Turkish-Speaking Lawyer for Clients in Florida
Bu sayfanın Türkçesi: Florida’da Türkçe Konuşan Avukat Rehberi
Turkish families, students and business owners live throughout Florida, from Miami and Fort Lauderdale to Orlando and Tampa. A search for a Turkish-speaking lawyer in Florida usually reflects one of two needs: an immigration matter or a business in the state. The two fall under different legal systems, and knowing which is which tells you what kind of lawyer you need.
Immigration is federal: why a Florida bar license is not required
USCIS, the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) and U.S. consulates are federal bodies, and federal regulations decide who may represent people before them. Under 8 CFR 292.1(a)(1) and 8 CFR 1292.1(a)(1), that includes attorneys in good standing with the bar of the highest court of any U.S. state. An attorney appearing in immigration court must also be registered with EOIR.
The principle traces back to a case from Florida itself: Sperry v. Florida ex rel. Florida Bar, 373 U.S. 379 (1963). The Supreme Court held that where federal law authorizes practice before a federal agency, a state cannot block it through its own rules. So a family in Orlando can have its green card case handled by an attorney admitted in Maryland.
| Matter | Jurisdiction | Florida bar required? |
|---|---|---|
| USCIS filings (green card, visas, citizenship) | Federal | No |
| Miami, Krome and Orlando immigration courts | Federal | No |
| Consular processing abroad | Federal | No |
| Forming or advising a Florida company under Florida law | Florida | Yes, for advice on Florida law |
| Florida state court litigation | Florida | Yes |
| Divorce, custody, probate | Florida | Yes |
| Real estate and lease disputes | Florida | Yes |
USCIS offices and immigration courts in Florida
USCIS assigns cases to field offices by the applicant’s address. Florida’s field offices include Miami, Oakland Park near Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, Orlando and Jacksonville, among others. Your interview notice states the office; do not go without an appointment.
For removal proceedings, EOIR lists three immigration courts in Florida: the Miami Immigration Court, the Krome court for detained cases in Miami, and the Orlando Immigration Court. Some hearings are held at other Florida locations or by video.
Running a Florida company
Many Turkish clients in Florida own or plan to open a business, sometimes as the basis for an E-2 or L-1 visa. Every Florida LLC and corporation must file an annual report with the Division of Corporations between January 1 and May 1. The fee is $138.75 for an LLC and $150 for a for-profit corporation; after May 1 a $400 late fee applies. An entity that has still not filed by the third Friday of September is administratively dissolved or revoked at the close of business on the fourth Friday of September.
If a Florida business is part of your immigration plan, the corporate records and the immigration filing need to match. We handle the immigration side and work alongside Florida-licensed counsel when a matter turns on Florida law.
The question is not where your lawyer sits. It is whether your matter is federal or state, and whether you can explain it in your own language.
How we work with clients in Florida
- Consultations in Turkish or English by video, wherever you are in Florida.
- Federal immigration filings before USCIS, the Florida immigration courts and U.S. consulates.
- Business immigration for Florida companies, including E-2 and L-1 matters.
- Referral to Florida counsel for divorce, real estate, state-court and other Florida-law matters.
Check that any lawyer you hire is licensed and in good standing. Florida attorneys can be verified with The Florida Bar, and attorneys from other states with their own state bar. Non-attorney “notarios” and consultants may not give legal advice on immigration.
Frequently asked questions
My lawyer is not admitted in Florida. Can they handle my immigration case?
Yes. Immigration is federal. Under 8 CFR 292.1 and 8 CFR 1292.1, an attorney in good standing with the bar of any U.S. state may represent clients before USCIS, the immigration courts and U.S. consulates; immigration court appearances also require EOIR registration. Matters governed by Florida law require a Florida-licensed attorney.
Which immigration courts are in Florida?
EOIR lists three immigration courts in Florida: the Miami Immigration Court, the Krome court for detained cases in Miami, and the Orlando Immigration Court. Some hearings take place at other locations or by video.
When is a Florida LLC annual report due?
Between January 1 and May 1 each year. The fee is $138.75 for an LLC and $150 for a for-profit corporation. After May 1 a $400 late fee applies, and entities that still have not filed by the third Friday of September are administratively dissolved.
Can I have my consultation in Turkish?
Yes. Ozek Law Firm offers consultations in Turkish and English by video for clients anywhere in Florida.
What you should do now
- Decide whether your matter is federal (immigration) or state (Florida law).
- Keep every USCIS notice and check which field office or court it names.
- If you own a Florida company, confirm its annual report is filed before May 1.
- Report any change of address to USCIS within 10 days on Form AR-11.
Ozek Law Firm, LLC · Tolga Ozek, Attorney at Law
4500 East West Highway, Suite 150, Bethesda, MD 20814
+1 (202) 854-8545 · info@ozeklaw.com · ozeklaw.com/contact
Tolga Ozek is the founder of Ozek Law Firm, LLC in Bethesda, Maryland. His practice covers business and immigration law, including investor and intracompany-transfer visas, employment-based immigration, and adjustment of status. The firm advises clients in English, Turkish and Spanish.
We handle the federal immigration side and work with Florida-licensed counsel where Florida law applies.
This page is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Attorney Advertising. Tolga Ozek is admitted in Maryland, New York and Washington, D.C., and is not admitted to The Florida Bar. Ozek Law Firm, LLC has no office in Florida; its Florida practice is limited to federal immigration matters, and Florida-law matters are handled with or referred to Florida-licensed counsel. Office locations, fees and deadlines are as published as of Sept. 25, 2026; confirm at uscis.gov, justice.gov/eoir and dos.fl.gov/sunbiz.
Ozek Law Firm, LLC · 4500 East West Highway, Suite 150, Bethesda, MD 20814 · +1 (202) 854-8545 · info@ozeklaw.com · www.ozeklaw.com
Admitted in Maryland, New York and Washington, D.C.; federal immigration practice throughout the United States. Consultations in English, Turkish, Spanish and Swedish; interpreters for other languages.
