Can I Change My Name When I Apply for U.S. Citizenship?

If you are a lawful permanent resident (a green card holder) who has been wanting to change your name—whether your first name, last name (surname) or both—applying to become a naturalized U.S. citizen offers you a possible way to do so. And it comes with few administrative hassles, other than those that come with applying for citizenship, which might be something you were planning on anyway. Better yet, asking for a name change via the citizenship process doesn't add anything to the cost of applying, but saves you the costs of separately going to court for a name change.

We'll get into the details below.

How to Ask for a Name Change When Filling Out Form N-400

A permanent resident can legally change their name by simply filling in their chosen new name on USCIS Form N-400 (the Application for Naturalization issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, or USCIS). Don't miss Part 2, Question 3 of Form N-400 (referring to the 1/20/2025 version), which is specifically meant for this purpose.

The officer who interviews you as part of the naturalization application process will confirm that this is the new name you want. If you didn't fill in that portion of the form when you first applied, you can request that the officer fill in that part of the form at the interview.

One catch is that USCIS tends to be backlogged, and you might face long waits between filing your application, attending an interview and hopefully getting approved, and then attending the swearing-in ceremony at which the judge (assuming a judge conducts the ceremony) actually makes the name change official. USCIS's actual processing times are posted on its website.

Note: You don't need to answer yes on Form N-400 and request a name change if you've already legally changed your name through marriage (if you elected to put a new name on your marriage certificate), divorce (if you asked that your divorce decree show your old name), or a separate court order. Just put your new name on the form in Part 2 Question 1, and enter your old name in Part 2 Question 2.

For a Legal Name Change, Swearing-In Must Be Done by a Judge

There is one catch to this name-change opportunity. This name-change service is available only through USCIS offices where swearing-in (oath) ceremonies are held in a courtroom and presided over by a judge, not a USCIS officer. Only a judge has the authority to grant your name change at the swearing-in or oath ceremony.

In some regions of the United States, ceremonies presided over by a judge are held only a few times per year, so asking for a name change could result in your waiting longer than most people to receive citizenship.

In other regions, the swearing-in ceremonies are routinely held at a USCIS office—sometimes right after the naturalization interview. In such a case, your request for a name change on Form N-400 cannot be acted upon. If you're still interested in a name change, you will need to follow the procedures provided under your state’s law, briefly described below.

At your USCIS interview, be sure to ask the officer reviewing your case whether a judge will preside over your swearing-in. Assuming you are approved for citizenship at the interview, the officer will have you fill out a form called a “Petition for a Change in Name by an Applicant for Citizenship” during your interview. The officer might also give you a choice of swearing-in dates, some of which might be before a judge, so obviously you'd want to choose one that is.

If you don't request a name change before or at the interview, and you are scheduled for an oath ceremony before a judge, you might have one last chance to fill out this form and ask for a name change as part of the naturalization process. Bring this up when you check in, to find out whether and how you can obtain the name-change petition form.

If You Aren't Able to Change Your Name During the Naturalization Process

If you miss the opportunity to change your name as a part of obtaining U.S. citizenship, your best bet is to file a name change petition with the state court and appear before a judge. The details of this process depends on the law in your state.

Restrictions on the New Name You Can Choose

Note that in the United States, there are legal restrictions on what someone can change your name to. The judge will not approve your name change request in the following types of circumstance:

• You want to change your name for fraudulent reasons, such as to escape capture for a crime or to avoid paying a debt.
• Your new name would interfere with someone else’s right to the name, particularly that of a famous person, such as Barack Obama, Taylor Swift, or Jackie Chan, or of a company, such as Charles Schwab, Cracker Barrel, or Berkshire Hathaway.
• Your name is intentionally confusing, such as "Annum 2030," "Rescue Dog," or "Airbus Jet."
• Your name is threatening, obscene, or likely to incite violence. "Kick U. Down" or "Armed N. Dangerous," for example, are not likely to be allowed.

What to Do After a Name Change

After a judge grants your name change, don't forget to inform other important or official institutions in your life, such as the Social Security Administration (SSA), the local department of motor vehicles, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), your school or employer, your bank, credit card company, or other financial institutions, and so on.

If you had already become a U.S. citizen before going through a legal process to have your name changed, you will also need to apply to USCIS for a new certificate of naturalization, one showing your new name. You can do so using USCIS Form N-565 and paying a fee.

More on Naturalized U.S. Citizenship

If you are 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. 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).

An attorney can also be helpful with assessing your eligibility for U.S. citizenship, helping you deal with any risk factors (such as arrests or long periods of time spent outside the United States), and preparing the paperwork for submission to USCIS.