Signature on Naturalization Certificate if there is a Name Change

[coolguy446]

My wife got her last name changed as part of N-400 application based on marriage. At the time of interview she signed her photos with her maiden name. So my question is what should be the last name when she signs her naturalization certificate (maiden or new last name) ? In general the signatures on both the photo (affixed to the Naturalization Certificate) and on the Naturalization Certificate should match. However would it be true for the name change case also given that Naturalization Certificate would have her new last name?

 

[acr]

If the certificate has a new name the both signatures should be new. File N-565 to correct the error.

 

[coolguy446]

If the certificate has a new name the both signatures should be new. File N-565 to correct the error.

My wife has not yet received the Naturalization Certificate. She will be getting this at her oath ceremony on 09/17/09. However IO never told my wife to sign the photos with the new name. Also when she signed her photos at the time of interview, she could not use her new name as the new name is not valid until she gets her oath and Naturalization Certificate.

I am thinking of taking an InfoPass and try to see if this is really an issue. If yes, I was wondering if she could sign another set of photos with hew new name.

 

[baikal3]

My wife has not yet received the Naturalization Certificate. She will be getting this at her oath ceremony on 09/17/09. However IO never told my wife to sign the photos with the new name. Also when she signed her photos at the time of interview, she could not use her new name as the new name is not valid until she gets her oath and Naturalization Certificate.

I am thinking of taking an InfoPass and try to see if this is really an issue. If yes, I was wondering if she could sign another set of photos with hew new name.

In general I think this is an issue that should be addressed with an IO at the naturalization ceremony itself. Name change during naturalization is a sufficiently frequent event and USCIS probably has a standard routine for handling such situations, in terms of signatures etc. I heard that if there is a discrepancy or error in the certificate which is noticed during the naturalization ceremony itself, the local DO can usually issue a corrected replacement certificate quickly, without having to file N-565. The IO at the oath ceremony will explain what to do.

If you have time to make an INFOPASS appointment before the oath, that's probably not a bad idea.

 

[König]

Also when she signed her photos at the time of interview, she could not use her new name as the new name is not valid until she gets her oath and Naturalization Certificate.

If this was a usual practice, then there would be an awful lot of folks who had different names on the certificate photos and certificate itself. However, this is not the case.