interview is next week in Washington D.C Office, how long for oath change first name?

R

Rameshwari

New Member
hello everyone, I'm writing to you for help. I live in the Washington D.C Office area. However, I'm actually in Virginia state.

I have question about naturalisation and changing my first name in this process.
My friend helped me with filling out N400 form last year and last week I received the notice to the interview next week.

it's been told to me that changing my first name shall delay me taking oath. my friend told me about this forum and I searched but can't seem to find any definite answer.
What I really would like to find out is what the length of delay is if I want to change my first name in the interview.

Let me go back to why I am in such hurry. My aunt who looked after me when I was a child is very sick.
She is in bed only and have problem recognising relatives. I wish to go visit her as soon as possible right after I complete my naturalisation. This is so I can leave the U.S with a U.S passport.

I appreciate any help or answers in this matter. Please accept my sincere thanks!
 
check out this information at http://boards.immigration.com/showthread.php?p=1905778

Probably, The delays for the name-change oath are typically a few weeks or less, not 6 months or a year. Find out what the timelines are in your district. Isn't it worth a 5 or 6 week wait to straighten this out? It depends on how USCI process name check. It is up to you if you want to change your first name or not.

Hope this helps.
 
I cut my first name also. It took about 5 weeks for me from interview to oath date . In the meanwhile you can still visit your home country between interview and oath dates. You have to travel with your current passport though.

Another option is during interview - just tell the officer that you dont want to change your name. They are OK with that. Later you can go to a local court and easily change name whenever you want.

Finally even if you do not want to change your name, same day oath or early oath are not guaranteed !!
 
jc8018 said:
I cut my first name also. It took about 5 weeks for me from interview to oath date . In the meanwhile you can still visit your home country between interview and oath dates. You have to travel with your current passport though.

Another option is during interview - just tell the officer that you dont want to change your name. They are OK with that. Later you can go to a local court and easily change name whenever you want.

Finally even if you do not want to change your name, same day oath or early oath are not guaranteed !!
Click to expand...


Thank you for your reply! I'm thinking the best solution is to just ask the interviewing officer about it. If she/he says it's going to take several weeks or even months to get an oath with name change, then I'll just opt not to change my first name at this time.
 
My wife wanted to do the name change (D.C DO) too. I and her both asked different IO and we were told it will delat the oath ceremony by 2 months.
My wife changed here mind:)

If you really want to change name do it now. Later it will cost you $$$$
 
While we are still on the issue of name change, I have a question.

What if you wait for the certificate of naturalization (given during the oath) and then change your name at a court before applying for a passport? Will it slow or change anything? What should be considered besides the cost of changing your name (which you have to pay either way)?
The reason I see this as a better option is: first if you change you name after the oath, you avoid having to deal with the USCIS (unless you are petioning for a relative in future)
Secondly, name change in a court should be faster(i think) than letting the USCIS do it.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Citizenship999 said:
My wife wanted to do the name change (D.C DO) too. I and her both asked different IO and we were told it will delat the oath ceremony by 2 months.
My wife changed here mind:)

If you really want to change name do it now. Later it will cost you $$$$
Click to expand...


Thank you! When did you ask the IOs about this? Was it recently?

I talked to the clerk at the Fairfax County court about name change. It seems to be very straightforward.
Just 2 or 3 forms to fill out. The total cost is under $50(including notary fee). However, she told me it currently
takes at least 6 weeks to process, due to current case loads. This is the length of time from the day I file
the case at the Fairfax County courthouse to the day I received the Judge's order back in the U.S mail.

If I let the USCIS handle my name change and it really takes two months, which is only about 9 weeks...
it just takes an extra 3 weeks, compared to Fairfax County court's 6 weeks .... I wonder which one is easier?

Also, I just had another thought. If I do not change my name, my naturalisation certificate will have my old name. After
I change my name at the Fairfax County courthouse, do I need to change my name on the naturalisation certificate again?
If not, how do I apply for a US passport because my naturalisation certificate with old name?

Last but not least, if name is changed after naturalisation, the USCIS charged $210 to re-issues a new naturalisation
certificate with the new name. So $210 plus the above-mentioned court cost of $50 and the total cost is $260. If I just
accept the delay and have my name changed during naturalisation, I'll save $260! :D I guess even the Geico gecko would
agree with this? :D
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Rameshwari said:
Thank you! When did you ask the IOs about this? Was it recently?

I talked to the clerk at the Fairfax County court about name change. It seems to be very straightforward.
Just 2 or 3 forms to fill out. The total cost is under $50(including notary fee). However, she told me it currently
takes at least 6 weeks to process, due to current case loads. This is the length of time from the day I file
the case at the Fairfax County courthouse to the day I received the Judge's order back in the U.S mail.

If I let the USCIS handle my name change and it really takes two months, which is only about 9 weeks...
it just takes an extra 3 weeks, compared to Fairfax County court's 6 weeks .... I wonder which one is easier?

Also, I just had another thought. If I do not change my name, my naturalisation certificate will have my old name. After
I change my name at the Fairfax County courthouse, do I need to change my name on the naturalisation certificate again?
If not, how do I apply for a US passport because my naturalisation certificate with old name?

Last but not least, if name is changed after naturalisation, the USCIS charged $210 to re-issues a new naturalisation
certificate with the new name. So $210 plus the above-mentioned court cost of $50 and the total cost is $260. If I just
accept the delay and have my name changed during naturalisation, I'll save $260! :D I guess even the Geico gecko would
agree with this? :D
Click to expand...

On 9th of this month. Don't know how much it costs to change name as I never researched on it. Seems to me going thr'o the USCIS route is easy.
Once and for all you will be set.
 
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