Need Help!!

[Eldridge C. Dange 0]

Few days back I went for US citizenship, then I find that in passport my last name is incorrect and I want to change that. My question is how much time is required for the name change process.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Topic has been moved from immigration news and discussion forum to What To Do Now You are a US Citizen forum

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Would you clarify your question a bit more please? I am not sure what you are asking.

Are you saying:

1) your US passport issued after you became a US citizen has the last name listed incorrectly from what is listed on your citizenship certificate, whether it is your original name or a name change requested and approved as part of the citizenship process, and they made a mistake?

or

2) Your US passport issued after you became a US citizen has the same name you used during immigration but you now want to change your last name to something different but you didn't apply for a name change as part of your citizenship process?

If it is the first one, then you will need to contact the passport office and return the passport along with your citizenship certificate showing the correct name and asking them to reissue the passport in your correct name. There should be no additional fee for this as the error is theirs, unless you request them to 'expedite' the process because you have travel plans in which case you may have to pay for an expedite fee. They may expedite it on their own, though, so you would have to ask them how long it would take.

If the second one, did you inform USCIS when you applied for US citizenship that you wanted to change your name by checking off that option on the application form? You are allowed to do that as part of the citizenship process. The legal name change takes place before your citizenship ceremony as it requires additional judicial processing. Once that has happened the citizenship certificate will be issued in the new name and you will become a US citizen in that new name. There is no additional charge to change your name as part of the citizenship process.

If you did not inform USCIS that you wished to change your name as part of the citizenship process and you are now a US citizen, you will need to apply for and pay for a legal name change through the US Court system. Once that name change is approved, you will then need to apply for a new passport in that name sending in the legal court documents showing the name change along with your citizenship certificate. This can be a lengthy process as you have two steps you must complete - the legal name change and then processing the passport.

Edited September 17, 2014 by Kathryn41