Question about name change and travel

[bluestone99 0]

Hi, my wife recently passed her citizenship test and requested to legally change her name.  They told her that she would receive a letter in about 2 weeks reflecting the change and that she could then go get her name changed with the state and other places.  Problem is that now we are at close to 6 weeks and still no changes to her case.  After last years Covid trip cancellation she is desperately hoping to travel home to see her family this year.  Problem is this year that we are running out of time because of the small window that school is out for the summer.  Does anyone know if her green card would still get her in and out of the country?  She is under the impression that the green card is now invalid since she passed her citizenship test.  If it is invalid, is there anything that we can do to legally have her traveling in the meantime while she is waiting on this paperwork?  By the way, we live in Louisiana so we would be changing the name according to their rules for the state.  Any info is appreciated, thanks much!

 

Keith

[Crazy Cat 42,755]

Passing the test is just one step.  If she has taken the oath of citizenship, her Green Card is not valid (she will need a US passport for international travel).  If she has not taken the oath of citizenship, her Green Card is still valid.  Don't you surrender your Green Card at the oath ceremony?

Edited May 11, 2021 by Lucky Cat

[Dashinka 25,017]

6 minutes ago, Lucky Cat said:

Passing the test is just one step.  If she has taken the oath of citizenship, her Green Card is not valid (she will need a US passport for international travel).  If she has not taken the oath of citizenship, her Green Card is still valid.  Don't you surrender your Green Card at the oath ceremony?

Spot on, and yes, the GC is surrendered at the oath ceremony.

[Scandi 4,220]

At the oath ceremony when she receives her naturalization certificate, she will also receive a name change document signed by a judge. 

She is not a citizen until she has had her oath ceremony. Until she becomes a citizen she's still a greencard holder and can use her unexpired greencard like normal.

Edited May 12, 2021 by Scandi

[bluestone99 0]

2 hours ago, Scandi said:

At the oath ceremony when she receives her naturalization certificate, she will also receive a name change document signed by a judge. 

She is not a citizen until she has had her oath ceremony. Until she becomes a citizen she's still a greencard holder and can use her unexpired greencard like normal.

Perfect, thank you! So her travel isnt restricted and can still use the unexpired green card until they call her in for her ceremony? After that she would use a US passport?

[Crazy Cat 42,755]

1 minute ago, bluestone99 said:

Perfect, thank you! So her travel isnt restricted and can still use the unexpired green card until they call her in for her ceremony? After that she would use a US passport?

Yes.