sfoboy85

Hi NickD,

Thanks for your reply! What do you mean exactly "Paper trail between my old and new name"? Do I get additional paperwork when I get naturalized? I will obviously bring my plane ticket (issued for my old name, at that time I did not even know that I will be naturalized by now but that's fine because my other passport will still have my previous name in it).

I will bring my naturalization certificate and I assume that one shows my old name AND my new name as well but other than that, what else will I have to prove my identity? Would I need anything else anyway? I have already made my appointment of course! About Credit Card, I assume I will not be able to change that until I change my SSN so that will also be after I get my passport.

Thanks for your response!

Make sure you bring you paper trail with you at the DOS service center between your old and new name. You will also need a valid airline ticket. Can also tell you, the name on your airline ticket better match the name on your passport, or you will never board the plane. And you have to make and have your appointment verified first with one of the twelve DOS service centers. You just don't walk in.

Ten days sure sound risky in particular when dealing with governmental agencies, and especially with a name change. Good luck. We also had situations where they wanted to see a drivers' license as additional proof of identity or some other form of a photo ID.

I can recall the days when all you needed to buy an airline ticket was cash, actually preferred that over a credit card, hey, that wasn't that long ago. Today if you flash cash, would have a ton of some kind of federal agents on your butt. That brings up another point, better get the name on your credit card changed too. When abroad, also needed a form of photo ID to use my credit card. This is getting complicated.

Hi nwctzn,

Thanks for your feedback. Rescheduling my naturalization is my very last thing on my mind right now (and will be here in 5 days anyway). Even if I leave the country without my new DL, I will still have my naturalization certificate with me and can apply for a US passport in any of the Consulates and get it in a week, so re-entering is not an issue.

I was just wondering if there was any way that I can obtain a passport without going through SSA and DMV first... ?! If the NCP would accept the copy of my previous DL plus Naturalization certificate as proof?

Thanks for your input!

One thing for sure: Once you are naturalized, you need to get your US passport for leaving/entering the US.

If things are really a mess and you cannot postpone your business trip, one option is that you can re-schedule your oath ceremony and travel with your greencard and foreign passport. You can then have your oath ceremony and your passport application afterwards once you are back and have all your documents like DL and your SSN updated with your new name.

Hello People,

I am getting naturalized in a couple of days and - of course - besides all the excitement I am planning ahead. I am sure some of you have been in this situation before that is why I would like to ask what the answer is to my question?

With naturalization, I am changing my legal name. Which means from the day I become naturalized I will have a brand new name. Now, since I have to leave the country for business 10 days after my ceremony I am not sure how to handle things. Since at naturalization I have to surrender my Green Card, I will only have my foreign passport. I figured I will use the expedited services of Travisa or other companies who do overnight processing, still they (and the National Passport Center) ask for copies of both sides of your drivers license.

NOW! My DL will obviously be under my previous name at that time. It takes 1 day at the SSA to update everything,(then a weekend comes) then DMV takes about 1 week (in a lucky case) to get my DL sent to my place. In this case, if I am lucky, I can get my DL before I leave the USA. Bad case I will not even get my DL. Since the NPC does not accept temporary documents (like the one you get when you change your DL (punched hole+temporary paper) I am clueless how to get it before I leave.

Question: Will the NPC accept the copies of my DL with my previous name (since the Naturalization certificate will show my previous and my new name I assume) or not?

Please help, thank you!

YEAAAY! OK, so got my oath letter today as I got approved finally!

My oath is scheduled for the 14th of October. This will be the happiest day of my life!!!! Wish the same to all of you!

Sorry to hear that, sfoboy85 Hope things will get straightened out. Hang in there!

Thanks Mae. Have a fun oath on the 15th of September

OK! Got my interview today... They ran through my application and barely had any questions.

After 10 minutes the civics test came... Surprisingly I got exactly the same questions as BeverlyFL yesterday. Creepy! Anyway, 6/6 correct, reading&writing was nothing. He told me that he approved me, gave me 2 pages that says I am approved and what to bring for the ceremony and told me that I will get the ceremony letter within 5 minutes just wait in the lobby.

What happened afterward, I would rather not discuss it publicly on a forum, let's just say that he invited me and my attorney back to the room 50 (!) minutes later and got interrogated for 3 more hours. They tried to pull "games" on me and asked questions different ways to catch me on lieing. Well eventually they did not and I was told that I will get the decision by mail.

So I have two pages that says I am approved, my paperwork with immigration has a giant APPROVED stamp on it and at the end of the day that's still not the truth even though those approved stamps are everywhere.

.... To be continued!

Had my oath today! I am now a proud U.S. Citizen! Yay!

Congratulations Vanessa!!!

I finally got my interview letter!!! I got the notice email on 8/4/11, notice date on interview letter was 8/5/11 and received the letter today (8/9/11)... that's a hell of a turnaround (i think). Anyway, my interview is on 9/12/11... was hoping (wishfully) for it to be sooner, but i'll take it. Can someone please update my in the table? And anyone know of any spells/dances/prayers to make time go by faster? haha. Can't wait for this process to be over. Hope everyone else gets some good news soon!

Also, does anyone have any advice on the fastest way to get a passport after the oath ceremony?

Hello Trini,

Congrats, finally... slowly but surely we will all get there

About the passport:

You can do regular processing (4-6 weeks) at the post office OR

Expedited processing (2-3 weeks, but more like 2) at the post office for an extra fee OR

There are several processing options from overnight to a 1 week processing with this company (there are others out there but this company has the best reputation and their overnight fee is the cheapest amongst passport processing companies):

http://www.travisa.com/new-passport-us.html

Hope this helps!

Good luck at the interview!

Nice job joemaria!!! Have a great life as a US citizen!

Updating my status; i've passed and my application got recommended for approval.. God!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i'm so happy .. now i'm scheduled to attend an OATH ceremony on Aug 26th at 12 PM in chicgao downtown.

it was a very very very smooth interview .. if anyone is interested to hear about it in detaisl please let me know and i can advise..

good luck to all and thanks VJ for the good luck you are throwing on us.

Finally.....

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**For more detailed instructions with screen-shots "CLICK HERE"**

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N-400: MAY 2011 Applicants

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USCIS Dallas/Lewisville, Texas Lockbox

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UserName.........|Sent.....|ChkCashd.|NOA......|Fprints..|Int Ltr..|Intview..|Oath.....|FieldOffice......|

=================|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|=================|

Daniellej006.....|04/28/11.|--/--/--.|05/02/11.|07/05/11.|--/--/--.|08/18/11.|--/--/--.|Tampa, FL........|

cherr1985........|05/04/11.|--/--/--.|05/05/11.|06/03/11.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Atlanta, GA......|

pkash2010........|05/07/11.|05/13/11.|05/16/11.|06/22/11.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Washington, DC...| Early FP done 06/06/11

Helwardman.......|05/09/11.|05/13/11.|05/16/11.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|New Orleans, LA..|

Itareis1.........|05/09/11.|05/12/11.|05/16/11.|06/06/11.|07/05/11.|08/23/11.|--/--/--.|Oklahoma City, OK| Early FP done 05/27/11

gte221j..........|05/10/11.|05/13/11.|05/13/11.|06/08/11.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Atlanta, GA......|

lovelylili.......|05/11/11.|--/--/--.|05/17/11.|--/--/--.|06/20/11.|07/25/11.|07/29/11.|Atlanta, GA......|

amboston.........|05/11/11.|.$ order.|05/16/11.|06/27/11.|07/13/11.|08/25/11.|--/--/--.|Boston, MA.......| Early FP done 06/07/11

carpe diem.......|05/12/11.|05/18/11.|05/17/11.|06/14/11.|07/28/11.|08/31/11.|--/--/--.|New York, NY.....| Late FP done 06/16/11

maya62...........|05/12/11.|05/18/11.|05/23/11.|06/24/11.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Washington, DC...|

soch.............|05/12/11.|05/18/11.|05/16/11.|07/05/11.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|New York, NY.....|

uham10...........|05/13/11.|.$ order.|05/16/11.|06/21/11.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|New York, NY.....| Early FP done 06/03/11

MikenHuong.......|05/16/11.|05/20/11.|05/23/11.|06/15/11.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Pittsburgh, PA...|

joemaria.........|05/16/11.|--/--/--.|05/20/11.|06/01/11.|06/27/11.|08/01/11.|--/--/--.|Atlanta, GA......|

Twellspeak.......|05/17/11.|05/19/11.|05/21/11.|06/14/11.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Hartford,CT......|

Sil_Dan..........|05/18/11.|05/24/11.|05/24/11.|06/16/11.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Miami, FL........|

MSR_DC...........|05/23/11.|06/01/11.|05/26/11.|07/07/11.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Washington,DC....|

BeverleyFL.......|05/25/11.|06/02/11.|06/03/11.|07/12/11.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Tampa, FL........|In line for scheduling since 7/14

No-Ten...........|05/31/11.|06/09/11.|06/03/11.|06/30/11.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Norfolk,VA.......|

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USCIS Phoenix, Arizona Lockbox

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UserName.........|Sent.....|ChkCashd.|NOA......|Fprints..|Int Ltr..|Intview..|Oath.....|FieldOffice.......|

=================|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|==================|

Romeonan.........|05/02/11.|05/10/11.|05/09/11.|06/06/11.|06/20/11.|08/03/11.|08/26/11.|Chicago, IL.......|

venkatap.........|05/05/11.|05/11/11.|05/14/11.|06/06/11.|06/16/11.|07/21/11.|07/29/11.|Cincinnati, OH....|

MeIzWatin........|05/10/11.|05/13/11.|05/13/11.|06/22/11.|07/08/11.|08/29/11.|--/--/--.|Santa Ana, CA.....| Early FP done 06/13/11

c-Low............|05/11/11.|05/16/11.|05/16/11.|06/29/11.|07/08/11.|08/29/11.|--/--/--.|Santa Ana, CA.....| Early FP done 06/14/11

vanessa_r........|05/17/11.|05/23/11.|05/20/11.|06/13/11.|06/16/11.|07/21/11.|--/--/--.|Reno, NV..........|

lucky_star.......|05/19/11.|05/26/11.|05/27/11.|07/07/11.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Denver, CO........| Early FP done 06/24/11

lewisC...........|05/24/11.|06/01/11.|06/04/11.|06/16/11.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|St. Paul..........| In line for scheduling since 6/22

cappucino........|05/25/11.|06/01/11.|06/01/11.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Portland, OR......|

ticosax..........|05/25/11.|05/31/11.|05/31/11.|07/01/11.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Los Angeles, CA...|

Trini08..........|05/26/11.|05/31/11.|05/31/11.|07/15/11.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Chicago, IL.......|

mimhnhut.........|05/31/11.|06/03/11 |06/07/11.|07/25/11.|08/01/11.|09/14/11.|--/--/--.|Santa Ana, CA.....|Early FP done on 07/11/11

sherabi..........|05/31/11.|06/08/11 |06/07/11.|07/22/11.|08/12/11.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|San Bernardino,CA.| Early FP done on 07/05/11

sf-bkk...........|05/31/11.|06/06/11.|06/08/11.|06/28/11.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|San Francisco,CA..|

sfoboy85.........|05/31/11.|06/03/11.|06/03/11.|07/15/11.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Las Vegas,NV......| Early FP done on 07/05/11

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USCIS Lincoln, Nebraska Lockbox

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UserName.........|Sent.....|ChkCashd.|NOA......|Fprints..|Int Ltr..|Intview..|Oath.....|FieldOffice....|

=================|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|===============|

Maeve............|05/18/11.|...N/A...|05/27/11.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|07/13/11.|07/21/11.|Cincy, OH......|

Congrats RomeoMan!!! That's awesome!!!

Could you add me as well please?

My IO asked me about the trips we made ever since I became PR. Even though it's on my N-400, she wanted to make sure it's what I put on the form. Was expecting she'll ask for my passport, but didn't. If I were you I will copy the passport and highlight the stamps, then label it 1, 2, 3 etc to point out the trips you've made. Being a business owner, it should be understandable that you needed to travel often. And as long as your taxes are up to date, then you're good to go

Maraming salamat po Mae. Your comment made me less concerned ... Yes, my taxes are always up to date and every year I pay twice as much as the previous years because it has been better and better so that's normal that I pay more and more for taxes. I guess you are right, I should be fine...

Thanks once again for your post! Now it is your turn to get the oath letter!!!

The tests are actually piece of cake. I stressed out about it but turned out to be nothing.

I hope to get mine soon. I am losing my patience already

I am not worried about the tests at all.. It is more like employment verification and travel, since I have been self-employed in the last 4 years and had 3 several businesses plus the 20+ countries I visited since I became a Permanent Resident and all the hassles I got at borders previously, I am kinda concerned coz if I get an IO who wants to talk about in details about my previous trips (not that I did anything wrong but who the hell remembers of over 20 countries?) then they might make the interview difficult, that's my only concern. Otherwise yes, it is a piece of cake. I am just super nervous because this will be the most important date of my life. I love this country more than anything and I really wanna succeed here! I guess I am just overly concerned for nothing... I tend to be, when something this important is about to happen in my life

But I totally understand you... I would be very impatient as well... I really hope you will get your paper soon!!!

Congrats, sfoboy85! I'm jealous! LOL!

Now I just have to pass... I am super nervous but I hope I will make it Hopefully you will get yours real soon!

Congratulations Sfoboy85! Your lucky to have interview and oath on the same day.

I knoooooow I love Vegas

Hi guys,

Please update my info:

Interview letter received 08/04/2011

Interview date: 09/07/2011

Oath ceremony: 09/07/2011

CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!! OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I see... well, some people received the yellow letter after Bio - it's like pre-interview prep.

Exactly. I personally did not receive any yellow letter... so it varies I assume!

TELL ME ABOUT IT! I don't really know what's going on, but I am definitely cally after 45 days and hadn't heard anything.

You should! Praying helped me a lot (made the process faster) but sometimes you gotta harass them a little get what you want

Best of luck to you, Ingat!

Walang anuman, sfoboy85!

I refrain from looking at the ceremony coz it will only make me feel aggravated I was hoping to hear about my oath ceremony today, but to no avail. Darn KC office is taking their sweet time!

Ahhh... I understand... that's crazy... I do not know why they can't do the interview and the oath ceremony on the same day just like in Las Vegas?! Because once you pass your interview the oath taking is just formality (as harsh as it sounds and not trying to "lower" the importance of the oath taking). So they really should not sit on it for ages... That really would drive me crazy!

GOOD FOR YOU! :dance: YAY!

Maraming salamat po MAe!

I can't tell you how happy I am!!!! And thanks God in Las Vegas we have the naturalization interview and the oath ceremony on the same day!!!! FINALLYYYYYYY!!!!

PS: I do not know if you have this guys, but if anyone of you is interested how the naturalization ceremony looks like, I found this video link:

http://www.lasvegasnevada.gov/information/20567.htm

(I know this is for Las Vegas but it gives you an idea)

YEAAAAAAAAAY!!!!!!!!!!

YES! YESSS! YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS !!!!!!!!!!!! YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Your Case Status: Testing and Interview

Your N400, APPLICATION FOR NATURALIZATION is now scheduled for interview. You will receive a written notice with a time and place for your interview. You should receive this notice within 14 days. If you do not receive this notice within 14 days from August 1, 2011, please call customer service at...

Congratulations venkatap! Must be an amazing, undescribable feeling! Wish you a great life as a U.S. citizen!

I guess to summarize all this:

Apply for a passport as soon as you can do that and in the meantime take a chance and go to the interview without it. If they do not ask for it, you are good. If they do, start crying... might work!

It was also indicated on my interview letter but the IO didn't even ask for it -- just my DL and GC.

I think I have read it in the APril's filers forum (if not there then somewhere else) that the IO can ask for your passport to check out the stamps... Checking when you left countries, when you entered the USA... etc.

I sure will not be jealous of mine if they ask for it as I visited over 25 countries since I have been a LPR.

But anyway, just wanted to let you know that they MAY ASK FOR IT to check upon the countries you have visited and the duration you stayed there (and that's why they asked for the "time spent outside of the USA" to list the countries and duration).

Ingat!

One of the requirements that was asked for me to bring for the interview is my Philippine passport. However, I couldn't find it anymore- looks like I lost it. Would this be a [problem in the interview? If I renew it, I need to fly to Washington DC which is $$$$.

I am not sure that this is something you should ask from one of us (forum users)... If we give you the wrong advice, your application can be delayed for months. What I would do is to call USCIS and ask them.

Best of luck to you!

Congrats lovelylili!!! Would love to hear some info