Any one ever changed their name between N-400 interview and oath ceremony?

[A-and-B 23]

I selected the option to change my name in my N-400 form, however, during the interview, the IO said I couldn't do a name change because I live in a different state than the Federal court house where the oath ceremony would be held.

My issue is that I need to change my name ASAP due to name mismatch issues (christened name is commonly dropped from official ID, banks, etc in my home country, whereas my GC/DL/etc in the US have my full christened name).

 

My IO recommended me for approval, and case status shows as ceremony awaiting to be scheduled.

 

To avoid delays after the ceremony, I would like to get my name changed immediately at the local district court.

 

Has anyone done this? Reasons to not do this? I would immediately report the name change via USCIS as expected of GC holders.

Edited April 12 by A-and-B
typos

[OldUser 8,838]

8 minutes ago, A-and-B said:

Reasons to not do this? 

Further delays and confusion at USCIS. They have to run background check on any names you ever used.

 

Naturalize and then change it if you want. That would be my vote.

 

Why is your ceremony at different state to where you live? Is this normal for filers in your state?

Edited April 12 by OldUser

[A-and-B 23]

22 minutes ago, OldUser said:

Why is your ceremony at different state to where you live? Is this normal for filers in your state?

I live in a border town, closest USCIS office is 15 minutes away in the next state over, vs 3 hour drive in my state. It's also where USCIS decided I should interview. I did not pick that location.

[OldUser 8,838]

49 minutes ago, A-and-B said:

I live in a border town, closest USCIS office is 15 minutes away in the next state over, vs 3 hour drive in my state. It's also where USCIS decided I should interview. I did not pick that location.

I see. Thought maybe you moved in the process. Good luck!

[randomstairs 324]

3 hours ago, A-and-B said:

My issue is that I need to change my name ASAP due to name mismatch issues (christened name is commonly dropped from official ID, banks, etc in my home country, whereas my GC/DL/etc in the US have my full christened name).

I'm not sure I understand the reasoning here. You want to change your name because another country drops it from documents issued there? Why would the "mismatch" be an issue? Are you concerned about USCIS not liking the mismatch? I wouldn't worry about it, since you're obviously all but finished with the process.

 

BTW: If you're a GC holder, the US is your only home country.

[OldUser 8,838]

18 minutes ago, randomstairs said:

BTW: If you're a GC holder, the US is your only home country.

Good point, home country vs country of origin.

Edited April 12 by OldUser

[JeanneAdil 6,872]

I would expect to see the name change on your document at oath as asked

Federal judges are FEDERAL JUDGES  (cover all the USA)

 

so, perhaps the officer at interview was poorly trained 

[A-and-B 23]

12 hours ago, randomstairs said:

I'm not sure I understand the reasoning here. You want to change your name because another country drops it from documents issued there? Why would the "mismatch" be an issue? Are you concerned about USCIS not liking the mismatch? I wouldn't worry about it, since you're obviously all but finished with the process.

 

 

 

My country/province has christened first names on the birth record that are dropped from state ID's and bank records. 

 

For example, say my christened name is "Joseph Andrew Smith", but my Canadian driver's license and passport only say "Andrew Smith".

 

When moving to the US, the US did not drop my christened name. US Banks use my full christened name. I can't wire myself money between banks in Canada and the US because the full legal name doesn't match. Banks in the US obviously won't change the name on the account without a legal name change, and bank in Canada will not adjust my bank account to put my christened first name on the account unless I not only go to Canada, but to the very specific "home  branch" where my account was opened.

 

Besides that, I've also never used my christened name, so it makes things very confusing when going to hospitals, etc and 9/10 times they will ignore the "preferred name" on file, and just call out a name I am not expecting.

Edited April 12 by A-and-B

[A-and-B 23]

7 hours ago, JeanneAdil said:

so, perhaps the officer at interview was poorly trained 

 

That's what I was thinking too. I couldn't find anyone else reporting this specific reason for being told they couldn't do a requested N-400 name change, but it does seem they are discouraging people from doing N-400 name changes and/or court house oath ceremonies, even though I see they are still doing them in PDX (Hatfield court house lists dates every month through the end of this year for oath ceremonies).

 

No matter the reason, right or wrong, it's too late to do anything about it now, so I don't have a choice to do a separate legal name change at the county court house ASAP, as the other issue is that my mother is in poor health and my canadian passport is expired, so I want/need to get a new EDL and passport ASAP after the oath ceremony, with the corrected name. Yes, I am aware I could request those with my old name and then later request new ones with the corrected name, but that's just more money and time wasted at all these gov offices (SSA, DMV, passport, etc).

[OldUser 8,838]

1 hour ago, A-and-B said:

 

That's what I was thinking too. I couldn't find anyone else reporting this specific reason for being told they couldn't do a requested N-400 name change, but it does seem they are discouraging people from doing N-400 name changes and/or court house oath ceremonies, even though I see they are still doing them in PDX (Hatfield court house lists dates every month through the end of this year for oath ceremonies).

 

No matter the reason, right or wrong, it's too late to do anything about it now, so I don't have a choice to do a separate legal name change at the county court house ASAP, as the other issue is that my mother is in poor health and my canadian passport is expired, so I want/need to get a new EDL and passport ASAP after the oath ceremony, with the corrected name. Yes, I am aware I could request those with my old name and then later request new ones with the corrected name, but that's just more money and time wasted at all these gov offices (SSA, DMV, passport, etc).

Your need to change name is understandable, but doing it before oath ceremony can cost you more in time and money in the end.

 

Good luck and keep us posted!

[randomstairs 324]

4 hours ago, A-and-B said:

 

My country/province has christened first names on the birth record that are dropped from state ID's and bank records. 

 

For example, say my christened name is "Joseph Andrew Smith", but my Canadian driver's license and passport only say "Andrew Smith".

 

When moving to the US, the US did not drop my christened name. US Banks use my full christened name. I can't wire myself money between banks in Canada and the US because the full legal name doesn't match. Banks in the US obviously won't change the name on the account without a legal name change, and bank in Canada will not adjust my bank account to put my christened first name on the account unless I not only go to Canada, but to the very specific "home  branch" where my account was opened.

 

Besides that, I've also never used my christened name, so it makes things very confusing when going to hospitals, etc and 9/10 times they will ignore the "preferred name" on file, and just call out a name I am not expecting.

I see. Interesting. I would strongly advise you to naturalize first, and change the name only after that. I've seen countless cases, on these forums and elsewhere, where applicants can't naturalize in a reasonable amount of time on the account of requesting to change their name. Some cases are going for years, with the applicant being in the dark about any progress. All because they requested to have their name changed before the Oath. Given the current dynamics in the immigration system, it seems extraordinarily risky to proceed with it. You can always do it as a citizen.

Edited April 12 by randomstairs

[A-and-B 23]

2 hours ago, randomstairs said:

All because they requested to have their name changed before the Oath. Given the current dynamics in the immigration system, it seems extraordinarily risky to proceed with it. You can always do it as a citizen.

 

This is why I was asking. Apparently, the lead time for the court hearing is about 2-4 weeks, so I will wait until I know the oath date, and then file the name change request with the court to time it shortly after the oath.

[Rekyrts 127]

On 4/12/2025 at 5:32 AM, JeanneAdil said:

I would expect to see the name change on your document at oath as asked

Federal judges are FEDERAL JUDGES  (cover all the USA)

 

so, perhaps the officer at interview was poorly trained 

 

Exactly.

Not understanding why the offer dissuaded OP.

[A-and-B 23]

8 hours ago, Rekyrts said:

Not understanding why the offer dissuaded OP.

It didn't dissuade me; I was not given a choice. They just said "Since you don't live in Oregon, you can't change your name via the N-400, so we're going to change this line to "no" on your N-400. I wasn't about to pick an argument with the IO.

[Rekyrts 127]

12 hours ago, A-and-B said:

It didn't dissuade me; I was not given a choice. They just said "Since you don't live in Oregon, you can't change your name via the N-400, so we're going to change this line to "no" on your N-400. I wasn't about to pick an argument with the IO.

Typo in my earler post... offer = officer.

And even worse still; I think you should have been given the opportunity, but I'm with you; I wouldn't have argued with the IO either.

Maybe there's something codified in state law with regards to residing in the state where the name change occurs?