nikgon

Ah, another update to provide a data point, in case anyone is in the same situation. Since I didn't listen to the wise people of Visjourney and changed my name _after_ naturalization, I had to get the first passport in the old name (a USPS employee told me they can't submit the original application with the court order in the new name, but maybe they didn't know what they were talking about, so inquire at your office if you doubt this it true). And right after I got it, I submitted an application for passport correction (it's free if you want standard service and $70 for expedited).
 
The timeline for (expedited) passport renewal:
- Mailed on 5/27
- Processing started on 6/19
- Approved and shipped on 6/21
- Received on 6/22 
- Card received on 6/25 (or something like that)

Ah, another update to provide a data point, in case anyone is in the same situation. Since I didn't listen to the wise people of Visjourney and changed my name _after_ naturalization, I had to get the first passport in the old name (a USPS employee told me they can't submit the original application with the court order in the new name, but maybe they didn't know what they were talking about, so inquire at your office if you doubt this it true). And right after I got it, I submitted an application for passport correction (it's free if you want standard service and $70 for expedited).
 
The timeline for (expedited) passport renewal:
- Mailed on 5/27
- Processing started on 6/19
- Approved and shipped on 6/21
- Received on 6/22 
- Card received on 6/25 (or something like that)

Yeah, that's the scary part! Unlike the State Department, that at least somewhat allows some sort of tracking of what's going on and has a central mailing address, the SSA is a complete black box: you just send originals of everything in to a local office (!) and just hope that it doesn't get lost in there. No way to track, no way to ask about the status, nothing. I just got lucky, I guess, haha! 
 
Bonus content:
How do I change or correct my name on my Social Security number card? Application for Social Security Card

Ah, another update to provide a data point, in case anyone is in the same situation. Since I didn't listen to the wise people of Visjourney and changed my name _after_ naturalization, I had to get the first passport in the old name (a USPS employee told me they can't submit the original application with the court order in the new name, but maybe they didn't know what they were talking about, so inquire at your office if you doubt this it true). And right after I got it, I submitted an application for passport correction (it's free if you want standard service and $70 for expedited).
 
The timeline for (expedited) passport renewal:
- Mailed on 5/27
- Processing started on 6/19
- Approved and shipped on 6/21
- Received on 6/22 
- Card received on 6/25 (or something like that)

Yeah, that's the scary part! Unlike the State Department, that at least somewhat allows some sort of tracking of what's going on and has a central mailing address, the SSA is a complete black box: you just send originals of everything in to a local office (!) and just hope that it doesn't get lost in there. No way to track, no way to ask about the status, nothing. I just got lucky, I guess, haha! 
 
Bonus content:
How do I change or correct my name on my Social Security number card? Application for Social Security Card

If your request is urgent (and you can justify it), you can ask to upgrade the Tier 2 case priority. Then they will get back to you within 3 days. In my case, I had less than a week till the appointment and I didn't have the invitation letter. So they opened an urgent case and called me within a day.
 
I'll warn you:
1) They don't tell you when they are going to call. So make sure you're ALWAYS at your phone and it's on and you don't have unknown caller silencing in the settings
2) If they miss you, they just close the case. You'll have to reopen it and wait another 1-3 days.
3) Make sure you tell them which time zone you're in. They are calling from ET and by default use your application's time zone to contact you. If you happen to be somewhere else, you need to let them know. Otherwise, they might call you at 5 am and you'll miss it.
 
Good luck.

The Seattle branch doesn't do name changes, period. You can't "ask" them. Even if you request a name change on the application, they won't do it unless you do it yourself in court and then bring the order with you to the interview. That's the only way.
 
If you go through court, it has no impact on the oath. No delays.
 
Name change in the court (in Seattle) is nearly instant. Show up to the Seattle Municipal Court at 9 am to submit your application and pay in cash, they will schedule the hearing for the same day. You'll have your court order in the afternoon. Very easy.

A few thoughts, just remember that we're all random people from the internet cracking anecdotes. So triple check everything before you act on it.
 
If you show up to the Seattle Municipal Court early in the day (before 10am people say) and pay in cash, you're going to get the same day hearing and will get the certificate of name change right there.
I went in at 8:45 AM with the form filled in and $220 in cash (fees and 3 copies) and got a hearing scheduled for 1:15 PM. Both the morning and afternoon ones took <10 minutes total. Super easy. Got the certificate printed out right there and 3 copies I requested.
 
"Upload to the account" means log into your myUSCIS account, go to the Documents tab and click the Upload button. My officer asked for some supporting documents during the interview and was very pleased by the fact that I uploaded a bunch of things beforehand so she didn't have to deal with it.
 
I don't think the USCIS cares about your name as long as you fully disclose what the situation is. But there should not be such thing as "if something doesn't arrive by a certain date" because name change is effectively instant if you live in King County and go to the Seattle Court.

The Seattle branch doesn't do name changes, period. You can't "ask" them. Even if you request a name change on the application, they won't do it unless you do it yourself in court and then bring the order with you to the interview. That's the only way.
 
If you go through court, it has no impact on the oath. No delays.
 
Name change in the court (in Seattle) is nearly instant. Show up to the Seattle Municipal Court at 9 am to submit your application and pay in cash, they will schedule the hearing for the same day. You'll have your court order in the afternoon. Very easy.

Had the rescheduled interview today and got my certificate, yay! Thanks everyone on the thread for your help — very much appreciate it.
 
few notes:
— the Seattle filed office DOES NOT DO NAME CHANGES, PERIOD. Covid or not — they just don’t do that. So you ALWAYS need to do name change through the county court. Why this information is not publicly available is beyond my freaking belief. 
— they had technical issues with administering the oath as others reported. But I politely asked my officer to try again and said I have the time to wait if necessary. She agreed and after a while was able to make it work. So I don’t have to come back. 
 
thanks again everyone!

Had the rescheduled interview today and got my certificate, yay! Thanks everyone on the thread for your help — very much appreciate it.
 
few notes:
— the Seattle filed office DOES NOT DO NAME CHANGES, PERIOD. Covid or not — they just don’t do that. So you ALWAYS need to do name change through the county court. Why this information is not publicly available is beyond my freaking belief. 
— they had technical issues with administering the oath as others reported. But I politely asked my officer to try again and said I have the time to wait if necessary. She agreed and after a while was able to make it work. So I don’t have to come back. 
 
thanks again everyone!

Just called the Seattle court about name change. They said that if you show up in person and pay the fee in cash, they will schedule your hearing for the next available slot right there, without having to wait 30 days (as you would if you paid in a different form or scheduled online). Some courts are busier than others, but there's no way to know which one is in which state before you pay. But looks like, Seattle is holding more hearings than others.
 
Once you're at the hearing, they'll give you a certificate of change, which I believe, murpth32 was referring above.
 
So, I guess, the conclusion is that if you pay cash and are lucky to be scheduled for a hearing that's pretty soon, you should be good. But no guarantee.
 
Anyone has any experience with scheduling name change hearings lately? How long does it take?