You can ask to change your name during multiple parts of the U.S. citizenship process. You can legally change your name after filing your application for naturalization with USCIS. In the U.S., adults can change their legal names in a state or local court. The new name you've chosen will be shown on your Certificate of Naturalization. You will have to remember a few things while changing your name as you will have to inform your bank, your credit card company, your home country, and other organizations that have your previous name, about your name change and you will also have to change your name in all your other documents. For the whole scoop on getting American citizenship, see the book, Becoming a U.S. Citizen: A Guide to the Law, Exam & Interview, by Ilona Bray (Nolo). In other regions, the swearing-in ceremonies are routinely held at a USCIS officesometimes right after the naturalization interview. To obtain a copy of your Name Change Form, please contact USCIS directly atwww.uscis.gov or call (800) 375-5283 for additional information. If you decide to get legal assistance, you can start here: Many people offer to help with immigration services. If USCIS grants your application for citizenship, you can change your name if you attend a naturalization swearing-in ceremony in court. If the USCIS denies your request to change your name during your interview process, then you can change your name in your naturalization process after you have undergone the naturalization ceremony. 2012), the New Jersey Appellate Division addressed this question. Citizenship for the Past 3 Years Prior to Filing Your Form N-400. Once the court has accepted either your letter and/or your request for a name change, then you may need to apply for your new naturalization certificate with your correct name. Change your name when you become a U.S. citizen You can ask to change your name during multiple parts of the U.S. citizenship process. See also theUSCIS Policy Manual Volume 12, Part E, English and Civics Testing and Exceptions, Chapter 2, English and Civics Testing. This name-change service is available only through USCIS offices where the swearing-in (oath) ceremonies are held in a courtroom and presided over by a judge, not a USCIS officer. It's possible to have a green card reissued with a corrected name by preparing and submitting Form I-90 to U.S. My fianc and I are getting married in the next few months then apply for the AOS. Automated eligibility quizzes were created using instructions, rules and regulations published by the USCIS and only indicate whether you meet minimum eligibility requirements to apply for the given immigration benefit. If you do not go through a naturalization ceremony in court, USCIS can use the correct name on the Certificate of Naturalization, but you will not be able to change your legal name unless you go to court. Then, during the Naturalization Oath Ceremony, a federal judgecan legally change your name. Please reference the Terms of Use and the Supplemental Terms for specific information related to your state. Name changes can be done if you are married or divorced or you changed your name through a court order. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) as blank forms with written instructions. On the paperwork where you're filing for Citizenship,you said that you wanted to change your name. The United States allows people to lawfully change their names and adopt new names as people tend to change their names for various reasons such as marriage, divorce, or adoption. When should I submit Form N-648, Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions? Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. If the father's name was absent, or the father's name was misspelled as "Mixwell" and no proof of this error exists, she might get a letter from USCIS asking if she wants her name corrected to "Janedoa Mixwell." A naturalization applicant must satisfy each requirement to be eligible for naturalization. Once the application is filed and you are granted citizenship, one needs to swear their oath of allegiance before a judge. Consulting one can be well worth the expense. No. Is there an official document? Down," for example, is not likely to be allowed. Community organizations may give you advice on how to seek a legal name change on your own. It is recommended to consult a lawyer before you apply for a name change if you have already filed your citizenship application. Once you get the documents changing your name, you can use it to change your name on other legal identity documents. A judge will make a decision in about 2 to 3 months after you complete a few more steps. The form requires an individual to confirm or deny if they would like to change their name. Looking for U.S. government information and services? Your name change will take effect immediately after the ceremony has ended. Changing your name on the citizenship application (Form N-400) is the most direct, and possibly cost-effective, way to change your name. You can indicate a name change on Form N-400, which is the main form for naturalization. Your name change will take effect immediately after the ceremony has ended. If you have citizenship automatically through a U.S. citizen parent, you can ask for a Certificate of Citizenship to help you correct errors in how your name was spelled on certain official documents. 2023 Scott D. Pollock & Associates, P.C. But this will be possible only if you take the Oath of Allegiance in a court and if the oath is administered by a judge. Certain certified copies of documents can also be provided. The Court is unable to provide a copy of your naturalization certificate or any other documentation that certifies your citizenship. Unfortunately, not all of them are authorized or qualified to do so. Without Green Cards, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Temporary Protections From Deportation. After the office confirms that there is a name change petition on file for you, you may obtain a copy in person or request one by mail. Speak with your immigration and naturalization lawyer about the best approach to correcting or changing your name during your naturalization process. In some states, the information on this website may be considered a lawyer referral service. Depending on where you live, your will follow your states legal name change procedures. If you have been issued a Form N-400 receipt notice that automatically extends the validity of your Green Card, but it has been lost or destroyed, then you generally must file Form I-90 to renew your expiring Green Card. USCIS does not offer the option of a name change with the Certificate of Citizenship. Based on the instructions for Form N-400 you can just check the box beside the question, Would you like to legally change your name?, in the second part of the naturalization application. Please note that CKGS sometimes accepts this but there have been reports of they rejecting this as the valid proof and demands official court order. When you apply to become a U.S. citizen, you are allowed to request a name change during the naturalization process. Home | Contact Us | Employment | Glossary of Legal Terms | FAQs, Pamela Pepper, Chief Judge Gina M. Colletti, Clerk of Court, American Bar Association -- Free Legal Answers, Redaction Requirements - E-Government Act, Reentry Program/Successful Transition and Reentry Together (START), Post Guilty Plea/Presentence Diversion Court Program. Therefore, your changes will be limited to correcting actual errors rather than choosing a new name for yourself. The N-400 name change is done directly on your naturalization application rather than after your swearing-in ceremony. Application for Replacement Naturalization Document If you take frequent, short trips abroad that result in you spending more than half your time outside the United States, then you will also be ineligible for naturalization. can be by your side through your entire naturalization process and support you in your naturalization certificate name change. If you pass your citizenship interview and are approved for your naturalization certification, you will be able to change your name. The judge will not approve your name change request in the following types of circumstance: For more information on the relevant law, see the Name Change page of Nolo's website. In addition, theFind Help in Your Communitypage allows individuals to search for low-cost or free citizenship classes throughout the United States. have several decades of combined experience. Since I am technically an international student, I'm not sure if the judge at the courthouse will even hear my case. It is common for those immigrating to the United States to legally change their name. The court with either accept or deny your request. In this scenario, you need not file a separate application to legally change your name as you can enter your new name in the space that is provided inForm N-400. Newport Beach, CA 92660, 18 King Street East, Suite 1400 If you have been wanting to change your namewhether your first name, last name (surname) or bothapplying to become a naturalized U.S. citizen offers you a possible way to do so, and with few administrative hassles. If USCIS grants your application for citizenship, you can change your name if you attend a naturalization swearing-in ceremony in court. You can correct the spelling of the name on your green card by requesting a correction on an Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card (Form I-90). No. Mere usage could be enough for the change to be legal. The naturalization process is a legal way of changing your name. The procedure might vary based on the state you are in but in most cases legally changing your name through the court system is recommended. This means you must be residing exclusively in the United States not in any other country. You should also submit copiespreferably certified copiesof these documents at the initial filing of your application. Assuming you have not yet become a U.S. citizen, you might be able to deal with a previously misspelled or wrong name when applying for naturalization. Toronto, Ontario M5C 1C4 OR Endorsement of name change during the naturalization process Note: The name as on the Indian Passport will appear on the Renunciation Certificate since it is a surrender of an Indian passport. For example, some US states do not even require native US citizens to file with the government for a name change. Does USCIS publish the naturalization test questions? Contact USCIS or an immigration attorney if you have more questions. [4] There is an option to request your name change at your naturalization interview. Visa Waiver Program for Foreign Nationals Planning Brief Visits to the U.S. Please reference the Terms of Use and the Supplemental Terms for specific information related to your state. However, if a trip lasts longer than 180 days, USCIS may determine that you have not continuously resided in the United States and therefore are ineligible for naturalization. U.S. When you submit Form N-600 to ask for the Certificate of Citizenship, you must ask for the correction in a cover letter attached to the application. Part 2, Question 4 of Form N-400 is specifically meant for this purpose. The documentation of name changes during US naturalization procedure has only been required since 1906. Prior to September 27, 1906, any "court of record" (municipal, county, state, or Federal) could grant United States citizenship. 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Whether or not you get all the changes you want to make is going to depend on the particular errors made and the forms of proof you can show indicating what the name should have been. Naturalization Replacing a Lost Name Change Certificate The Southern District of Iowa can only provide certified copies of name change certificates. If the errors on your paperwork can't be fixed through the citizenship or naturalization process, a legal, court-ordered name change could be the only remaining option. TheUSCIS officer can have you sign a name change petition andfile it with a court before the judicial oath ceremony. Unless you are eligible for an exception to the English or civicsrequirements, you will be given two opportunities to meet the English and civics requirements. replace your Naturalization or Citizenship certificate. For additional information on how USCIS officers assess English language abilities, please see theScoring Guidelines for the U.S. Naturalization Test (PDF, 121.39 KB). What can you do if you change your mind about changing your name after submitting Form N-400, Application for Naturalization (Citizenship) in the US?Get the . London TW1 1JT (Unfortunately, you cannot pick and choose which USCIS office to attend your interview at. For information on obtaining a copy of your name change petition, contact the jury and naturalization office at 404-215-1640. It is informational only. 2). This process does not happen in the California court system. Typically, an oath of allegiance is performed before a USCIS officer. Request the correction in a cover letter that you write and include with the application. There are different procedures that must be followed based on your citizenship or immigration status. CANADA, 5 Kenley Road Your naturalization attorney can help with additional paperwork that comes with mailing your form and corresponding fees. In order to be granted your name change after citizenship oath, you need to send in evidence with your Form N-565. Because many courts opt out of the naturalization ceremony and authorize USCIS personnel to administer the oath, to have your name changed as part . Your use of this website constitutes acceptance of the Terms of Use, Supplemental Terms, Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. If, on the other hand, your naturalization ceremony is not conducted in a court or by a judge, you cannot get a legal name change through USCIS, because the agency does not have the jurisdiction to bring this about. The evidence you send in will support your name change by showing that your name has been misspelled on your initial visa documents. 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