Name change after naturalization, pre passport - how to handle it?

[ShubhaBala 1]

Hi all!

 

I naturalized last year and stupidly did not change my last name (which I should have done).  Now my  husband and I are both going to change our last names through marriage (we're going to get re-married just so we can change our last names).  I haven't yet applied for my passport or gone to the social security office to tell them I'm naturalized, because I figured both of those should wait until I change my last name.  But I'll change my last name, and then my naturalization certificate will have my old last name.  Does that matter?  Can I bring that certificate, plus my marriage certificate showing the name change, to the social security office?  And then once social security updates my last name, can I use that, plus my naturalization certificate, plus my marriage certificate showing the name change, to apply for my first passport?

[Crazy Cat 41,898]

There is no getting "re-married".......It will not be a legal wedding or legal name change.  

 

"Tales of the Green Card"

 

EDIT:  I guess a couple could divorce first, then re-marry.....

Edited February 21, 2020 by missileman

[ShubhaBala 1]

I did confirm with our New York City marriage clerk that you can get married to the same person a second time without getting a divorce for the purpose of name changing - but yes it's not like my marriage date suddenly becomes this new date, maybe that's what you mean?  It's basically a name change but circumventing the legal name change process which is complicated in New York.

 

So from a citizenship perspective whether it's a new marriage or new name change I think is irrelevant, but the question of the certificate is still the issue.

[arken 4,197]

42 minutes ago, ShubhaBala said:

Hi all!

 

I naturalized last year and stupidly did not change my last name (which I should have done).  Now my  husband and I are both going to change our last names through marriage (we're going to get re-married just so we can change our last names).

Both are changing the last names? Both are taking each other’s surnames?

No need to-remarry, just use the marriage certificate you have.

 

 

Quote

 

 

  I haven't yet applied for my passport or gone to the social security office to tell them I'm naturalized, because I figured both of those should wait until I change my last name.  But I'll change my last name, and then my naturalization certificate will have my old last name.  Does that matter?  Can I bring that certificate, plus my marriage certificate showing the name change, to the social security office?  And then once social security updates my last name, can I use that, plus my naturalization certificate, plus my marriage certificate showing the name change, to apply for my first passport?

I believe the process would be as follows:

1. Get a new (replacement) naturalization certificate with the new last name, use the marriage certificate for the basis of last name change. $555 goes down the drain.

2. Go to SS office to update the name and the status.

3.then get the DL or passport whatever you want.

 

3 minutes ago, ShubhaBala said:

I did confirm with our New York City marriage clerk that you can get married to the same person a second time without getting a divorce for the purpose of name changing - but yes it's not like my marriage date suddenly becomes this new date, maybe that's what you mean?  It's basically a name change but circumventing the legal name change process which is complicated in New York.

 

So from a citizenship perspective whether it's a new marriage or new name change I think is irrelevant, but the question of the certificate is still the issue.

For the purpose of name changing why not use the marriage certificate you have, why to remarry.

Edited February 21, 2020 by arken

[ShubhaBala 1]

Thanks arikin!  I was hoping I could do this without the $555 :(((

 

We're both taking each other's surname combined.  The other way to change our names is for both of us to do a legal name change which in New York is longer and more expensive - doing it via marriage is way cheaper and way faster.