Name Change : Via N400 application or Court

[ddvk]

I am up for citizenship for sometime now and finally will be jumping into it after significant dilly-dalying from my end. I have decided to abrigde first/last names and after reading a host of posts, I have one question.

Is it recommeded to do it via the N400 application or a court order. Either way seems simple, but wanted to get the opinions of others and also the pros/cons of either process...

Thx,

 

[Vorpal]

I am up for citizenship for sometime now and finally will be jumping into it after significant dilly-dalying from my end. I have decided to abrigde first/last names and after reading a host of posts, I have one question.

Is it recommeded to do it via the N400 application or a court order. Either way seems simple, but wanted to get the opinions of others and also the pros/cons of either process...

Thx,

Do it via N-400. There are no additional fees and/or hassles involved, such as having to publish your new name in a local newspaper and then bring proof of publishing back to court.

 

[ATLANTA_N400]

Do it via N-400. There are no additional fees and/or hassles involved, such as having to publish your new name in a local newspaper and then bring proof of publishing back to court.

I did not want to add an extra set of names for the USCIS/FBI twins to play with during the N400 process( bare with me, I am a little paranoid here). So I decided to wait until after the process of N400 is over. There is no requirement for advertising in a news paper in the county where I live. It only costs $15 for petition and $4 for extra-copy of the change certificate. It involves a hearing(relatively formal) but most of the time it can be done on the same day.

Then again, check with your county administration about the procedures involved in name change. If it is too cumbersome, and involves a long wait then I would change the name along with N400 as vorpal has suggested.