Q: Should I change my (maiden)last name to my husband's last name on my N400 application or only after I become a citizen?
I got married while being a lawful permanent resident but haven't changed my last name just yet to avoid confusion with the USCIS. should I change my last name to my married name on the n400 form or just go through with the application with my maiden name and change it to my married name later (once I am a citizen)? Thanks so much in advance.
A: You can have the name change as part of the N-400 application (this will save the step of having to legally change your name under Colorado law and then having to amend your residency/citizenship application after the name change), BUT the joint name change/N400 can only be done by a presiding judge. This means that field offices will not be able to grant you citizenship until a judge is present (these are usually done once every quarter). In other words, if you dual file, your swearing in may be delayed (by a few months); in the alternative, you can not change your name and have the swearing in occur faster, but you will have to go through more steps.
A: Read through the application and the instructions. You are given an opportunity to change your name.
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