Adding maiden name as middle name?

[spectheintro 18]

Hey all:

Anyone here have any issues adding their maiden name as their middle name during naturalization? When my wife immigrated, her married name appeared on all of her documentation, including her greencard, but I always referenced her maiden name as another name she's gone by. Would it qualify as a name change to add her maiden name to the name on her naturalization certificate? Is it a hassle? On the one hand, I would like it to be on her official documentation so it appears on her US Passport (it will make traveling to her home country easier) but on the other hand I am so loathe to add any more complication to the mix.

Would appreciate any insight/advice that anyone has. Thanks!

[LA80 3]

So basically, you are saying that her legal name at the moment is her first name + married name, but you guys want to add her maiden name as her middle name? I am pretty sure that this would be considered a name change, because she never had a middle name (correct me if I am wrong) and now she is adding one. Another possibility is to add the maiden name to her married name and have two words as her last name, but in your case, that would also be a name change. Name change can prolong the process a bit.

Edited October 26, 2012 by LA80

[Kathryn41 3,205]

You can do this during the Naturalization process, yes. There shouldn't be any problems. Naturalization gives you the opportunity to have your Naturalization certificate issued in whatever name you wish. The process involves filing the petition in the name you wish to have on the certificate. A judge will legally 'change' the name to the one you want prior to the Naturalization Oath and the Certificate will then be issued in that name. It is the easiest way to change a name as there is no additional fee to do it with this process (there is if you are doing it on your own), and at most it only adds a few weeks to the process- whatever time it takes to get the separate action of the name change approved by a judge - so would just make the Oath ceremony scheduled at a bit later date. It may not even be a few weeks but it is generally not longer.

[spectheintro 18]

So basically, you are saying that her legal name at the moment is her first name + married name, but you guys want to add her maiden name as her middle name? I am pretty sure that this would be considered a name change, because she never had a middle name (correct me if I am wrong) and now she is adding one. Another possibility is to add the maiden name to her married name and have two words as her last name, but in your case, that would also be a name change. Name change can prolong the process a bit.

That is correct. I wouldn't want to change her last name to a hyphenated version, since her entire credit history is based on being Jane Doe (for example), and I don't want to muddy it by changing it to Jane Smith-Doe. But it looks like I need to ask for a name change.

You can do this during the Naturalization process, yes. There shouldn't be any problems. Naturalization gives you the opportunity to have your Naturalization certificate issued in whatever name you wish. The process involves filing the petition in the name you wish to have on the certificate. A judge will legally 'change' the name to the one you want prior to the Naturalization Oath and the Certificate will then be issued in that name. It is the easiest way to change a name as there is no additional fee to do it with this process (there is if you are doing it on your own), and at most it only adds a few weeks to the process- whatever time it takes to get the separate action of the name change approved by a judge - so would just make the Oath ceremony scheduled at a bit later date. It may not even be a few weeks but it is generally not longer.

I was a little worried it would extend the timeline, but if it's only a few weeks that may be all right. I would hope that this is the most benign form of name change from a credit history/identity standpoint, given that everything else (SSN, DOB, First and Last Name) are remaining identical. Am I right to assume that?

Thank you both for your input!

Edited October 26, 2012 by spectheintro

[LA80 3]

It is benign in the sense that the name is going to be recognizable, probably with only one additional initial (Jane Maidenname Doe = Jane M. Doe), but she will have to contact the SSA and notify them about the name change eventually. As far as I know, SSN always remains the same.

[spectheintro 18]

It is benign in the sense that the name is going to be recognizable, probably with only one additional initial (Jane Maidenname Doe = Jane M. Doe), but she will have to contact the SSA and notify them about the name change eventually. As far as I know, SSN always remains the same.

Yeah, I'll just handle it all in one fell swoop--citizenship prompts the same notification requirement, so it'll be a good chance to get everything properly set up.

I cannot wait for this to all be over; it's going to be legen--wait for it--no more immigration ever-dary.

[NickD 203]

I really didn't push this issue with my wife, more like having two last names, like Smith-Jones that is traditional in her home country, but not in the USA. with two last names, especially longer ones, no room for things like credit cards. Also confusion in the phone books when they go by that maiden name as the beginning of the last name. No where near where her married name is at.

When it came to US citizenship, and living here for three years, she dropped her maiden name on her N-400 application without any problems nor delays. SS did the same thing, but SS used two lines for the last name where credit cards won't do that.

If your wife is happy with her married name, would not add her maiden name to it, just creates a lot of confusion.