Name Change before / during n400 journey

[destinychild1 10]

Hello

 

Hope you are doing well!

 

I have a situation and would like to understand if the pros, cons and process of name change given my situation for naturalization process.

 

Background:

- Green Card holder and currently eligible to apply for Naturalization, residing in NC state

- Removal of conditions approved via extreme cruelty abuse waiver

- Husband is USC and got my middle name changed on all Indian and American Legal Documents via marriage certificate

- Now we are separated and contesting divorce in India, which may take very many years to have a verdict

- Thus, technically I am married and have spouses middle name across all my documents like Passport, SSN, Credit Card, Bank Account etc

- I had the same last name as his before marriage. So only my middle name was changed from Father's name to Spouse's name post marriage

 

Questions:

1. Can I change my middle name back to my father's name without a divorce decree? If yes, how?

2. Based on the name change during naturalization, can I update my name at all other places like SSN, Credit Card, Passport, Bank Accounts, etc without divorce decree? If yes, how?

3. Are there any cons to changing name at this stage without divorce decree apart from lots of paper work at all the places?

 

Appreciate all your inputs and suggestions. Thank you!

[vegasbound 83]

1. Yes, you are allowed to change your middle name, or your entire name if you so wish, at the time of your naturalization. On the N-400, there is a section that asks if you would like to change your name. Complete that section with your desired name and then at the interview, the IO will verify the name change with you. The IO will then file the Petition for Name Change (N-662) at the interview and you will be scheduled for a Judicial Ceremony for the oath. At the oath ceremony, you will receive the Certificate of Naturalization with your new name and also an original copy of the N-662 that shows both your old name and the new name. 

 

2. The N-662 along with the Certificate of Naturalization will be the two documents you would use to apply for a US Passport, update SSN, credit card, banks, etc. You simply do not need the divorce decree unless you are updating your marital status.

 

3. Regardless of whether you change your name through naturalization or divorce, you still have to go through the name changing process with all the government agencies, banks, etc. Since you mentioned that you might have to wait for awhile to obtain a divorce decree, then changing your name through the naturalization process would be ideal and you could get it done sooner. Changing your name outside of marriage/divorce and naturalization costs money and you would have to file the petition for name change yourself.

 

Hope this helps!

Edited August 16, 2017 by vegasbound

[marcusa 31]

if you are coming close to file the N400 soon in a few months, then request on your N400 form and wait till the interview.

 

PS: with/ without marriage or in the process of divorce, you are eligible for name change any time through the court order. but it costs money ( a few hundreds dollars,check with your county court office ) but faster. you can get it done in a month and change every ID in another month.  While changing name through N400 is free but takes time (6 months or longer before you receive the certificate of naturalization ).this might be the easiest and money -saving way.

Edited August 16, 2017 by marcusa

[destinychild1 10]

Thank you for the prompt responses Vegasbound & Marcusa