name change before application or during? (it needs to be done)

[andika14 0]

I'm changing my name due to domestic violence reasons through the court (confidential name change process), asap, but I would also like to apply for naturalization because I reached 5 years of residency.

Now, the name change takes about 5-6 weeks (free of charge for me as it's being done through an agency that handles my unfortunate situation), then I have to notify the USCIS and apply for a new green card with he new name which again will take about 2-3 months and cost $450.

Would it be possible to submit the naturalization application first, change name, and apply for new green card or not apply at all because the naturalization is already pending?

Or should I change name and apply with old green card but with the court papers showing name change to save time (and possibly that $450 a new green card would cost)?

I would like to streamline the process and save time and money if possible, but I also can't compromise my safety and continue with my current last name for much longer.

According to what I see on the application:

if your current legal name is different from the name on your Permanent Resident Card, send:

The document(s) that legally changed your name (marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court document).

Soooo, may have just answered my own question, but does this mean:

1. apply for name change and get the court papers to show it was accepted

2. apply for naturalization with valid green card + name change docs

3 do NOT apply for new green card due to name change as the naturalization process takes precedence?

Thanks!

[NickD 203]

if your current legal name is different from the name on your Permanent Resident Card, send:

The document(s) that legally changed your name (marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court document).

Good question as to whether you can take that statement literally or not. On other issues, we didn't run into problems by taking even more nebulous statements literally. Marriage is the most common reason for a name change, have a couple of daughter-in-laws that go by both their married and maiden names as would be cost prohibited to change their working licenses in the medical field and perfectly okay with the state licensing bureau.

Now the question is? Is the USCIS that understanding, but should be if they stated that. They should be, they are the ones that printed that.

Wouldn't be quite so bad if their outrageous fees and all the chasing around they make you do was tax deductible. But they are not, already checked that out with the IRS.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

Here's a thought: why don't you mail in your N-400 today and mark the "I want to change my name" box and do it all in 1 strike, free of charge, in about 4 months total?

[Haarp425 26]

Don't forget to sign up for this. Safe at Home, an address confidentiality program administered by the California Secretary of State’s Office that offers victims anonymity and a new start towards a brighter future free from fear.

http://www.casafeathome.org/

[N400-2011 24]

And you can also change your social security number: http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10093.html

[andika14 0]

Thank you all for your replies.

I'll attempt to call the USCIS (queue hysterical laughing here) to get clarification on that, but I'm hopeful.

I still need to find out if even though I can submit with the old card and name change papers, do I still need to get a new card while my naturalization is pending, and hoping if i do need to get that and show up with it on my interview they won't be like 'who are you?'. If I still need to get the new card, I will just wait for that to arrive before I start the process. The only issue at that point will be my divorce papers that are in my old name.

Honestly, I don't even know why they ask for that, it has nothing to do with my n400, i'm not doing it based on marriage.

As for submitting the name change with the n400, I wish I could wait that long, but the name change needs to happen asap

Also, I checked the processing list for my local office, they are now working on cases from July, so that's more like a 7 months wait.

I have been part of SafeAtHome for years, which I'm grateful for, and they are the ones processing my name change now, free of charge.

I was naive thinking that I can get by with my old name, not sure why I was sticking with it for this long, but the last straw was part of my company's

organization chart accidentally made public (with my name), and I can't handle that sort of stress any more.

I'm just frustrated, because I haven't seen my family in over 1.5y and was gonna visit this coming fall, but it looks like may have to wait till next year.

[Haarp425 26]

Thank you all for your replies.

I have been part of SafeAtHome for years, which I'm grateful for, and they are the ones processing my name change now, free of charge.

If that is the case, I am sure you know that to continue with your anonymity when visiting online forums, don't use any browser without using a proxy service. I suggest to use Tor www.torproject.org/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tor_(anonymity_network)

[andika14 0]

If that is the case, I am sure you know that to continue with your anonymity when visiting online forums, don't use any browser without using a proxy service. I suggest to use Tor www.torproject.org/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tor_(anonymity_network)

I didn't know that

Maybe I was living under a rock or was just too naive before, but yesterday I was shown a bunch of people search websites that associated my pretty unique name with addresses that were only used on my credit report (not for online shipping), and with usernames that I used before to post on forums. I thought those registrations were protected, but apparently, it pulls all the info from the forums and from all shipping registrations too. Some even offer, for a fee, to show my phone number, income, religion, etc. It's insane.

Will using a proxy protect me against these info collectors, or is that just to cover my IP tracks?

I may just have to subscribe to a service that removes all information that's out there and blocks the new ones from appearing. Sounds so Maffia to me, like I'm paying for protection... who knows, maybe their other company is the actual people search site.