Name change(optional) on N-400 form

[MikesAibeen 0]

If all goes well, I will be submitting my N-400 later this year.

My situation is this. When I got married, I took my maiden name and used it as my middle name. Example:

Name when single: Abby Go Acenas

Married name: Abby Acenas Westerman

My SSN, various IDs, my name at work and all other documents has "Acenas" as my middle name.

I was told at the CIS office in St. Louis that they have to use the middle name that is on my birth certificate. Hence, my permanent resident card has "Go" as my middle name. I've used "Acenas" as my middle name when I filed for I-751, still all notices from USCIS is addressed to "Abby Go Westerman".

When the time comes, do I have to fill up the "Name Change (optional)" section of the N-400? Is this a special or separate process of some sort?

Thanks,

Abby

[-cK- 0]

If all goes well, I will be submitting my N-400 later this year.

My situation is this. When I got married, I took my maiden name and used it as my middle name. Example:

Name when single: Abby Go Acenas

Married name: Abby Acenas Westerman

My SSN, various IDs, my name at work and all other documents has "Acenas" as my middle name.

I was told at the CIS office in St. Louis that they have to use the middle name that is on my birth certificate. Hence, my permanent resident card has "Go" as my middle name. I've used "Acenas" as my middle name when I filed for I-751, still all notices from USCIS is addressed to "Abby Go Westerman".

When the time comes, do I have to fill up the "Name Change (optional)" section of the N-400? Is this a special or separate process of some sort?

Thanks,

Abby

Hi Abby...

I hope this will help...yesterday I just got approved with my GC and the interviewer talked to me about that. She said I might encounter a problem when applying for Naturalization 3 years from now since my birth certificate has a different middle name than the name I'm using now. She advised me to have my name changed legally into the name I am using right now...she was referring to my middle name as not to encounter any problems in the future.

-cK-

[cristina 0]

USCIS is really odd (of course we all know that by now! ). Anyway, i was just browsing around the forums when i came about this topic. Which did get my attention. Since, being it the norm in the philippines to carry the last name of ur maiden name to be ur middle when u get married, we carry this practice abroad for ages. Now, if USCIS tends this to be an issue as per Citizenship application, then this is a big issue to anyone being Female and filipina. I was never told of this being a problem when my AOS got approved. The only thing they keep messing up is my first name. I have two first names: Maria Cristina.And USCIS always uses my second first name as my middle name. I have sent them numerous notes on every dang* application i sent them but they never ceased to messed it up. But they're doing better...(fingers crossed) I have yet to see my new GC to see if they've gotten the instructions right.

I'll be applying for N-400 by october of this year and I hope this name game doesnt become an issue. Just a thot to ponder on... on every application we submit to USCIS, there's always a space that asks for any other names used including maiden names, doesn't that suffice as evidence that the name in your birth certificate was once used by you and still is you but just got changed when u got married ? (even N-400 asks for that)

Please put ur two cents in. Especially, filipinas who have already gone thru N-400 and was approved. Please let us know of ur experience. Thanks a bunch!

[Octa 0]

Yes, just fill out the name change option on the n-400. You should be okay. I have done it and it worked just great. Its a very easy way to change your name.

[MikesAibeen 0]

Yes, just fill out the name change option on the n-400. You should be okay. I have done it and it worked just great. Its a very easy way to change your name.

Octa, thanks! Been waiting for a reply from somebody who had done it.