Ask at your USCIS interview if your ceremony can be held in front of a judge. One may change their name after naturalization by going through the courts, or by some operation of law such marriage or divorce. For the 2020 version of the civics test, there are 128 available civics questions on the naturalization test, but you will not be asked to answer all of them during your naturalization interview. It is informational only. You can submit other evidence of the error as well. 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. However, USCIS recognizes that certain circumstances may prevent concurrent filing of the naturalization application and the disability exception form. Get more information on how to fill out the name change part inthe Instructions for form N-400. The attorney listings on this site are paid attorney advertising. However, some people choose to seek assistance from a lawyer or Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR)-accredited representative. If you are able to file your form online, you will be able to pay your fee, check your case status, and be updated on your case all in your online account. You can also legally change your name when you naturalize. To obtain a copy of your Name Change Form, please contact USCIS directly atwww.uscis.gov or call (800) 375-5283 for additional information. You can ask to change your name in your Application for Naturalization(form N-400). During Naturalization they (US Naturalization) took the name from Birth Certificate and not according to the passport. Your use of this website constitutes acceptance of the Terms of Use, Supplemental Terms, Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. Endorsement of name change during the naturalization process. This is an attorney advertisement. You will need to follow the name change procedures provided under your state's law, which most likely involve filing a name change petition with the state court. You must take a copy of your Certificate of Naturalization to each government agency where you need to update your ID or record. USCIS provides free educational resources to help applicants prepare for the naturalization test. USCIS may be reluctant to accept certain types of corrections, so you may need to provide alternatives from which it can choose. 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. Consulting one can be well worth the expense. You will be given a citizenship certificate name change on your official Certificate of Naturalization. Examples of these documents include: original birth, marriage, divorce, final adoption and naturalization certificates; court orders/decrees; evidence of child support payments; court-certified arrest reports; and probation/parole records. CANADA, 5 Kenley Road Privacy Policy | 2023 Scott D. Pollock & Associates, P.C. If you decide to submitForm N-400, Application for Naturalization,without legal assistance, obtain information about the naturalization application process and study materials to help you prepare for the naturalization test at theCitizenship Resource Center. 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). If you file by mail, The USCIS will then mail you updates about your case. Please send a written request to the US District Court Clerk's Office, attn: Naturalization, 517 E. Wisconsin Ave, Rm. The materials contained in this website have been prepared by Scott D. Pollock & Associates, P.C. Review our. You will need to include the following information with your request: If you did not change your name during the naturalization process, please contact your local county clerk's office for name change information. This process can be difficult to pin down because of differences between state laws. Citizenship and Immigration Services, or USCIS). The forms that can be completed using our software can be obtained for free from the U.S. USCIS could issue you a Certificate of Naturalization with your chosen name, but you will not have a court order showing proof that you have a legal name change. Although this is not typically an issue with divorce and marriage, it can get extremely varied based on the state. replace your Naturalization or Citizenship certificate. If USCIS grants your application for citizenship, you can change your name if you attend a naturalization swearing-in ceremony in court. Form N-565 is technically an application for a replacement naturalization/citizenship document, as stated previously. The new name you've chosen will be shown on your Certificate of Naturalization. If your name has changed after you filed a naturalization application, you must promptly provide USCIS with the document(s) that legally changed your name(s), such as a marriage certificate, divorce decree, court order, or other official record. This is usually mailed separately (if not provided at the time of naturalization ceremony). 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. After the court grants your name change, and assuming you have already become a U.S. citizen, you will need to apply to USCIS for a new certificate of naturalization, using USCIS Form N-565. 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. The extent of the correction may depend on the strength of your proof for the error. Since I am technically an international student, I'm not sure if the judge at the courthouse will even hear my case. 362, Milwaukee, WI 53202. Visit the 2020 version of the civics test page to learn more. Newport Beach, CA 92660, 18 King Street East, Suite 1400 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. Fill the form out with your current name, even if the name is misspelled. I missed my naturalization ceremony. If you cannot persuade USCIS to change or correct your name, you can pursue a separate court proceeding in a state or local court. This is a completely different process that is around correcting an error during your application for your certificate of citizenship rather than after you have received your documentation. The N-400 name change is done directly on your naturalization application rather than after your swearing-in ceremony. However, you cannot change your name, if you are sworn in by some other official. There is an option to request your name change at your naturalization interview. USCIS makes this decision for you.). Citizenship? An official website of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, An official website of the United States government. 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. You must request the underlying court order to document the material name change for the other family members. Many oath ceremonies are not held in front a judges. In the U.S., adults can change their legal names in a state or local court. Another option is to do a legal name change through the U.S. court system. Your new name will go on your Certificate of Naturalization. In the instructions to Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, USCIS provides an extensive list of examples of original documents that you should bring to the interview, depending on different case scenarios. Your access to and use of this site, including any purchase, is subject to and constitutes your agreement to the website Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Yes. USCIS would probably approve a correction to "Janedoa Maxwell" if the father's last name on the birth certificate was Maxwell. If you don't want to or can't change your name during naturalization, you can change your name in a California court. These may include your birth certificate or records of asylum or refugee status. If you changed your name during your Oath ceremony, your next step is to update your legal identity documents. It is common for those immigrating to the United States to legally change their name. You may be able to get your name partly corrected or changed to a form that is more similar to your actual name, even if it is not fully corrected. Will I be asked all of thecivics questions during the naturalization interview? Experienced immigration attorneys are accustomed to dealing with the various paperwork and bureaucratic requirements associated with applying for U.S. citizenship as well as name changes. What is Naturalization? Central Violations Bureau - Federal Ticket, Naturalization Ceremony Locations and Schedule, Naturalization Frequently Asked Questions, Requests to Use District Court Facilities, Link Your CM/ECF Account to Your PACER Account, Electronic Filing and Case Access for Attorneys, Electronic Filing and Case Access for People Without Lawyers, Hardware and Software Requirements for Electronic Filing, Problem with PDF documents created on Mac Operating Systems, Hearing Access Request Form for Criminal Duty Proceedings, Guidelines for Zoom Courtroom Proceedings, Checking Status / Confirming Reporting Instructions, Direct Assignment of Civil Cases to Magistrate Judges, Pro Bono Limited-Scope Representation Pilot Program, Procedures for Recovering Out-of-Pocket Expenses, Policy for Reimbursement of Out-of-Pocket Expenses Incurred by Court-Appointed Pro Bono Counsel. 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. 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. 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. An immigrant that lives in New Jersey but is not yet a United States citizen can apply for a legal name change in New Jersey. [3] In addition, an applicant who has legally changed his or her gender may apply for a replacement certificate reflecting the new gender. 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. But remember that you can change your name at the time of applying for U.S. citizenship, only if the oath ceremony takes place in a court and if a judge administers the oath as the U.S. district courts are authorized to change the names of the applicants who are applying for U.S. citizenship, while they take the oath. Does USCIS make frequent changes to the questions on the naturalization test? Speak with your immigration and naturalization lawyer about the best approach to correcting or changing your name during your naturalization process. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and requesting a correction. This involves paying a fee. Part 2, Question 4 of Form N-400 is specifically meant for this purpose. There, a father wanted to change his minor daughter's name from . There are different procedures that must be followed based on your citizenship or immigration status. If your name has changed after you filed a naturalization application, you must promptly provide USCIS with the document (s) that legally changed your name (s), such as a marriage certificate, divorce decree, court order, or other official record. 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. 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. The naturalization certificate shows your new legal name. Because many courts opt out of the naturalization ceremony and authorize USCIS personnel to administer the oath, to have your name changed as part . We are not affiliated with or sponsored by the United States government or any government agency. 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