How to change your name on citizenship certificate

Citizenship is not handled by State courts.

This process does not happen in the California court system. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) handles citizenship applications. Find out more about this process in USCIS's A Guide to Naturalization or go to the Citizenship Resource Center.

Table of Contents Show

Name change during citizenship process
Ask to change your name in your application or interview
USCIS schedules Oath Ceremony
Get new name at Oath Ceremony
Changing the Name
Necessary Documentation
How do I change my name on my Canadian citizenship certificate?
How do I change my name on my naturalization certificate UK?
How can I correct my citizenship?

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These are the basic steps to change your name during the citizenship (naturalization) process. It is informational only. Contact USCIS or an immigration attorney if you have more questions. If you don't want to or can't change your name during naturalization, you can change your name in a California court.

Name change during citizenship process

Ask to change your name in your application or interview

You can ask to change your name in your Application for Naturalization (form N-400). Get more information on how to fill out the name change part in the Instructions for form N-400.

If you did not ask to change your name on your N-400, you can ask at your USCIS interview. The USCIS officer can have you sign a name change petition and file it with a court before the judicial oath ceremony.

Only a judge can change a name. Many oath ceremonies are not held in front of judges. Ask at your USCIS interview if your ceremony can be held in front of a judge. If it's not, you can change your name in a California court.

USCIS schedules Oath Ceremony

If you are approved for citizenship, a USCIS official will schedule an oath ceremony. If you want your name changed, your ceremony must be in front of a judge (usually in a courthouse). Many oath ceremonies are not held in front a judges.

Ask at your USCIS interview if your ceremony can be held in front of a judge. 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.

Get new name at Oath Ceremony

A judge can legally change your name at your oath ceremony. Your new name will go on your Certificate of Naturalization. Once you get the documents changing your name, you can use it to change your name on other legal identity documents.

Your records are not updated automatically with your new name.

You must take a copy of your Certificate of Naturalization to each government agency where you need to update your ID or record.

Learn how to contact each agency where you might need to update your records

Get more information

If your parents are United States citizens but you were born outside of the U.S., or if you became a citizen after moving to this country before age 18, you can apply for a certificate of U.S. citizenship by filling out Form N-600. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service issues the certificate, which acts as proof of citizenship. To change the name on your certificate of citizenship, use Form N-565.

Changing the Name

To change the name on your citizenship certificate because of marriage, divorce or other legal name change, obtain Form N-565, Application for Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Document, from the U.S. Customs and Immigration Service. Fill out and return this form to the USCIS with the required filing fee, which is $345 as of 2014. If you are applying for a name change because of an error on your certificate caused by the USCIS, such as misspelling your name on the original certificate, no filing fee is charged.

Necessary Documentation

You'll need to attach a copy of your certificate of marriage or divorce to Form N-565 if that is the reason for the name change request, or the court decree that legally changed your name. If you are applying for a new certificate because your name was misspelled, you must provide documentation of the correct spelling. You must also attach two identical, full-face, passport-sized color photographs of yourself taken within a month of filing the form. Submit the form to one of two USCIS service centers, depending on your state of residence. The information is available on the USCIS website.

References

Resources

Writer Bio

A graduate of New York University, Jane Meggitt writes regularly for various legal blogs. Her work has appeared in LegalZoom, USA Today and many other publications.

How do I change my name on my Canadian citizenship certificate?

To correct or update your Canadian citizenship certificate you should submit: An application for a replacement certificate. A supplementary declaration explaining what correction you want to make on your Citizenship certificate or card. A copy of your identification cards with your current information.

How do I change my name on my naturalization certificate UK?

Download and complete an application for a correction of a registration or naturalisation certificate. Send the form and your original certificate to Department 1, UKVI. You'll need to pay a £250 fee if the mistake on your certificate was your fault. UKVI will send you a letter telling you if you need to pay.

How can I correct my citizenship?

People who later discover an error on the naturalization certificate can send USCIS a request for a new one using Form N-565, Application for Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Document.