N-400 Changing my name

[kurtkarl0722]

Hi,

We are about to apply for our N-400 next month September 2013. On the application it says that I can change name. I wanted to change mine since every time I exit out of USA just for a day or two since we are near the Canadian border Custom Border Patrol always flagged me down for Mistaken Identity. They even handcuff me one time (during my 1st US re-entry) but the succeeding USA re-entry they just ask me and my family to step down the car and we are told to proceed inside the CBP office for further verification then they will release us in about a couple of minutes and apologized.

I already applied and have a DHS traveller Redress number which I have to provide at the border upon US re-entry but there are days depending whoever is on the CBP booth that we still have to go down for verification. Sometimes it's okay but there are days it's really time consuming and embarrassing since car at your back will see you and your family have to go down.

Now my question is, will it help if I change my name during my N-400 application? If I change my name, when I provide them my US passport with my new name now and they scan it for US re-entry would their computer will try to back track or check my old name? Or does my "Mistaken identity " problem from my Old name will be carried over on my new name? If this the case, I think there is no need for me to change name anymore for I will be facing the process every time I re-enter US and it's really hard considering I have to call our banks, car company and any establishment that uses my old name to let them know about my new name. Also, my family needs to change their last names too if I'm changing my last name too.

Any inputs will be greatly appreciated.

 

[nkm-oct23]

I don't think the mistaken identity issue will go away after you change your name since government database will have both your names.

 

[riq2012]

If the government database will have both his names then I would assume that the government is smart enough to know that the one who changed the name is not the one they are trying to get.

Then again I could be completely wrong.

 

[Dedo]

I hope the government system is also smart enough to note that this person gets stuck with this additional check every time and is unwarranted, and not to trouble him any more. But alas...

 

[nkm-oct23]

If your name is same or similar to a name in government's bad guys' database, changing the name will not help you at all. It actually might trigger additional questioning as to why the name was changed.

 

[kurtkarl0722]

I think our DHS systems are not that smart. I said that it is because even if I gave them my DHS travellers Redness number (where my name should be poured or filtered from their database) their system will still alarm if you don't let them know at first before giving them my GC and passport. I have to tell them the whole story first, especially my first US re-entry when me and my got handcuff at the CBP booth every time I re-enter US so they could do a thorough verification and so they can call their inside office too to let the guys inside the CBP office to know that they don't need to response on the alarm. We can still hear from our car that their inside office alarm went off after scanning my GC.

So I guess there's no really a good answer until I go to DHS or any immigration office and ask them before I file my N-400. Unless anyone here have the same scenario as mine.

 

[Jackolantern]

I hope the government system is also smart enough to note that this person gets stuck with this additional check every time and is unwarranted, and not to trouble him any more. But alas...

If it was smart it would know by now that the OP isn't the same person as the bad guy they're looking for. The combination of a new name + US passport may provide enough disconnect from the bad guy to stop the repeated harassment.

So I guess there's no really a good answer until I go to DHS or any immigration office and ask them before I file my N-400.

They won't give you a reliable answer, if they answer that at all. They don't want to give any information that would make it easier for a bad guy to escape detection.