Background check requirement for name change??

[PinotNoir]

I had my citizenship interview today and everything went well except when I told the IO that I wanted to change my name she got pissed off because I didn't check "yes" on the N400 form where it asks if you want to change your name.She gave me a paper and I signed it with my new name and at the end of the interview she ticked "A decision cannot yet be made about your application." because she said they have to do a background check before approving it.She told me if it wasn't for my name change I could have gotten the oath letter on the same day.I asked her approximately how long the process would take and she said she would handle it as soon as possible but refused to give me an approximate duration.Has anybody experienced the same thing? or how long can this background check take?


P.S. I didn't change my name I just added a new name so my first name now will be my middle name.

 

[baikal3]

I had my citizenship interview today and everything went well except when I told the IO that I wanted to change my name she got pissed off because I didn't check "yes" on the N400 form where it asks if you want to change your name.She gave me a paper and I signed it with my new name and at the end of the interview she ticked "A decision cannot yet be made about your application." because she said they have to do a background check before approving it.She told me if it wasn't for my name change I could have gotten the oath letter on the same day.I asked her approximately how long the process would take and she said she would handle it as soon as possible but refused to give me an approximate duration.Has anybody experienced the same thing? or how long can this background check take?


P.S. I didn't change my name I just added a new name so my first name now will be my middle name.

Hmm, the IO's explanation sounds rather bogus and suspicious. As far as I know, the FBI Name Check is conducted for the name(s) used up to now, not for the name you might want to use in the future. Doing the latter just does not seem to make any sense and this is the first time I have ever heard of something like this.
I suggest that you make an INFOPASS appointment to inquire about the status of your case, and also contact your congressional representative(s) and ask them for help.

 

[Bobsmyth]

she ticked "A decision cannot yet be made about your application." because she said they have to do a background check before approving it.

A name change request delays the naturalization process, hence the letter of decision cannot be made. The background check the IO was referring to was not FBI check, but likely a secondary check by supervisor of your case file including name check request.

 

[baikal3]

A name change request delays the naturalization process, hence the letter of decision cannot be made. The background check the IO was referring to was not FBI check, but likely a secondary check by supervisor of your case file including name check request.

It still does not make sense to me why a name change request made during the interview would trigger any kind of an additional background check.
I have always thought that the only kind of an additional delay caused by a name change request has to do with the court formalities involved in the name change. In my own case, a name change request (to drop a middle name) was added during the interview and this did not cause any additional delays. The case was recommended for approval (rather than "decision cannot be made") at the conclusion of the interview.

 

[Bobsmyth]

It still does not make sense to me why a name change request made during the interview would trigger any kind of an additional background check.
I have always thought that the only kind of an additional delay caused by a name change request has to do with the court formalities involved in the name change. In my own case, a name change request (to drop a middle name) was added during the interview and this did not cause any additional delays. The case was recommended for approval (rather than "decision cannot be made") at the conclusion of the interview.

It's not a background check in the sense that the new name is verified against a database, but rather a check of the case file by a supervisor along with the additional paperwork needed to schedule the name change in court. Perhaps some IOs have the authority to hand out "recommended for approval", whereas other can only hand out "decision cannot be made".

I can see the need for a background check for a name change request if the applicant previously used the name, but never officially had it changed.

 

[Jackolantern]

This is a case of an incompetent IO who thinks a new background check must be done for the new name that is requested at the interview. Other people request the name change at the interview without having this problem. Hopefully the supervisor will tell them that a new background check is unnecessary.

 

[PinotNoir]

Thanks for the replies.She DID look incompetent because she told me I could already be a citizen because my father got his citizenship when I was like 7.I got my green card when I was 17(I'm 24 now) but didn't live in US until I was 18.If I started living here before I was 18 I could have directly became a citizen but since I came here after I was 18 I couldn't apply for citizenship immediately.Oh well..she didn't know that fact and had to ask her supervisor.So do these naturalization papers ALWAYS get checked by a supervisor?

 

[Jackolantern]

Thanks for the replies.She DID look incompetent because she told me I could already be a citizen because my father got his citizenship when I was like 7.I got my green card when I was 17(I'm 24 now) but didn't live in US until I was 18.If I started living here before I was 18 I could have directly became a citizen but since I came here after I was 18 I couldn't apply for citizenship immediately.Oh well..she didn't know that fact and had to ask her supervisor.So do these naturalization papers ALWAYS get checked by a supervisor?

No. But I think the "decision cannot be made" cases will always have supervisor review. However, it is still possible the IO will request another FBI name check before the review, introducing a delay.

 

[PinotNoir]

I was going to have my OL the same day if it wasn't for the name change request.Now am possibly I going to wait for 2-3 months because of IO's mistake?? That's BS.I made an INFOPASS appointment for wednesday...

 

[faysal]

I was going to have my OL the same day if it wasn't for the name change request.Now am possibly I going to wait for 2-3 months because of IO's mistake?? That's BS.I made an INFOPASS appointment for wednesday...

This is one of the reasons I always say NOOOOO to name change. Imagine if your new first name and your last name match with a name on terrist watchlist...God will have difficult time helping you..After Sept. 11, one needs to be careful to change their name before naturalization. If I had to change my name, I would pay for the extra fee after naturalization.

 

[TheRealCanadian]

I was going to have my OL the same day if it wasn't for the name change request.Now am possibly I going to wait for 2-3 months because of IO's mistake?? That's BS.

I had an issue in my interview because the name I use appears on every document except my birth certificate. If I wanted it on my naturalization certificate I would have needed to do a change of name, which would have delayed me several months too.

The reason for this is that while a USCIS employee can swear you in as a US citizen, only a judge can legally change your name. I would have needed to have been naturalized by a judge, and the next ceremony for the Northern District of Georgia was February 2010, not October 2009 when I took my oath.

 

[Bobsmyth]

Imagine if your new first name and your last name match with a name on terrist watchlist...God will have difficult time helping you.

Stop being paranoid. The background check also cross references other data such as date of birth, so changing your name during naturalization process that coincides with someone on the terror watchlist would not end up in your application being delayed.

 

[PinotNoir]

I've just received my oath letter and I'll be becoming a US citizen on the 14th of June.