Was your citizenship interview like this?

[robhostein 57]

21 minutes ago, little immigrant said:

If yours is, for example, 126-66-3456 and you don't like it because there is three 6's in a row, you can change it.

I think it would be absolutely awesome to have an SSN like that!

Edited January 26, 2021 by robhostein

[robhostein 57]

1 hour ago, SusieQQQ said:

 Seems to me a complete name change is a pretty good way of hiding from the past in that kind of case. Again, no aspersions on OP, just an understanding of why it might have been examined in detail.

Yeah, perfectly understandable. I was raised by a christian family. They gave me not one, but three biblical names when I was born. I grew up to hate everything about christianity. And every once in a while, someone would see my name when I was introduced to them, and then they would go, "oh, that is your name, like that guy in the bible!" And then they would try to talk scripture to me and ask me if I go to church.

 

lol... Just, got tired of it all. I deliberately chose a new first and middle name that would have absolutely nothing to do with the bible. Took me years to find one that I was comfortable with. But I did, and I'm glad!

[millefleur 5,047]

48 minutes ago, robhostein said:

lol... Just, got tired of it all. I deliberately chose a new first and middle name that would have absolutely nothing to do with the bible. Took me years to find one that I was comfortable with. But I did, and I'm glad!

I'm glad you found a new name! I'm sure you're not the first person to change their name due to religion related reasons. I think it's great that the US is so open about name changes (even first names) because we have no power over what our parents name us, and if someone wants a new name, they should be able to change it. The US will even allow very unusual name changes....like the magician Teller (of duo Penn and Teller) who has no first name official, and only a last name: "Teller".

[little immigrant 801]

1 hour ago, millefleur said:

I'm glad you found a new name! I'm sure you're not the first person to change their name due to religion related reasons. I think it's great that the US is so open about name changes (even first names) because we have no power over what our parents name us, and if someone wants a new name, they should be able to change it. The US will even allow very unusual name changes....like the magician Teller (of duo Penn and Teller) who has no first name official, and only a last name: "Teller".

I always wanted a middle name. My mother and grandmother have middle names. But I never had one. I had a name chosen for me since I was 16 years and it was my dream come true when I finally changed it during my citizenship application. I am so happy and it's one of the things in my life I'll never regret. 

Edited January 26, 2021 by little immigrant

[millefleur 5,047]

2 minutes ago, little immigrant said:

I always wanted a middle name. My mother and grandmother have middle names. But I never had one. I had a name chosen for me since I was 16 years and it was my dream come true when I finally changed it during my citizenship application. I am so happy and it's one of the things in my life I'll never regret. 

Same here, I don't have a middle name....parents could not agree, so they just decided on nothing, lol. But as a USC if I wanted to get a middle name, I'd have to do a court order name change and I just can't think of anything I'd want enough to go through all the hassle of that plus the cost. Maybe one day I'll do it, will have to see.

 

My husband who is currently awaiting his citizenship can't wait to change his name due to the spelling of his name in English being terrible, it's a major problem with Russian names now, they used this super weird double "ii" and it looks horrible and confuses everyone who attempts to pronounce his already unusual name. Of course it will be annoying to have to go back and get all new documents with the new spelling, but he feels that it is worth it.

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

1 hour ago, millefleur said:

Same here, I don't have a middle name....parents could not agree, so they just decided on nothing, lol. But as a USC if I wanted to get a middle name, I'd have to do a court order name change and I just can't think of anything I'd want enough to go through all the hassle of that plus the cost. Maybe one day I'll do it, will have to see.

 

My husband who is currently awaiting his citizenship can't wait to change his name due to the spelling of his name in English being terrible, it's a major problem with Russian names now, they used this super weird double "ii" and it looks horrible and confuses everyone who attempts to pronounce his already unusual name. Of course it will be annoying to have to go back and get all new documents with the new spelling, but he feels that it is worth it.

Didn’t realize it was that much of a hassle. In my home country, changing a first or middle name is just a matter of filling in a form and paying a fee. The procedure is more complex for changing a surname (other than marriage).

[millefleur 5,047]

16 minutes ago, SusieQQQ said:

Didn’t realize it was that much of a hassle. In my home country, changing a first or middle name is just a matter of filling in a form and paying a fee. The procedure is more complex for changing a surname (other than marriage).

From what I know here it varies from state to state, of course, but often you have to file a petition with the court, go before a judge and appear at the court (basically scheduling a hearing), state the reason for changing your name which the judge has to approve (so you can't just do it on a whim and say something "just want to change it for the heck of it", you have to write down and submit an actual reason – and the judge can deny you if they don't like your reason), publish your change of name in a local newspaper (old archaic law that still exists), and of course pay all the fees that may be associated with these steps. Not to mention the waiting period all this involves...at least a couple months from start to finish, and that was before Covid.

 

I guess in some cases you can skip the hearing and newspaper if it would be a danger to you (such as a name change to get away from a domestic abuser, etc). Once the name change is complete, the local court issues you a paper with the ruling and the new name and you have to keep that paper with you forever as proof of your name change....again, some states may be more straightforward, but in my state and another I am familiar with it appears to go like this. Oh and in some states, if you have a criminal record of any kind, they may just deny your petition outright and not allow you to change your name.

 

In short: if you can change your name during naturalization, do it. It's so much easier!

[flicks1998 1,044]

13 hours ago, millefleur said:

It's widely believed in criminal psychology that the innocent will protest/react very strongly when proclaiming their innocence. It is expected that an innocent person will be deeply offended if accused of a crime or wrongdoing. People who just sit there calmly and deny with little emotion are actually viewed as being more likely to be guilty or involved in the crime and it probably makes the detective push harder if you remain calm.

I guess I would fail if this were really true.  After 120+ countries including extensive travel as a US citizen tourist through Syria, Iran, Iraq, North Korea (when it was possible), etc etc etc, I am constantly drilled by customs and immigrations whenever flying back into the US.  My interviews go at least 45 minutes in a back room, I show completely no emotion, and just answer the questions to whatever is asked.  I have no criminal background record, in any country I have lived in.  I have been detained traveling through Iran, Israel, Afghanistan, China, Thailand, Sudan, Syria, and on and on and the same thing, just answer the questions asked, no emotion and never had a problem.  From the above statement, I would be guilty as charged despite never even having a moving violation.

[millefleur 5,047]

4 hours ago, flicks1998 said:

I guess I would fail if this were really true.  After 120+ countries including extensive travel as a US citizen tourist through Syria, Iran, Iraq, North Korea (when it was possible), etc etc etc, I am constantly drilled by customs and immigrations whenever flying back into the US.  My interviews go at least 45 minutes in a back room, I show completely no emotion, and just answer the questions to whatever is asked.  I have no criminal background record, in any country I have lived in.  I have been detained traveling through Iran, Israel, Afghanistan, China, Thailand, Sudan, Syria, and on and on and the same thing, just answer the questions asked, no emotion and never had a problem.  From the above statement, I would be guilty as charged despite never even having a moving violation.

I specifically mentioned it because the OP mentioned having a criminal record (and name change, where in the courts here they will specifically ask about criminal records.) In your case since you don't have a criminal record, I have no idea why they would detain and interrogate you often or what they were looking for. Maybe because you've travelled so much?

Edited January 26, 2021 by millefleur