The N-400 name change is done directly on your naturalization application rather than after your swearing-in ceremony. Call city/county court clerk; they should be able to provide you with court order; if not already done. When you become a U.S. citizen, there is a change that the United States Citizenship & Immigration Service (USCIS) misspelled your name on documents and certifications. You can legally change your name after filing your application for naturalization with USCIS. 2. Or, you can wait until your receive notification of your USCIS interview date, and ask the officer reviewing your case whether a judge will preside over your swearing-in. It may not be worth changing a name error on a green card if the individual plans to apply for naturalization. At the heart of our firm is a focus on client relationships, responsiveness, and our deep commitment to helping you or your corporation achieve the goal of living or working in the U.S. 4299 MacArthur Boulevard If you changed your name during the naturalization process in the Eastern District of Wisconsin, the Clerk's Office can provide a certified copy of the court order granting name change. The court with either accept or deny your request. At the time of the interview, the USCIS officer will record the name change request and ask you to sign a name change petition, which USCIS files with a court before the judicial oath ceremony. How many times can I apply for naturalization? The layout is very straightforward, asking if you would like to change your name and, if so, what would you like your name to be. If appropriate, you can supplement your request with an affidavit from a parent or guardian who can explain the mistake and corroborate the request. See also theUSCIS Policy Manual Volume 12, Part E, English and Civics Testing and Exceptions, Chapter 2, English and Civics Testing. 105 West Madison, Suite 2200 Chicago, IL 60602, Phone: (312) 444-1940 | Fax: (312) 444-1950 Looking for U.S. government information and services? These documents should be submitted as evidence in support of your application, and will facilitate the USCIS officers review of your request. Proof of Official Name Change (s) (if any) 9 Additional Documents That You May Need. 1. USCIS provides free educational resources to help applicants prepare for the naturalization test. Because many courts opt out of the naturalization ceremony and authorize USCIS personnel to administer the oath, to have your name changed as part . Will I be asked all of thecivics questions during the naturalization interview? How will I know what the decision is on the Form N-648, Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions, I submitted? To request a naturalization certificate name change, you will apply for a replacement naturalization/citizenship document using Form N-565. When applying for U.S. citizenship if you wish to change your name, you can apply for naturalization and for legal name change together onForm N-400, Application for Naturalization. Proof of an Authentic Marriage for the Past 3 Years Prior To Filing Your Form N-400. Again, if this is not an option, your immigration lawyer will be able to assist you with Form N-565. Certain applicants, because of age and time as a lawful permanent resident, are exempt from the English requirements for naturalization and may take the civics test in the language of their choice. Visit theCivics Test Updatespage to find answers to these specific questions. We look forward to working with you. In such a situation, the process of becoming a U.S. citizen, whether through naturalization or derivation through parents, offers ways to fix the problem. You can request to change your name on a citizenship certificate using Form N-600. Typically, an oath of allegiance is performed before a USCIS officer. 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. Depending on where you live, your will follow your state's legal name change procedures. Please contact USCIS directly at www.uscis.gov or call (800) 375-5283 to discuss your options. 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. Will USCIS approve my Form N-400 naturalization application once I pass the reading, writing, and civics portions of the naturalization test? In some regions of the United States, ceremonies presided over by a judge are held only a few times per year, so asking for a name change will result in your waiting longer than most people to receive citizenship. Applicants for naturalization seeking an exception to the English and/or civics requirements for naturalization because of a physical or developmental disability or mental impairment are encouraged to submit this form at the time they fileForm N-400, Application for Naturalization, with USCIS. Self-help software and customer support services are provided solely at a users direction. If you want your name changed, your ceremonymustbe in front of a judge (usually in a courthouse). The instructions to Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, include information on what is required when you wish to change yourname at the time of naturalization. During your swearing-in ceremony, you will be given a certificate proving your name has been legally changed. Your use of this website constitutes acceptance of the Terms of Use, Supplemental Terms, Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. It is a good idea to request a new certificate that reflects the name change. For more information on renewing your Green Card, visituscis.gov/green-card/after-we-grant-your-green-card/replace-your-green-cardoruscis.gov/i-90. Many oath ceremonies are not held in front ofjudges. Citizenship for the Past 3 Years Prior to Filing Your Form N-400. [4] The Court is unable to provide a copy of your naturalization certificate or any other documentation that certifies your citizenship. To obtain a copy of your Name Change Form, please contact USCIS directly atwww.uscis.gov or call (800) 375-5283 for additional information. No. Yes. The USCIS officer will ask questions to clarify or confirm your responses. Proof of Spouse's U.S. A naturalized citizen may choose to change their name at the time of naturalization, or they may go through the name change process at a state court level after naturalization. If "Janedoa Mixwell" in the above example had been able to send in proof that her father had his name corrected to "Maxwell," USCIS would have been much more likely to agree that her correct name was "Janedoa Maxwell.". Does USCIS make frequent changes to the questions on the naturalization test? 8 FAM 403.1-4(C) Change of Name by Marriage (CT:CITZ-64; 11-08-2021) 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). For example, some US states do not even require native US citizens to file with the government for a name change. Down," for example, is not likely to be allowed. You can submit other evidence of the error as well. Commonly Asked Questions About the Naturalization Process. If he had not naturalized, his Bonus family descendants generations from now would be at quite a loss to explain the origin of their name. All Rights Reserved. Therefore, if you are eligible for naturalization, it might be easier to correct your name during this application process rather than separately paying fees to USCIS correct your green card first. 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. When you apply to become a U.S. citizen, you are allowed to request a name change during the naturalization process. If you did not ask to change your name on your N-400, you can ask at your USCIS interview. All name change requests facilitated through USCIS will require you to take the oath of allegiance at a judicial ceremony, rather than an administrative one. The filing fee sent to USCIS is non-refundable, even if your request is denied. These are the basic steps to change your name during the citizenship (naturalization) process. c. The petition for name change issued at the naturalization ceremony does not list other family members whose names were changed at the same time. Get more information on how to fill out the name change part inthe Instructions for form N-400. The requirements of continuous residence and physical presence are interrelated but are different requirements. Newport Beach, CA 92660, 18 King Street East, Suite 1400 Your name is threatening, obscene, or likely to incite violence. You should bring certain original documents to your interview. If it can't or you don't want to wait until a judge is available, you will need to do a different process to change your name. Information subject to change.#NameChange #N400 #Naturalization#Immigration #Immigrationlaw #Immigrationlawyer[Question] I have filled the N-400.I changed my name on the N-400.So now, I changed my mind and changed my family name.\"So okay. Do I need to bring original documents such as birth and marriage certificates to the naturalization interview? Is there an official document? Please reference the Terms of Use and the Supplemental Terms for specific information related to your state. You may travel to another country, including your home country, provided no other legal impediment precludes you from doing so. Corrections and Name Change During Naturalization Process: What To Do After Your Citizenship Oath. If you can't afford the fee, you can ask the court to waive it. 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 informational purposes only and are not legal advice or counsel. Does USCIS publish the naturalization test questions? To do this, a naturalized citizen would file Form N-565 with USCIS. PERM Process & Equal Pay Transparency Laws, Its Not Too Late for the H-1B Visa Lottery, USCIS Extends Green Card Validity for Conditional Permanent Residents with a Pending Form I-751, Process Update for Labor Enforcement Investigations, The Truth About Deferred Prosecution & Crossing The Canadian Border, Our Community Involvement: Luxury Purse Bingo, New Designs Roll Out for Green Cards & Employment Authorization Documents, Tech Layoffs and Compelling Circumstances EAD. As well as the middle name was dropped during the Naturalization. Results Vary. When should I submit Form N-648, Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions? The speaking test occurs during the eligibility review. Please send a written request to the US District Court Clerk's Office, attn: Naturalization, 517 E. Wisconsin Ave, Rm. We are not a law firm, and this site and our software are not a substitute for the advice of a lawyer and do not contain or constitute legal advice. To do this, there are two approaches available. You can also legally change your name when you naturalize. What should I do if I have already applied for naturalization and my Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) is expiring? Once the application is filed and you are granted citizenship, one needs to swear their oath of allegiance before a judge. when ever name change is initiated through naturalization, a court order will be issued with new name. It is informational only. A judge can legally change your name at your oath ceremony. Form N-565 is technically an application for a replacement naturalization/citizenship document, as stated previously. Unless a court orders you to notify USCIS about the name change, there is no obligation to notify them of your name change. Your name is intentionally confusing, such as "Annum 2013" or "Airbus Jet.". See Full Details, Immigration Lawyer Chicago/ Services/ The information provided on this site is not legal advice, does not constitute a lawyer referral service, and no attorney-client or confidential relationship is or will be formed by use of the site. However, most courts are very supportive in accommodating the need for naturalization ceremonies. Application for Replacement Naturalization Document Accordingly, an applicant may file the disability exception form during any part of the naturalization process, including after the application is filed but before the firstexamination, during the firstexamination, during the re-examination if the applicants firstexaminationwas rescheduled, and during the rehearing on a denied naturalization application. You may have some limits on what you can choose for your new name, but these should not pose a challenge if you are simply trying to correct the spelling of your name. Are a naturalized citizen seeking a special certificate of naturalization for the purpose of a foreign country recognizing you as a citizen of the United States. 2012), the New Jersey Appellate Division addressed this question. 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." 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). Step by Step Instructions on Filling Out Form N-400, U.S. A request for a Certificate of Citizenship can be filed by a person (most likely a minor) who has already derived U.S. citizenship automatically, through a U.S. citizen parent. Ask at your USCIS interview if your ceremony can be held in front of a judge. During your naturalization interview, a USCIS officer will review the responses you provided on yourForm N-400, Application for Naturalizationwith you. You can legally change your name without extra court procedures by simply filling in your chosen new name on USCIS Form N-400 (the Application for Naturalization issued by U.S. You can either file your Form N-565 online or by filling out paperwork and sending your form in by mail. How to Apply for US Citizenship and Naturalization, Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, Corrections and Name Change During Naturalization Process: What To Do After Your Citizenship Oath, Citizenship Interview: Benefits of Having a Lawyer at Citizenship Interview, Citizen vs Permanent Resident: Green Cards, Benefits, and Social Security, Family Sponsorship Lawyer: Visa Requirements, FAWs, and Hiring an Immigration Lawyer, Copies of your original naturalization certificate. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Filling Out USCIS Form N-400 Application for Naturalization, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. It's not uncommon for someone's name to appear incorrectly on past immigration paperwork, such as refugee processing documents, an I-94, or a birth certificate produced by an unreliable source, such as in a refugee camp. Therefore, your changes will be limited to correcting actual errors rather than choosing a new name for yourself. To illustrate, let's say the full name on a girl's birth certificate was "Jane Doa," but she considered her true name to be "Janedoe Maxwell." This means you must be residing exclusively in the United States not in any other country. A naturalization applicant must satisfy each requirement to be eligible for naturalization. At your interview, you can ask to complete a Petition for Name Change. The extent of the correction may depend on the strength of your proof for the error. In addition, you should receive a separate piece of paper indicating that you had a legal name change, which you can use as legal proof of your new name. 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