Name Change at time of getting CitizenShip

[uscitizeninca 0]

Hello,

My (step) daughter currently has green card as I sponsored her. Her last name is not same as my last name & I would like to get it changed officially to my last name. Could/Should this be done at time when she is going to get the Naturalization? Please advise pros cons & when / how is the best way to do this. What documentation will be required at time of change?

Thanks & Best Regards.

[Inky 1,110]

If you want her to be adopted and have your name and be your daughter you have to go through the court system for it to be official.

If you just want her to have the name and not be your "daughter" then change it at the citizenship oath.

[uscitizeninca 0]

Thanks for the info. I just wanted to do the name change. However, if you know, please inform how would it work? I mean what documentation they would need to do the name change or prove reason? Or is it the matter that anyone can change their last name at time of citizenship oath to anything of their liking? Since she is my step daughter, her birth certificate has the last name which is in her Green card as well as Social Security card at this time.

Thanks & Best Regards

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

I'm not sure what the case is with your daughter, so here are the two possible scenarios:

1) You are the U.S. citizen. Your wife has a Green Card, and so has your (step-) daughter.

If that's the case, your daughter automatically becomes a U.S. citizen at the time your wife becomes one. In cases like these your daughter has not the option to change her name as she will not have an interview, will not be sworn in, will not take the oath. That means you'll have to go the court route.

2) Your (step-)daughter will go though the process of naturalization herself. That would require her to be at least 18 years of age. In that case the option of choosing a new name, any name within reason, is part of the process and the $680.00 fee. If that's the case, your daughter can choose to be reborn with your last name or a totally different one. Since she would be an adult at the time, there's nothing you can do legally, as it's her decision not yours.

[taniya 1]

I'm not sure what the case is with your daughter, so here are the two possible scenarios:

1) You are the U.S. citizen. Your wife has a Green Card, and so has your (step-) daughter.

If that's the case, your daughter automatically becomes a U.S. citizen at the time your wife becomes one. In cases like these your daughter has not the option to change her name as she will not have an interview, will not be sworn in, will not take the oath. That means you'll have to go the court route.

2) Your (step-)daughter will go though the process of naturalization herself. That would require her to be at least 18 years of age. In that case the option of choosing a new name, any name within reason, is part of the process and the $680.00 fee. If that's the case, your daughter can choose to be reborn with your last name or a totally different one. Since she would be an adult at the time, there's nothing you can do legally, as it's her decision not yours.

[/quote

Well let say it would be the scenario # 2. In that case, do we need to submit any documents or evidence for changing name while taking oath?

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

If it's scenario number 2, then your daughter is at least 18 years old and an adult. As I said before, the she can do whatever she pleases to do. She can choose any name she wants in regard to first, middle, and last name.

She can keep her current name, choose a new first name and adapt your last name, or choose something like Daisy Duck as her new name. Since she can choose any name within reason, no documentation is needed.

I changed both my first and my last name from the rather germanistic Robert ("Bob" Freiherr von Freiburg to the more American sounding name of Lucas ("Luke") Skywalker. What documentation could I possibly have provided for that?

[taniya 1]

Thanks for the reply. You have clearly stated the answer to our query

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Seems to me there is another legal twist here - I don't see it mentioned that you've adopted her (if so...wouldn;t she already be a citizen if under 18?)? Does her biological father have joint custody or is he involved in her life at all? I don't know if she has her mother's maiden name or her biological father's name but let's say she has her father's name and he has some kind of involvement in her life, you can't just go and change her name since you have no legal right.

This may all be a moot point, but there may be some consideration of the other parent. Just Bob outlined the options nicely above.

[OKflyboy 35]

Seems to me there is another legal twist here - I don't see it mentioned that you've adopted her (if so...wouldn;t she already be a citizen if under 18?)? Does her biological father have joint custody or is he involved in her life at all? I don't know if she has her mother's maiden name or her biological father's name but let's say she has her father's name and he has some kind of involvement in her life, you can't just go and change her name since you have no legal right.

This may all be a moot point, but there may be some consideration of the other parent. Just Bob outlined the options nicely above.

If she's over 18 years old, she can change her name as she pleases, and her biological father has no say in it.

[OKflyboy 35]

Well let say it would be the scenario # 2. In that case, do we need to submit any documents or evidence for changing name while taking oath?

No, if she's over 18 years old and naturalizing, no additional documents are needed. She just has to type in her new name in the appropriate section of her N-400 application.

[uscitizeninca 0]

Thanks for the replies.

I was the original poster of the question but someone else interjected & provided their own scenario as #2. To answer JustBob & seek additional clarification: My case is as JustBob described in (1)

1) You are the U.S. citizen. Your wife has a Green Card, and so has your (step-) daughter.

If that's the case, your daughter automatically becomes a U.S. citizen at the time your wife becomes one. In cases like these your daughter has not the option to change her name as she will not have an interview, will not be sworn in, will not take the oath. That means you'll have to go the court route.

Additionally my (step) daughter is 8 yrs old. So it seems that:

(A) We don't have option to get her last name changed to mine until she becomes 18 (or unless via court)? correct?

(B) Is doing an interview & taking oath which allows name change an option for children 8 yrs or so?

© Any other way to accomplish last name change of children (8 yrs) who are Green card holders & are to become US citizen's soon?

Thanks & Best Regards

[OKflyboy 35]

Thanks for the replies.

I was the original poster of the question but someone else interjected & provided their own scenario as #2. To answer JustBob & seek additional clarification: My case is as JustBob described in (1)

1) You are the U.S. citizen. Your wife has a Green Card, and so has your (step-) daughter.

If that's the case, your daughter automatically becomes a U.S. citizen at the time your wife becomes one. In cases like these your daughter has not the option to change her name as she will not have an interview, will not be sworn in, will not take the oath. That means you'll have to go the court route.

Additionally my (step) daughter is 8 yrs old. So it seems that:

(A) We don't have option to get her last name changed to mine until she becomes 18 (or unless via court)? correct?

(B) Is doing an interview & taking oath which allows name change an option for children 8 yrs or so?

© Any other way to accomplish last name change of children (8 yrs) who are Green card holders & are to become US citizen's soon?

Thanks & Best Regards

Only though adoption and her biological father's written consent.

No, naturalization of parent does not allow name change for minors. Minor children do not naturalize, they obtain citizenship through parent. Form N-600 does not have a section for name changing.

Adoption. Or, possibly, changing their last names to that of their mother, if the mother bears your last name. Written consent of biological father is still necessary, unless you can provide proof that he has not been part of child's life in any way for a long time (this last possibility I'm not 100% certain about). I changed my children's last names this way, but it was not in the US.

[uscitizeninca 0]

Only though adoption and her biological father's written consent.

No, naturalization of parent does not allow name change for minors. Minor children do not naturalize, they obtain citizenship through parent. Form N-600 does not have a section for name changing.

Adoption. Or, possibly, changing their last names to that of their mother, if the mother bears your last name. Written consent of biological father is still necessary, unless you can provide proof that he has not been part of child's life in any way for a long time (this last possibility I'm not 100% certain about). I changed my children's last names this way, but it was not in the US.

Thanks for clarification. Her biological father has not been around in her life since for when she was only 1 yrs old. And her biological mom (my wife) has my last name. Since we both have the same last name, that is why we wanted to chanege daughters last name as well to match ours.

[OKflyboy 35]

Thanks for clarification. Her biological father has not been around in her life since for when she was only 1 yrs old. And her biological mom (my wife) has my last name. Since we both have the same last name, that is why we wanted to change daughters last name as well to match ours.

Well, get some proof that the bio father has not been around for 7 years, you'll need that if you decide to adopt her anyway. And the mom can try and go to court with this and tell them she wants her daughters name to match hers since she's the only custodial parent and the child lives with her. The rules are different in every state, so you might wanna find someone who knows family code well and can consult you.

Anyway, this has nothing to do with citizenship:)