Question about name change

[confusednewbie 1]

I still have about a year before I'm eligible to apply for citizenship. I want to change my name when I do as my name is such a hassle here. My name is Ma. Elena. The Ma. stands for Maria, that's the way it's written in my birth certificate but uscis, the bank, anywhere really, does not allow punctuation so I end up having to leave it as Ma and get called Ma in all these places as they don't know that it means Maria and that Elena is not my middle name but part of my first. I've never even used the name Maria in my life so it's extra confusing to me. (Can I just leave it out in certain documents? I'm worried about not putting it in as it's my legal name)

 

When I change my name I want to completely drop Ma. and possibly make Marie my middle name as a way to keep it. (I don't want to change it to long form Maria as I have a sister who actually has it written as a full Maria in her birth certificate and goes by that here now too as she gets called that all the time) That would make me Elena Marie. Is that a legal name change?

 

I've also read some posts here that name changes make n400s delayed sometimes? Would it still be worth it to apply a first name name change this way or should I do it as a court filed name change before or after any oath ceremony that will take place?

 

Many thanks all, -not Ma

[Kanja 201]

19 minutes ago, confusednewbie said:

I still have about a year before I'm eligible to apply for citizenship. I want to change my name when I do as my name is such a hassle here. My name is Ma. Elena. The Ma. stands for Maria, that's the way it's written in my birth certificate but uscis, the bank, anywhere really, does not allow punctuation so I end up having to leave it as Ma and get called Ma in all these places as they don't know that it means Maria and that Elena is not my middle name but part of my first. I've never even used the name Maria in my life so it's extra confusing to me. (Can I just leave it out in certain documents? I'm worried about not putting it in as it's my legal name)

 

When I change my name I want to completely drop Ma. and possibly make Marie my middle name as a way to keep it. (I don't want to change it to long form Maria as I have a sister who actually has it written as a full Maria in her birth certificate and goes by that here now too as she gets called that all the time) That would make me Elena Marie. Is that a legal name change?

 

I've also read some posts here that name changes make n400s delayed sometimes? Would it still be worth it to apply a first name name change this way or should I do it as a court filed name change before or after any oath ceremony that will take place?

 

Many thanks all, -not Ma

I believe you can change your name to whatever you like. It’s unfortunate punctuation is not allowed as it’s allowed in birth certificates in many states.

 

On a different note my kids pediatrician is named Ma Jesusa 😊

[Mike E 11,739]

1 hour ago, confusednewbie said:

That would make me Elena Marie. Is that a legal name change?

 

yes 

 

1 hour ago, confusednewbie said:

 

I've also read some posts here that name changes make n400s delayed sometimes?

yes 

1 hour ago, confusednewbie said:

 

Would it still be worth it to apply a first name name change this way

no.  

 

Not only can this delay naturalization but in some field offices you get naturalized in your new name but the formal change of name document is delayed indefinitely. This will make you an non  person: you won’t be able to get new state ID, new SS card, or passport. 
 

 

1 hour ago, confusednewbie said:

or should I do it as a court filed name change before or after any oath ceremony that will take place?

State / municipal  court filed name change after you naturalize 

[Pablito 16]

On 11/22/2022 at 11:40 PM, Mike E said:

 

yes 

 

yes 

no.  

 

Not only can this delay naturalization but in some field offices you get naturalized in your new name but the formal change of name document is delayed indefinitely. This will make you an non  person: you won’t be able to get new state ID, new SS card, or passport. 
 

 

State / municipal  court filed name change after you naturalize 

 

How long is the delay usually for the n400 with a name change? ballpark... 

[Mike E 11,739]

Months to years