I went to the SSA in Norfolk for a last name change. You don't need to make an appointment prior to…read morecoming, though it may help with you getting in-and-out quicker. I didn't make an appointment but was able to easily get a ticket number at the kiosk they have inside the SSA building. BEFORE you go inside, you should know that there is a metal detector at the front door and security guards who will ask you to take out all electronic devices and keys, etc from bags or pockets before entering. I had a metal item that I had to bring back to my car. The security guards were nice. There are guards in the seated waiting area as well who make sure everyone is safe. You can ask them questions about checking in and if you have to use the bathroom they will let the main staff know so they don't skip over to the next person in the queue. The waiting area was well lit and fairly clean, though I didn't use the restroom while I was there, so I can't speak to the cleanliness of restrooms. I came towards the end of the day around 2:00pm. It seems that the staff call people to the booths by ticket number quickly to learn what each person is there for and to make sure they have the proper documents. Then, after that initial call-up, they ask you to return to your seat to be helped further "shortly". My number was called within 20 minutes of getting to the SSA waiting area, but it took an hour and 45 minutes to be called back again to actually process my name change request. Once called back the second time, after an hour, 45 mins of waiting, it took about 15 minutes to process my request. Overall, while the wait was long, the staff were friendly. I find long waits at government and state agencies more pleasant and bearable when the staff is nice.

It's wonderful and great I like being there for me it's really nice place to be at people here are…read moreto help you with your finances

The only thing that could be done better is the difference between the time date on the invitation…read moreand the security. The security guard says come back in fourteen minutes...but arrived 29 minutes before the appointment...letter says no more than 30. Otherwise the whole process took less than half an hour and treated very professionally and courteously by the staff. Bravo!

Everyone was very friendly and helpful…read more By the time you get in the premises, you 'll be welcomed with warm smile. I come 10 minutes earlier prior to my appointment and they directly approach me of what I needed. Fast and efficient service. Good luck and more power.

This place sucks. Do not recommend going there. Customer service does not exist in this…read moreestablishment. Everyone that works there is extremely rude. Waited 3 hour just for the lady to yell at us saying she can't help us that we need to schedule an appointment even though we completed all the forms online and just needed to drop off supporting documentation since the website said you have 45 days to drop off the documents they're requesting. If I could give them zero stars I would. Zero help and a waist of time.

This Social Security office is located conveniently off a main boulevatd and it is easy to access…read more The building is the first one on the street corner, and it has a separate parking lot. The office has 17 customer service stalls, but usually, only about 4 are operational since COVID. The pace for being seen is relatively good. The customer service is good, and they all seem interested in assisting you in completing whatever you came in the office for. For me, the mood of a government office is pretty somber, and it is hard to get past the feeling that most people are seriously stressed out when they come through the door. I will say that the first person you see is a security guard who offers you a grin when you offer her one. She seems very pleasant and eager to help people. This office is so much more peaceful than the offices in Norfolk and Virginia Beach. The citizens demonstrated a definite sense of entitlement in the way that they complained about everything from the seats to their wait time. I like the atmosphere in Portsmouth much better, I know that's a first, but it's true. I knocked off a star because I am back today because the representative forgot to submit one document that held up my form. She did complete it and give me a copy with a date time stamp so everything is dated properly, so I still think her laughter and smile in a government office on a hot afternoon before Labor Day weekend was awesome.

All right so here it is. The Norfolk Department of Public Health is on the Eastern Virginia Medical…read moreCenter campus across Brambleton Ave from Sentara Norfolk General. It is surrounded by the CHKD building and the Fort Norfolk Plaza. There is limited parking there as it shares a lot with the Strelitz Diabetes Center. It is on the ground floor in the back to the left that the EVMS HOPES free clinic is located. You can also come here for STI checks and TB clinics. I'm not ecstatic about how the clinics are run here. The HOPES clinic is great. Of course it is, it's run by EVMS students! But the other clinics are less than optimal. Anyways, it is free for the most part so there really shouldn't be any complaining.

Hopes Clinic offers sound medical care with prescriptions including refills. Also for women a…read morereferral to another clinic for pap tests and mammograms also free. Both have been lifesavers during unemployment.

I arrived at 9:00 AM and was greeted by a line extending outside the building. After checking in at…read morethe kiosk, I waited more than two hours without being seen( still sitting in the lobby waiting as I type this). Since food and drinks are not permitted inside, the lengthy wait is even more challenging. I want to be clear that my frustration is not directed at the staff currently working. The employees appear to be doing the best they can under difficult circumstances. However, it is evident that this office is severely understaffed. Having only 2 service windows open out of 14 available windows is concerning and significantly impacts customer wait times and the overall experience. I encourage management to evaluate staffing levels and allocate additional resources to better serve the public. While this is a government office, it still provides an important service, and residents deserve timely, efficient, and respectful customer service.

I strongly suggest you make an appointment. Be sure to check in at the front kiosk and keep your…read morenumbered ticket on you. Do not give the ticket to anyone else, it is directly tied to you. There is no food, drink or photo taking allowed. Be prepared to wait several hours. Also, DO NOT sit at any of the seats along the walls, even if none of those windows are open to serve anyone. You cannot sit at the closed windows even if there aren't any available seats.

Beautiful pillars at the entrance! Love the architecture. So glad they kept it up in its original…read morestature.

Greatest post ever, friendly family with lots of love for all. Always some exciting event going on…read moreto help one another.

I cannot believe it has taken me this long to post a review about this place…read more I love it here. They absolutely treat you like family. If you are a veteran or a family of a veteran, come see the people here, they welcome with open arms. There is dinner 6 or 7 nights a week, food all the time, cheap drinks if you want them, a kids area, TVs all over, games, pool, and always good conversation. Really an amazing place.

I went to City Hall to pay a bill and vote early. The lobby was clean and the staff were welcoming…read more Even the folks working at DMV were cheerful and had jokes about the weather. It is easy to park and come into city hall. The area around the building is always clean and tidy. Inside the building is clean and the floors are shining. I hope more Portsmouth citizens take advantage of visiting their City Hall. I found that the workers love to interact with people in person and it helps me explain what I am here for with visual clues. People are better than clicks on a computer. My visit was short but I accomplished everything I came in to do.

Caught Office of Permits and Inspections trying to ticket my car on October 31, 2025…read more Car had November 2025 tags and November 2025 State Inspection. Insurance card was in plain view, along with receipt from DMV for renewal of plates, acting as proof of renewal. Second time Permits and Inspections has tried to ticket this car, the first was for "LEAF LITTER" on the hood, car was licensed, inspected and insured at this time, as well. Proved the car ran and drove, when I drove away. Not the first problem I have had with this Office, they contine to target me due to my race, and gender

Me and my husband went to get married and the line was pretty long but the clerks were all amazing!…read moreMake sure that you leave yours phones in your car! Or store them in the lockers that they have inside for a small fee!

I recently took a trip to the Norfolk Circuit Court Clerk's Office as I was in need of a passport…read more The passport office is located on the 7th floor. Things to note about the entire building: - NO phones OR even smartwatches allowed. There are tiny little lockers available for rent in the lobby for a small fee of $0.25, so bring your coins (no cards or any other form of payment is accepted). That's why there are barely any photos on this page. - security check on the main floor as soon as you walk in through the doors - street parking is pretty scarce since the building is next to a tram station. I parked in the lot behind the building across the street and walked over. It's run by the City of Norfolk, so the fees weren't bad. Things to note about the passport office: *This is the only passport office in this area that will take walk-ins. Most of all the other locations I called were appointments only. I live in Chesapeake and the one in Chesapeake City Hall didn't have an appointment until October. Thanks, but no thanks. I need to fly way sooner than that. *One of the ladies that worked the line that day was the friendliest government employee I have ever come across LOL. She was just the nicest person! Super efficient, informative and genuinely wanted to help! *You can take your passport photos here, I'm sure, for a fee. I did not know this so I just got my photos done at a Walgreens, but had I known, that would have saved me some time, especially since I was in a rush to get the passport. *Expedited service really only saves you a day or so, so the extra fee is not really worth it. *This makes me nervous, but they took the original copy of my identification which is my citizenship certificate. They say they will mail it back, which I am sure they will, but it's still nerve wrecking! *They charge fees if you pay by credit card, so if you want to save a few dollars, bring your checkbook! Stay safe, Friends!

If you're in the Navy and going to a school on the East Coast, TSC runs that school…read more Not to get into Navy jargon but they are the quota control for Navy schools. Their mission is to ensure ships have Sailors with the education they need to execute the nation's mission. Over the last 4 years, TSC has gone from an unknown command to a place that ships go to so school problems are fixed.