Name change when applying for green card (I-485)

[Naguto7659 12]

Dear community - would anyone might know if it is allowed and common practice to change name when applying for green card? My name sounds strange in English and might consider changing a name. Should this be done when doing aos or during naturalization is easier? Hope for your advice.

[SusieQQQ 11,584]

On what basis would you file i485?

[Villanelle 4,121]

If you are adjusting based on marriage you can use your new spouses last name in a few varying ways (replace your last name, hyphenated, etc). But only last name and only if marriage, and you can only use the spouses name- not any old name. So Mary Jones marries Joe Smith. She can be Mary Smith, Mary Jones-Smith, Mary Smith-Jones, Mary Jones Smith etc etc. She can not be Alice Brown. 

 

If you want to change your first name or both first and last you need to do a name change through civil court which in the US is a fee and can take several weeks- or you can do it for free when you naturalize. You would fill out the name you want on the n400 but then after interview you will have to wait for a Judge naturalization ceremony which are typically scheduled less often. 

[payxibka 10,044]

8 hours ago, Villanelle said:

If you are adjusting based on marriage you can use your new spouses last name in a few varying ways (replace your last name, hyphenated, etc). But only last name and only if marriage, and you can only use the spouses name- not any old name. So Mary Jones marries Joe Smith. She can be Mary Smith, Mary Jones-Smith, Mary Smith-Jones, Mary Jones Smith etc etc. She can not be Alice Brown. 

Not always true,  depends on the state you got married.   Some states allow either party to the marriage to change any or all their names to any name they choose upon marriage. 

Edited May 6, 2020 by payxibka

[Villanelle 4,121]

5 hours ago, payxibka said:

Not always true,  depends on the state you got married.   Some states allow either party to the marriage to change any or all their names to any name they choose upon marriage. 

Which states allow first name changes upon marriage? 

[payxibka 10,044]

6 minutes ago, Villanelle said:

Which states allow first name changes upon marriage? 

Minnesota is one.  Either party to the marriage can change any and or all names, including the use of a singular "symbol" (aka prince)

[Ontarkie 13,916]

~~Moved to Moving Here and YOur New Life, from Bringing Family - as the OP is asking about name change.~~

[onek 306]

On 5/5/2020 at 5:12 PM, Naguto7659 said:

Dear community - would anyone might know if it is allowed and common practice to change name when applying for green card? My name sounds strange in English and might consider changing a name. Should this be done when doing aos or during naturalization is easier? Hope for your advice.

You can change your name legally anytime and nothing stops you. You would have to notify USCIS with the name change 

[Naguto7659 12]

24 minutes ago, onek said:

You can change your name legally anytime and nothing stops you. You would have to notify USCIS with the name change 

Wow thank you and how to do it? I am just confused as I have my foreign passport and it say my name. If and how can I change it?

[onek 306]

13 hours ago, Naguto7659 said:

Wow thank you and how to do it? I am just confused as I have my foreign passport and it say my name. If and how can I change it?

You would have to go to the court and fill up a form with court clerk and pay the fee, once court approves it, you would have to notify USCIS and foreign embassy.

It’s a lot simpler if you change your name at the time of becoming US citizen because you fill out the new requested name during that process. It saves you from having to update record with USCIS or foreign embassy.

[Naguto7659 12]

Dear friends - any recent i-485 interview scheduling anyone has had and also any more approvals of green card without interview?

[Naguto7659 12]

My fellow friends - what one should expect from I-485 interview? What kind of questions and what do I need to bring with me besides medical exam.