Most USCIS forms also ask if you used other names. You will need to enter your maiden name and any other version of your name that you have used in the past. The filing fee for a change of name after the Oath of Naturalization is $555 for Form N-565. You must pay the registration fee and service fee for biometrics. The application fee sent to USCIS is non-refundable, even if your petition is denied. Sometimes USCIS incorrectly transcribes or transposes a person`s name. The result is an immigration document with a name error. USCIS provides forms to correct such an error. Depending on the type of immigration document that contains the error (e.g., green card, certificate of naturalization, I-94 document), a special form will be provided that the person can use to petition USCIS to correct the error.
For example, USCIS provides Form I-90 to correct an incorrect name on a green card. No fee is charged if the error is due to USCIS. Form N-565 can be used to correct a name error on a certificate of naturalization. It is advisable to correct USCIS errors to ensure name consistency across all formal documents once the error is detected. In other cases, the newly married person chooses to keep their original surname, known to women as the “maiden name,” or to separate their surname from their partner`s surname. For example, if two people with the surnames Jones and Smith marry, one of them may decide to legally change their last name to “Jones-Smith.” If the name as indicated on the various official documents is contradictory, it is preferable for the applicant to correct the name on each document. If time considerations preclude it, the applicant must provide USCIS or CBP with proof of the name change. This evidence may include a formal court order, if applicable, a marriage certificate or other legal document attesting to the name change, or other similar evidence. You can apply for a change of name on a citizenship certificate using Form N-600. This is a completely different process of correcting an error when you apply for a citizenship certificate rather than after you receive your documents. If that`s not an option, your immigration lawyer can help you with Form N-565. A change of name of the certificate of naturalization can be done in different ways.
Talk to your immigration and naturalization attorney about the best approach to correcting or changing your name during your naturalization process. In the United States, there is no legal requirement to change your name when you get married. It is entirely up to the person or couple. What`s important for USCIS forms is that you use the legal name that appears on your marriage certificate. After the wedding, you can immediately use your new name. In an opposite-sex marriage, the woman may retain her maiden name, use her husband`s surname, or separate her name from her husband`s name. All of these options are available as long as the name change is not criminal or fraudulent. The same rules apply to name changes in same-sex marriages. During your naturalization procedure, your name change takes place on the basis of state law. Depending on where you live, follow the legal procedures for changing your state`s name.
The court may accept or reject your application. Yes, you can change the name of the naturalization certificate. If you have passed your citizenship test and are eligible for your naturalization certificate, you can change your name. You will receive a change of name from the citizenship certificate on your official certificate of naturalization. This can be done officially at your swearing-in ceremony. Changing your name to something other than your spouse`s name is a more complicated process and requires different documents. An individual should expect that if different names are used on different records, the government may have difficulty determining whether the records refer to the same person without further explanation. If USCIS is unable to determine a person`s correct name, the agency cannot conduct a security check, resulting in significant delays.
If a person`s full name on their passport, visa, notice of authorization, green card, or any other document required for entry does not match, that person may have difficulty being accepted into the United States because U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) must ensure that the different documents all relate to the same person. In addition, the Social Security Administration (SSA) may delay the issuance of a Social Security card if the name on a notice of approval does not match the name on the passport. Even government agencies can delay granting government benefits if the names are inconsistent. For example, you may not get a driver`s license if the identification documents have inconsistent names. The solutions to these problems are simple, but require planning from abroad. You may have a different identification under your old name. It doesn`t matter. This does not prevent you from using the new name in the future.
The marriage certificate will provide you with the necessary evidence to use the new name in the USCIS petition. [^4] A first name is sometimes called a first name. A surname or surname can also include a maiden name. See 6 CFR 37.3 for a full description of the legal name in the Real ID Act, Pub. L. 109-13 (PDF) (May 11, 2005). the applicant`s name at birth, as it appears on the birth certificate (or any other eligible identity document if a birth certificate is not available); [1] or This requires you to schedule a hearing to grant your legal name change, after which the court will provide a document that can serve as legal evidence of the name change. The claimant must include their full legal name on all claims.
The applicant`s full legal name consists of his or her or her: When preparing immigration forms for filing with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), you often need to provide your “full name.” In all cases, it must be your current official name. If you are married, your current official name usually includes your married name. In most cases, your marriage certificate is a legal name change document. Form N-565 must be submitted after receiving your original naturalization documents. This is what you will file if USCIS refuses to change your name at your swearing-in ceremony. People are well advised to clarify an unexpected name change.