Name Change & Name Appearance on GC/ Naturalization & Drivers License

[Ritasown 0]

Hello,

 

I wanted to ask a question that’s a bit complicated. for starters, I’ve obtained my GC through SIJS. Not sure that it’s relevant here. 
 

I’ve had a name change a few years back. It’s now time for me to apply for N-400. I’ve lost my PR card for about two years now. Will it be needed during the naturalization process? 
 

 

the complicated problem is that

 

my name on my actual birth certificate is quite long. When changing my name, I really just removed one and changed the last name.( nothing marriage related) I was able to get a new SS card and a new drivers license. The folks at the drivers license said they would not shorted the name to just a MI that it has to reflect everything on the name change document. 

 

I don’t know how my previous attorney was able to shorted all the names from Birth Certificate to just First MI and Last Name on GC. Which I used to get my DL at the time. Maybe it’s the USCIS character requirement? I want to be able to do the same after naturalization and essentially have it reflect on the new drivers license. 
 

example: 

 

name on Birth Certificate: 

 

Greta Nicole Mary Anita Johnson 

Shorted on GC to get drivers license: Greta M. Johnson 

Social Security: Greta M. Johnson

Current new name: removed Greta ( drivers license has entire name) Anita Mary Nicole Jones 

Social Security: Anita M. Jones 

 

Will it be possible to keep it short when applying for N-400? Like Anita Mary Jones? Or will this be an issue? 
 

 

I just became aware of the ADIT stamp as proof of green card. Old country passport has expired and I’m also not sure if they’ll require naturalization certificate to actually reflect name change. 
 

 

thank you,

 

I hope to have some sort of clear understanding. 

[OldUser 8,879]

11 minutes ago, Ritasown said:

I’ve lost my PR card for about two years now. Will it be needed during the naturalization process? 

Not really, but right now I guess you don't have any proof of status. You can be detained by ICE. Did you apply for I-90?

 

You'll need a valid ID at your interview.

[OldUser 8,879]

Just list all your variations of name on N-400 form in Other Names Used. This shouldn't be an issue.

[Ritasown 0]

9 minutes ago, OldUser said:

Did you apply for I-90?

Before my attorney left the firm to become an immigration judge, they said it’d be a waste and potential lengthy process. They said to just wait for naturalization. 

[Crazy Cat 43,465]

1 minute ago, Ritasown said:

Before my attorney left the firm to become an immigration judge, they said it’d be a waste and potential lengthy process. They said to just wait for naturalization. 

The I-90 would be to replace your lost Green Card.  Why would the attorney want you to wait?  Do you have an ADIT stamp in your passport?

[Ritasown 0]

6 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

Why would the attorney want you to wait?  Do you have an ADIT stamp in your passport?

They wanted me to wait due to processing times being lengthy as well as the fees being close. It’d be a “waste to renew when your anniversary date to apply is coming up.”

 

I don’t have a stamp as passport expired. 

[OldUser 8,879]

3 minutes ago, Ritasown said:

They wanted me to wait due to processing times being lengthy as well as the fees being close. It’d be a “waste to renew when your anniversary date to apply is coming up.”

 

I don’t have a stamp as passport expired. 

This was a very bad advice. Are you sure they were a real immigration attorney, not a notario?

[Ritasown 0]

Just now, OldUser said:

Are you sure they were a real immigration attorney, not a notario?

Lol yes. They were a senior Staff Attorney and director at their agency before moving on. Very reputable and well known company. 

[OldUser 8,879]

8 minutes ago, Ritasown said:

Lol yes. They were a senior Staff Attorney and director at their agency before moving on. Very reputable and well known company. 

It's a very strange advice to say the least. I wouldn't feel comfortable living without proof of status for 2+ years. Most likely, you would have had new GC for a year now...

[Ritasown 0]

2 minutes ago, OldUser said:

It's a very strange advice to say the least. I wouldn't feel comfortable living without proof of status for 2+ years. Most likely, you would have had new GC for a year now...

Totally agree, I sorta made similar remarks. I was somewhat assured that there wouldn’t be any issues. Plus I’ve had copies and pictures of the original card. 

I think they were mainly going based on the timelines/ stats of the org. caseload. 
 

Safe to say that I haven’t had any issues with using the copies and pictures within the last year for employment. 

[mam521 2,415]

18 hours ago, Ritasown said:

They were a senior Staff Attorney and director at their agency before moving on. Very reputable and well known company. 

In my personal experience, irrespective of size and reputation, it doesn't mean the advice given is always good advice.  

 

Given the current political climate and the requirement for non-citizens to show proof of status, I'd get a new passport from your home country, request the old one with your visa and endorsement back, and present it with the evidence of a filed I-90 to obtain an ADIT stamp.  

 

You will need your greencard or evidence of the filed I-90 to file for naturalization.  

 

Once you do navigate the citizenship process, you may want to consider obtaining a US passport card in addition to your US passport, just in case anything happens.  The passport card will demonstrate you're a US citizen easily and isn't a break the bank type of ID.  

 

Please do the community a favor and fill out your timeline, too.  https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=488067

[OldUser 8,879]

5 minutes ago, mam521 said:

 Once you do navigate the citizenship process, you may want to consider obtaining a US passport card in addition to your US passport, just in case anything happens.  The passport card will demonstrate you're a US citizen easily and isn't a break the bank type of ID.  

Passport card is an amazing ID with proof of US citizenship to have.

I got mine in addition to passport book. It is a credit card size, easily fits in my wallet and I carry it with me everywhere. As a bonus, it provides better privacy as it doesn't reveal home address or DL number (which is used in many places including filing taxes).

[Ritasown 0]

6 hours ago, mam521 said:

I'd get a new passport from your home country, request the old one with your visa and endorsement back, and present it with the evidence of a filed I-90 to obtain an ADIT stamp.

I appreciate the insight. Very helpful. I do not have the OG passport with the visa in it. 
 

I’ve reached out and would more than likely have to be present in the country to prove my identity in order to get a new one since the name change occurred here in the US. Since they’d need birth certificate, it’d need to match the court order. 

thank you.

[OldUser 8,879]

1 hour ago, Ritasown said:

I appreciate the insight. Very helpful. I do not have the OG passport with the visa in it. 
 

I’ve reached out and would more than likely have to be present in the country to prove my identity in order to get a new one since the name change occurred here in the US. Since they’d need birth certificate, it’d need to match the court order. 

thank you.

I think you really cornered yourself with multiple decisions you made around renewing your IDs.

Do you have any valid ID?

If you apply for N-400, you'll need a form of ID for your interview (passport, DL, state ID, GC)

Keep us posted!

 

 

[Ritasown 0]

1 hour ago, OldUser said:

I think you really cornered yourself with multiple decisions you made around renewing your IDs.

Do you have any valid ID?

If you apply for N-400, you'll need a form of ID for your interview (passport, DL, state ID, GC)

Keep us posted!

I do. I have my DL(which matches my updated SS card) 

 

will definitely update.