Name Change in San Francisco

[qaszxc1234 11]

Hi guys, I have already filed my N-400 application online and I am dealing with my name change now through court because San Francisco office doesn't offer judicial oath ceremonies. Thanks to this post: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/438333-name-change-during-naturalization-in-san-francisco/, I don't have to go through too much hassle. Basically I need to complete the name change process and take the court order to the interview.

But my question is: what if I haven't got the name change court order by the time of interview? Will they put the my current name on the naturalization certificate? I am trying to avoid changing name on the naturalization certificate because it costs another $550 and 6 months. I have already paid $500 for the name change court petition.

Thanks for your help!

 

Edited August 25, 2017 by qaszxc1234

[marcusa 31]

4 hours ago, qaszxc1234 said:

 I need to complete the name change process and take the court order to the interview.

But my question is: what if I haven't got the name change court order by the time of interview? Will they put the my current name on the naturalization certificate? I am trying to avoid changing name on the naturalization certificate because it costs another $550 and 6 months. I have already paid $500 for the name change court petition.

Thanks for your help!

 

usually it takes a few months before you are notified for interview,which allows you have enough time finishing the court hearing with court order . Check with your residency county where you filed for name change. You should be notified for when for the hearing while you pay for the petition fee In my case, the front desk where i paid the hearing fee printed out a hearing schedule for my petition.

 

when you have the court order available , bring it to the interview and show to the officer and request for the new name on your naturatilization certificate. Even you didnt put in new name of your interest on the N400 form, you still have chance during the interview.

 

This can avoid oath ceremony with the judge (for name change purpose only ),which might delay your process to the final 

 

i already had name changed though court order before filing N400. All of my IDs have been updated with new names.

[Holt 73]

-I applied for name change at Alameda Court House in Oakland (This is where you attend court to buy your court decree with $25 dollars each. I would suggest you buy more than 1 decree in case you lost.)

-I started in June, and pretty much done everything in August 2016 (same year).

-After I got my decree, I changed everything: SSN, Driver License, Bank...

-When I applied N400, I put my new name + old name because I believe the USCIS and FBI will check our background check with all the names I have?

On 8/25/2017 at 8:36 AM, qaszxc1234 said:

But my question is: what if I haven't got the name change court order by the time of interview? Will they put the my current name on the naturalization certificate? I am trying to avoid changing name on the naturalization certificate because it costs another $550 and 6 months. I have already paid $500 for the name change court petition.

Thanks for your help!

For this question, absolutely they will put your current name in your Naturalization Certificate if you don't have the decree. This is why I want my new name in my Certificate, not the old name. 

Verification: N565 will cost $555. 

As I mentioned above, you only need 2 months to complete the whole change name process include publish newspaper for name change, and your interview may take longer than that (more than 6 months) so you would be fine.

The only thing I concerned that, it might delay your case because you changed the name during the Naturalization Process, under new name, they may need to check yout Biometric again to see if you are cleared or not. 

 

Edited August 26, 2017 by rlam57

[qaszxc1234 11]

3 hours ago, rlam57 said:

-I applied for name change at Alameda Court House in Oakland (This is where you attend court to buy your court decree with $25 dollars each. I would suggest you buy more than 1 decree in case you lost.)

-I started in June, and pretty much done everything in August 2016 (same year).

-After I got my decree, I changed everything: SSN, Driver License, Bank...

-When I applied N400, I put my new name + old name because I believe the USCIS and FBI will check our background check with all the names I have?

For this question, absolutely they will put your current name in your Naturalization Certificate if you don't have the decree. This is why I want my new name in my Certificate, not the old name. 

Verification: N565 will cost $555. 

As I mentioned above, you only need 2 months to complete the whole change name process include publish newspaper for name change, and your interview may take longer than that (more than 6 months) so you would be fine.

The only thing I concerned that, it might delay your case because you changed the name during the Naturalization Process, under new name, they may need to check yout Biometric again to see if you are cleared or not. 

 

Thanks for the advice! If the name change is only gonna take 2 months, I think I should be fine. I don't think they will check the biometric again though. People can change their name during the judicial oath ceremony so the can put their new name on the naturalization certificate, I just have to do it before the oath ceremony through court. It's pretty much the same thing.

[marcusa 31]

37 minutes ago, qaszxc1234 said:

 People can change their name during the judicial oath ceremony so the can put their new name on the naturalization certificate,

are you sure about this ? 

should  the name change request be made when you are interviewing with the officer？i think the naturalization certificate documents have been generated with the name of your chosen on your file before the oath day.

Are you able to request to change name on the scene and they make a new certificate for you right away ? there is a time to process this at least. 

[Holt 73]

6 hours ago, qaszxc1234 said:

Thanks for the advice! If the name change is only gonna take 2 months, I think I should be fine. I don't think they will check the biometric again though. People can change their name during the judicial oath ceremony so the can put their new name on the naturalization certificate, I just have to do it before the oath ceremony through court. It's pretty much the same thing.

Yes, pretty much the name change took 2 months for me. When I filed at the court house, I paid the fee and they will give you the list of approved-newspapers for you to publish. I was charged $100 for this and they automatically filed that to the court so I did not do anything. 

I don't think it is the same thing because I personally know you changed your name during the interview is different than they changed for you.

 

My sister got the name change before filing the N400. She filed the N400 under her new name. When the IO asked if she brought the original court decree for her name change, she brought the copy and this was the main reason she got delayed about 3-4 weeks for oath. Her mom who applied the same time, who had the same day interview already took the oath 4 weeks before her. 

I believe they would run the background check again. However, this information is based on my guess. I don't want to have any hassle with the interview. 

5 hours ago, marcusa said:

are you sure about this ? 

should  the name change request be made when you are interviewing with the officer？i think the naturalization certificate documents have been generated with the name of your chosen on your file before the oath day.

Are you able to request to change name on the scene and they make a new certificate for you right away ? there is a time to process this at least. 

He meant he would show the court decree to the immigration officer and they will update it on the form N400 before he signs the applications. However, I believe they would like to know (1) The reason for him to change his name during the naturalization process and (2) What did he do during the naturalization process under new name.
He does not meant to appear at the Ceremony with his Court decree and request for an update immediately. When he signs the form, it means he agrees with the name on the form.

Edited August 27, 2017 by rlam57

[marcusa 31]

9 hours ago, rlam57 said:

When he signs the form, it means he agrees with the name on the form.

totally agree with the last sentence.

 

by the end of interview, you will be asked to sign at the end of N400 form,which suggests you agree with the name you choose on the form and this name will be printed on your naturalization certificate accordingly. Any name change needs to submitted before you sign the N400