Name change question- help

[Nsp 0]

Hi all,

I have an identity crisis right now and need your help!

Interview was yesterday, passed and should be getting a phone call or letter with oath date.

I haven't asked for name change on n400 because I was worried about it being too difficult.

The officer asked me if I wanted to change my name during the interview and I said yes. I really wanted to keep my maiden name as My middle name and use my husbands last name as my last name. I am being totally honest here, so please don't make me feel stupid...I asked her if I could do that and she said that I could only change my last name and not my middle name...because that will need court approval...I swear this is what she told me and I was very anxious and wanted to finish as soon as possible. So I agreed...and she changed my name to name/middle name/husband's last name. So my maiden name disappeared...

When I got home and started to research this, I have noticed that I could change my name the way I wanted and I started to feel really bad about losing my maiden name in the us, especially because I carry two other citizenships.

Can I please have some insight on this? Can this be changed before the oath ceremony? Do I have any chance of getting this the way I wanted?

Please, only constructive comments, I am stressed enough right now and will not like to see a "you should have done this in another way" type of comment, because it is not going to help since it is done.

I appreciate any comment that will actually clarify this.

Thanks a lot!!

[girimurthy 5]

Hi all,

I have an identity crisis right now and need your help!

Interview was yesterday, passed and should be getting a phone call or letter with oath date.

I haven't asked for name change on n400 because I was worried about it being too difficult.

The officer asked me if I wanted to change my name during the interview and I said yes. I really wanted to keep my maiden name as My middle name and use my husbands last name as my last name. I am being totally honest here, so please don't make me feel stupid...I asked her if I could do that and she said that I could only change my last name and not my middle name...because that will need court approval...I swear this is what she told me and I was very anxious and wanted to finish as soon as possible. So I agreed...and she changed my name to name/middle name/husband's last name. So my maiden name disappeared...

When I got home and started to research this, I have noticed that I could change my name the way I wanted and I started to feel really bad about losing my maiden name in the us, especially because I carry two other citizenships.

Can I please have some insight on this? Can this be changed before the oath ceremony? Do I have any chance of getting this the way I wanted?

Please, only constructive comments, I am stressed enough right now and will not like to see a "you should have done this in another way" type of comment, because it is not going to help since it is done.

I appreciate any comment that will actually clarify this.

Thanks a lot!!

I don't think you can do much now. The only thing you can do now is to change your name again after the citizenship to the way you want.

[JimmyHou 611]

Hi all,

I have an identity crisis right now and need your help!

Interview was yesterday, passed and should be getting a phone call or letter with oath date.

I haven't asked for name change on n400 because I was worried about it being too difficult.

The officer asked me if I wanted to change my name during the interview and I said yes. I really wanted to keep my maiden name as My middle name and use my husbands last name as my last name. I am being totally honest here, so please don't make me feel stupid...I asked her if I could do that and she said that I could only change my last name and not my middle name...because that will need court approval...I swear this is what she told me and I was very anxious and wanted to finish as soon as possible. So I agreed...and she changed my name to name/middle name/husband's last name. So my maiden name disappeared...

When I got home and started to research this, I have noticed that I could change my name the way I wanted and I started to feel really bad about losing my maiden name in the us, especially because I carry two other citizenships.

Can I please have some insight on this? Can this be changed before the oath ceremony? Do I have any chance of getting this the way I wanted?

Please, only constructive comments, I am stressed enough right now and will not like to see a "you should have done this in another way" type of comment, because it is not going to help since it is done.

I appreciate any comment that will actually clarify this.

Thanks a lot!!

1- You are allowed to change your last name to your husband's last name without an official name change. This means that even if you change your last name, you can become a citizen at an Administrative Ceremony.

2- If you want to make other changes to your name, you need an official name change. This means that if you would need to become a citizen at a Judicial Ceremony.

3- Some offices, (San Jose and San Francisco for example) do not offer Judicial Ceremonies, and so you can only change your name to take your husband's last name.

4- If you look at the USCIS website, it says that New Orleans has monthly Judicial Ceremonies, so I have no idea why your interviewer told you that you couldn't change your name. http://www.uscis.gov/about-us/find-uscis-office/field-offices/louisiana-new-orleans-field-office#Naturalization Ceremonies

5- You could try contacting USCIS to make a change, but this might delay your process. An alternative would be to wait until you are naturalized, and then go to court and apply for a name change. You can then take your naturalization certificate and your name change form and apply for a passport in your correct name.

Edited February 4, 2014 by JimmyHou

[bob.sansmal 14]

This is a common thing that people do, it shouldn't be any big deal. I notice that your local office is listed as New Orleans. From what I've been told, in Louisiana it actually doesn't require a court order to change your name, other states have differing requirements.

Since you're about to take your oath and become a full US citizen I would think that maybe the easiest path would be to wait until you're done and then correct your name.

[Nsp 0]

1- You are allowed to change your last name to your husband's last name without an official name change. This means that even if you change your last name, you can become a citizen at an Administrative Ceremony.

2- If you want to make other changes to your name, you need an official name change. This means that if you would need to become a citizen at a Judicial Ceremony.

3- Some offices, (San Jose and San Francisco for example) do not offer Judicial Ceremonies, and so you can only change your name to take your husband's last name.

4- If you look at the USCIS website, it says that New Orleans has monthly Judicial Ceremonies, so I have no idea why your interviewer told you that you couldn't change your name. http://www.uscis.gov/about-us/find-uscis-office/field-offices/louisiana-new-orleans-field-office#Naturalization Ceremonies

5- You could try contacting USCIS to make a change, but this might delay your process. An alternative would be to wait until you are naturalized, and then go to court and apply for a name change. You can then take your naturalization certificate and your name change form and apply for a passport in your correct name.

[Nsp 0]

Thank you so much for you response,

She did change my last name to my husband's name. What I wanted is my middle name to be my maiden name, so I don't lose it entirely in the US does it make sense? And to that she responded that it will take longer. Then when I got home and started researching it, I have noticed that I could have changed it the way I wanted...now, with your comment about having an administrative oath by just changing the last name due to marriage, makes more sense.

I first felt sad to lose my maiden name and then I worried because on my other two citizenships I haven't and probably will not change my last name because We got married in the US.

Thanks a lot!

This is a common thing that people do, it shouldn't be any big deal. I notice that your local office is listed as New Orleans. From what I've been told, in Louisiana it actually doesn't require a court order to change your name, other states have differing requirements.

Since you're about to take your oath and become a full US citizen I would think that maybe the easiest path would be to wait until you're done and then correct your name.

[Nsp 0]

Thank you so much for your response. I think I will just leave it like that. I was very concerned about having to change my last name in all my passports, but I don't believe I need to do that. Am I right? Also, we have a son and I thought. I needed to change his birth certificate, but I checked with a friend that is an attorney and she said that the name that needs to be on the birth certificate is the maiden name, so I am ok with that.

Thanks again! And thank you all for not making me feel bad and understand my issue.

[Nsp 0]

UPDATE---NAME CHANGE

So after a few days I couldn't handle the idea of losing my maiden name, so after discussing it with my previous immigration attorney, I have requested an infopass appointment to see if they can make a correction before the oath ceremony. I went today and they asked me to write a letter explaining the situation and letting them know which one is exactly the name that I want. The IO was very nice and she understood my concern and as much as I want to take my husband's last name, I want to be able to keep my maiden name. My father passed away and I feel weird if I am unable to use his last name, even if it is my middle name. So sorry...I am too sentimental...

The IO told me that adding my husband's last name will not be considered a legal name change, therefore an admin oath can be administered...I doubt that, but will give an update once I hear from them. She told me that they will call me to re-sign the application using the name that I want. I understand that this may delay the process, but I think they have no reason to deny it...I guess...I am not sure anymore. The day of the interview the IO gave me a form stating Congratulations, your application is recommended for approval.

Any input??

I apreciate it.

Nsp

[tatipstos 0]

Did it work for you? I have the same problem and I have an infopass scheduled to talk about my name.

[TBoneTX 45,787]

The OP closed her account in February 2014, shortly after her last post.

Old thread is now closed to further comment.