Name Change

[balags]

Would it be better to change the name at the time of Naturalization or do the name change after becoming a citizen.

The reason I ask is to have a common last name for all the members of the family. Is someone could elaborate on the procedure that would be helpful.

Thanks for all the help.

 

[walterchen]

I personally think it is better to change name later (after naturalization is done). The USCIS is already a mess, adding a name change just complicates the matter even more.

Walter

 

[walterchen]

But by that time you will already be US citizen. It is just not worth the risk of adding even more uncertainty to this already unpredictable process, in my opinion.

Walter

Well, name change at naturalization time is actually easier than later.
If you change your name later, it has to be through a court order, which adds an additional layer of complexity. I know somebody (US citizen by birth) who changed his name. It took several months.

 

[ocworker]

I personally think it is better to change name later (after naturalization is done). The USCIS is already a mess, adding a name change just complicates the matter even more.

Walter

how would a name change complicate the case at all?
if your DO handles the same day oath, i am not sure if it wold delay your oath. however, for the DO's which do not do same day oath (e.g. SNA), it does not matter at all. if you are stucked in the name check, nothing else is matter.

i guess it is do whatever the subject feels like.
may be the subject should hope for not thing name check pending rather than worrying about the name check might complicate the case at all.

My case was around 6 months processing time from the day I submiited N400 till Oath, including around 1.5-2 months USCIS background check pending and I requested name check!

 

[balags]

Thanks a lot for all the feedback

As, Joef mentioned the name check is on the old name and the new name should not matter. I still have 6 months to go before I apply but thanks a lot for the feedback.