Naturalization Certificate

[cathers 3]

I have two last names combined with a hyphen: Maiden-Married.

 

The IO for my N-400 said I couldn’t have the hyphenated last name on my naturalization certificate. 
 

Anyone with a hyphenated last name- what’s on your certificate? Or anyone who knows more about this?

 

If my certificate doesn’t have a hyphenated surname, can I still hyphenate for my passport? My DL and SS card are hyphenated. 

 

[Laure&Colin 558]

What the IO told you is absolutely false. I got naturalized less than a month ago and I have a hyphen. As long as you filled all your forms with a hyphen, it should be on the certificate - unless the IO removed it due to some outdated information. My understanding is that the passport will be spelled just like the certificate.

 

When is your oath? When they give you the certificate they will ask you to double-check the information. If you see the hyphen is missing I would ask for correction.

 

In case all that doesn't work, don't sweat it though. My hyphenated last name is entirely my husband's name, think husbandmom-husbanddad, and he's been dealing with hyphen mess ups his entire life. Half of his documents have a hyphen and half don't, he's never had real problems because of it. Currently his passport doesn't have a hyphen, although there's one on his birth certificate... 

Also, when I went to SS to update my citizenship status, the staffer there told me that the hyphen will be on my new card (wasn't on the old one) but that it would eventually... disappear from the system, based on her experience. They know it's a mess.

[Crazy Cat 41,984]

17 hours ago, cathers said:

The IO for my N-400 said I couldn’t have the hyphenated last name on my naturalization certificate. 
 

He is incorrect.  USCIS accepts hyphenated names.

 

Chapter 5 - Verification of Identifying Information | USCIS

 

"For purposes of requesting immigration benefits, a married person may use a legal married name (spouse’s surname), a legal pre-marriage name, or any form of either (for example, hyphenated name, pre-married name or spouse’s surname). Requestors must submit legal documentation, such as that listed below, to show that the name used is the requestor’s legal name:^[2]

• Civil marriage certificate;
• Divorce decree;
• Family registry;
• Country identity document;
• Foreign birth certificate;
• Certificate of naming; or
• Court order.

Edited June 11 by Crazy Cat

[cathers 3]

4 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

He is incorrect.  USCIS accepts hyphenated names.

 

Chapter 5 - Verification of Identifying Information | USCIS

 

"For purposes of requesting immigration benefits, a married person may use a legal married name (spouse’s surname), a legal pre-marriage name, or any form of either (for example, hyphenated name, pre-married name or spouse’s surname). Requestors must submit legal documentation, such as that listed below, to show that the name used is the requestor’s legal name:^[2]

• Civil marriage certificate;
• Divorce decree;
• Family registry;
• Country identity document;
• Foreign birth certificate;
• Certificate of naming; or
• Court order.

Thank you for linking this. When I submit my correction error form 565 I think? I’ll quote this!