Name change after Citizenship as minor

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latinguy244

Registered Users (C)
Hi, I was told I automatically became a citizen as a minor because both my parents became citizens. I have a very ethnic first name that I've never liked. My dad said if I want, I can exercise my rights as a citizen and get my own documents with the name I'd want.

I want to know if this is possible, I would much rather do this than not prefer to goto court for this process, as I live in a small community.

Can someone please tell me who I need to meet with? My nearest immigration office? I hope this is possible as well. I cannot afford to go through the courts at the present moment and I think I deserve this right like anyone else. Growing up with a very ethnic name can be difficult if you don't live in a diverse area.
 
Name change at Citizenship is provided by Immigration because it is included in the cost of filing. You have to do yours at your local county courthouse.
And then get your US Passport in that new name. The money you will save not filing a Certificate of Citizenship should cover the cost of name change in the court. You don't have to get a Citizenship Certificate by USCIS as it optional, just get your Passport made with the new name.
 
Name change at Citizenship is provided by Immigration because it is included in the cost of filing. You have to do yours at your local county courthouse.
And then get your US Passport in that new name. The money you will save not filing a Certificate of Citizenship should cover the cost of name change in the court. You don't have to get a Citizenship Certificate by USCIS as it optional, just get your Passport made with the new name.
 
Sorry this is more of a social commentary, but ...

I think you should get a citizenship certificate. Life is easy when your parents are around to provide you all documentation, but you never know what they are going to ask 20-30 years down the line, even if you carry a US passport.

I am not sure what is the issue in going to the courts. That's the only way it is going to happen. What does small community have to do with it, unless someone in the family works in the courts?

Any citizen has the right to change their name ... you have the same. But you ned to follow the system.

Also, no one forces you to use your ethnic name in all transactions ... unless it is on a legal document. In fact, barely 5-10% of my acquaintances know my legal name, and then too because it comes up if I am submitting an official form. Others don't care, don't ask. And they are not going to find out what your ethnic name is unless you introduce yourself with that name.
 
I would like to have my own citizenship certificate. I was hoping in that process if I could request a new name. I thought it would be possible. I will call the local immigration office to find out. I thought an immigration attorney would possibly reply to my question here.

What if I only file a passport name change? Is that possible?

The problem is, in the community I live in, my family is well known, and changing name in court becomes public record and my family will be upset with me. I already told them I intend to do this, and they recommended I try and see if I can do it via Citizenship Certificate.
 
latinguy244 said:
I would like to have my own citizenship certificate. I was hoping in that process if I could request a new name. I thought it would be possible. I will call the local immigration office to find out. I thought an immigration attorney would possibly reply to my question here.

What if I only file a passport name change? Is that possible?

The problem is, in the community I live in, my family is well known, and changing name in court becomes public record and my family will be upset with me. I already told them I intend to do this, and they recommended I try and see if I can do it via Citizenship Certificate.
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In form N-600 there is no provision for name change. You have no option but to change your name first in court before obtaining certificate of citizenship. After 18yrs of age you could change in any court yourself. Another option is your parents , i am assuming you are below 18, could change your name in your country of origin and you will have a legal new name.
 
latinguy244 said:
Hi, I was told I automatically became a citizen as a minor because both my parents became citizens.
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You'd become a citizen only if you were a green card holder living in the US with them.

Have you applied for a US passport or citizenship certificate? Obtaining one of those should be your first priority before the name change.

Can someone please tell me who I need to meet with? My nearest immigration office?
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No, immigration offices do not facilitate name changes for people who are already citizens. They only do that for adults who are going through their own citizenship process, not the children who derive citizenship through their parents.

I hope this is possible as well. I cannot afford to go through the courts at the present moment and I think I deserve this right like anyone else.
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A court process is absolutely your only option to change your name in the US. How do you know you cannot afford it if you haven't found out how much it costs? Talk to your City Hall to find out what the process is and how much it costs.

Growing up with a very ethnic name can be difficult if you don't live in a diverse area.
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Are you still growing up? You have to be at least 18 to request a name change on your own. Otherwise, your parents have to request it for you if you're under 18.
 
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madh4 said:
Another option is your parents , i am assuming you are below 18, could change your name in your country of origin and you will have a legal new name.
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That's only if he and/or his parents haven't lost their original citizenship as a result of becoming US citizens.
 
Jackolantern said:
Not for the US passport. You need to do a separate name change in court, then you can change the US passport to match your new name. But do you even have a US passport?
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I received my green card as a baby, but my parents did not become citizens until my teenage years, age 13. In that timeframe, I never received a new green card. I do have a Social Security card as long as I've had my green card. When I was 15, I received a US passport to travel overseas. I never received a Citizenship Certificate, I thought if I did do that, maybe I could change my name in the process. I thought because I never did the Oath, that maybe that meant I was a US National, and still needed to apply for citizenship, although I had a US passport. Is there a way to check this?
 
latinguy244 said:
I never received a Citizenship Certificate, I thought if I did do that, maybe I could change my name in the process.
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Well unfortunately, you can't change it through the citizenship certificate process.

And even if you could, you should be aware that the citizenship certificate costs $460 and takes about 6 months to be processed and issued. Whereas name change court processes normally cost less than $300 and are usually completed in less than 3 months.

I thought because I never did the Oath, that maybe that meant I was a US National, and still needed to apply for citizenship, although I had a US passport. Is there a way to check this?
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Unless the passport has a notation in it saying "THE BEARER IS A UNITED STATES NATIONAL AND NOT A UNITED STATES CITIZEN", having a US passport proves you are a US citizen.

"US Nationals" who are not US citizens are only people from certain US territories like American Somoa. If you were a noncitizen US national, you would not have had a green card in the first place because US Nationals don't need a green card to live and work in the US.

Once you complete the name change through a court, you can take the name change document and use it to change your US passport and other documents.
 
I assume you are now over 18 years. You could change your name only through a Court.

It will be better to have certificate of citizenship, specially when you are thinking of name change sometime in your life. So first apply in N-600. Next do name change in court. Get a new passport in new name. Do a thorough search and choose a name which you do not have to change again later at the instance of your wife or girl friend. Total expenditure just over 1Grand and time limit 6-9 months.
 
madh4 said:
I assume you are now over 18 years. You could change your name only through a Court.

It will be better to have certificate of citizenship, specially when you are thinking of name change sometime in your life. So first apply in N-600. Next do name change in court. Get a new passport in new name.
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It would be better to do the name change first. It is faster, and having that done first would enable the N-600 certificate to be produced with the new name.
 
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