N-400 and wife's name change

[jace5869 9]

So my wife just got her entry stamp and we're looking to start the N-400 process. She is from Vietnam and getting a name change there to take my last name seemed like a complicated mess that we will undertake in the future.

I've read during the N-400 process my wife can have her last name changed to mine. I am however confused from reading the pinned post about having the marriage cert show a name change.our marriage cert doesn't list a name change on it and only her maiden name. 

So will the ceremony need a judicial hearing?

Or does the marriage cert act as eligibility to get a name change?

[Pleasework89 47]

Your wife, if approved, can change her name to WHATEVER she wants....one of my mom's friend changed her first name to Cookie. 

 

My mother also changed her name..just shortened her first name and dropped one of her last names. 

 

They don't ask you for any justification for changing your name. 

 

When you receive the certificate of naturalization, if you changed your name, behind the certificate is the official name change. 

[Dashinka 24,493]

I agree with @Pleasework89, you have that option at the N400 stage.  You also have the benefit of a court documented name change that might be helpful in any name change process back in Vietnam.

[Timona 4,207]

How does your wife qualify for N400 when she just got a CR-1? I'm confused. 

 

 

[jace5869 9]

19 minutes ago, Timona said:

How does your wife qualify for N400 when she just got a CR-1? I'm confused. 

 

 

I'm an overseas DoD contractor with more than a year left on my contract.

[SteveInBostonI130 3,434]

A little clarity:

 

Changing the name to "anything" requires a court document as proof for the N400

 

Changing the surname to the spouse's surname just requires a marriage cert and a court document is not needed.

[Happymallymute 50]

I asked the officer to change my last name to my husband's at the n400 interview. All my identity documents had so far been in my maiden name, and it was too much hassle to change my name with all the agencies. 

 

Officer told me my name basically became my husband's last name when we got married and that WAS/IS my name as far as she was concerned, so it didn't even need a judicial name change process. She simply changed my last name in my application to my husband's and that's all it took. 

 

I gave the certificate with the "new" name to DoS for passport, SSA for corrected SSN. No issues.

[nickymicky 58]

just put husband last name where it says current legal name.

 

that's what we did and received the naturalization certificate with husband last name. it was normal naturalization ceremony

[Scandi 4,166]

8 hours ago, jace5869 said:

So my wife just got her entry stamp and we're looking to start the N-400 process. She is from Vietnam and getting a name change there to take my last name seemed like a complicated mess that we will undertake in the future.

I've read during the N-400 process my wife can have her last name changed to mine. I am however confused from reading the pinned post about having the marriage cert show a name change.our marriage cert doesn't list a name change on it and only her maiden name. 

So will the ceremony need a judicial hearing?

Or does the marriage cert act as eligibility to get a name change?

A marriage certificate is always proof of name change (if taking your spouse's last name that is), no matter if the new name is listed on the cert or not. So if she wants your name she can start using it whenever she feels like it (like filling out the N-400 in her new name for instance).

If she wants to change her name in other ways (ie other than taking your last name) it will require the approval of a judge. During the N-400 process USCIS takes care of this for her if she decides to have her name changed, ie you don't have to go to court yourselves to have it done, USCIS sends in the name change application and a judge approves/signs it. 

Edited August 25, 2022 by Scandi