"Legal" name change during naturalization?

[thatbritishlass 2]

Hello chaps.

It's been a while since I frequented this here site. Glad to see it's still going strong!

I am coming up on Naturalization in a few months and am trying to get my act together in advance so there's no surprises along the way.

I received ROC in 2013, but got divorced shortly after. At the court hearing granting my divorce I requested my name be changed back to my maiden name - my divorce papers state that this request was granted. However, the Social Security office would not change my name on my SS card before it was changed on my Green Card. I opted to wait it out - knowing that I wasn't far off applying for citizenship it seemed like a waste of $600.

My question, therefore, is this: for USCIS purposes, do I need to request a name change again? Or can I fill out the form in my maiden name, even though both my GC and my SS card still show my married name?

Yours in the usual confusion,

J

[JimmyHou 610]

Hello chaps.

It's been a while since I frequented this here site. Glad to see it's still going strong!

I am coming up on Naturalization in a few months and am trying to get my act together in advance so there's no surprises along the way.

I received ROC in 2013, but got divorced shortly after. At the court hearing granting my divorce I requested my name be changed back to my maiden name - my divorce papers state that this request was granted. However, the Social Security office would not change my name on my SS card before it was changed on my Green Card. I opted to wait it out - knowing that I wasn't far off applying for citizenship it seemed like a waste of $600.

My question, therefore, is this: for USCIS purposes, do I need to request a name change again? Or can I fill out the form in my maiden name, even though both my GC and my SS card still show my married name?

Yours in the usual confusion,

J

Your divorce decree is considered legal proof of your change of name, so you won't need a formal legal name change through the N400 process.

Just list the name on your divorce decree as your Current Legal Name and your name on your green card as Name as it Appears on Green Card. Some interviewers aren't fully aware of the laws, so if you get one who says you need a legal name change, then explain to him that your divorce decree (just like a marriage certificate) acts as a legal name change document.

[thatbritishlass 2]

Brill. Thanks!