Turkish-Speaking Immigration Attorney in Houston

1. Book an appointment. DPS offices do not take walk-ins. The DPS scheduler books up to six months ahead; choose the "Original" service for a first license. DPS's wait-time report of September 16, 2026 showed first-time appointments 2 days out at Houston North Mega Center and Houston Southeast, 3 at Spring Mega Center and Rosenberg Mega Center, 4 at Houston Gessner Mega Center, Houston East (Tidwell) and Baytown, 7 at Houston Dacoma and 8 at Humble. The numbers change daily. Every office also offers a limited number of same-day slots at its kiosk.
2. Bring original documents. Photocopies are not accepted. DPS's document check tool builds a personal checklist.
3. Complete ITAD. If you are 25 or older, finish the one-hour Impact Texas Adult Drivers video before the road test; the certificate is valid for 90 days. If you are 18 to 24, a 6-hour adult driver education course is also required.
4. Take the tests. The knowledge test is offered only in English or Spanish, and interpreters are not allowed during the test. In Houston the road test is the bottleneck: the same report showed road-test slots 8 to 20 days out, so book it early too. Bring an insured, registered car.
5. Pay the fee. You leave with a temporary license; the card arrives by mail in 2 to 3 weeks.

Check office addresses and hours in the DPS office locator.

Which documents do I need?

• Lawful presence: green card (I-551), EAD (I-766), or a valid passport + visa + I-94. DPS verifies this with DHS; if verification is not instant, you can track its status online.
• Identity: a green card, an EAD and "passport + visa + I-94" also count as primary ID. A foreign passport alone is only a supporting document.
• SSN: give your number if you have one. If you are not eligible for an SSN, you sign a DL-13 affidavit at the office. That works for a regular license but not for a commercial license (CDL).
• Texas address: two documents with your name and address, one proving 30 days in Texas. A lease, an electric, water or internet bill from the last 180 days, a bank statement, a pay stub or a USCIS notice all work.
• Vehicles: Texas insurance for each vehicle you own. The Harris County Tax Office asks you to register your car before you apply for a license, so bring the Tax Office receipt and your insurance card to DPS (see car registration). If you own no vehicle, you say so on the form.

Family members who will not drive can get a Texas ID card with the same documents. Texas does not let you hold a license and an ID card at the same time. Since May 7, 2025, domestic flights accept only REAL ID cards (marked with a star) or a passport.

• Visitors and newcomers: a license that is not in English or Spanish must be translated. An International Driving Permit issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention covers this; get it in your home country before you travel, because it is not issued in the U.S.
• Age and vehicle: the international agreements cover drivers 18 to 75 in private passenger vehicles.
• After you move: residents must get a Texas license within 90 days. A foreign license does not waive the 6-hour course for drivers aged 18 to 24.
• Houston road tests: on September 16, 2026, road-test slots at Houston-area DPS offices were 8 to 20 days out, well inside the 90-day window. Book early anyway.
• Renting a car: rental companies may ask for the International Driving Permit too. USA.gov notes you may need both.

Coming from Türkiye? Turkish licenses are not on the exchange list, so the first-license steps above apply. Türkiye is party to the 1949 Geneva Convention, so a Turkish license with an International Driving Permit obtained in Türkiye works for visits.

1. Buy Texas insurance. Minimum liability is $30,000 per person, $60,000 per accident and $25,000 property damage. A policy from a "no fault" state is not accepted.
2. Get an emissions test. Harris, Fort Bend, Montgomery, Brazoria and Galveston are among the 17 counties that still require a yearly emissions test for gas vehicles 2 to 24 years old; the fee is up to $18.50. Find a station with the DPS station locator. Harris County's new-resident page still mentions a safety inspection, but that ended for passenger cars; only the emissions test remains.
3. Visit the tax office. Bring your out-of-state title or registration, a completed Form 130-U, photo ID, proof of insurance and the emissions report. All 16 Harris County branches are open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and closed every Wednesday. New residents can walk in from 8 a.m. to noon on those days; otherwise book an appointment and choose "New Resident (First time TX registration)".
4. Bring the right ID. Since March 5, 2026, a first Texas registration requires an unexpired ID from TxDMV's new list. A foreign passport counts only together with an I-94 that is not in parole status, a current green card or an unexpired immigrant visa. A passport alone is no longer enough.
5. Then get your license. Harris County and TxDMV list vehicle registration first. Take the Tax Office receipt and your insurance to DPS.

The yearly amount includes the $51.75 state registration fee and Harris County's $11.50 local fee. The safety inspection is gone, but a $7.50 yearly state fee is still collected with registration. Card payments carry a 2.40% fee plus $1.00.

Some Harris County Tax Office branches: Downtown (1001 Preston St), Burnett Bayland (6000 Chimney Rock Rd), Spring Branch (1721 Pech Rd), Bay Area (16603 Buccaneer Ln) and Humble (7900 Will Clayton Pkwy). Phone 713-274-8000. If you live in Fort Bend, Montgomery, Brazoria or Galveston County, use your own county's tax office. You can also keep an out-of-state title and register only ("Registration Purposes Only").

Importing a car from abroad

Harris County asks you to call 713-274-8000 first for its additional requirements. At the federal level you will need the customs entry form (CBP Form 7501) and DOT Form HS-7; have foreign documents translated into English.

• How to open one: at hctra.org or at an EZ TAG store. You can add cash at Walmart, H-E-B and other retail partners. Check hctra.org for current account terms and the prepaid amount.
• Had a TxTag? Your account moved to HCTRA as an EZ TAG account and is managed at hctra.org. According to TxDOT, your existing TxTag keeps working.
• Where it works: all Texas toll roads (including NTTA roads in Dallas), plus Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado and most toll roads in Florida. Keep only one tag in a vehicle.
• Fort Bend is different: Fort Bend County toll roads (Fort Bend Parkway, Fort Bend Westpark Tollway) are tag-only, with no cash and no pay-by-mail. Driving without a tag brings a violation notice at double the tag rate.
• Rental cars: ask the rental company about its toll plan; missed tolls are paid through the rental company.

Pay by tapping a contactless bank card, Apple Pay or Google Pay on the validator, with the QR code in the RideMETRO app, or with a RideMETRO Fare Card. Cash works on buses only, exact fare, with no change and no transfers. With a fare card, every 10 paid rides earn one free ride.

• Rail: all three lines run through downtown. The Red Line serves the Museum District, Hermann Park, the Texas Medical Center and NRG.
• IAH to downtown: Route 500 leaves from Terminal E, Level 2, Door E-201, about every 30 minutes from roughly 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. The Day Pass is not valid on it. The cheaper, slower option is the $1.25 Route 102 from Terminal C, Door C-105.
• Hobby to downtown: Route 500 leaves from the Hobby Transit Center just north of the baggage claim exits, about 25 minutes to downtown.
• Discounts: riders 70 and older ride free. Students, seniors 65 to 69 and riders with disabilities pay half. Both need a RideMETRO Discount Fare Card. Children 5 and under ride free with an adult.
• Help: METRO customer service 713-635-4000 (call or text); RideStore at 1900 Main St., weekdays 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

1. Compare plans. Power to Choose is run by the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC). You can also call 1-866-797-4839.
2. Read the Electricity Facts Label (EFL). Every EFL must show the average price at 500, 1,000 and 2,000 kWh. A plan that looks cheap at exactly 1,000 kWh but expensive at 500 or 2,000 usually has a bill credit or minimum-usage fee.
3. Sign up with the provider. It uses your address's 22-digit ESI ID to send the connection order to CenterPoint. For order status and meter questions, CenterPoint's line is 713-207-2222.
4. Start gas separately. Apply to CenterPoint about 7 business days before you move in; activation takes 3 to 7 business days. The first bill may include a one-time connection fee or a credit-based deposit, and you are told during the request. An adult may need to be home for the start.

Electric deposits: a provider may ask for up to one-fifth of your estimated annual bill, or the estimated bills for the next two months, refunded with interest after 12 on-time bills. Under the rules, a waiver is mandatory only for customers 65 and older and for certified family-violence victims. Your provider must notify you at least 30 days before your contract ends, and you can switch without a termination fee within 14 days of the end date.

Outages: CenterPoint has an outage map. Sign up for its Power Alert Service to get outage alerts by text or email, and re-register after a move.

• Starting service: online move-in request or 713-371-1400 (weekdays 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.). The deposit is calculated under the City Code; no flat amount is published.
• The new trash fee: $5 a month ($4.62 plus $0.38 sales tax), in effect since July 1, 2026 and shown as its own line since the August 2026 bill. It comes on top of the $1.29 container fee. It applies to single-family homes, duplexes, townhomes, condos and buildings of up to 8 units with City curbside pickup, not to complexes with private haulers.
• Apartments often bill water through the landlord. Check your lease.
• Garbage: weekly. Put the cart out after 6 p.m. the evening before and by 6 a.m., and bring it back in by 10 p.m. the same day. Leave 3 feet around it.
• Recycling: green cart, every other week, out by 7 a.m. Paper, flattened cardboard, cartons, cans, glass and plastics #1 to #5 and #7. No plastic bags or film.
• Heavy trash and tree waste: every other month, 6 times a year. Set it out behind the curb from 6 p.m. the Friday before, up to 8 cubic yards. No electronics, chemicals or contractor debris; refrigerators need a tag showing the refrigerant was removed.
• Your days: enter your address in the HTX Collects app or the City's "Find Your Schedule" tool. City pages disagree on yard-waste rules, so confirm in the app or with 311.
• Free drop-off centers ask for a Texas ID plus a City utility bill or lease with the same address.

311: open requests on the online portal or in the app and track them by number. The app lets you submit as a guest without an account. For emergencies, always call 911.

Houston Public Library (HPL) card: any Texas resident can sign up through MYLink for free digital access to e-books, audiobooks and magazines; the card number arrives by email. To borrow books and DVDs, visit any branch with a photo ID and proof of address for a physical card. The library gives a Texas driver's license or ID as its example of ID; if you only have a passport, ask the branch what it accepts. Temporary residents can get a card with limited privileges. Applicants under 18 need a parent's signature.

Harris County Public Library (HCPL): most branches are outside city limits. Its card is free with proof of address, and new Texas residents without enough proof can get a 3-month visitor card.

• Last month's rent: you may not use the deposit as last month's rent; doing so in bad faith can cost three times the rent.
• Repairs: for conditions that materially affect health or safety, give the landlord written notice (certified mail is safest). Seven days is presumed reasonable. Justice courts can order repairs up to $10,000. The landlord must provide security devices such as deadbolts and door viewers.
• Utility cut-offs: a landlord may interrupt utilities only for repairs, construction or an emergency.
• Retaliation: for 6 months after a good-faith complaint, the landlord may not evict you or raise the rent in retaliation.
• Move-out notice: a lease clause requiring advance notice as a condition of the refund is enforceable only if it is underlined or in bold. Check your lease for it.

• How: HCAD's online Form 11.13 or the "HCAD Info and Exemptions" app. Have your move-in date and Texas license ready. Late applications are accepted for up to two years. Once granted, you do not reapply every year.
• Example: by the Comptroller's math, a $300,000 home pays school taxes as if it were worth $160,000.
• It does not transfer: the seller's exemption is removed on January 1 after the sale, so you must apply for your new home. From the second year, the taxable value of a homestead can rise at most 10% a year.
• Heads up: one HCAD paragraph still shows the old $25,000 figure. The current school exemption is $140,000.
• Contact: HCAD, 13013 Northwest Fwy, Houston 77040, (713) 957-7800, weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Homes in Fort Bend County apply to Fort Bend CAD, 2801 B.F. Terry Blvd, Rosenberg, 281-344-8623.

• Waiting period: according to FloodSmart, an NFIP policy takes effect 30 days after purchase. There is no wait when you buy it while making, increasing or renewing a mortgage.
• Coverage: homeowners can buy up to $250,000 for the building and $100,000 for contents. Renters buy contents coverage, up to $100,000. Building and contents have separate deductibles.
• Sign up for alerts: the City's AlertHouston and Harris County's ReadyHarris send emergency alerts. For power outages, register for CenterPoint's Power Alert Service.
• If you would need help: people who would need assistance in a disaster can sign up for the state's STEAR registry online or by phone.
• Forecasts: the National Weather Service Houston/Galveston office publishes a 2026 hurricane guide in English and Spanish.

1. Find your district. Your address decides it, not a "Houston" mailing address: Katy, Fort Bend and Cy-Fair ISDs run their own registration. The TEA district locator checks by address; within HISD, School Navigator shows your zoned school. Every student may enroll at the zoned school at any time.
2. Register online. Use HISD Online Enrollment and choose the new-student pathway. For help, contact your zoned school or [email protected]. HISD main line: 713-556-6000.
3. Provide documents. The child's birth certificate or passport, a lease or current utility bill, a doctor-signed immunization record, a parent ID (a passport works) and proof of the last grade. Families staying with relatives or friends can use an affidavit of residence from the resident.
4. Language assessment. At first enrollment you fill out a Home Language Survey. If another language is spoken at home, the child takes an English test and the school's LPAC committee places the child in ESL or a bilingual program with your approval. HISD Multilingual Programs: 713-556-6961.

• Grace periods: missing records do not block enrollment. HISD allows 30 days for documents, and 90 days for a child born outside the U.S.
• Pre-K: HISD Pre-K is free only for children who meet state eligibility; otherwise tuition is $7,419 for 2026-27. The child must be 3 or 4 on or before September 1. A child who speaks another language at home may qualify for free Pre-K through a language test; apply on the Pre-K page.
• Newcomer schools: Las Americas Newcomer School serves grades 6 to 8 for students new to the country and learning English (6501 Bellaire Blvd, Houston 77074, 713-773-5300); Turkish is among the languages its students speak. Liberty High School offers day and night classes for newly arrived young immigrants aged 15 to 25.
• Closed campuses: HISD closed or merged several schools for 2026-27. Check your zoned school in School Navigator before you enroll.
• Vaccines (K-12): DTaP/Tdap, polio, MMR, hepatitis A and B, and varicella, plus a Tdap booster and meningococcal vaccine in 7th grade. Records must show month, day and year and be validated by a physician or clinic. Provisional enrollment is possible if at least one dose of each vaccine has been given. HISD Health Services: 713-349-7423.

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

• Harris Health Financial Assistance: not insurance, but income-based discounts for Harris County residents. Apply online, by mail or at drop boxes in Harris Health centers; the eligibility call center is 713-566-6509. Decisions come within 14 days, and approval usually lasts one year. A small payment is requested at visits, except pediatric and prenatal care.
• What they ask for: a photo ID (a passport or a consulate ID works), proof of a Harris County address, income for the past 30 days and the immigration status of everyone in the household. Anyone who may qualify for Medicaid, CHIP or the Marketplace must apply for those first.
• Non-emergencies: Harris Health urgent care is at 5550 Kelley St. (Houston) and 927 Shaw Ave. (Pasadena), Monday to Saturday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., no appointment, 713-218-2697. The 24/7 Ask My Nurse line is 713-634-1110.
• Status questions at hospitals: since November 1, 2024, Texas hospitals enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP ask patients about citizenship or lawful presence at registration. They must tell you that your answer will not affect your care.
• Buying insurance: Texas uses the federal HealthCare.gov marketplace. Open enrollment for 2027 starts November 1; sign up by December 15 for coverage from January 1.
• 988: the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline answers calls, texts and chats 24/7, with phone interpreters in more than 240 languages.

Free care options

StreetHealth Clinic · Northwest Houston

A physician-supervised free clinic for uninsured and underinsured patients with non-emergency needs. It operates on the first Saturday of each month, 10 a.m.–1:30 p.m. Appointments have priority; walk-ins are also welcome.

Address: Cy-Fair Helping Hands, 9204 Emmott Road, Houston, TX 77040.
Current schedule and appointment link · Email the clinic

Casa El Buen Samaritano · Missouri City / Fort Bend

This Greater Houston clinic offers free care to people with no health insurance and household income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. Bring photo ID and income documents for working household members. An advance appointment is required.

Address: 2106 5th Street, Building B, Missouri City, TX 77489.
713-721-4101 · Patient eligibility and appointments

HOMES Clinic · Downtown / The Beacon

Offers primary care and free specialty clinics for people experiencing homelessness or unstable housing. Capacity is limited. Its organizations' pages list different weekend clinic days, so confirm the visit date and intake process before going.

Address: The Beacon / Cathedral Clinic, 1212 Prairie St., Houston, TX 77002.
HOMES patient intake · Free specialty clinics · Other HHH locations and contacts

Centers with income-based fees

San José Clinic · Midtown

Low-income, uninsured patients first complete an eligibility interview. Bring photo ID and proof of household income and address; a passport or foreign photo ID may be accepted. Contributions toward care depend on income, so services are not automatically free.

Address: 2615 Fannin St., Houston, TX 77002.
Eligibility: 713-490-2610 · Documents and application · Fees and appointments · Locations

HOPE Clinic · Multiple Houston locations

Offers a sliding fee program based on household size and income. Prepare identification and income documents for registration and the discount application; ask for an interpreter when booking if needed. Do not assume all services are free.

One location: HOPE Alief, 13930 Bellaire Blvd., Houston, TX 77083.
713-773-0803 · Patient forms · Sliding fee program · All locations

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 Harris Health assistance and emergency care.

• Where: Harris County Clerk, downtown at 201 Caroline St., 3rd floor, Houston 77002, plus annexes in Baytown, Chimney Rock, Clay Road, Clear Lake, Cypresswood, Humble, North Shepherd, Pasadena, South Belt and Wallisville. All are open weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Questions: 713-274-8686.
• ID: a driver's license, a DPS ID card, a valid passport, a green card or other U.S. government ID. If you only have Turkish passports, expect to pay $181; if either of you has a Texas license or ID, bring it.
• Twogether in Texas: a premarital course certificate takes up to $60 off the fee and waives the 72-hour wait.
• Other rules: a divorced applicant must wait 30 days after the divorce. No blood test and no witnesses are needed.
• After the ceremony: the signed license goes back to any location or by mail to P.O. Box 1525, Houston, TX 77251-1525. Order certified copies from the County Clerk.

• City of Houston Vital Statistics: 8000 N. Stadium Dr., Houston 77054, 832-393-4220. Monday to Thursday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and walk-ins must arrive by 3 p.m. On Fridays there are no walk-ins; only same-day online orders are handed out, 8 a.m. to noon. $23 per copy, plus $15 for same-day service. Online orders add a $6 fee. Cash, debit and credit cards (no AmEx) are accepted, checks are not. Parking is $7.
• ID: a green card, EAD or Texas driver's license is enough on its own. A foreign passport with a U.S. visa counts only as a secondary ID, so bring a second one (I-94, SSN or ITIN card) or two supporting documents (lease, utility bill, bank statement).
• Harris County Clerk: issues the short form for anyone born in Texas and holds records for births outside Houston city limits (except places with their own registrar, such as Baytown, La Porte, South Houston and Jacinto City). $23 per copy; 713-274-8690.
• Texas DSHS: long or short form, $22; ordering online through Texas.gov is fastest.
• Long or short form: ask for the long form for a U.S. passport or foreign citizenship registration. The short form is fine for school and sports.
• SSN: if you request it during hospital birth registration, the card arrives by mail and no SSA visit is needed.

• 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.
• Appointments: field offices serve by appointment, weekdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. National line: 1-800-772-1213.
• Houston-area offices: Houston Southwest (13302 Westheimer Rd), Houston Northwest (16200 Dillard Dr), Houston Northeast (5414 Aldine Mail Rd), Houston Southeast (8989 Lakes at 610 Dr) and Pasadena (3300 Watters Rd). Your ZIP code decides which office serves you, so confirm with the SSA office locator before you go.
• Replacement card: free, often started online; 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.

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).

• Appointments: all four are open weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., by appointment only, at 844-545-5640. Appointments can take several weeks.
• CAAs: the IRS list of Texas acceptance agents includes many with Houston addresses. The list mixes CAAs and AAs, so check each entry's type.
• Expiration: an ITIN not used on a federal return for three years in a row expires.

• LLC: Form 205, online through SOSDirect or by mail. Card payments carry a 2.7% fee. No notarization needed.
• DBA fees: $24 for the first owner with a notarized form, or $25 plus a $1 witnessing fee per document if you sign in front of a deputy clerk. Each additional owner adds $0.50; veterans pay $2 less.
• Where to file a DBA: Harris County Clerk, Personal Records, 201 Caroline St., Suite 330, (713) 274-8686, weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or a clerk annex. At the counter, all owners appear with government ID, or you bring a notarized form. Cash, personal check or credit card.
• DBA by mail: the notarized form with a cashier's check or money order to P.O. Box 1525, Houston, TX 77251-1525. Check existing names with the clerk's assumed name search.
• LLCs and corporations file assumed names with the Secretary of State (Form 503), not the county. A certificate lasts up to 10 years.
• Franchise tax: annual report due May 15. The no-tax-due threshold for 2026 and 2027 is $2.65 million in revenue; LLCs below it pay no tax but must still file a Public Information Report. An LLC formed in 2026 files its first report by May 15, 2027.

• Who still qualifies for SNAP: refugees and asylees no longer qualify on that status alone, but they skip the 5-year wait once they become green card holders. The 5-year wait still applies to other green card holders, with exceptions such as children under 18.
• U.S.-citizen children in the household may still receive benefits in their own right.
• 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.
• Harris Health financial assistance: the program requires applicants who may qualify for Medicaid, CHIP or Marketplace coverage to apply for those first. Applying for county help can lead you into a Medicaid application too.
• Litigation: on September 14, 2026 a coalition of more than 20 states and a group of cities led by New York City sued. Texas is not a plaintiff. As of September 25, 2026, no court has blocked the rule.

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

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

• Appointments and questions: USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283, or book online. Appointments are free.
• Processing times: on the USCIS processing times page, pick the form, category and "Houston TX" 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. 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 office: it stopped in-person information services on April 6, 2026. Since May 28, 2026, some Houston-area asylum interviews can also be held at the new San Antonio office.

• Hours: the Houston courts are open weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with the filing window until 4 p.m.; Conroe is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. There is security screening, and cameras and recording devices are not allowed in courtrooms.
• Online lookup: ACIS needs only your A-number (A + 8 or 9 digits). Your hearing notice is still the official source; the system may show new dates late.
• ICE ERO Houston: 126 Northpoint Drive, Houston 77060, (281) 774-4816. 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. Houston's office is not in the airport terminal: it is at 19581 Lee Road, Humble, TX 77338, open only Tuesday to Thursday, 1 to 3 p.m., (281) 230-4600 ext. 1. It fixes only mistakes made at the time of entry.

• At DPS: the first question on the license application is citizenship. If you are not a citizen, answer "no" and skip the voter registration questions.
• Consequences: registering or voting as a noncitizen is a federal crime (18 U.S.C. 611 and 1015(f)) and a Texas felony. In immigration law it can mean permanent inadmissibility, deportability and denial of naturalization.
• Do not fill out voter registration forms (VR-17) handed out door to door or at events.
• Jury summons: Harris County draws jurors from registered voters and Texas driver license and ID holders, so noncitizens can be summoned. In the District Clerk's online juror portal, report the citizenship disqualification. Disqualifications cannot be reported by phone. Ignoring a summons can bring a $100 to $1,000 fine.
• Scams: courts do not call or email asking for your SSN, and they do not demand fines by phone.

Recently naturalized? The deadline to register for the November 3, 2026 election is October 5, 2026; early voting runs October 19 to 30. In Harris County, voter registration is handled by the Tax Assessor-Collector: downtown office at 1001 Preston St., 2nd floor, closed Wednesdays, 713-274-VOTE (8683). Elections are run by the Harris County Clerk (harrisvotes.com).

• Find an acceptance facility: passport facility locator. These locations accept new applications (DS-11) only.
• Houston Public Library: six branches accept passport applications by appointment (Central, Alief-Henington, Collier, McGovern-Stella Link, Park Place and Walker). Book up to 2 weeks ahead. The acceptance fee is $35, photos $10. Bring the originals and one photocopy of your proof of citizenship and ID. Questions: 832-393-7277.
• Children: a passport book for a child under 16 costs $100 plus the $35 acceptance fee.
• Urgent travel: Houston Passport Agency, Mickey Leland Federal Building, 1919 Smith St, 4th Floor, weekdays 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Appointment only, with proof of travel within 14 days (or a foreign visa needed within 28 days), plus the $60 expedite fee. Appointments are free; third parties charging for them are scams.
• Online renewal: for adults 25 and older with a 10-year passport, only at opr.travel.state.gov.

Free

• Menil Collection and Rothko Chapel: always free. The chapel closes a few times a month for events.
• Discovery Green: open daily 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.; most events are free.
• Hermann Park: free, with free carousel rides on Tuesdays. All shows at Miller Outdoor Theatre are free; this year's schedule runs through November 14.
• Buffalo Bayou Park and the Houston Arboretum: no admission. Arboretum parking is free on Thursdays and the second Sunday of each month.
• Port Houston boat tour: a free 90-minute tour of the Houston Ship Channel. Reserve at least 24 hours ahead; adults 18 and over need photo ID.
• Rice University Skyspace: James Turrell's light installation reopened September 15, 2026, with free sunrise and sunset shows and no reservation.
• Free days: MFAH on Thursdays (permanent collection), HMNS Tuesdays 5 to 8 p.m. (except September 29 and October 13), Children's Museum Thursdays 5 to 8 p.m., Holocaust Museum Houston Thursdays 2 to 5 p.m., and the Houston Zoo on the first Tuesday of the month (online reservation; next dates November 3 and December 1).

With kids

• Children's Museum Houston: Kidtropolis, a kid-run city, and Tot*Spot for the youngest. Free on Thursday evenings; bring a child 12 or under.
• Houston Zoo: 55 acres inside Hermann Park. Tickets are online and timed; no sales at the gate.
• HMNS: dinosaur hall and butterfly center.
• Space Center Houston: tram tours onto the NASA campus; Galaxy Frights on October 24, 25 and 31 is included with admission.
• Downtown Aquarium: a train through a shark tunnel and a Ferris wheel. Exhibits and rides are ticketed.
• Holocaust Museum Houston: free every day for ages 18 and under.

Nearby

• Kemah Boardwalk: bayside rides, no entrance fee.
• Moody Gardens (Galveston): aquarium and rainforest pyramids. The Festival of Lights starts November 21, 2026.
• HMNS at Sugar Land: open Thursday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., during the school year.

To book: konsolosluk.gov.tr → Randevu Al → Türk Vatandaşları İçin Konsolosluk İşlemleri → Houston. The 24/7 Consular Call Center: +1 888 566 76 56. After-hours emergency line: +1-832-774-1861. Email: [email protected]. The consulate's English site is houston-cg.mfa.gov.tr.

Tips for your visit

• Timing: services run in the morning only. Leave early to allow for building security and parking so you do not miss your slot.
• Getting there: METRO local bus 82 Westheimer runs along Westheimer Road through the Galleria area.
• Holidays left in 2026: the consulate is closed October 12, October 29, November 11, November 26 and December 24 and 25, 2026.
• Passport pickup: collect a finished passport between 2 and 4 p.m. without an appointment, or leave a prepaid tracked envelope when you apply to get it by mail.
• Military service (askerlik): men born in 2007 must complete their registration (yoklama) by December 31, 2026. The paid military service option (dövizle askerlik) for July to December 2026 is the foreign-currency equivalent of 472,653.60 TL, collected in Houston in U.S. dollars at the Turkish central bank rate of the payment day, plus a $45 cash transfer fee; the amount changes on January 1, 2027. Dual citizens born in the U.S. or who came before 18 can defer until the end of age 35. F-1 students defer through the Education Attaché (+1-713-325-2862).

• In person: 400 West 15th Street, Austin. Tuesday to Thursday by appointment, Monday and Friday walk-in. Same-day service, up to 10 documents per person. Pay by check, money order, credit or debit card, or exact cash.
• By mail: Form 2102 to P.O. Box 13550, Austin, TX 78711-3550, with a check or money order payable to "Office of the Texas Secretary of State." Status: (512) 463-5705.
• Houston pop-up: the Secretary of State held a one-day apostille pop-up in Houston on August 26, 2026. No new date has been announced; watch the SOS apostille page.
• Marriage certificates: get a certified copy of a Harris County marriage license from the County Clerk, then send it to the Secretary of State in Austin.
• Federal documents: FBI background checks and naturalization certificates go to the U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications, Form DS-4194, $20 per document.
• Translations: the translator's statement is signed before a Texas notary and attached to the original or a copy.

• 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.
• Nonstop flights: Turkish Airlines flies daily between George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) and Istanbul Airport (IST). Check current times on turkishairlines.com.
• One-stop options: airlines at IAH with European and Gulf hubs (Lufthansa, KLM, Air France, British Airways, ITA, Qatar Airways and Emirates) can connect you to Istanbul. Schedules vary.