I became a citizen yesterday. Now what?

[LTPLTP 5]

Yay...it's over. After 24 months and 26 days, I'm officially American. I did take on my husbands name with this certificate. My drivers license is in my former name. Do I need to go change it right away? I still have all my other ID in my old last name. Also, do I have to update my social security number and if so how is that done?

 

Anything else to do?

[Mike E 11,742]

9 minutes ago, LTPLTP said:

Yay...it's over. After 24 months and 26 days, I'm officially American. I did take on my husbands name with this certificate. My drivers license is in my former name. Do I need to go change it right away? I still have all my other ID in my old last name. Also, do I have to update my social security number and if so how is that done?

 

Anything else to do?

Did your naturalization process come with a lawful change of name document?

[LTPLTP 5]

33 minutes ago, Mike E said:

Did your naturalization process come with a lawful change of name document?

Yes it did.

 

Well, I did not get an extra document. The immigration officer moved the judge to accept the lawful name change and accept all the new citizens. He accepted. And my certificate of naturalization is written with my new last name.

[JeanneAdil 6,693]

Best way to update SS card is make an appointment with nearest office and go there to fill out the Form SS 5

it can be done by mail but most of us hate to mail out important documents 

 

DL not as important to change immediately but check 

Colorado DL site 

Edited April 7, 2022 by JeanneAdil

[Dashinka 24,870]

Congratulations!  Personally, I would first get a passport moving, then you can work on changing your name on your SSC and DL.  

 

 

[Mike E 11,742]

2 hours ago, LTPLTP said:

Yes it did.

 

Well, I did not get an extra document. The immigration officer moved the judge to accept the lawful name change and accept all the new citizens. He accepted. And my certificate of naturalization is written with my new last name.

My observation is that you should  have received a document from the court stating your lawful name change. I suspect you are going to have problems.  Others have.  I hope you don’t.  
 

Apply for your passport first.  That should go ok because it will be your  first usa passport and SSA says wait 14 days anyway.
 

 Then try changing your name with SSA 

[LTPLTP 5]

2 hours ago, Mike E said:

My observation is that you should  have received a document from the court stating your lawful name change. I suspect you are going to have problems.  Others have.  I hope you don’t.  
 

Apply for your passport first.  That should go ok because it will be your  first usa passport and SSA says wait 14 days anyway.
 

 Then try changing your name with SSA 

Hmm ok, maybe it gets mailed? I did not know to ask about it. Hope it's not an issue. Thanks for the advice. I do have an appt for the passport.

[Chancy 6,243]

*** Moved from US Citizenship General Discussion to What to do now that you are a US citizen ***

 

[Ontarkie 14,540]

3 hours ago, Mike E said:

My observation is that you should  have received a document from the court stating your lawful name change. I suspect you are going to have problems.  Others have.  I hope you don’t.  
 

Apply for your passport first.  That should go ok because it will be your  first usa passport and SSA says wait 14 days anyway.
 

 Then try changing your name with SSA 

It won't be an issue, taking a spouses last name does not require an actual court/judge to do it. Since all she wanted to do was assume her husband's name she just shows her marriage certificate as her proof of name change. It's just cheaper to wait until  ROC or Naturalization to change it during the process. Most don't realize the name change can happen at ROC and wait until Naturalization.

 

1 hour ago, LTPLTP said:

Hmm ok, maybe it gets mailed? I did not know to ask about it. Hope it's not an issue. Thanks for the advice. I do have an appt for the passport.

Even if nothing comes in the mail your marriage certificate is your legal document to take on your husbands last name. You will submit that when you apply for the passport. 

[nastra30 2,410]

17 hours ago, LTPLTP said:

Yay...it's over. After 24 months and 26 days, I'm officially American. I did take on my husbands name with this certificate. My drivers license is in my former name. Do I need to go change it right away? I still have all my other ID in my old last name. Also, do I have to update my social security number and if so how is that done?

 

Anything else to do?

Also, register to vote. Midterms are coming up.

[JourneyFromA2 85]

10 hours ago, Ontarkie said:

It won't be an issue, taking a spouses last name does not require an actual court/judge to do it. Since all she wanted to do was assume her husband's name she just shows her marriage certificate as her proof of name change. It's just cheaper to wait until  ROC or Naturalization to change it during the process. Most don't realize the name change can happen at ROC and wait until Naturalization.

 

Even if nothing comes in the mail your marriage certificate is your legal document to take on your husbands last name. You will submit that when you apply for the passport. 

This is correct, it wouldn’t be an issue when changing your name to take on spouse’s last name. All you will need is proof of citizenship and marriage certificate. My wife and I married in 2015 and she didn’t change her last name until 2019. 
 

Like everyone said, get your passport first along with a passport card. Then use the passport to change your name with social security. 
 

The social security card may be a longer process. If you have an issue with a social security agent being adamant with whatever script they’re reading from, I might even suggest going through the process of changing your name first because of marriage. And then go through the process of changing citizenship status after that.