my dramatic long story after naturalization

[BayBearea-deleted 6]

Hi y'all,

First post here, just want to share my story.

 

So I changed my name in county court just 2 days before the citizenship interview / Oath ceremony, because my field office is San Francisco office, which holds administrative oath ceremony, which does NOT allow legal name change. I feel lucky getting that court hearing date because the initial court hearing date was way after my citizenship interview date (like 2 months after), but the clerk in the courthouse was so kind that after some call, she told me that my hearing date has been change to Friday (5 weeks after the filing date, merely enough for posting ad on newspaper), just right before my Monday citizenship interview in the city! (I would like to sincerely thank that kind lady)

 

The court hearing and citizenship interview went super smooth. I even got the same day oath ceremony, and the Certificate of Naturalization with my new name on it. That's a big Yay!

 

So the next day, I went to Social Security office to request the update of my status (name change, citizenship), and Post Office to submit expedited passport application. But the nightmare just began. (Probably I should have waited 10 days after the ceremony to do these)

 

Two weeks after the SSA request, I went to DMV to get a new DL. But there the gentleman at the counter told me he could not verify my information thru SSA.He also told me that it usually takes only a few hours or at most 2 days for SSA to update my info. The DMV system and SSA system are connected so DMV can instantly verify one's info thru SSA. (Im not sure if I heard this wrong, maybe he meant SAVE system in USCIS) So there must be something wrong with my case in SSA.

 

I then have been to SSA for couple times for my case updates, every time the SSA officer just told me my case is being reviewed by USCIS, and they can do nothing but just let me wait. 

 

Meanwhile, I got a letter from Houston Passport Agency telling me that I "wrote my SSN incorrectly". I'm sure my SSN was correct on the passport application form. So it looks like the passport agency was also trying to verify my info with my SSN thru SSA but failed. EVERYTHING JUST GOT STUCK because USCIS would not confirm my case!!

 

On myE-verify website, I tried to start a case to verify my employment eligibility. The system automatically closed the first 2 cases I started with my old and new name, not sure if that means anything. Then on the 3rd case, the system realized something's wrong and finally gave me a "Tentative Nonconfirmation" to let me choose if I want to solve it by visiting SSA. So I decided to call USCIS, of course their phone system is so notorious that I was never able to speak to a human unless I would make an infopass appointment. So I found the myE-verify phone number under USCIS website, called and explained my situation to the rep. To no surprise, I was told to contact USCIS directly because the myE-verify and USCIS are in different departments. What a bummer! (I mean the USCIS system, not the rep!)

 

I did everything I could to get my SSA case resolved but they all failed. I was expecting my passport before Queen's Jubilee so that I could go to UK with my hubby for the parade. I couldn't even make an emergency passport appointment because then they still could not verify my SSN. Big disappointment. 

 

Then I registered the mySocialSecurity on SSA website with my old name, it passed the system check. I logined everyday to check my profile and saw my old name. Sigh. The SSA officer was right, the only thing I can do is wait.

 

One day (like 7 weeks after the status update requested in SSA) I log in to SSA website to check my account as usual. Suddenly I saw my new name reflected in mySS account!! I realized this could mean my case in their system might have cleared. I rushed to DMV next day, you know what? BAM!!!! They just went thru the SSN check, and my name change of drivers license was instantly approved!! Then I went to SSA and handed the myE-verify Tentative Nonconfirmation letter to them. They told me my case to update name and citizenship has been cleared, and they as well cleared the USCIS myE-verify Self Check case with a letter saying "Numident record updated. SSA action complete."(No idea what it exactly means but anyways) Also, on Passport status webpage, it shows the status of my passport application is "Shipped"!! EVERYTHING ALL AT ONCE!!

 

ATM I'm still waiting for my passport and DL to arrive. But no more stress and worries. This is my story. Thank you for your patience for reading it!

 

Timeline:

(4/22/2022 Court hearing for name change)

4/25/2022 Naturalization Interview / Oath Ceremony / Certificate of Naturalization 

4/26/2022 SSA case submitted / Passport application in USPS

6/14/2022 SSA case cleared

6/18/2022 Passport shipped

 

 

[doshi8000 19]

5 hours ago, BayBearea said:

Hi y'all,

First post here, just want to share my story.

 

So I changed my name in county court just 2 days before the citizenship interview / Oath ceremony, because my field office is San Francisco office, which holds administrative oath ceremony, which does NOT allow legal name change. I feel lucky getting that court hearing date because the initial court hearing date was way after my citizenship interview date (like 2 months after), but the clerk in the courthouse was so kind that after some call, she told me that my hearing date has been change to Friday (5 weeks after the filing date, merely enough for posting ad on newspaper), just right before my Monday citizenship interview in the city! (I would like to sincerely thank that kind lady)

 

The court hearing and citizenship interview went super smooth. I even got the same day oath ceremony, and the Certificate of Naturalization with my new name on it. That's a big Yay!

 

So the next day, I went to Social Security office to request the update of my status (name change, citizenship), and Post Office to submit expedited passport application. But the nightmare just began. (Probably I should have waited 10 days after the ceremony to do these)

 

Two weeks after the SSA request, I went to DMV to get a new DL. But there the gentleman at the counter told me he could not verify my information thru SSA.He also told me that it usually takes only a few hours or at most 2 days for SSA to update my info. The DMV system and SSA system are connected so DMV can instantly verify one's info thru SSA. (Im not sure if I heard this wrong, maybe he meant SAVE system in USCIS) So there must be something wrong with my case in SSA.

 

I then have been to SSA for couple times for my case updates, every time the SSA officer just told me my case is being reviewed by USCIS, and they can do nothing but just let me wait. 

 

Meanwhile, I got a letter from Houston Passport Agency telling me that I "wrote my SSN incorrectly". I'm sure my SSN was correct on the passport application form. So it looks like the passport agency was also trying to verify my info with my SSN thru SSA but failed. EVERYTHING JUST GOT STUCK because USCIS would not confirm my case!!

 

On myE-verify website, I tried to start a case to verify my employment eligibility. The system automatically closed the first 2 cases I started with my old and new name, not sure if that means anything. Then on the 3rd case, the system realized something's wrong and finally gave me a "Tentative Nonconfirmation" to let me choose if I want to solve it by visiting SSA. So I decided to call USCIS, of course their phone system is so notorious that I was never able to speak to a human unless I would make an infopass appointment. So I found the myE-verify phone number under USCIS website, called and explained my situation to the rep. To no surprise, I was told to contact USCIS directly because the myE-verify and USCIS are in different departments. What a bummer! (I mean the USCIS system, not the rep!)

 

I did everything I could to get my SSA case resolved but they all failed. I was expecting my passport before Queen's Jubilee so that I could go to UK with my hubby for the parade. I couldn't even make an emergency passport appointment because then they still could not verify my SSN. Big disappointment. 

 

Then I registered the mySocialSecurity on SSA website with my old name, it passed the system check. I logined everyday to check my profile and saw my old name. Sigh. The SSA officer was right, the only thing I can do is wait.

 

One day (like 7 weeks after the status update requested in SSA) I log in to SSA website to check my account as usual. Suddenly I saw my new name reflected in mySS account!! I realized this could mean my case in their system might have cleared. I rushed to DMV next day, you know what? BAM!!!! They just went thru the SSN check, and my name change of drivers license was instantly approved!! Then I went to SSA and handed the myE-verify Tentative Nonconfirmation letter to them. They told me my case to update name and citizenship has been cleared, and they as well cleared the USCIS myE-verify Self Check case with a letter saying "Numident record updated. SSA action complete."(No idea what it exactly means but anyways) Also, on Passport status webpage, it shows the status of my passport application is "Shipped"!! EVERYTHING ALL AT ONCE!!

 

ATM I'm still waiting for my passport and DL to arrive. But no more stress and worries. This is my story. Thank you for your patience for reading it!

 

Timeline:

(4/22/2022 Court hearing for name change)

4/25/2022 Naturalization Interview / Oath Ceremony / Certificate of Naturalization 

4/26/2022 SSA case submitted / Passport application in USPS

6/14/2022 SSA case cleared

6/18/2022 Passport shipped

 

 

Just innocently/harmlessly curious; why do people change names?

Edited June 21, 2022 by doshi8000

[JourneyFromA2 85]

5 hours ago, doshi8000 said:

Just innocently/harmlessly curious; why do people change names?

Marriage, usually. But there are also many other reasons, like just wanting a new name, etc.

Glad it worked out in the end. Congratulations!

[doshi8000 19]

1 hour ago, JourneyFromA2 said:

Marriage, usually. But there are also many other reasons, like just wanting a new name, etc.

Glad it worked out in the end. Congratulations!

Marriage yea that's a no brainer. Why would someone want a new name because of citizenship? Why was that process not done while in green card status? I respect people's desire to but most people I have asked asides marriage haven't really given me a cogent reason (not like they have to)

 

Now those who do it prior naturalization  to " break away" from family and create their "own lineage" makes some sense but for those who do it during usually is an identity thing and its common with some i repeat some Asians, Hispanics,  Africans, Middle Easterners/ Arabians and Indians.

 

How does a name change stop the weirdos from still looking at you funny cos it's not like a change from Nguyen Vuh to Michael Jackson make you look like Michael.

 

Just saying and again trying to understand the motive behind it especially during naturalization.

 

Glad you made it through but all that stress and headache could have been avoided

Edited June 21, 2022 by doshi8000

[little immigrant 801]

18 hours ago, doshi8000 said:

Just innocently/harmlessly curious; why do people change names?

I wanted a middle name. Haven't had one before. 

[BayBearea-deleted 6]

On 6/21/2022 at 12:04 AM, doshi8000 said:

Just innocently/harmlessly curious; why do people change names?

Why are you questioning people who would like to change name? For me the reason is simple: I've been using this "new" name since I was young, and I like it a lot, and I have never liked my born name which I was not able to change in my original country because these names are in different languages. I'm sure there are way more other reasons people would change their names, including but not limited to immigrants, marriage. I saw some reason was that, their original name sounds beautiful and have deep meaning and story, but because their name on passport is only allowed in Roman alphabet, it COULD have totally twisted the meaning of their name in one's native language, sometimes it became disaster. Imagine some named "Shiting" or "Phuket". (Not me in this case).

 

 Your question sounds like changing name is nonsense, and wants people to convince you of believing their reasons while you are in a doubtful situation. (Just some harmless conclusions).

[BayBearea-deleted 6]

On 6/21/2022 at 5:30 AM, JourneyFromA2 said:

Marriage, usually. But there are also many other reasons, like just wanting a new name, etc.

Glad it worked out in the end. Congratulations!

Thanks! yeah it worked out eventually, and I got my passport and new drivers license last week.

[BayBearea-deleted 6]

On 6/21/2022 at 6:44 AM, doshi8000 said:

Glad you made it through but all that stress and headache could have been avoided

I have to admit that I should have done it way earlier, like right after filing N400, but I wasn't expecting the interview coming so soon. Just was too lazy to do it until the moment I received the letter for interview, so I started the name change process, attempting to avoid paying the extra $500ish fee for replacing the certificate of naturalization after getting the one with old name.

 

But even if I have done it right after filing N400, could the painful 2 months after naturalization be avoided? If not, I'm not regretting it.

On 6/21/2022 at 6:31 PM, little immigrant said:

I wanted a middle name. Haven't had one before. 

You got it!😁