Naturalized by default...now want to change name

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guess17

Registered Users (C)
Hello, I have a question. My parents did their citizenship oath when I was still 12 years old, this was in the mid 90's. I have wanted to change my name for some time. My parents told me when they were naturalized they were given the option of this. I became automatically naturalized I was told because I was a minor at the time. I would like to change my name to something that works in both Spanish & English, and my last name to something more easy to pronounce. Now, I would like to know how, and if I can exercise this option, and what the procedures would be, given my set of circumstances. It would also mean something to me if I could take the oath. Can someone in my situation still take their immigration oath and be given the option of their changing their name, although I have a US passport, am allowed to vote, but I was still not born in this country.

Any answers are appreciated.
 
guess17 said:
Hello, I have a question. My parents did their citizenship oath when I was still 12 years old, this was in the mid 90's. I have wanted to change my name for some time. My parents told me when they were naturalized they were given the option of this. I became automatically naturalized I was told because I was a minor at the time. I would like to change my name to something that works in both Spanish & English, and my last name to something more easy to pronounce. Now, I would like to know how, and if I can exercise this option, and what the procedures would be, given my set of circumstances. It would also mean something to me if I could take the oath. Can someone in my situation still take their immigration oath and be given the option of their changing their name, although I have a US passport, am allowed to vote, but I was still not born in this country.

Any answers are appreciated.
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You can change your name at any time. Google "Name Change <your state>". This will have to be through the local courts and not USCIS.

You can't take an immigration Oath as you are already a citizen.
 
guess17 said:
Hello, I have a question. My parents did their citizenship oath when I was still 12 years old, this was in the mid 90's. I have wanted to change my name for some time. My parents told me when they were naturalized they were given the option of this. I became automatically naturalized I was told because I was a minor at the time. I would like to change my name to something that works in both Spanish & English, and my last name to something more easy to pronounce. Now, I would like to know how, and if I can exercise this option, and what the procedures would be, given my set of circumstances. It would also mean something to me if I could take the oath. Can someone in my situation still take their immigration oath and be given the option of their changing their name, although I have a US passport, am allowed to vote, but I was still not born in this country.
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USCIS will not deal with you to re-take an oath, or name change. You are a citizen.

You will need to go through the process citizens take for name change - go to your county and check with them ... usually it will be a judge who will do it. California has a form NC100 for example, check your area.
 
ok, does anyone have an approximate cost of the standard name change process?

I assumed it would be easier if done with taking the oath (which i never got to do) and thought I may have the option. Are you sure there is not some specific exemption that states when the minor turns 18, they can take the oath? I would like to, now that I'm old enough and understand what it means to be an American citizen. I don't even have a certificate showing I am a citizen, besides my passport.
 
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guess17 said:
ok, does anyone have an approximate cost of the standard name change process?

I assumed it would be easier if done with taking the oath (which i never got to do) and thought I may have the option. Are you sure there is not some specific exemption that states when the minor turns 18, they can take the oath? I would like to, now that I'm old enough and understand what it means to be an American citizen. I don't even have a certificate showing I am a citizen, besides my passport.
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It is easier to change your name at the time of Naturalization, but you aren't eligible. (Otherwise, everyone who wanted to change their name would be hounding the USCIS for an 'Oath' instead of going through the courts. Once you are a citizen, you can't get special treatment just because you were born outside the US)
You can file the N-600 if you really need to have a certificate of citizenship. (filing Fee $475). This is a waste of money because your passport serves as proof of your citizenship. (If you really need something else, apply for a passport card - it is cheaper)

Name change is done at your local county court. Call them for a schedule of fees. You also probably need to publish a name change in the local newspapers for a few times so take those costs into account as well.
 
The reason I ask is...I don't have a document proving my citizenship besides passport..I thought something else was required from a courthouse. My parents had mentioned that when I turned 18 I had the option, but at that age I was young & stupid and this didn't cross my mind. Now it has. I will be calling an immigration attorney to clarify this. I'd like to see something official that states those of us who were naturalized by default of being a minor cannot go through the oath process.
 
GungaDin said:
You can file the N-600 if you really need to have a certificate of citizenship. (filing Fee $475). This is a waste of money because your passport serves as proof of your citizenship.
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Whether it is a waste of money is up to the individual to decide. It is not a waste of money for everybody, because the certificate has the advantage of not expiring, so it can be useful for proving citizenship if there are delays in renewing or replacing the passport (and there probably will be some delays soon, as they are about to raise the fees so people will rush to apply before the increase). For example, some DMVs won't accept an expired passport but they will all accept a certificate of citizenship.
 
guess17 said:
The reason I ask is...I don't have a document proving my citizenship besides passport..I thought something else was required from a courthouse. My parents had mentioned that when I turned 18 I had the option, but at that age I was young & stupid and this didn't cross my mind. Now it has. I will be calling an immigration attorney to clarify this. I'd like to see something official that states those of us who were naturalized by default of being a minor cannot go through the oath process.
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If you file N-600 as an adult to get a certificate of citizenship, there will be an oath, but it won't be the same oath that naturalization applicants go through, and it won't allow for a name change to be included. Look at forms N-400 and N-600. You'll see that the N-400 has a section for name change, but the N-600 does not. However, if you change your name via the local court system before applying for the certificate, the certificate will be issued in your new name.

If you don't believe us, call the attorney if you want. But you won't see anything official in writing from the government saying somebody who already acquired citizenship cannot get a name change oath via an immigration process, just as you won't get anything official saying that they won't give you a burger and fries when you renew your passport.
 
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Jackolantern said:
If you file N-600 as an adult to get a certificate of citizenship, there will be an oath
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I was under the impression that for N-600 there is no oath, and that they just send the citizenship certificate by mail (similarly with the replacement of a lost or damaged naturalization certificate).
 
guess17 said:
The reason I ask is...I don't have a document proving my citizenship besides passport..I thought something else was required from a courthouse. My parents had mentioned that when I turned 18 I had the option, but at that age I was young & stupid and this didn't cross my mind. Now it has. I will be calling an immigration attorney to clarify this. I'd like to see something official that states those of us who were naturalized by default of being a minor cannot go through the oath process.
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What everyone has told you here is correct: you are already a U.S. citizen so you are not eligible for the naturalization process. If you don't believe it, you can call USCIS and ask them directly. You can file N-600 to get a citizenship certificate but, as noted in the posts above, it is not possible to have a name change as a part of N-600 process. If you really want to do a name change, you have to do it though the state court in the place where you live.
 
baikal3 said:
I was under the impression that for N-600 there is no oath, and that they just send the citizenship certificate by mail (similarly with the replacement of a lost or damaged naturalization certificate).
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For adults filing N-600 for themselves, and children over a certain age (I think 14 or 16?), there usually is an oath. It's not an elaborate oath ceremony; it's often done just by a lone individual in front of a USCIS official.
 
Jackolantern said:
... For example, some DMVs won't accept an expired passport but they will all accept a certificate of citizenship.
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This is because DMV/TSA/Bouncers at Bars etc are just drones. Anyone with half an ounce of sense in them would be able to deduce that a Certificate of citizenship provides no greater guarantee of current citizenship than an expired passport.
But, I understand.
 
baikal3 said:
What everyone has told you here is correct: you are already a U.S. citizen so you are not eligible for the naturalization process. If you don't believe it, you can call USCIS and ask them directly. You can file N-600 to get a citizenship certificate but, as noted in the posts above, it is not possible to have a name change as a part of N-600 process. If you really want to do a name change, you have to do it though the state court in the place where you live.
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So I can't apply for N-400? Because I'm technically already a citizen? I think it's odd that is left out, someone who was naturalized by default may also want to change their name and do the full process, you don't understand what it means to become a citizen as a child.
 
guess17 said:
So I can't apply for N-400? Because I'm technically already a citizen? I think it's odd that is left out, someone who was naturalized by default may also want to change their name and do the full process, you don't understand what it means to become a citizen as a child.
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Not really. The goal of the N-400 is not to change your name, it is to make you a citizen.
Your name change has to be at the court as USCIS does not have the power to change your name. Even during naturalization, the court does the name change (not USCIS).

I hate to burst your bubble, but if you think that the N-400 process is a trial by fire where you come out a new person the other side, you're mistaken. If you're eligible, its like getting a drivers license. (except it costs a lot more).

Here is the Oath of Allegiance:
I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.

Hopefully you can see why a citizen cannot take this Oath as you have to first renounce your fidelity to your current country of citizenship (the United States).
 
I think it's odd that is left out, someone who was naturalized by default may also want to change their name and do the full process, you don't understand what it means to become a citizen as a child.

... What if you were born citizen? You still have the same issues ... name given by parents, and naturalized by default. What would you do then? Do the same now.
 
guess17 said:
So I can't apply for N-400? Because I'm technically already a citizen? I think it's odd that is left out, someone who was naturalized by default may also want to change their name and do the full process, you don't understand what it means to become a citizen as a child.
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Name change and oath are available to you, but you just can't get them both rolled into one process like the N-400.

If you file N-600, you'll get to take the oath at an age when you understand it, and you'll get a certificate that is valid for life. You just can't get a name change with it.

Your local court system will handle your name change. Just search the web for information on how the process works in your location, or contact your City Hall for details.
 
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Does someone know how long the process takes? From picking up the forms to finalizing the new name. Also, when & will I need to produce a birth certificate? I am having trouble locating one. Also, is it very expensive??
 
The length of time and cost of the name change depends on the courts in your area. Contact your town's City Hall for information on the name change process in your area. They'll give you the forms or direct you to where you can get them.

To get a birth certificate issued, contact the relevant authorities in the country where you were born. That country's embassy in the US may be able to assist.
 
Thanks for all the input, I appreciate it.

I got the papers today, turns out it only costs $185 in my state.

I found my birth certificate and now need to get it translated before returning it with the paperwork, then I can legally have it changed.

Off topic question...but how common is this? I'm not talking about changing a last name either to sound more "American", but an actual full name change for someone who has lived in the States almost their entire lives. I'm worried the reaction some people I know may have.
 
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