After Citizenship with Name change (new Thread)

[Cognac]

Hi Folks,

I wanted to start a new thread to discuss post-citizenship issues associated with name change. I would love to hear and share experiences around the name change.

COGNAC

[zenusa]

I haven't yet experienced the after life of it yet but soon will. I would also like to know what other people have faced who are in the same boat.

Good Thread, could be helpfull to some people..

[Cognac]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19107675/

I haven't applied for one yet. Any thoughts?

COGNAC

[Cognac]

My Update for week 1 after Citizenship:

I applied for changes at SSA and other miscellaneous (employer, banks, credit cards etc.). Change at SSA was a breeze, took just 10 mins. Note that some credit cards do not need forms to fill and some do. So start the process by phone and let them guide you.

DO NOT apply for the passport until you finish this. There's a possibility that you would'nt get your documentation back for quite sometime. Here's how I am planning to tackle this in the order presented:

1. SSA (Very Important)
2. DMV (Need an ID in lieu of a missing US passport)
3. Passport (Although this is imporant, the other 2 should AQAP so you can afford to have your immigration certificate locked)
4. Miscellaneous (This can be done anytime and in parallel to the other 3 above as it does not need original certificate and name change court orders)

Lesson Learnt: There's no need to write to the credit bureaus. The name change will be reported by the above agencies automatically!

COGNAC

[zenusa]

My Update for week 1 after Citizenship:

DO NOT apply for the passport until you finish this. There's a possibility that you would'nt get your documentation back for quite sometime. Here's how I am planning to tackle this in the order presented:


3. Passport (Although this is imporant, the other 2 should AQAP so you can afford to have your immigration certificate locked)

COGNAC

Cognac,

Thanks for your informative post. Could you elaborate on the above a little more? Do the take the certificate when applying for passport?

Thanks again

[Cognac]

Cognac,

Thanks for your informative post. Could you elaborate on the above a little more? Do the take the certificate when applying for passport?

Thanks again

Yes. Need to submit the naturalization certificate in original. (Haven't experienced this though). Court record for Name change will not be in original.

Also, if you get your DMV covered before applying. This ensures that you have at least one photo ID is with you (with the new name) in the absence of the GC. This ensures any local international travel to Canada and Mexico with a passport appln reciept and driver's license.

COGNAC

[Cognac]

Yes. Need to submit the naturalization certificate in original. (Haven't experienced this though). COGNAC

Ok...here's my experience on passport application. I applied for passport (expedited) finally.

The postal employee kept the naturalization certificate in original as proof and said that it would be returned with my passport.

So, heading to DMV first after naturalization was the correct idea. In fact the postal employee needed a second document as proof and driver's license served the purpose

Note: All the passport applications collected by the post office is bunched together and sent in one packet to processing. The employee mentioned that it usually is by priority mail and would reach Philadelphia next day. So, I did not opt for the express mail.

Employee mentioned 3-4 weeks to get the passport in expedited way.

COGNAC

[Cognac]

If you have a ticket to a foreign country needing a passport (excluding Canada, Mexico and some caribbean islands), the local passport office obliges and issues the passport the same day. My friend who naturalized last week with me, walked-in to the Philadelphia office, showed his ticket and walked out with a passport. Wow!

[zemra406]

Wow! That is really quick. My husband has his oath ceremony on July 12 and we are leaving for Europe on Aug 2. I am concerned that he will not get his passport in time (and they will take his green card at the ceremony). I think you have to be leaving within 2 weeks to apply at a passport center in person ... so we are debating whether we should wait one week and apply in person or apply at the post office and expedite the process (that will leave us 3 weeks).

[zenusa]

Wow! That is really quick. My husband has his oath ceremony on July 12 and we are leaving for Europe on Aug 2. I am concerned that he will not get his passport in time (and they will take his green card at the ceremony). I think you have to be leaving within 2 weeks to apply at a passport center in person ... so we are debating whether we should wait one week and apply in person or apply at the post office and expedite the process (that will leave us 3 weeks).

From what I am hearing 3 weeks expedited might not be guaranteed. So may be you should apply in person at passport center and be sure you will receive it before you fly. Just a suggestion. Good luck

[zenusa]

I got my citizenship yesterday and today had my driver's license change to reflect my new name . It’s not really new; same name just a tiny short. Always wanted to do that. Anyways, next I will go for SS, bank, Insurance, Credit card and such and of course I-9 for work. I think that should take care of all the necessary ones before I apply for the passport. Not in a hurry so it's all good.

Oh yes, while I was at MVA I registered to Vote.

[Cognac]

Congratulations!

I received my updated SS card in a week. No need to inform credit bureaus I heard. Once name change reached all the different bank and cc, they report your new name to the credit bureaus. Just need to check your credit report after a few months to be sure.

Today, my passport case # appeared online after less than a week of applying. I expedited the application, so let's see if they *really* mean 2-3 weeks.

I did not register to vote during the oath. What's the best and easiest way to do that?

COGNAC

I got my citizenship yesterday and today had my driver's license change to reflect my new name . It’s not really new; same name just a tiny short. Always wanted to do that. Anyways, next I will go for SS, bank, Insurance, Credit card and such and of course I-9 for work. I think that should take care of all the necessary ones before I apply for the passport. Not in a hurry so it's all good.

Oh yes, while I was at MVA I registered to Vote.

[zenusa]

Congratulations!

I received my updated SS card in a week. No need to inform credit bureaus I heard. Once name change reached all the different bank and cc, they report your new name to the credit bureaus. Just need to check your credit report after a few months to be sure.

Today, my passport case # appeared online after less than a week of applying. I expedited the application, so let's see if they *really* mean 2-3 weeks.

I did not register to vote during the oath. What's the best and easiest way to do that?

COGNAC

During my DL replacement The lady asked me if I wanted to register to vote. She printed out a paper that already had all my information (Name, address and such). I just had to check couple of preferences.

You may be able to do it at the post office. Not 100% sure though.

Did they take your picture at the post office or you had them taken before for passport? How does it work?

[Cognac]

My DMV did not offer voter registration option. I need to check at the PO.

I had obtained my pictures at COSTCO @ $4.99 a pair. This is by far the cheapest i've found.

During my DL replacement The lady asked me if I wanted to register to vote. She printed out a paper that already had all my information (Name, address and such). I just had to check couple of preferences.

You may be able to do it at the post office. Not 100% sure though.

Did they take your picture at the post office or you had them taken before for passport? How does it work?

[saara]

How do you filing for a name change in Court? Shouldn't that be done before we file for SSA and Others.

[zenusa]

How do you filing for a name change in Court? Shouldn't that be done before we file for SSA and Others.

saara,

I am not sure if I understand your question correctly but if you are changing your name while filing your N400, this is how it goes: When you mention name change in your N400 application, fill out the appropriate section with new name, rest is taken care of for you.

During your oath, usually in a court in front of a Judge with everyone with name change request (They alwasy try to schedule them together), you will be handed your NC and Name change doc/court paper, which you take to SSA, MVA/DMV, Bank and so forth where you need your name to be changed.

So answer to you 2nd question is 'Yes', it should be done at court before you go anywhere. Hope this helps.

[Cognac]

In addition to what zenusa has indicated, you can apply for citizenship (N-400) without specifying any name change. In this scenario, during the interview, you can inform the IO that you'd like to do a name change. The IO will make changes to your application right there. IO will direc this case to the local court to procure an order effecting the change.

NOTE: I'm not sure about this, but depending on the backlog, there could be a delay or additional checks may be needed if you mention name change in your N-400 while filing. Hence, I did not indicate name change before and requested the change during the interview.

COGNAC

[usdeg]

. IO will direc this case to the local court to procure an order effecting the change.

COGNAC

Thanks for this piece of info. I am in the process of applying for citizenship with a name change. I am thinking of going the route you mentioned. Can u please elaborate on the statement above. Does it mean that the name change certificate is obtained later than the NC?

Thanks in advance

[Cognac]

Thanks for this piece of info. I am in the process of applying for citizenship with a name change. I am thinking of going the route you mentioned. Can u please elaborate on the statement above. Does it mean that the name change certificate is obtained later than the NC?

Thanks in advance

No. On the day of the oath, you'll receive both the NC and the court order doc ordering the name change.

COGNAC

[zenusa]

Cognac,

Have you received you SS card yet? How long does it take? Not that I really need the physical card or anything. Just wondering..

[Cognac]

zenusa,

I got mine in a week's time.

Guess what, my passport status has changed. It says that my passport has been mailed to be reach me on 7/3. If that's true, I should be receiving it within 3 weeks of applying (6/14).

COGNAC

[zenusa]

zenusa,

I got mine in a week's time.

Guess what, my passport status has changed. It says that my passport has been mailed to be reach me on 7/3. If that's true, I should be receiving it within 3 weeks of applying (6/14).

COGNAC

That is great! Congrats! It has been only a week I have applied and it just made to the status as "Your application has been received". Although I did expedited service, it is showing as normal routine. I am not sure how that happend.

[Cognac]

Received the passport earlier yesterday by priority mail. It took 2 weeks and 2 days.

COGNAC

[saara]

Yes. Need to submit the naturalization certificate in original. (Haven't experienced this though). Court record for Name change will not be in original.

Also, if you get your DMV covered before applying. This ensures that you have at least one photo ID is with you (with the new name) in the absence of the GC. This ensures any local international travel to Canada and Mexico with a passport appln reciept and driver's license.

COGNAC

I intend to have my name changed. How do I change my name at SSA and how to I file for name change at court

[Cognac]

I intend to have my name changed. How do I change my name at SSA and how to I file for name change at court

If you are intending to change name with naturalization, you have to fill form N-400 with the name change details (see the form). If you have already applied and didn't apply for name change, make sure you raise this with the IO during the interview.

On the day of the citizenship oath, you'll recieve :
a. Naturalization certificate and
b. Name change court record.

After this, it's as simple as heading to the SSA with these documents.

COGNAC

[theskyflyer]

I went for citizenship interview this morning (Aug 1). The Officer had my birth certificate (let's say with name JOHN SMITH), but he did not have the name change document that was done in 1979 changing my name to PATRICK SMITH).

I came to USA as PATRICK SMITH and all of my documents/ID/SS card bear the name PS, including my current passport and green card. (I am a bit puzzled why they don't have the name change document on their file, as they issued the green card under PATRICK SMITH back in 2002)

The Officer submitted the naturalization application under JOHN SMITH and asked me to sign a name change petition to PATRICK SMITH.

I am due for a sworn in on Aug 24. Will the Naturalization Certificate bear the name JOHN or PATRICK? If it is JOHN, will there be an additional document saying it is now changed to PATRICK SMITH?

I have travel plan on Sep 12 and I am very nervous about not getting a passport in time, not to mention which name will appear on my NC. The letter for sworn-in ceremony bears the name JOHN. (And I have no IDs bearing that name as the name change was done when I was 10 years old)

Thank you.

[homi777]

My middle name and last name was changed after marriage before coming to US. My native country's pass port was issued with my name after marriage. All processing within US was with my name after marriage. My GC was issued with that name.

Now during the naturalization interview IO looked at the marriage certificate asked me questions related to my maiden and middle name. IO also mentioned if I want my middle name on NC it will delay process. Not to delay the process I chose to have NC without my middle name and took the oath on the same day. My NC has my first and last name.

While applying for US passport I included my middle name on the application. Will I get passport with middle name? or it will be just like NC. What can be done to add middle name on my PP later?

Thank you.

[nelsonyiga]

Why do they ask for my Credit Report when I appear for name change at court house.
I have a Court Date set for next Friday to get my name changed. However the court clerk told me that I need to bring my Credit Report with me when I appear.
Is that normal procedure or something I need to look into?

My Credit is okay except for few collections. Someone tell me and how long does a name change take at the court when you appear?
Just curious..

[humbertoq]

I just applied for my citizenship with a name change. Will that delay the citizenship process? What else is involved in tha name change? Should I not do the name change? How long does it normally take to the citizenship process to be conpleted? thank you so much... please respond to Humbertosqueiroz@hotmail.com thanks

[peonylove]

Homi777, I had a similar experience during my interview. Have you found out whether you can add back your middle name on your passport? Or did your name got changed during the naturalization process, so you no longer have your middle name? Thanks!