Passport Application - Naturalization Certificate as both Proof of U.S. Citizenship and Identification?

[F & J 21]

I have a bit of a dilemma.

My Filipino maiden name was: (FIRST NAME) (MOTHER'S MAIDEN NAME) (FATHER'S LAST NAME)

My Filipino married name is: (FIRST NAME) (FATHER'S LAST NAME) (HUSBAND'S LAST NAME)

This is according to Philippine Regulations on Change of Name for Married Filipino Women - Article 370 of the Civil Code of the Philippines

http://www.chicagopcg.com/regulation%20-%20married%20name.pdf

When I filed for AOS, my EAD and Advance Parole were both issued in my Filipino married name but during my AOS interview, they told me that they would not allow me to use my legal Filipino married name as it is different from U.S. naming conventions so they issued my green card with (FIRST NAME) (MOTHER'S MAIDEN NAME) (HUSBAND'S LAST NAME). Now, I became a U.S. citizen in California where they are familiar with Filipino naming conventions so my Naturalization Certificate was issued with my correct Filipino married name. I did not receive a court document or any other name change document because USCIS considered this a name correction.

I have since called the DOS / the National Passport Information Center and the agent I spoke with looked it up and said I should be able to use my Naturalization Certificate as both Proof of U.S. Citizenship and Photo Identification but when I called the Passport Acceptance Facility I will be going to, they said that my Proof of U.S. Citizenship and Photo ID needs to be 2 separate documents. My problem is that all of my other photo IDs were issued with the name on my green card. The only IDs I have that match the (correct) name on my Naturalization Certificate are all expired - these include my first ever Military ID (expired in 2012), my EAD (expired in 2011) and my Advance Parole document (expired in 2011).

My question is, has anyone else applied for their passport using JUST your Naturalization Certificate as BOTH your Proof of U.S. Citizenship AND Photo Identification?

I would appreciate any input! <3

P.S. This passport acceptance facility is my only choice at the moment because I have checked over 10 facilities closest to where I live and they're either #1 fully booked for the foreseeable future, #2 fully booked for the next 4 weeks and will no longer be accepting passport applications after, or #3 no longer offering passport services.

Edited January 27, 2016 by F & J

[jam2016 10]

I believe you need your NC and your state issue ID or DL.

Have you checked with your local USPS and ask if they can schedule you sooner for the PP appointment?

Most USPS offices have PP acceptance facility.

[F & J 21]

I believe you need your NC and your state issue ID or DL.

Have you checked with your local USPS and ask if they can schedule you sooner for the PP appointment?

Most USPS offices have PP acceptance facility.

My local post office doesn't and I've even checked the ones 3 cities over and they're all either fully-booked or no longer offering passport services The one I found was actually referred by the last post office I called and it's a library. None of the post offices I called knew why they were going to stop accepting passport applications either

My problem with my DL is that it doesn't match the name on my NC it's also an out-of-state DL since my husband is in the military - it was issued in the state that is his Home of Record.

[jam2016 10]

My local post office doesn't and I've even checked the ones 3 cities over and they're all either fully-booked or no longer offering passport services The one I found was actually referred by the last post office I called and it's a library. None of the post offices I called knew why they were going to stop accepting passport applications either

My problem with my DL is that it doesn't match the name on my NC it's also an out-of-state DL since my husband is in the military - it was issued in the state that is his Home of Record.

As far as I remember, the passport application at a post office was a quick and easy process. But I checked recently at the post offices nearby and they told me that they don't accept walk-ins and they now require appointments for a day in advance so it's not so bad for me.

They told me they were accepting PP walkins till the end of last year but they started transitioning into the appointment only basics since the beginning of this year.

I guess time have changed and USPS is cutting back on the staff levels and services since none of the Post office near you accepts PP applications.

Regarding the name in your DL license, I would guess the DOS would already know the naming convention as does the USCIS so I would just send it in. But I think getting a ID or the DL in the state you are now may be a good idea while waiting for the PP appointment.

[F & J 21]

As far as I remember, the passport application at a post office was a quick and easy process. But I checked recently at the post offices nearby and they told me that they don't accept walk-ins and they now require appointments for a day in advance so it's not so bad for me.

They told me they were accepting PP walkins till the end of last year but they started transitioning into the appointment only basics since the beginning of this year.

I guess time have changed and USPS is cutting back on the staff levels and services since none of the Post office near you accepts PP applications.

Regarding the name in your DL license, I would guess the DOS would already know the naming convention as does the USCIS so I would just send it in. But I think getting a ID or the DL in the state you are now may be a good idea while waiting for the PP appointment.

One of the post offices I called actually does walk-ins but they will only be accepting passport applications until this Friday so I won't be able to make it You're lucky that your local post office still offers passport services even though it's by appointment only. Mine stopped altogether.

Yes! I actually looked it up on the USCIS website as far as what their manual says and it references the Department of State's Foreign Affairs Manual:

http://www.uscis.gov/iframe/ilink/docView/AFM/HTML/AFM/0-0-0-1/0-0-0-19803/0-0-0-19895.html#0-0-0-661

7 FAM 1300, Appendix C, Names to Be Used in Passports

7 FAM 1367e. (Foreign Naming Conventions)

7 FAM 1391-1394 Appendix C (Slavic, Asian, Arabic, Hispanic names)

Unfortunately those appendices are currently unavailable on the FAM website at https://fam.state.gov/ so I'm not entirely sure what they say. I assume they cover the Filipino naming conventions though

As far as getting an ID or DL in the state where we're currently stationed, the Military Spouse Residency Relief Act (MSRRA) has a few uncertainties. I know it doesn't cover driver's licenses so we always have to check State law but keeping my driver's license from my husband's Home of Record in the military is one way to keep our shared domicile. If I abandon this domicile, I would not be allowed to "recapture" it even if we live there again. http://www.uscg.mil/d9/D9Legal/Driver_License.pdf According to this, the only states that do not honor our home state's license are Alaska and Montana although some states do not specifically address spouses and other family members/dependents. This is incredibly helpful because we move a lot (every 2 years or so) and this means that every time we move, if I didn't keep my home state's driver's license I would have had to get a new driver's license every 2 years. Honestly, it's one less thing to worry about. I just carry a copy of the California Vehicle Code referencing nonresident active duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their spouses being allowed to operate a motor vehicle using their home state's driver's license.

Edited January 27, 2016 by F & J

[F & J 21]

I called the NPIC again and they confirmed that their database specifically says that the Naturalization Certificate may be used as BOTH Proof of U.S. Citizenship and Photo Identification - no separate ID needed. They said that if the passport acceptance facility doesn't believe me, I can ask them to call the NPIC and confirm it themselves. I asked again about having the Naturalization Certificate mailed back using a trackable method and they said that I can include a prepaid mailing envelope with a note requesting the NC to be mailed back using that envelope and that is acceptable.

[F & J 21]

I received a reply to my email saying:

Thank you for contacting the National Passport Information Center.

An original Naturalization Certificate or Certificate of Citizenship, with identifiable photo attached, may be used for both evidence of citizenship and evidence of identity. When the customer is using the certificate as evidence of both citizenship and identity, the original and a photocopy must be submitted with the application.

o The Department of Homeland Security, which issues these certificates, has confirmed that the certificates may be photocopied when used as identification when applying for a passport

During a previous call, they also said that this is one of the only times that you are allowed to photocopy your Naturalization Certificate - strictly for government use only (same restrictions as a Military ID).

[F & J 21]

Another update, regarding the possibility of including a prepaid return mailing envelope for the Naturalization Certificate:

Thank you for contacting the National Passport Information Center.

Passport Services cannot accept pre-paid envelopes or mailing labels for return delivery.

All original documents are returned once your new passport has been completed. Please double-check the mailing envelope. If your documents were not enclosed, please allow two weeks for their return under separate cover. If you still have not received them, please call the National Passport Information Center at the toll free number below for additional assistance in locating them.

For further information, please refer to our website www.travel.state.gov or call (877) 487-2778, for TDD/TTY users 1-888-874-7793 (Mon-Fri 8:00AM to 10:00PM ET; excluding federal holidays).

[jam2016 10]

Good to know that there is no need to spend additional $ for the return envelope. So, once again you are at the mercy of USPS not to sustain any damage or complete loss of your NC.

In the past 6 months, I have gotten 4-5 envelopes with totally different address and name delivered in my mailbox and I had to return them to the USPS for redelivery to the correct address.

[F & J 21]

Good to know that there is no need to spend additional $ for the return envelope. So, once again you are at the mercy of USPS not to sustain any damage or complete loss of your NC.

In the past 6 months, I have gotten 4-5 envelopes with totally different address and name delivered in my mailbox and I had to return them to the USPS for redelivery to the correct address.

That's my biggest fear :s We get other people's mail quite frequently and I make sure to return them but there has been mail that we've been expecting that never make it to our mailbox so either USPS lost them or our neighbors never bothered to return them for redelivery to our address There were 2 times when 2 packages were misdelivered and our neighbors never turned it in - luckily, those were tracked down and we got them eventually but those had tracking :s It's scary that they mail back the Naturalization Certificate with no tracking I really wish they'd at least give us the option to have it returned using a trackable method