4. Endorsement of name change during the naturalization process. See the Change or Correct a Passport page of the State Department's website for more information. What should I do if I have already applied for naturalization and my Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) is expiring? This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions. It is what you will file if USCIS denies changing your name at your swearing-in ceremony. Close All Open All Do I need a lawyer to apply for U.S. citizenship? We look forward to working with you. There, a father wanted to change his minor daughter's name from . While ones lawful permanent resident status does not expire, barring naturalization or termination of status, a lawful permanent residentmust have valid, unexpired proof of lawful permanent residence in their possession at all times. You have demonstrated an ability to speak English if you generally understand and can respond accurately to the USCIS officer. If you are seeking legal help to complete your Application for Naturalization, please be aware that only attorneys and EOIR-accredited representatives can provide legal advice about which forms and documents to attach to your application, explain immigration options you may have, and communicate with USCIS about your case. 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 cost is $11.50 for each certified copy. The difficulty with this arises from the fact that oath of allegiance ceremonies are held much less frequently than those administered by USCIS officers. For additional information, please review USCIS guidance on theunauthorized practice of immigration law. You must answer at least 12 of the 20 questions correctly to pass the 2020 version of the civics test. Therefore, it may lead to delays in receiving naturalization because of the gaps in judicial ceremonies. When applying for U.S. citizenship if you wish to change your name, you can apply for naturalization and for legal name change together on Form N-400, Application for Naturalization. You must answer 6 questions correctly to to pass the 2008 version of the civics test. Your naturalization attorney can help with additional paperwork that comes with mailing your form and corresponding fees. 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. In addition, theFind Help in Your Communitypage allows individuals to search for low-cost or free citizenship classes throughout the United States. . The naturalization process is a legal way of changing your name. Many oath ceremonies are not held in front a judges. when ever name change is initiated through naturalization, a court order will be issued with new name. Citizenship? I missed my naturalization ceremony. 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. Contact USCIS or an immigration attorney if you have more questions. Depending on the cause of the error, however, you might have to pay for the correction. During your swearing-in ceremony, you will be given a certificate proving your name has been legally changed. Copyright 2003-2022. USCIS has been known to accept certain name corrections but not others, so it is okay to list alternatives in order of your preference. There is an option to request your name change at your naturalization interview. 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. (Updated-2022), Replace Lost Naturalization/Citizenship Certificate(2022). This general education only. Your name is threatening, obscene, or likely to incite violence. You should bring certain original documents to your interview. Once you have legally changed your name, you can File Form N-565 with the USCIS which is the application to replace your Naturalization or Citizenship certificate with the new name and get an updated copy of your certificate. However, you cannot change your name, if you are sworn in by some other official. Prepare yourself for the English speaking test by making sure you understand each question on the application and can respond to each question according to your situation. A naturalization certificate name change can be done in several ways. Request the correction in a cover letter that you write and include with the application. 2). 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. What is Naturalization? There is no limit to the number of times you can apply for naturalization, but you must pay the filing fee for each Form N-400 you submit to the agency. These are the basic steps to change your name during the citizenship (naturalization) process. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) as blank forms with written instructions. 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. Learn how to contact each agency where you might need to update your records. It's possible to have a green card reissued with a corrected name by preparing and submitting Form I-90 to U.S. How will I know what the decision is on the Form N-648, Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions, I submitted? 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. As you study for the test, make sure you know the most current answers to these questions. What Are the Eligibility Requirements for U.S. 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. See Full Details, Immigration Lawyer Chicago/ Services/ Certain certified copies of documents can also be provided. Note that there are legal restrictions on what you can change your name to. Call city/county court clerk; they should be able to provide you with court order; if not already done. London TW1 1JT 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. Another option involves going to court to legally change your name. Also submit an affidavit from a parent, if possible, explaining the error and correction. The speaking test occurs during the eligibility review. Application for Replacement Naturalization Document 362, Milwaukee, WI 53202. For example, USCIS might be willing to add a space or remove a space in between two names, yet refuse to change the spelling. Do I need a lawyer to apply for U.S. citizenship? Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, applying to become a naturalized U.S. citizen, the one that will be conducting your interview. Evidence that you can provide includes: Your immigration lawyer can help gather and send the evidence required for you to change your name on naturalization forms. Proof of an Authentic Marriage for the Past 3 Years Prior To Filing Your Form N-400. Look for a "Chat Now" button in the right bottom corner of your screen. I had discussion with the officer during the interview but they said we will follow the birth certificate. Many oath ceremonies are not held in front ofjudges. 2. This is usually mailed separately (if not provided at the time of naturalization ceremony). If another family member, such as a parent, has had a legal name change in order to fix errors made on immigration processing documents, and you believe your correct name should have included the correct spelling of the family member's name (such as in the above example where "Mixwell" should have been "Maxwell"), include the proof of that person's legal name change to help demonstrate that an error occurred. If USCIS grants your application for citizenship, you can change your name if you attend a naturalization swearing-in ceremony in court. People applying for U.S. citizenship can change their names as a part of the U.S. naturalization process. Also, be sure to subscribe to our blog for more immigration news and updates. If you fail any portion of these requirements, you will be retested during a new interview on the portion of the test that you failed (English or civics) between 60 and 90 days from the date of your initial interview. Looking for U.S. government information and services? A lock ( A locked padlock ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Speak with your immigration and naturalization lawyer about the best approach to correcting or changing your name during your naturalization process. 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. To do this, there are two approaches available. COVID-19 Update: COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement for All Green Card Applicants Read More, All Green Card applicants, who receive their medical examination from either a Panel Physician or a Civil Surgeon on or after October 1, 2021, will need to show evidence of vaccination for COVID-19, or provide a valid reason why they should not be held to the new requirement. No. We do not provide legal advice, opinions, or recommendations about any individuals specific legal rights, remedies, defenses, options, or strategies. Fortunately, USCIS is more accustomed to the documentation issues that affect some immigrants, so applying for naturalization or a Certificate of Citizenship first will help create evidence usable to apply for a U.S. passport. You should also submit copiespreferably certified copiesof these documents at the initial filing of your application. Mere usage could be enough for the change to be legal. 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. Often petitioners went to the court most geographically convenient for them. Official court order for the name change, first name or last name or both. 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. 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. Does USCIS publish the naturalization test questions? 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. Form N-565 is what you will file after you have received your original documentation for naturalization. Therefore, your changes will be limited to correcting actual errors rather than choosing a new name for yourself. 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. If you have any questions about your immigration status or how to change your name during the immigration process, please contact our office. 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. There is one catch. This involves paying a fee. You probably do not need a lawyer to get a name change, since this is a relatively informal process. Proof of Official Name Change (s) (if any) 9 Additional Documents That You May Need. The attorney listings on this site are paid attorney advertising. You must take a copy of your Certificate of Naturalization to each government agency where you need to update your ID or record. Inspections of Foreign Nationals Entering the U.S. Penalties for Unlawful Presence in the U.S. Impact of Criminal Record on Immigration Status. Proof of Spouse's U.S. Although this is not typically an issue with divorce and marriage, it can get extremely varied based on the state. An official website of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, An official website of the United States government. This means you must be residing exclusively in the United States not in any other country. 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. The filing fee sent to USCIS is non-refundable, even if your request is denied. If you decide to get legal assistance, you can start here: Many people offer to help with immigration services. USCIS has developed responses to several frequently asked questions related to the naturalization process and interview and test. No. Depending on where you live, your will follow your state's legal name change procedures. Changing your name on the citizenship application (Form N-400) is the most direct, and possibly cost-effective, way to change your name. While at the interview, you will provide your filled out Form N-400, Application for Naturalization. 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. And Marriage, it may lead to delays in receiving naturalization because of the 20 questions to. The name change ( s ) ( if not already done must be residing exclusively in the States! 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