the center is assigned on your I-797C notice; you do not choose it. You can reschedule for good cause, at least 12 hours before the existing appointment, through your USCIS online account. Our biometrics guide covers what to bring.
• Your attorney at the interview: since May 18, 2026, attorneys may no longer join field-office interviews remotely, except in limited circumstances. Your attorney has to attend in person.

Where are naturalization oath ceremonies held?

For Virginia Beach residents, oath ceremonies take place at the federal court, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Norfolk/Newport News Division. According to the court's page, the remaining 2026 ceremony dates are October 6, October 20, November 3, November 17, December 1 and December 15. Your USCIS notice, not the court calendar, tells you which ceremony is yours and where to go. For ceremony questions, the court's line is 757-222-7201 (8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.). You may bring an interpreter, and a helper if you need one for a disability. The number of in-person guests may be limited.

• Which court: do not assume a rule for Virginia Beach addresses; go to the court named on your notice. Go to the Richmond center only if your notice gives that address.
• Hours: Annandale and Sterling are open weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; the filing window closes at 4 p.m. Both are a long drive from Virginia Beach, so leave early.
• Online lookup: ACIS needs only your A-number (A + 8 or 9 digits). Your hearing notice is still the official source; the system may show new dates late.
• ICE in Norfolk: ICE's Norfolk office is at 200 Granby Street, Suite 821, Norfolk, VA 23510, (757) 612-8961, with appointments weekdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ICE's page says it covers Hampton Roads, Virginia Beach included. The page was last updated in 2023, so confirm the address on your check-in notice, and 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. Per CBP's list, the closest unit to Virginia Beach is at the Port of Norfolk, 6101 Burton Station Road, Norfolk, VA 23502. It is open Wednesdays only, 9 a.m. to noon; (757) 857-0406, [email protected]. If you entered at Dulles, the Dulles unit also handles corrections: (703) 661-2800 ext. 7116, Monday to Thursday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Hours change, so always call before you go. These offices fix only mistakes made at the time of entry.

• Who can register: according to the Virginia Department of Elections, you must be a U.S. citizen and a Virginia resident, be 18 (17-year-olds who will be 18 by the next general election can pre-register), and not be registered in another state.
• At DMV and on forms: Virginia DMV offices are one of the places that take voter registrations. If you are offered voter registration while getting a Driver Privilege Card or doing any other DMV business, decline and answer the citizenship question truthfully. Claiming to be a U.S. citizen may be treated by USCIS as a false claim of citizenship. A driver's license does not make you eligible to vote.
• Consequences: registering or voting as a noncitizen is a federal crime (18 U.S.C. 611 and 1015(f)). In immigration law it can mean permanent inadmissibility, deportability and denial of naturalization.
• Do not fill out voter registration forms handed out door to door or at events.
• The jury list: as the Fairfax Circuit Court explains, Virginia jurors are picked at random from voter registration lists. You must respond to a summons; people who do not can be held in contempt of court.
• Jury office in Virginia Beach: the Circuit Court Clerk's Jury Administration, 757-385-4589, [email protected]. If you are summoned, say you are not a citizen and answer the citizenship question truthfully.
• Scam warning: the Clerk's Office warns about callers who say you missed jury duty and demand a $2,500 cash bond. A real court never asks for cash over the phone.

Recently naturalized? The November 3, 2026 election

The Virginia Beach voter registration office has moved to 500 Studio Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23452, near Mount Trashmore; 757-385-8683, weekdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. According to its election page, the registration deadline for the November 3, 2026 general election is October 23: 5 p.m. at the office and DMV, 11:59 p.m. online. Early voting runs at the same address weekdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., plus Saturdays, October 24 and 31, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays, October 18 and 25, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The last day of early voting is October 31. To register online, use the Virginia Department of Elections site.

• Appointments: the City Clerk's Office takes bookings at 757-385-4303 or [email protected]. No walk-ins.
• Payment: only two separate checks or money orders: the passport fee to "U.S. State Department" and the $35 acceptance fee to "City of Virginia Beach." No cash or cards.
• Photos: taken on site for $15 per person, or bring your own.
• What to bring: your original naturalization certificate plus a photocopy, and ID such as a Virginia driver's license. For a child, both parents come in person or bring Form DS-3053.
• Fees: a passport book for a child under 16 costs $100 plus the $35 acceptance fee; expediting adds $60. Fees can change, so check the State Department fee page before you pay.
• The Circuit Court Clerk does not do passports. Go to the City Clerk, not the courthouse on Nimmo Parkway. For other acceptance facilities, such as post offices, use the passport facility locator.
• Urgent travel: you need proof of travel within 14 days (or a foreign visa needed within 28 days). The regional agency is the Washington Passport Agency in Washington, D.C., appointment only; the address is on your appointment confirmation. 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.
• Renewals: adults whose passport is less than 15 years old and was issued at 16 or older can renew by mail on Form DS-82, or online at opr.travel.state.gov if eligible.

Is Holiday Lights at the Beach happening this year?

No. According to the city's events site, the 31-year-old drive-through light show on the Oceanfront has ended. In its place, the Holiday Trail of Lights is a walk-through event on the Virginia Aquarium grounds, November 20, 2026 to January 3, 2027, with timed tickets bought in advance. Adults $19 to $22, ages 3 to 12 $12 to $15, plus processing fees.

Always free

• Boardwalk and beach: walking, running and watching the ocean cost nothing. For a beach wheelchair, call 757-439-9565 from May to October (8 a.m. to 8 p.m.) or 757-385-1100 from November to April.
• Mount Trashmore Park: hills, lakes, walking paths and playgrounds.
• Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum: on the boardwalk, free admission with donations suggested.
• City history museums: Francis Land House (Thursday to Sunday) and the PACTS/UKHS Museum at 5100 Cleveland Street (Saturdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) are free.
• Virginia MOCA: free for Virginia residents and children under 12. With an EBT card and photo ID, up to 4 people get in free (Museums for All).

Free on certain days

• October 3: a free Halloween-themed First Saturday at Francis Land House, 10 a.m. to noon.
• October 10: an outdoor movie night at the Virginia Beach Police mounted patrol (2089 Indian River Road), 5 to 8 p.m.; free, but reserve a ticket.
• October 17: Ghoula Palooza (Great Neck Recreation Center, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.) and the Sanctuary opening party at Mount Trashmore (4 to 8 p.m.).
• October 23: Spook-y Ghoul-y Family Extravaganza, Princess Anne Recreation Center (1400 Nimmo Parkway), 6 to 8 p.m.
• October 24: Trunk or Treat at the mounted patrol, 4 to 8 p.m., with a sensory-friendly hour from 3 to 4 p.m.
• November 7: Autumn in the Air, Mount Trashmore, noon to 5 p.m., free admission and parking.
• November 21 and 28, December 12 and 19: Santa's Seaside Cinema, outdoor holiday movies at 31st Street Park, free.

With kids

• Grommet Island Park: a fully accessible beach playground at the boardwalk and 2nd Street, with raised sand tables, a sensory board and a sway boat. Free.
• Mount Trashmore, Kids Cove: a large, accessible playground.
• Virginia Aquarium: under 5 free, ages 5 to 17 $30. Halloween Nights in October, the Holiday Trail of Lights from late November.
• First Landing State Park: trails and a bay beach. There are no lifeguards, so keep children within reach in the water.

To book: konsolosluk.gov.tr → Randevu Al → Türk Vatandaşları İçin Konsolosluk İşlemleri → Washington. The 24/7 Consular Call Center: +90 312 292 29 29. After-hours emergency line: +1 202 304 3889. General email: [email protected].

Fees and mail-in conditions change from time to time. Check the current details on the Embassy's site before your appointment.

Tips for the trip from Virginia Beach

• The drive: roughly 4 hours each way, longer in traffic. For most people an appointment means a full day; plan an overnight stay in Washington if needed.
• Bring everything: a missing document means a new appointment and another long trip. Go through the Embassy's checklist item by item before you leave.
• Use the mail when you can: birth and marriage registrations can also be done by mail, so consider that first for anything that does not need you in person.
• Timing: the Embassy's general hours are weekdays 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., but the consular section's reception hours may be shorter. Be at the building before your slot.
• Birth registration: use a certified long-form copy of the U.S. birth certificate. In Virginia Beach you get it from the city health department's vital records office or the state office in Richmond (see birth certificates).
• Documents for Türkiye: Virginia documents are apostilled in Richmond, not at the Embassy (see apostille).
• Military service (askerlik): men born in 2007 must complete their registration (yoklama) by December 31, 2026, through the Embassy or e-Devlet. 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 Washington Embassy in U.S. dollars at the Turkish central bank rate of the payment day; ask the Embassy whether a transfer fee is added. 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 and an in-person appointment. All of Virginia, Virginia Beach included, is in the Embassy'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 Embassy's education office; contact details are on the Embassy's contact page.

• By mail (USPS): 1111 East Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23219. Send the document with the cover letter generated in the online system, payment and a prepaid return mailer. Turnaround is 7 to 10 business days from receipt. From Virginia Beach, this is the easiest way to avoid a trip to Richmond.
• In person or by courier: 400 East Cary Street, Richmond, VA 23219, which is also the address for FedEx, UPS and DHL.
• In-person appointments: slots are released only on Fridays at 10 a.m., for the following week only. Up to 2 people and 10 documents per appointment. Bring a valid photo ID. Most properly prepared documents are authenticated the same day.
• Contact: the office lists no phone number; email [email protected].
• Vital records: get the certified birth, marriage, divorce or death record first from the Virginia Beach health department's vital records office or the state Office of Vital Records, $15 per copy (see birth certificates).
• Other states' records: Virginia authenticates only documents issued or signed in Virginia. A document from another state must be authenticated in that state.

• 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.
• Connections from Norfolk: per the airport's nonstop list, United flies daily to Washington Dulles. American flies daily to Washington Reagan National (DCA), United to Newark, and American and Delta to New York JFK. The list dates from July 2026, and schedules change.
• Dulles to Istanbul: Turkish Airlines is on the Dulles airline list and flies nonstop to Istanbul; reservations 800-874-8875. Booking the whole trip on one ticket is usually safer for checked bags and missed connections. Check days, times and fares on the Turkish Airlines website.
• I-94 errors: if your I-94 was issued incorrectly at entry, go to CBP Deferred Inspection (see immigration court and I-94).