Changing my daughter's surname after adoption

[ryandgracey 2]

I need some insight on this process.

My daughter and I came in on IR visas. Within the same year of our arrival, my husband decided to adopt her and in July of 2010 the adoption was finalized. She was then issued a US birth certificate showing her new surname as my husband's. Her green cards were amended to reflect the name change. Of course, a certificate of citizenship will still formalize her US citizenship. Meanwhile, we renewed my and her RP passports but hers still carries her birth name (my maiden name), having been told that it can only be changed to her adoptive surname after we file for change of surname in the RP.

Would anybody know how to do this? I was never married to her biological father nor does his name appear in any of her documents. He has never had any contact with her in the 11 years of her existence.

I am going to apply for citizenship this year. Of course, I am aware that once I become a citizen, she does, too. We still want her to have a Philippine passport though, although I am pondering on whether or not this is advantageous for her in the future.

[Jawaree 718]

You get to change her last name free when she get citizenship

everyone can if they want to, they allow that

[Darnell 8,478]

i think she could have applied for a USA passport after the adoption was finalized.

[Hank_ 9,174]

I need some insight on this process.

My daughter and I came in on IR visas. Within the same year of our arrival, my husband decided to adopt her and in July of 2010 the adoption was finalized. She was then issued a US birth certificate showing her new surname as my husband's. Her green cards were amended to reflect the name change. Of course, a certificate of citizenship will still formalize her US citizenship. Meanwhile, we renewed my and her RP passports but hers still carries her birth name (my maiden name), having been told that it can only be changed to her adoptive surname after we file for change of surname in the RP.

Would anybody know how to do this? I was never married to her biological father nor does his name appear in any of her documents. He has never had any contact with her in the 11 years of her existence.

I am going to apply for citizenship this year. Of course, I am aware that once I become a citizen, she does, too. We still want her to have a Philippine passport though, although I am pondering on whether or not this is advantageous for her in the future.

Start here: http://www.census.gov.ph/civilregistration/civil-registration-laws/commonwealth-act-no-3753

[ryandgracey 2]

i think she could have applied for a USA passport after the adoption was finalized.

Per USCIS, she still needs certificate of citizenship.

[Darnell 8,478]

Per USCIS, she still needs certificate of citizenship.

Not necessarily.

Recheck the CSPA guidelines, as that's what I read first prior to replying to you.

If it was a human at USCIS that said that to you, I'd question their training, always.