Information on Name Change During Naturalization

[sherif23 2]

JimmyHou - I never filled out the name change and my interview is Monday the 27th of this month

Technically, I did not think it was an name change scenario since I just wanted to drop my middle name not change anything else

can I do anything when i go interview?

[JimmyHou 610]

JimmyHou - I never filled out the name change and my interview is Monday the 27th of this month

Technically, I did not think it was an name change scenario since I just wanted to drop my middle name not change anything else

can I do anything when i go interview?

Yes, as long as your USCIS field office schedules judicial ceremonies.

Tell your interviewer exactly what you want your new name to be. He'll fill out the name change portion of the form for you or he'll ask you to fill it out.

[mm5588 1]

Hi,

Can you please help me with the following:

I changed my name (first & last) during the US naturalization process when becoming a US citizen and being under 18 at the time, I wasn't required to fill out the N-400(?) name change form. My "new" name appears on my US naturalization certificate and passport but my ID, SSN, school diplomas all has my old name. I never really like the new name suggested by my parents and being under 18 at the time, I agree to change it during the naturalization process but kept my old name for ID, SSN, etc.,

Now I have to apply for renwal on my passport but it has been expired for over 15 years (never travel) so I have to use form DS-11. How do I prove that the name I used on my US naturalization certificate and Passport is the same person as the name on my ID, SSN, etc., Can I go to the immigration department and get a print out of my Alien # which still appears on my US naturalization certificate? I like to travel soon. Any advice, suggestion, or help will be greatly appreicated! Thank you in advance!

[Klau&G 2]

Hi. Since I filed for my first residence, I dropped my first name and use my middle name plus my husban's last name. My name is Maria Claudia, but I've always been called just "Cladudia" so that's why I wanted that only name in my residence card. All my documents in the US besides the green card: bank cards, social, driver license, dee, insurance, etc. have "Claudia" like my first and only name plus my hubby's last name, the MARIA is not anywhere!.

Should I apply for a legal name change through the N400 process or is not necesary? I haven't had any issue when traveling with my colombian passport showing the MARIA (first name), CLAUDIA (middle name) plus paternal and maternal last names, vs the name in the green card that is only "CLAUDIA" + Jxxxxx (husband's last name).

Thanks!

[FSI 4]

I am not sure if this thread is active anymore but I wanted to find out where should I start the name correction after obtaining naturalization certificate? Is there any thread step by step which mention which documents to update first? For example, I know for the passport, original naturalization certificate need to be sent and regular processing for the passport is several weeks. I also read not to go to the social security office until at least 10 days after the oath ceremony so the data is reflected in their system. What documents I can start with before I send the certificate for Passport? Drivers license?? Bank information?

[christera22 8]

Hello JimmyHou,

I am sending in my application N400 in 2 days ...we have a situation of weird name change. This is not my real name but I am setting up an example

my name : jackson shering ..... USC Wife`s name : adena perkins

Name change to : jack sheringer perkins

is that possible ? i read the instructions but couldnt get a proper answer . Thanks in advance for your valiable reply

[jeevcy 2]

Hello JimmyHou,

I am sending in my application N400 in 2 days ...we have a situation of weird name change. This is not my real name but I am setting up an example

my name : jackson shering ..... USC Wife`s name : adena perkins

Name change to : jack sheringer perkins

is that possible ? i read the instructions but couldnt get a proper answer . Thanks in advance for your valiable reply

which city are you in? many CA cities do not do name changes through naturalization. you will need to get it done by court

[christera22 8]

we are in Dayton,Ohio

Edited October 10, 2015 by christera22

[jeevcy 2]

we are in Dayton,Ohio

ok, since this may come under cincinnati so they do judicial ceremonies. you can change your name to anything you desire as long as it's not offensive

[FSI 4]

This is not true. I am in Southern California which is a big region in California and almost all the oath ceremonies in this region offers Judicial ceremonies and not administrative which allows the name change during oath.

which city are you in? many CA cities do not do name changes through naturalization. you will need to get it done by court

[jeevcy 2]

This is not true. I am in Southern California which is a big region in California and almost all the oath ceremonies in this region offers Judicial ceremonies and not administrative which allows the name change during oath.

San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, Chula Vista (San Diego) only do administrative oaths as per USCIS website

[FSI 4]

I agree but these are just 4 field offices in California out of 12 field offices and the statement is not accurate "many CA cities do not do name changes through naturalization. you will need to get it done by court"

Total field offices in CA = 12

Judicial ceremonies offered for field office = 8

Please be careful when making any statements without facts as it may effect someone negatively.

San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, Chula Vista (San Diego) only do administrative oaths as per USCIS website

Edited October 11, 2015 by FSI

[pineapple13 0]

Hello!

I requested a name change on my N400 and sent it in a few days ago. I live near the Sacramento office though my permanent address is near the San Francisco office. It seems that both only do administrative offices. Does this mean that my name change will automatically be denied? I think it's unfair that those of us who live close to those offices are going to end up paying $400+ for a name change that is free for others going through the naturalization process in other cities...! Is it possible to request a different office with judicial ceremonies? I would rather just buckle up and make a drive to Fresno than have to go through more forms and fees to have my name changed.

Thank you!

[TBoneTX 43,058]

An off-topic post has been removed.

[bellaling 6]

I thought this might help those of us considering a legal name change.

The N400 application is (in most cases) a great time to legally change your name. It's fast and it's free. Outside of the N400 process, a name change requires a visit to your local courthouse, may require a public announcement in a newspaper (depending on your state and local laws) and will cost you money. In New York City, the cost is about $65 while on Houston it is over $400, so cost varies from city to city.

You can change your name to anything you want within certain limitations. You can't change your name to impersonate someone or in an attempt to hide your identity for illegal purposes. Other than that, it's up to you. If you are Arthur Robert Wilkinson, you can become Geraldo Mohamed Leibowitz.

It's important to note that if you are just changing your last name to take your spouse's last name or to revert to your maiden name, then a legal name change is not required. This is because a marriage certificate or a divorce certificate acts as proof of legal name change. This is true EVEN IF your certificate does not show the new name that you want to take. For example, if Anita Mary Harrolds marries Geraldo Mohamed Leibowitz, she can legally be known as Anita Mary Leibowitz even though that name does not appear anywhere on the certificate. In fact, she can also hyphenate both last names without a legal name change. However, if she wanted to change her middle name from Mary to Margaret, she would need a legal name change.

To request a legal name change through the naturalization process, fill out the name change section of the N400. The interviewer may ask you to confirm that you still want to change your name because some people change their minds between the application and the interview. The interviewer may ask for proof of your current legal name. In case of a discrepancy between your green card and your passport, a birth, marriage, divorce, or name change certificate determines your current name, so make sure you have these with you (if they apply in your case...it's always a good idea to have your translated birth certificate with you at the interview). The interviewer will print out some forms (three I think) for you to check and sign. These should have your old and new names on them.

You will have to be scheduled for a judicial oath ceremony. This is because USCIS does not have the legal authority to change your name and must ask a judge to do so. If your city has regular judicial ceremonies then there shouldn't be any delays. If your city holds regular administrative ceremonies, but not many judicial ceremonies, then the name change may cause a delay. Some cities (including San Francisco and San Jose) have stopped scheduling judicial ceremonies altogether. Applicants in these cities cannot legally change their names through the N400 application. Your interviewer will inform you of this and will cross out the name change section during the interview. You will have to request a regular name change before or after naturalization if you live in these cities (see above).

At your oath ceremony you will be given your naturalization certificate as well as a name change certificate signed by a judge. This second certificate will show your old and new names and you'll need it to update your name with your banks, on your drivers license, credit cards, etc. In addition to doing all the paperwork to make these changes, you'll also have to consider the effect of the name change if you have dual citizenship; your name on your two passports may not match and your other country may require you to go through different name change procedures or may not allow name changes at all. People do travel using passports with different names, but you have to be careful when booking tickets and you may want to travel with your name change certificate (and translations).

If you want to check whether or not (and how often) judicial ceremonies are held in your location, find your office here and look under naturalization ceremonies:

http://www.uscis.gov/about-us/find-uscis-office/field-offices

Great! This was just what I was looking for. Question though, just so I'm absolutely clear on it: You said that if a person is simply taking his/her spouse's name, then a legal name change is not required, the marriage/divorce certificate already acts as a legal proof of name change.

So if I'm interpreting this right, taking on your spouse's last name DOES NOT need a judicial ceremony. Is that right?

If I hyphenate my last name to my spouse's (or just use his instead of mine) in the N-400, do I put the new hyphenated name (or spouse's last name) under CURRENT LEGAL NAME or do I still have to put my maiden name (which is what is reflected in all my documents) in current AND fill up the NAME CHANGE section with the hyphenated one?

I read that in my area, including the name change may cause significant delay in the naturalization process since they seldom have judicial ceremonies, and I do not want that at all. But if I can take on my spouse's name without needing the judicial oat taking ceremony then it might be the convenient forum for me to start the whole take on the spouse's surname! I'm trying to avoid additional expenses and headaches.

Looking forward to your answer and thanks so much for posting this very helpful thread.