Information on Name Change During Naturalization

[JimmyHou 611]

HI guys first time poster, long time reader. I have a question regarding name change and I would like to get everyone's input on it.

In march of next year I'll be able to apply to become a citizen. My wife and I have been married for about 10 years and have 2 kids in elementary school. I happen to have a rather weird sounding last name when pronounced in English. It's meaning and pronunciation have caused people to give me second looks and in some instances weird reactions. To be honest, I would like to just change one letter in order to make it sound "normal". I have never been made fun of since I came here almost 12 years ago, but my kids have gotten some teasing in school because of it. Looking into the future and the possibility of my kids playing sports (name on jersey) , graduating and even some day in the workplace. I can't help but to feel bad for them trying to deal with such peculiar last name.

My questions, which I haven't seen anyone address are this:

1. If I do decide to change that one letter while applying for citizenship, will my wife be able to just walk in the social security and DMV offices with a copy of my court order and update her last name just like she did when she took my original last name?

2. What about changing the kids' last names on their birth certificates and shot records to reflect the new updated one?

If anyone has any info, or has done something similar please do share how to go about it. I live in Texas.

Thanks.

1) Good question about your wife... I don't know to be honest, but I'd be surprised if she could just use your name change certificate to change her married name. I would assume she would need her own name change through the courts. When you update your information, you need a legal name change document, a marriage certificate, or a divorce certificate. When she took your last name, the marriage certificate was the proof of name change that she submitted. If you change your name; she'll have no document legally changing her name. Even if you get a new marriage certificate; it'll show her maiden name and your new name; but the old name that is currently on her documents won't be listed anywhere. I could be wrong about this... just my guess.

2) There's a separate procedure through the courts to change the name of a minor; you'll have to look into that for the kids. Once that's done, you can get new birth certificates.

[Pennywise 8]

1) Good question about your wife... I don't know to be honest, but I'd be surprised if she could just use your name change certificate to change her married name. I would assume she would need her own name change through the courts. When you update your information, you need a legal name change document, a marriage certificate, or a divorce certificate. When she took your last name, the marriage certificate was the proof of name change that she submitted. If you change your name; she'll have no document legally changing her name. Even if you get a new marriage certificate; it'll show her maiden name and your new name; but the old name that is currently on her documents won't be listed anywhere. I could be wrong about this... just my guess.

2) There's a separate procedure through the courts to change the name of a minor; you'll have to look into that for the kids. Once that's done, you can get new birth certificates.

I called my local county clerk and they said both my kids and my wife will have to get their names changed legally. She can't just walk in there with my court ordered name change and request hers be updated. On the plus side, they did mention that they can all be included on the same petition in order to just pay for one. Which is the route we are most likely be following.

Also, the office of vital statistics said that the marriage license cannot for any reason be updated. I was hoping we could, that way she could use it to change her name on the SSC and driver's license but alas, it is not possible.

On another note, I would like to know what does it mean when USCIS says my local field office holds "Judicial Ceremonies" 3 - 4 times per month? I'm asking because my early filing date is 03/01/2017. Does that mean I'll be able to take the oath the first week of June?

Thanks again.

Edited September 14, 2016 by Pennywise

[bunker buster 0]

My wife wants to retain her maiden name. But our two minor children would like to have my last name. How to do I make it known to the uscis that only our kids last name will change?

I don't see any provision for changing the kid's last name on the N400 form

[Pennywise 8]

My wife wants to retain her maiden name. But our two minor children would like to have my last name. How to do I make it known to the uscis that only our kids last name will change?

I don't see any provision for changing the kid's last name on the N400 form

Are your kids becoming citizens? If not, then a court ordered name change my be your best bet.

[bunker buster 0]

Yes my wife and kids are in the process of applying for naturalization.

[JimmyHou 611]

My wife wants to retain her maiden name. But our two minor children would like to have my last name. How to do I make it known to the uscis that only our kids last name will change?

I don't see any provision for changing the kid's last name on the N400 form

Your kids are not applying for naturalization. The naturalization application is only for people 18 years old and over.

The application is for your wife alone. A separate law allows her minor children to automatically become citizens once their parent naturalizes if they are permanent residents in that parents custody. So your kids will only be listed on your wife's N400 as children (similar to how you are listed as a spouse) but they are not co-applicants.

Since they are not going through the N400 process, USCIS has nothing to do with them or their names.

Once your wife naturalizes, you can apply for citizenship certificates for the kids using an N600 application or you can just go get them passports from the state department. Neither the N600 nor the passport application allows for name changes. So what you have to do is change their names legally through your local court. That is the procedure for name changes for minors. In some states you may not have to do anything more than show your marriage certificate to get their names changed. In other states it's a more complicated process.

[green1234 0]

Hello,

I Live in Southern California and I am going to apply for N400 within this week. I would like to change my name. My Last name is very long as I added my Husband's surname on my last name. My name goes like : Sally Ackerman Johnson Walter. Walter is my Husband's surname and Ackerman Johnson is my Maiden name. I want to change my Name to Sally Ackerman Walter. All my documents including current foreign passport and Greencard has my name as Sally Ackerman Johnson Walter as my name and it is very long and sometimes does not fit into credit cards, legal forms, Identity cards, etc

My question is:

1. I have heard that When I change name in california, California will not issue name change certificate signed by the Judge. If that is the case, what can I submit as a proof for a name change ?

2. If I decide to change my name then I understand that I have to take Judiciary oath and Judge have to approve my name change first. Will I get Naturalization Certificate with new name on same day of oath or I have to wait for Naturalization Certificate in mail because USCIS may have printed old name in my Naturalization Certifcate

Thank you for your response.

[JimmyHou 611]

Hello,

I Live in Southern California and I am going to apply for N400 within this week. I would like to change my name. My Last name is very long as I added my Husband's surname on my last name. My name goes like : Sally Ackerman Johnson Walter. Walter is my Husband's surname and Ackerman Johnson is my Maiden name. I want to change my Name to Sally Ackerman Walter. All my documents including current foreign passport and Greencard has my name as Sally Ackerman Johnson Walter as my name and it is very long and sometimes does not fit into credit cards, legal forms, Identity cards, etc

My question is:

1. I have heard that When I change name in california, California will not issue name change certificate signed by the Judge. If that is the case, what can I submit as a proof for a name change ?

That policy depends on whether or not your office holds judicial ceremonies. Offices in Northern California have stopped holding Judicial Ceremonies and so can't offer a legal name change. As far as I know, this is not a problem in other parts of the state. You can confirm by looking here (find your office and look under Naturalization Ceremonies to see if Judicial ones are offered):

https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/find-uscis-office/field-offices

For those applying at offices that don't have judicial ceremonies, you can't change your name during naturalization. You'll have to apply for a name change separately through your local courts.

2. If I decide to change my name then I understand that I have to take Judiciary oath and Judge have to approve my name change first. Will I get Naturalization Certificate with new name on same day of oath or I have to wait for Naturalization Certificate in mail because USCIS may have printed old name in my Naturalization Certifcate

Thank you for your response.

If you are scheduled for a judicial oath, the judge will approve all name changes at the time of naturalization. USCIS will print your certificate in your new name and that's what you'll get at the ceremony.

Take a look at the very first post in this thread for more information.

Edited October 6, 2016 by JimmyHou

[Ontarkie 14,324]

~~Thread hijack removed as poster has a thread started.~~

[Karlazamora 0]

One more thing (prompted by a question on another thread):

If you need or want additional copies of the name change certificate (the original will be stapled to your naturalization certificate) you can contact the clerk of the district court through which you were naturalized at your judicial oath ceremony. You should be able to purchase additional copies of the name change order for around $10 or $20.

[Karlazamora 0]

Hi. I'm in Houston. Would it be the district clerk in downtown? I had a name change and my paper wasn't attached to my certificate. I need a copy because I'm trying to change my DL and they said I need that paper. I'm from Mexico and had my fathers and mothers last name. When I became a citizen last year, I dropped my mothers last name. The citizenship certificate shows the change but I didn't get a separate paper stating I had it changed.

[JimmyHou 611]

Hi. I'm in Houston. Would it be the district clerk in downtown? I had a name change and my paper wasn't attached to my certificate. I need a copy because I'm trying to change my DL and they said I need that paper. I'm from Mexico and had my fathers and mothers last name. When I became a citizen last year, I dropped my mothers last name. The citizenship certificate shows the change but I didn't get a separate paper stating I had it changed.

If your name change was due to marriage or divorce, then you wouldn't have got a name change certificate; your marriage or divorce certificate would be your proof.

Otherwise, you ideally should have talked to USCIS at the ceremony, but since you didn't get a chance, there are two things you should do:

1- Make an Infopass and ask for a copy of the form; USCIS should have had two copies signed by a judge. They should have given you one and kept the other.

2- The Federal District Court building is downtown (near the Theater District). You can ask the clerk to give you a copy of the order.

But before all that, do you remember signing two name change requests at your interview? You should have signed three times; your application, and the two name change forms. If you didn't sign these forms, then there won't be a name change certificate.

[MrsP2010 20]

Thanks for this! I'm still a little confused though...

I married Husband (we'll call him Mr #2.. lol) this year. I got my Green Card through a previous marriage, and I didn't take Mr #1's last name (thank god!). So my green card is in my maiden name.

I am travelling quite a bit next year, with three international journeys (earliest is in March). I've just applied for a new Passport in my new last name (Mrs #2), as my tickets are all booked in Mrs #2 name. My green card still says Miss Maidenname.

My naturalization window opens next month, so I am confused about what to do - I don't want any trouble at the border for not having my GC in the right name, but my ticket and passport will match. Should I change my name at naturalization, knowing that this won't happen until after the travel has occurred? Or should I pay to change the GC now? Or does my marriage cert act as proof that I am the lady on the card, and all is fine?

HELP!

[Karlazamora 0]

If your name change was due to marriage or divorce, then you wouldn't have got a name change certificate; your marriage or divorce certificate would be your proof.

Otherwise, you ideally should have talked to USCIS at the ceremony, but since you didn't get a chance, there are two things you should do:

1- Make an Infopass and ask for a copy of the form; USCIS should have had two copies signed by a judge. They should have given you one and kept the other.

2- The Federal District Court building is downtown (near the Theater District). You can ask the clerk to give you a copy of the order.

But before all that, do you remember signing two name change requests at your interview? You should have signed three times; your application, and the two name change forms. If you didn't sign these forms, then there won't be a name change certificate.

[Karlazamora 0]

I did sign papers for the name change but now I'm questioning if it was even done. Maybe that's why I didn't have a copy attached to my naturalization certificate. My certificate only shows one last name though, that's why I assumed it was done. I went to federal district court today & they weren't very helpful. They sat me at a computer where I went through different pages looking for my name. When I found it, my name was on there with the one last name. Other people's names showed the before and the after. The clerk only gave me a certificate of search naturalization records. She said that was all she could do for me. That they only get a list, not a copy of name change certificate. This is so frustrating. I had to pay $30.00 and I doubt this is going to help me at DPS to get my DL since it only shows the after & not the before & after. My question now is, when is the best time to go online and get an INFOPASS? I've tried several days and appointments are NEVER avaiable.