Name change....no, may not be a name change (just jumbling the words)

[forumuser1 0]

Hi,

I have a question about name change during naturalization process....not sure if it is really a name change or moving the words between first/middle/last names. Can you please advise.

Original name assigned by parents:

Last name - ADHIKAARI
First name - AMIT
Middle name - SUNDARA RAJA CHANDHRAN

Since Indian passport do not have middle name concept, the PP agent split the middle name and attached it with last and first name like this:

Last name - ADHIKAARI SUNDARA
First name - RAJA CHANDHRAN AMIT (19 char with spaces)

So, the same pattern is carried to GC as well...but there is a restriction for first/given name which cannot exceed 18 characters, so the last char for first/given name on GC became "RAJA CHANDHRAN AMI" (T is gone)

Last name - ADHIKAARI SUNDARA
First name - "RAJA CHANDHRAN AMI" (18 char)


So, I believe the same naming will be applied on USC documentation as well unless I jumble....move around the words between first/middle/last names. I really want my full name to spelt so after all the combinations I want to stick with this pattern:

Last name - ADHIKAARI
First name - AMIT SUNDARA (should be less than 18 char)
Middle name - RAJA CHANDHRAN (should be less than 18 char)

Assuming this will translate like this on US passport:

Surname - ADHIKAARI
Given name - AMIT SUNDARA RAJA CHANDHRAN

1) Can we follow this approach to appear full name on naturalization certificate
2) Is this considered as a name change?

Will there be any option given during interview to pick the preferred name to appear on naturalization certificate

Please advise. Thanks.

[JimmyHou 614]

Hi,

I have a question about name change during naturalization process....not sure if it is really a name change or moving the words between first/middle/last names. Can you please advise.

Original name assigned by parents:

Last name - ADHIKAARI

First name - AMIT

Middle name - SUNDARA RAJA CHANDHRAN

Since Indian passport do not have middle name concept, the PP agent split the middle name and attached it with last and first name like this:

Last name - ADHIKAARI SUNDARA

First name - RAJA CHANDHRAN AMIT (19 char with spaces)

So, the same pattern is carried to GC as well...but there is a restriction for first/given name which cannot exceed 18 characters, so the last char for first/given name on GC became "RAJA CHANDHRAN AMI" (T is gone)

Last name - ADHIKAARI SUNDARA

First name - "RAJA CHANDHRAN AMI" (18 char)

So, I believe the same naming will be applied on USC documentation as well unless I jumble....move around the words between first/middle/last names. I really want my full name to spelt so after all the combinations I want to stick with this pattern:

Last name - ADHIKAARI

First name - AMIT SUNDARA (should be less than 18 char)

Middle name - RAJA CHANDHRAN (should be less than 18 char)

Assuming this will translate like this on US passport:

Surname - ADHIKAARI

Given name - AMIT SUNDARA RAJA CHANDHRAN

1) Can we follow this approach to appear full name on naturalization certificate

2) Is this considered as a name change?

Will there be any option given during interview to pick the preferred name to appear on naturalization certificate

Please advise. Thanks.

1) Yes, you can have your name appear as you wish on your naturalization certificate.

2) Yes this is a name change, because your legal last name is changing. I think that that's the proper answer, although I'm not an expert. However, in cases like yours, sometimes the officers are not very consistent and may agree to do it informally.

You will need to fill out the Name Change section on the N400.

If you have already filed, then you should tell your interviewer at the interview that you would like a name change.

Note that if you have a birth certificate with your correct name on it, it supersedes the passport, and you should not need a legal name change in this case.

If a name change is required, then you will need to attend a Judicial Oath Ceremony... some districts do not offer this option, but there are not many of these.

Read more about name changes here:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/549894-information-on-name-change-during-naturalization/

Finally, note that the interviewer may tell you that it's just a small change, so there's no need for an official name change. That's fine, except that you won't get a name change certificate, and changing your last name on other documents (like your drivers license) may be pain. Also, your name is rather long... you may end up with a truncated name on some of your documents.

[forumuser1 0]

Thanks Jimmy Hou for response.

N400 was already filed and mentioned Name change as "No". I was planning to raise name change request during the interview.

I will look into my Indian birth ceritifcate option as well....if my BC is good then I don't have to go this route even though name on PP is different.

Good to know that if I don't make any changes to my Last Name then it is not considered as a name change....in that case I can go with this option (only middle and first name are changing) -

Last name - ADHIKAARI SUNDARA
First name - AMIT (should be less than 18 char)
Middle name - RAJA CHANDHRAN (should be less than 18 char)

1) Yes, you can have your name appear as you wish on your naturalization certificate.

2) Yes this is a name change, because your legal last name is changing. I think that that's the proper answer, although I'm not an expert. However, in cases like yours, sometimes the officers are not very consistent and may agree to do it informally.

You will need to fill out the Name Change section on the N400.

If you have already filed, then you should tell your interviewer at the interview that you would like a name change.

Note that if you have a birth certificate with your correct name on it, it supersedes the passport, and you should not need a legal name change in this case.

If a name change is required, then you will need to attend a Judicial Oath Ceremony... some districts do not offer this option, but there are not many of these.

Read more about name changes here:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/549894-information-on-name-change-during-naturalization/

Finally, note that the interviewer may tell you that it's just a small change, so there's no need for an official name change. That's fine, except that you won't get a name change certificate, and changing your last name on other documents (like your drivers license) may be pain. Also, your name is rather long... you may end up with a truncated name on some of your documents.

[JimmyHou 614]

Thanks Jimmy Hou for response.

Good to know that if I don't make any changes to my Last Name then it is not considered as a name change....in that case I can go with this option (only middle and first name are changing).

This is not correct.

If you got this from my reply, it was not my intention. Changes to first and middle names also require formal name changes.

[forumuser1 0]

This is not correct.

If you got this from my reply, it was not my intention. Changes to first and middle names also require formal name changes.

Got it JimmyHou.

My birth certificate was based on my Indian PP and it has full name whatever my parents assigned to me initially.

After changing my name on US naturalization certificate, I believe I need to provide "name change endorsement" to OCI (Dual citizenship of India)....not sure how to get this endorsement...and also do I need to update SS, Drivers license in USA and OCI / PAN card (Income tax) in India with the new name?

Not sure if it is a hassle to rearrange the words at this point or stick with whatever my GC has it now (truncated first name...last letter truncated)...

Thanks.

[JimmyHou 614]

Got it JimmyHou.

My birth certificate was based on my Indian PP and it has full name whatever my parents assigned to me initially.

After changing my name on US naturalization certificate, I believe I need to provide "name change endorsement" to OCI (Dual citizenship of India)....not sure how to get this endorsement...and also do I need to update SS, Drivers license in USA and OCI / PAN card (Income tax) in India with the new name?

Not sure if it is a hassle to rearrange the words at this point or stick with whatever my GC has it now (truncated first name...last letter truncated)...

Thanks.

So you ask a very good question here, which I briefly referred to in my original response.

Even though not having to go through a formal legal name change may be convenient, doing so ensures that you get a Name Change Certificate issued by the court. This can be used to change your name on all documents. If you don't do a formal name change, you won't get such a document.

You also have the option to do this after naturalization, but you'll have to pay for the change.

Again, read through the link I provided above; it's got answers to some of your questions, but feel free to ask anything else... there are other members who are more experienced than I am who might be able to help further.

[forumuser1 0]

Hi all,

I had my interview done on Monday and I passed it. Also I requested for the name change and officer accepted it. Now waiting for judicial oath ceremony...not sure when the judicial oath ceremony is going to happen in Charlotte, NC....some centers have once a month.

Also, after oath ceremony, should I explicitly request for name change Endorsement doc or will they always give a document showing both old and new names?

Last name - ADHIKAARI SUNDARA
First name - AMIT (should be less than 18 char)
Middle name - RAJA CHANDHRAN (should be less than 18 char)
(the actual name change is moving couple of words from first name to middle name)

Thanks.

[JimmyHou 614]

Hi all,

I had my interview done on Monday and I passed it. Also I requested for the name change and officer accepted it. Now waiting for judicial oath ceremony...not sure when the judicial oath ceremony is going to happen in Charlotte, NC....some centers have once a month.

Also, after oath ceremony, should I explicitly request for name change Endorsement doc or will they always give a document showing both old and new names?

Last name - ADHIKAARI SUNDARA

First name - AMIT (should be less than 18 char)

Middle name - RAJA CHANDHRAN (should be less than 18 char)

(the actual name change is moving couple of words from first name to middle name)

Thanks.

You should get a name change certificate at your ceremony. It'll show your old and new names.

[forumuser1 0]

You should get a name change certificate at your ceremony. It'll show your old and new names.

Is the new name change certificate going to replace the base birth certificate?

Any idea on how many judicial ceremonies per month conducted in Charlotte, NC (on USCIS website, there is a mention about USCIS administrative oath ceremony schedule only). Thanks.

[JimmyHou 614]

Is the new name change certificate going to replace the base birth certificate?

Any idea on how many judicial ceremonies per month conducted in Charlotte, NC (on USCIS website, there is a mention about USCIS administrative oath ceremony schedule only). Thanks.

The name change certificate just shows your old and new names.

The birth certificate has information about your date and place of birth and about your parents.

The two forms are not related.

Charlotte has at lease one judicial ceremony a month according to their field office page.

https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/find-uscis-office/field-offices/north-carolina-charlotte-field-office

[forumuser1 0]

The name change certificate just shows your old and new names.

The birth certificate has information about your date and place of birth and about your parents.

The two forms are not related.

Charlotte has at lease one judicial ceremony a month according to their field office page.

https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/find-uscis-office/field-offices/north-carolina-charlotte-field-office

Thanks Jimmy. What I mean is, will the name change certificate supersede the name on the birth certificate (only the name).

[JimmyHou 614]

Thanks Jimmy. What I mean is, will the name change certificate supersede the name on the birth certificate (only the name).

Yes, it will. Your passport will be issued in your new name and you should get your other documents updated to match. Credit cards, drivers license, back accounts, mortgage, insurance, etc. But until uou do, your current ID along with your name change certificate serve as proof of identity.

Note that your home country may not acknowledge a name change order from the U.S.

Some countries don't allow name changes and some allow them but require a name change through their own courts. So if you are going to be a dual citizen, you may end up with two different names on your passports.