Information on Name Change During Naturalization

[papasmf 90]

25 minutes ago, Nela Aluwihare said:

@papasmf thanks for responding, but I don't have my oath ceremony yet. My question was whether a county clerk can perform name change oaths, or if only a judge can do that? 

Did you do the interview yet?  That is where you take care of the name change.  There is an additional form to fill out and sign, if you didn't already request it on the N-400.  Once you've done that during the interview, it gets sent off and takes anywhere from a few weeks to a few months.  Our Oath Ceremony occurred a little under 4 months after the interview, because of the name change.  Then, during the Oath Ceremony, they will make the name change official that was requested during the interview.   Here is more information for you:

https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/correcting-your-name-when-obtaining-us-citizenship.html

 

Edit - quote from the link above:
 

Instructions on how to fill out Form N-400 and include your name change preference are found in Filling Out USCIS Form N-400 Application for Naturalization.

 

If you have already submitted your Form N-400 and did not indicate a name change preference, it's not too late. At your interview, you can ask U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to let you complete a Petition for Name Change.

 

If you are approved for citizenship, and if naturalization swearing-in ceremonies are conducted by a court in your area, then you will be able to change your name legally at the ceremony. Your name change will take effect immediately after the ceremony has ended. The new name that you choose will be shown on your Certificate of Naturalization. In addition, you should receive a separate piece of paper that indicates you had a legal name change and you will be able to use the separate paper as proof of your new name.

Edited October 3, 2022 by papasmf
add more info

[Scandi 4,166]

1 hour ago, Nela Aluwihare said:

Hello everyone, I was hoping someone could help me with this question. My field office is New York, NY, but for the Oath I think I would fall under the jurisdiction of Westchester County. According to this website, it says: "Westchester County Clerk Timothy C. Idoni is proud to administer the Oath of Citizenship."

If I understand correctly, I cannot attend this Oath if I'm requesting a name change, since it's conducted by a county clerk, and not a judge? Is there a chance my Oath would be conducted in New York City in that case, since they have a ceremony by a judge conducted every week... or would it definitely be scheduled in Westchester? Any help appreciated!

Nobody here can answer that, you need to wait for your oath letter to see what location you will have your oath at. 

[da95826 387]

The Sacramento USCIS field office did not offer name change service last May when my natulazation was complete. Be advised some field offices are not doing name change with n400 applications.

[Dongbei 22]

So if my wife put the name change on the N-400 but just wants to change her last name to be the same as mine, should she say she doesn’t actually want to change at the interview?

[Scandi 4,166]

3 hours ago, Dongbei said:

So if my wife put the name change on the N-400 but just wants to change her last name to be the same as mine, should she say she doesn’t actually want to change at the interview?

If she wants to change her name then she will approve the change at the interview, they usually let you sign off on the name change and make sure the name is spelled correctly. Doesn't matter if it's her first, middle or last name. Or all of them. 

If she no longer wants to change her name at all, then yes, she should let them know she changed her mind.

Edited November 5, 2022 by Scandi

[Dongbei 22]

12 hours ago, Scandi said:

If she wants to change her name then she will approve the change at the interview, they usually let you sign off on the name change and make sure the name is spelled correctly. Doesn't matter if it's her first, middle or last name. Or all of them. 

If she no longer wants to change her name at all, then yes, she should let them know she changed her mind.

The question for us is of it will unnecessarily delay the oath ceremony. We’re filing at the Dallas field office. 

[phoenyxx 30]

On 4/21/2022 at 7:02 PM, AH&JH said:

I wanted to provide some information I got at my N400 interview. 

 

If you changed your name due to marriage, then divorce and want to go back to your maiden name

The officer can change your name back to your original name (due to divorce) and it seemed that there was no need of judicial ceremony because I almost make it into the same day ceremony that I believe was administrative. the cutoff time was half an hour before my approval so I couldnt participate. now waiting on letter for oath

 

Hmm. I filed using my spouse's last name for N400, but never changed SSN or IDs. I want to go back to using my maiden name. If at interview (next week) and IO asks about my name, think it'll be an issue to get my my maiden name on the naturalization certificate?

[Scandi 4,166]

2 hours ago, phoenyxx said:

Hmm. I filed using my spouse's last name for N400, but never changed SSN or IDs. I want to go back to using my maiden name. If at interview (next week) and IO asks about my name, think it'll be an issue to get my my maiden name on the naturalization certificate?

Not an issue, just let them know at the interview that you want to use your maiden name. 

[annab864 55]

On 11/5/2022 at 3:29 PM, Dongbei said:

The question for us is of it will unnecessarily delay the oath ceremony. We’re filing at the Dallas field office. 

That’s what I am wondering too. I used a new name on my application but now I’m wondering if i should just stick with my maiden name for the sake of a faster oath ceremony and just do it later (if possible)

[Scandi 4,166]

2 hours ago, annab864 said:

That’s what I am wondering too. I used a new name on my application but now I’m wondering if i should just stick with my maiden name for the sake of a faster oath ceremony and just do it later (if possible)

Are you in a hurry to become a citizen? If not, rather wait a little longer for the oath and get the name change done (and for free), it's so easily done when becoming a citizen and you will have your new name on the certificate (and passport). Otherwise you have to go through court later, and pay a fee.

Edited December 8, 2022 by Scandi

[annab864 55]

7 hours ago, Scandi said:

Are you in a hurry to become a citizen? If not, rather wait a little longer for the oath and get the name change done (and for free), it's so easily done when becoming a citizen and you will have your new name on the certificate (and passport). Otherwise you have to go through court later, and pay a fee.

Thank you! Yes, that makes sense, i want things to be easier than they usually are! 

[Dongbei 22]

16 hours ago, annab864 said:

That’s what I am wondering too. I used a new name on my application but now I’m wondering if i should just stick with my maiden name for the sake of a faster oath ceremony and just do it later (if possible)

They put my last name on her naturalization certificate and said it wasn't a name change since we are married.

 

She did a same-day oath ceremony since we live more than 150 miles from the office. It was super easy and the interviewing officer was friendly and helpful.

[annab864 55]

38 minutes ago, Dongbei said:

They put my last name on her naturalization certificate and said it wasn't a name change since we are married.

 

She did a same-day oath ceremony since we live more than 150 miles from the office. It was super easy and the interviewing officer was friendly and helpful.

That’s interesting, so if I take a spouse’s last name it may be the same day oath ceremony. I hope it’s the case for me as well! I will find out in a month. Thank you for sharing and congrats!! 

[Scandi 4,166]

7 minutes ago, annab864 said:

That’s interesting, so if I take a spouse’s last name it may be the same day oath ceremony. I hope it’s the case for me as well! I will find out in a month. Thank you for sharing and congrats!! 

If you're only taking your spouse’s last name, then that was done the day you married (the proof of your name change is the marriage certificate), even if you have been using his name or not. Once married, you can start using your spouse’s name anytime you want, nothing else needed, just the marriage certificate. 

[annab864 55]

9 minutes ago, Scandi said:

If you're only taking your spouse’s last name, then that was done the day you married (the proof of your name change is the marriage certificate), even if you have been using his name or not. Once married, you can start using your spouse’s name anytime you want, nothing else needed, just the marriage certificate. 

Thank you for explaining this. But, let’s say, if i want the new last name to be printed on documents such as SSC, DL, US passport (eventually) and so on, then I request the name change from the proper authorities anyway? It’s just a confusing process for me. I assume that once I receive a naturalization certificate with the new last name, I can move on to Social Security and so on to change it on the rest of my documents