However, most courts are very supportive in accommodating the need for naturalization ceremonies. Step by Step Instructions on Filling Out Form N-400, U.S. We understand that having your name misspelled on legal documents can be frustrating. No. The clerk will give you a date when a judge will make a decision. If your petition to change your name is approved, yournaturalization certificatewill bear your new name. Depending on the cause of the error, however, you might have to pay for the correction. If you don't want to or can't change your name during naturalization, you can change your name in a California court. USCIS provides free educational resources to help applicants prepare for the naturalization test. 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. Does USCIS publish the naturalization test questions? 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. Citizenship for the Past 3 Years Prior to Filing Your Form N-400. In order to be granted your name change after citizenship oath, you need to send in evidence with your Form N-565. "Kick U. If you're still in the planning stages, here's free, accurate, and up-to-date legal information on every step of the process of obtaining U.S. citizenship. 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. How will I know what the decision is on the Form N-648, Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions, I submitted? 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. You can file this petition if you have already filed your naturalization application. We are here to help set your name straight and make the necessary corrections so that your citizenship process can be as smooth as possible. You can also legally change your name when you naturalize. For additional information, please review USCIS guidance on theunauthorized practice of immigration law. Self-help software and customer support services are provided solely at a users direction. Changing your name on the citizenship application (Form N-400) is the most direct, and possibly cost-effective, way to change your name. Mere usage could be enough for the change to be legal. If your Form N-648 is found to be sufficient, and the licensed medical professional who completed your Form N-648 indicated on the form that you were unable to comply with all of the educational requirements, the officer will conduct the eligibility interview in your language of choice with the use of an interpreter and will not test you on any of the educational requirements. This is usually mailed separately (if not provided at the time of naturalization ceremony). Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card, Cancellation of Green Card After Citizenship Denial, Residency Requirement When Applying for Citizenship, Fingerprinting Requirement When Applying for Citizenship, Expediting Review of Citizenship Application, Applying for Citizenship as a Former Asylee or Refugee, Fee Waivers for Citizenship Application (Form N-400), Naturalization Interview When Seeking Citizenship, Second Chance Naturalization Interviews When Seeking Citizenship, Request for Hearing After Denial of Citizenship, Naturalization Ceremony After Citizenship Approval, CARRP Program and Delays for Muslim-Americans Seeking Citizenship, Name Corrections and Changes in the Citizenship Process, Birthright Citizenship and Acquisition or Derivation of Citizenship Through Parents, Military Service Members and Veterans Pursuing Citizenship, Children of Refugees Qualifying for Citizenship Through Derivation, Impact of Conditional Resident Status on Applying for Citizenship, Domestic Violence Victims Applying for Citizenship, Public Benefits and Applying for Citizenship, Extramarital Affairs, Divorce, and Citizenship, Voting Rights After Receiving Citizenship, Consular Interviews When Seeking a Visa or Green Card, VAWA Petitions for Foreign National Victims of Domestic Violence Seeking Immigration Status, How Children of Foreign National Domestic Violence Victims Can Obtain Immigration Status, Work Authorization for Foreign Nationals Without Green Cards, Temporary Protected Status for Foreign Nationals Unable to Return Home Safely, Humanitarian Parole for Foreign Nationals With Compelling Needs, Advance Parole for Foreign Nationals Living in the U.S. 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. It is a good idea to request a new certificate that reflects the name change. 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. It is informational only. Copyright 2003-2022. 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. You'll need to ask for the correction at the same time that you submit the USCIS Form N-600 that's used to request the citizenship certificate. To qualify for citizenship, generally applicants must demonstrate they havecontinuouslyresided in the United States for at least 5 years before submittingForm N-400, Application for Naturalization. You may travel to another country, including your home country, provided no other legal impediment precludes you from doing so. Citizenship and Immigration Services, or USCIS). In addition, many states have different rules governing name changes. Copyright 2023 MH Sub I, LLC dba Nolo Self-help services may not be permitted in all states. Request the correction in a cover letter that you write and include with the application. 2012), the New Jersey Appellate Division addressed this question. You must answer 6 questions correctly to to pass the 2008 version of the civics test. As you study for the test, make sure you know the most current answers to these questions. E-mail: [email protected]. Results Vary. The form requires an individual to confirm or deny if they would like to change their name. Your naturalization attorney can help with additional paperwork that comes with mailing your form and corresponding fees. 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. Consulting one can be well worth the expense. If you pass your citizenship interview and are approved for your naturalization certification, you will be able to change your name. After swearing the oath of allegiance before a judge, an individual receives their certificate of naturalization with their new name on it. I want to change my name to something else.\" You do whateveryou want to do.Now one thing you have to be mindful for is that notevery USCIS field office does name changes.For example, in Los Angeles, they're pretty goodat doing name changes.And the reason is because when you do your old ceremony tochange your name, you have to have an officer of the courtthere that could confirm the name change. 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. 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. 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. A judge will make a decision in about 2 to 3 months after you complete a few more steps. Many states have a self-service legal center where you can get instruction on how to represent yourself in asking the court for a name change. 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. This article describes these various options. 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. 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. 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. You should also submit copiespreferably certified copiesof these documents at the initial filing of your application. did this information help you with your case? The N-400 name change is done directly on your naturalization application rather than after your swearing-in ceremony. In addition to preparing for the reading, writing, and civics portion of the naturalization test, you will need to prepare for the speaking portion of the naturalization test and meet all other naturalization requirements. If you have already submitted your Form N-400 to USCIS and did not indicate a name change preference, it's not too late. This means that you will change your name after becoming a United States citizen rather than during your citizenship process. A naturalization certificate name change can be done in several ways. Please send a written request to the US District Court Clerk's Office, attn: Naturalization, 517 E. Wisconsin Ave, Rm. 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. The interviewer may ask for proof of your current legal name. During Naturalization they (US Naturalization) took the name from Birth Certificate and not according to the passport. Therefore, your changes will be limited to correcting actual errors rather than choosing a new name for yourself. (Unfortunately, you cannot pick and choose which USCIS office to attend your interview at. The filing fee for a name change after citizenship oath is $555 for Form N-565. Yes, you can do a naturalization certificate name change. How many times can I apply for naturalization? Form N-565 is technically an application for a replacement naturalization/citizenship document, as stated previously. However, both approaches are nuanced, with small details that are critical to the process. Attorney Advertising. These may include your birth certificate or records of asylum or refugee status. 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. This process can be difficult to pin down because of differences between state laws. There are different procedures that must be followed based on your citizenship or immigration status. To obtain a replacement of your naturalization certificate, please follow the instructions found here at www.uscis.gov or call (800) 375-5283 for additional information. The interviewer may ask you to confirm that you still want to change your name because some people change their minds between the application and the interview. USCIS offersinteractive practice teststo help you prepare. for informational purposes only and are not legal advice or counsel. This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions. 8 FAM 403.1-4(C) Change of Name by Marriage (CT:CITZ-64; 11-08-2021) This process does not happen in the California court system. Note that there are legal restrictions on what you can change your name to. There are a few ways to go about a name change during naturalization. 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. You will be asked up to 10 questions from the list of 100 questions. During your swearing-in ceremony, you will be given a certificate proving your name has been legally changed. However, both approaches are nuanced, with small details that are critical to the process. 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 . Your name change will take effect immediately after the ceremony has ended. How do I obtain proof of my citizenship? As well as the middle name was dropped during the Naturalization. Naturalization is the process by which an alien becomes an American citizen. 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. If you were naturalized in Des Moines, please contact the Clerk's Office at 515-284-6248. 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. 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. 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. Your new name interferes with someone else's right to a name, particularly that of a famous person, such as Barack Obama, Brad Pitt, or Kim Kardashian, or of a company, such as Charles Schwab or Berkshire Hathaway. As far as possible delays, USCIS has little control over the judicial ceremony calendar. A lock ( A locked padlock ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Inspections of Foreign Nationals Entering the U.S. Penalties for Unlawful Presence in the U.S. Impact of Criminal Record on Immigration Status. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. To do this, there are two approaches available. In addition, theFind Help in Your Communitypage allows individuals to search for low-cost or free citizenship classes throughout the United States. Therefore, it may lead to delays in receiving naturalization because of the gaps in judicial ceremonies. 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. This means you must be residing exclusively in the United States not in any other country. The decision on your Form N-648 will be made at the time of your naturalization interview. You can either file your Form N-565 online or by filling out paperwork and sending your form in by mail. Many choose to change their names while applying for U.S. citizenship as they need not pay separate fees for U.S. citizenship and to legally change their names. 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. The content on this site should not be relied on to reach conclusions about any persons specific situation. However, some answers may change because of elections or appointments. If you are approved for citizenship, a USCIS official will schedule an oath ceremony. If it's not, you can change your name in a California court. Basic steps to change a name To start the process, you file forms with the court You pay a $435-$450 filing fee. The Court is unable to provide a copy of your naturalization certificate or any other documentation that certifies your citizenship. It has historically been unwilling to correct prior errors found in documents like birth certificates or refugee processing documents. 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. 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 Court is unable to provide a copy of your naturalization certificate or any other documentation that certifies your citizenship. The attorneys at Scott D. Pollock & Associates P.C. You might receive several letters from USCIS before your name correction is clarified, and the agency might not, ultimately, grant you your first choice. Form N-565titled Replacement of Certificate of Citizenship or Naturalizationis used to receive a new certificate after a legal name change or an error on the original. Timeframe to Get a Nonimmigrant U.S. Visa, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 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). Quiz results do not guarantee eligibility or ineligibility as you may or may not be eligible based on reasons not addressed in the quizzes. The fee to obtain a certified copy of a name change certificate is $11.50. No. USCIS publishes a complete list of the 2008 and 2020 version of the civics test. To obtain a replacement of your naturalization certificate, please follow the instructions found here at www.uscis.gov or call (800) 375-5283 for additional information. If you become a U.S. citizen and you need to change your name you can do so by approaching the court. You can ask to change your name in your Application for Naturalization(form N-400). 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. Please send a written request to the US District Court Clerk's Office, attn: Naturalization, 517 E. Wisconsin Ave, Rm. can be by your side through your entire naturalization process and support you in your naturalization certificate name change. This avenue of applying for a name change after the citizenship oath will grant a new certificate of naturalization for a name change. For more information, seeexceptions and accommodations. Citizenship is not handled by State courts. The materials contained in this website have been prepared by Scott D. Pollock & Associates, P.C. Ask at your USCIS interview if your ceremony can be held in front of a judge. Although this is not typically an issue with divorce and marriage, it can get extremely varied based on the state. 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. 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. 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. 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. Exceptions and restrictions may apply; see Refund Policyfor details. What Are the Eligibility Requirements for U.S. If you are in luck, and are approved for citizenship at the interview, the officer will have you fill out a form called a Petition for Name Change during your interview. See the Change or Correct a Passport page of the State Department's website for more information. Ask at your USCIS interview if your ceremony can be held in front of a judge. They would like to change your name change certificate is $ 11.50 their name page of error! Pass your citizenship Get a Nonimmigrant U.S. Visa, do not Sell share... Has historically been unwilling to correct Prior errors found in documents like birth certificates or refugee processing documents like certificates... The content on this site should not be relied on to reach conclusions about persons... In all States the ceremony has ended be frustrating in several ways both approaches are nuanced, small... 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