Please help! Interview for naturalization scheduled and I have to move to another state.I need advice please!!

[ninij. 0]

hello VJ so I had a notification that my interview was scheduled on Jan 26 2015 (haven't received the official letter yet) but my problem is that me and my family are moving to CA at the end of February (currently living in MD) and most likely I think I will make it to the interview because I've seen on other peoples' timelines that it takes like a month from the day you receive the letter to the actual interview...but I won't be able to make it to the oath ceremony unless is on the same day which I doubt because I requested a last name change (want to carry my husband's!) and I know that it takes a little bit longer because of that. So what is my best choice? should I take my interview and then ask if I could take the oath ceremony in California? I don't even know if that's possible! or ask if I can keep my name as it is right now and see if is possible to have same day oath? I know my local office offers that. I would appreciate any advice thank you.

[Kintsukuroi 6]

I wouldn't risk the disaster that can happen by having your case moved. If they won't give you a same same oath I would pay the money to fly back to take your oath ceremony.

[ninij. 0]

I wouldn't risk the disaster that can happen by having your case moved. If they won't give you a same same oath I would pay the money to fly back to take your oath ceremony.

thank you very much the advice. that's a great option I think I need to find a friend that's willing to let me use the address and receive in there future letters in there once I move hopefully that wont cause any delays!. Again thanks

[JimmyHou 610]

I wouldn't risk the disaster that can happen by having your case moved. If they won't give you a same same oath I would pay the money to fly back to take your oath ceremony.

thank you very much the advice. that's a great option I think I need to find a friend that's willing to let me use the address and receive in there future letters in there once I move hopefully that wont cause any delays!. Again thanks

That is not an option. If you use a friend's address as a mailing address that's fine; but if you use your friend's address as your place of residence, that would be considered providing false information.

You can only be naturalized by the court or the district office in the jurisdiction in which you live.

The OP needs to go to the interview and request a quick oath ceremony... a same-day oath is very unlikely because the name change requires a judicial oath and almost all same-day ceremonies are administrative. If an expedited oath is not available, the OP needs to request that the application be forwarded to California. This will almost certainly cause delays.

Another possible complication is that some northern California offices do not accept name change requests. This is because in San Francisco and San Jose, there are no judicial ceremonies and therefore no judge to approve a name change request at the oath... if you are moving to one of these districts and if you cannot get an oath before you move, then you should ask to have to name change request canceled because it will cause further delays in California. If you are moving to LA or San Diego or anywhere else, you should be fine as far as the name change is concerned.

Just make sure that you DO NOT plan on moving to California and then flying back for your oath because the oath questionnaire will ask for your current address and if you put down CA, they will probably not let you take the oath.

If a same day administrative oath is available, then I recommend that the OP drop the name change request, become a citizen in MD, then file for a name change in California through the courts. This won't be free, but it would make things easier.

Edited January 27, 2015 by JimmyHou

[JimmyHou 610]

hello VJ so I had a notification that my interview was scheduled on Jan 26 2015 (haven't received the official letter yet) but my problem is that me and my family are moving to CA at the end of February (currently living in MD) and most likely I think I will make it to the interview because I've seen on other peoples' timelines that it takes like a month from the day you receive the letter to the actual interview...but I won't be able to make it to the oath ceremony unless is on the same day which I doubt because I requested a last name change (want to carry my husband's!) and I know that it takes a little bit longer because of that. So what is my best choice? should I take my interview and then ask if I could take the oath ceremony in California? I don't even know if that's possible! or ask if I can keep my name as it is right now and see if is possible to have same day oath? I know my local office offers that. I would appreciate any advice thank you.

CORRECTION: I didn't notice that your name change was just to take your husband's last name... this does not require a judicial ceremony or even a formal name change. So if a same-day oath is available in MD, you'll have no trouble. Also, if you wait until you move to CA, it won't matter where your office is; they call all handle this type of name change... sorry for the confusion.

Just make sure you have your marriage certificate at the interview.

My remaining advice around not flying back for an oath after you've moved is still valid.

Edited January 27, 2015 by JimmyHou

[ninij. 0]

CORRECTION: I didn't notice that your name change was just to take your husband's last name... this does not require a judicial ceremony or even a formal name change. So if a same-day oath is available in MD, you'll have no trouble. Also, if you wait until you move to CA, it won't matter where your office is; they call all handle this type of name change... sorry for the confusion.

Just make sure you have your marriage certificate at the interview.

My remaining advice around not flying back for an oath after you've moved is still valid.

You are right! I didn't think about using a friend's address and then flying back would be providing false information. I sure don't want any trouble because of that. And as far as name change yes I only requested to carry my husband's last name but now that your are telling me that it doesn't require a judicial ceremony I have hope that I can complete the whole process before I leave but anyhow I don't mind if I can't have the last name changed, my priority is to have the citizenship. So I think at this point would be better if I go to the interview and then explain everything to the OP and see what happens if they tell me that my case needs to be forwarded to CA, well I think I should deal with the delay! thank you very much JimmyHou

[SoRot76 3]

Did you get your interview date yet? I also thought it would be scheduled about a month out - but in my case, they scheduled me almost TWO months out (got scheduled on 1/20 for a 3/11 interview). Which in your case might complicate matters...

[ninij. 0]

Did you get your interview date yet? I also thought it would be scheduled about a month out - but in my case, they scheduled me almost TWO months out (got scheduled on 1/20 for a 3/11 interview). Which in your case might complicate matters...

I haven't receive the letter yet and hope the same thing doesn't happen to me that would be even more complicated. which one is your field office? I wish you luck and may we end this nerve wrecking process soon!