noamoore

Hi,

I am going to have my naturalization finalized soon and I'm going to change my name. I would like to know in what order I have to change my official documentation after the oath ceremony? As I know the first one is: social security. Do I have to wait for the new card to change my DL? When will I be allowed to use my new name in official situations? Only after I change all my documents or right after the oath?

As soon as you change your name with the Social Security Administration, that's your name and you can use it as soon as you walk out the door. The nice worker at the SSA will order your card to be sent to you in the mail, but she'll give you a paper to carry with you. This is called a numident. You can use it until you get your hardcopy social security card, which only takes a week to come in the mail. You can even use this numident at the DMV and for the I9 requirement for an employment application.

I run a temp service, I see them all the time) Good Luck!

Aug. 12, 2011 sent I-129

Sep. 12, 2011 NOA1

Jan. 3, 2012 NOA2 Approved

Jan. 13, 2012 NVC recieved

Jan. 31, 2012 NVC sent I-129 to Moscow Embassy

We had a similar problem. Something important changed while we were waiting. In our case, her international passport expired. I went to my local USCIS office and the lady told me to write a letter to the USCIS in Vermont, certified mail, explaining the problem...briefly.

For you, I imagine it would be the California Service Center.

better hurry though.

I-129f sent Aug.12, 2011

NOA1 Sep. 12, 2011

NOA2 Jan.3, 2012

waiting waiting waiting some more....

Wooo woooo! Very cool. I know you were worried for a minute. Good luck!

I-129 sent Aug.11, 2011

NOA1 Sep.12, 2011

NOA2 Jan.3, 2012

I just wanted you to know that I loved that story. especially the last part. Good Luck to you and Stuart)) and his Gran)

Mar.30, 2009 met online

Sep.28, 2009 met in Moscow

Jul.9, 2010 visit in Moscow

Sep.9, 2011 sent I-129f

Sep.12, 2011 NOA1

A lot of waiting

Jan.3, 2012 NOA2

I guessed because I live on the east coast. You can always make an appointment with your local USCIS office (use the Pass thing to make an appointment. They will tell you.

NOA1 Sep.12, 2011

NOA2 Jan.3, 2012

We got approved yesterday Jan. 3rd also. USCIS sent me an email. I read it this morning. I believe I stopped breathing for a few minutes while I read it - 10,000 times.

))

NOA1 Sep.12, 2011

NOA2 Jan.3, 2012

Gets interesting now, right?

The USS Kitty Hawk is considered US soil. You technically never left as a ward of the US Government. Remember? Someone must have told you that.

NOA1 Sep. 12, 2011

NOA2 JAN 3, 2012

NVC rec'd not yet))

I think Immigration is asking about mailing addresses. Maybe not PO boxes, but wherever you get your mail. Also, you are doing all this in good faith. They will understand your answers. You're right. You cannot lie and some of this is arguable, but I would trust your judgement. Good Luck!

9-12-11 NOA1

waiting...waiting...waiting

Relax, It should be fine. I manage an employment agency and know what most Human Resources people will do. For most professional positions, your bona fides will have to be researched. One of your Universities will have to tell them you graduated, in a timely manner. Problem is that you are not going to be able to push the process along because the information must come from them. Don't explain your bona fide problem in an interview. It will make you look deceptive.

Good news - Most empoyers do not care where you graduated. As long as you graduated. Not so long ago, most employers would not take a dgree from a non-American (nonmatriculated) school. Now, most will take anything, even on-line degrees.

The answer to your problem - call the Universities, both should have career counselors that can help you with timeliness.

Good Luck!

NOA1 - 9/12/11

Waiting and waiting and waiting

I would spend soooo much more than $350 to USCIS, if I knew everything was alright.

$350.

It's paid in rubles, the amount can be found on the payment slip (I posted the link above)

Thank you and good luck to everyone. The waiting is getting to me a lot more than her. My Julia told me that I am not very patient and that I am not used to waiting for a very long time. I told her that is not true and tried to explain to her about the DMV:))))))

How much is the fee? and does it get paid in rubles?

I know there is probably an obvious answer somewhere, but I got the $340 wrong, so I figured I would ask. Thanks))

Good point about the cards. She is russian. She is eventually going to want to return to Russia for a vacation. Seriously, this is not going to be her first trip back and forth. Nor is it going to be yours. I have flown into Moscow from the US 4 times now. lol

The instructions say that your fiance is supposed to, literally, hand carry that packet UNOPENED through Customs at the POE. I got my instructions from my local USCIS office. She wrote everything down for me, because this process is the most confusing adventure I have ever tried to figure out. Good Luck!

I made the mistake of sending a $350 7-11 money order, plus an $88 dollar money order (because I followed the wrong instructions). The USCIS notified me by text and I-797C, NOA, that my package was rejected for "wrong amount". I panicked and went to my local Immigration office to panic there. The lady told me to wait and do not send another package, until my original one came back. About three weeks later, I got my original package back with my money orders uncashed. I had to send in my money orders to be changed to one $340 money order and resubmitted. That change the money order process was really fast, but I was behind by about a month.

You need to go to your local INS people and see what they can do or resend another package and start from scratch. Whatever you do, do it now.

I think the worst part of waiting so long, is that you're not sure if what you did (process-wise) is correct, and there is no one really to complain to or shout at!