Question about changing Nat Cert after oath

N

N400Atl

Registered Users (C)
I need to change name after I have received Nat Cert. (It is a long story why I could not do it via judicial) I have filed papers in district court and will apply for passport after I get name change order from court. It will take about 2 months I guess.

My question is, is it necessary to get naturalization certificate reissued with the new name? It will cost $380 and instruction say it can take upto a year to replace you Nat certificate and you have to send your current certificate. (Not sure why it should take one year if you are just changing name and have sent old certificate and name change order. :confused: )

Once you have the US passport with the name you want, where else do you think Nat cert may be needed? Is it necessary to make sure that USCIS has your correct name in their system?

My Nat cert is only with my first and last name. My new name will have same first-last name from the old name but also will have my current middle name in it.

Thanks
 
You don't need a new naturalization certificate. For your passport, you'll need your original naturalization certificate and the name change document you get from the District Court.

The court document is an official document of your name change and it, together with documents with your old name, can be used to prove identity/name. The court doc will list both your old name and your new name.

You may not need your naturalization certificate after you get your passport, but you will need the name change document and your passport in order to get other documents updated (like DL, etc).

Hope that helps.
 
Thanks 1caliN400,

In my case, my changed name will be exactly the name that is on all the documents in my life (SSN, DL etc) so I may not have worry about it.

What I am/was not sure about is, do we ever use Nat Cert anytime in life (after receiving passport) and if I need to update USCIS records with new name by asking for replacement nat cert.

My IO did not issue me cert with my current legal name so I am doing name change to current legal name. Say my name on everything in my life is F-M-L but IO gave me cert with F-L, so I am asking district court to change name from F-L to F-M-L. Then I can get passport with F-M-L combination.
 
Ahh...Another "My IO was a moron who should not have been given a GED" story...

You don't need your nat cert for anything really. It's just a proof of citizenship, but so is the passport.

Even if you do need your naturalization certificate for something, the different name on it will not be a problem as long as you attach your court docs with it. Basically, the fact that it's in a different name will never be an issue becaue anytime you need to use it as an official document for either identification or as proof of citizenship, you can use it with your name change doc.

You're certainly not required to inform USCIS of name change. It will only come up if you apply for benefits for family members and have to submit a photocopy of your nat. cert. But even in that case, you can submit a photocopy of your passport instead.

If I were you, I'd save the money:)
 
Thanks 1caliN400 :)

I echo your sentiments about IO. My IO had such a power trip over this all. "I have made the decision, I will not look at any other document" etc etc !!! Finally I broke down and accepted certificate with F-L combination. I think district courts will be easier to deal with for name change than USCIS.

My wife also thinks similar to you, telling me not to worry about it but I on the other hand !!!! :eek:

Good to know that you are not required to update USCIS records with the new name. I can accept paying for new cert but one year of processing time to get it replaced ???

I will need citizenship to sponsor my parents some day but as you said, passport can be used, then it will be fine since my passport will be with correct name.

Thanks for your insight
 
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