ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
US Citizenship General DiscussionSize of my picture???
Hi everyone!

I'm going to mail the package to USCIS and I dont know what is my picture size that I need to take?

And here is following what I send:

1) Money Order
2) 2 Pictures ( I dont know what's size yet )
3) N-400
4) Copy of my Green Card
5) Copy of Marriage Certificate
6) My birth certificate ( Copy )
7) My husband birth certificate ( Copy )
8) My driver license ( Copy )
9) IRS ( last 3 years )
10)Copy of my social sercurity
11) Driver license of my husband ( Copy)

These are what I send to USCIS and I dont know if I still missing something. Any ideas?
Do I need to send my husband's divorce decree(s)?
I really appreciate your help.
Kim
mylove_1959FemaleVietnam2011-12-01 12:31:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionNeed Help, pls

You are just switching from your last maiden name to your new married name, right? Maybe you went to court to get married, but that is far as going to court is. All you need is your marriage license. In Wisconsin a name change on your drivers' license is 15 bucks, SS is free all over as well as your banks. At your citizen interview tell them you want to use your married name, they will want to see your marriage certificate anyway if applying for the 3 year.

At my wifes' request, I called our phone land line company, and told them over the phone she is using her married name now. On the next directory, her name was listed under mine. No proof was needed.

Now if you are change your first, middle or last name to entirely different names and with a last name that is not on your marriage certificate, then you have to go to court to get that done. This can also be started at your citizenship interview.


If I change my name I will change my entirely different name. Thanks Anh Map and NickD so much.
mylove_1959FemaleVietnam2011-12-18 16:03:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionNeed Help, pls

You have to visit all these places anyway to let them know you are a US citizen, like your DMV and social security, just bring your marriage certificate along, in particular if your citizenship certificate is in your married name. Wife never even went to SS, just got her paperwork and did that for her with her signed application. In the county seat 40 miles away where I have to go for business. She did have to show up at the DMV to have her photo taken, but I went with her for support. Banks were a snap, we also did that together, as was applying for a US passport.

Would perhaps be more frightened at your US citizen interview trying to explain why you wanted to keep your maiden name. But your maiden name will always be your maiden name, its on your birth certificate and every document before you got married. If you as a woman were previously married, also stuck with that name to.

Wife's home country passport is still in her married name, reason, their crooked politicians want a small fortune from us to change it. I don't mind that, when we travel there, she is my girlfriend. Ha, it coming home that hurts, then she is my wife again, telling me what to do, LOL.



I'm living in TX, my friend said after I become citizen I need to go to the court to get something done there ( but i dont know what to do in the court ). And she said after the court, I have a paper from the court and I can go to record for my SS, driver license, diplomat, bank,......but I have to pay for everything again to let they change my new name or whatever they do for me. Is it right? Thanks NickD for helping.
mylove_1959FemaleVietnam2011-12-18 13:09:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionNeed Help, pls

Just about every gal in this country uses their husbands last name, only bit of evidence you need is your marriage certificate. Using your own last name can certainly raise questions, are you just living together?

Wife used her maiden name in front of her married name, that was confusing enough that she realized wasn't done in the USA. On her own, she dropped that name at her interview

Two of my daughter-in-law's are licensed, one is pharmacist, the other a medical doctor. New licenses were issued to them at practically no cost with a congratulations for getting married. So they had to do that besides everything else. Just saying, not a big deal, very common.

Now if you don't like your husbands' last name, that is a different story, ha, my wife and two daughter-in-laws' like their new last name.


Thanks for your story. I like my husband's last name but I am scared to do over the SSO, driver, diplomat,.........But I just called the USCIS today and I has been told the same advised of v333k or I can write a letter that I want to change my name and send to the USCIS office before the interview letter is coming so that is saving me a lots of time and I will have my oath sooner. Have a great day.
mylove_1959FemaleVietnam2011-12-16 16:26:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionNeed Help, pls

you need to go to SSO and update your record that you became a USC. Your should wait a couple of weeks before doing that but there is no way to avoid it...

However, a comment I forgot to add previously, if you ever feel that you may change your name, or you feel you might at one point in the future, now will be the best time during your oath.



Really? Either way I have to go to SSO. Well, so maybe I will change my name when I have an interview. Thanks a bunch. :dance: :thumbs:
mylove_1959FemaleVietnam2011-12-16 11:05:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionNeed Help, pls

If you do not want to change your name, then you don't have to. Last name change does not make a difference in the eyes of USCIS unless they find other evidence that makes them suspicious of your marriage.
However, if you do wish to change your name, you can tell your IO during your interview about it, they will make the changes infront of you and enter them in their system - it's that simple.
During the interview, the IO will go over your application and see if there's anything that needs changing, adding or removing. Example, since you applied, you traveled for 2 weeks somewhere, they will enter that in the app and notate it.

Once you have legally changed your name, which will happen during your oath ceremony, you will need to go to SS office, Driver's license, etc... and notify them of the name change.



Thanks so much for helping. If there is fine without changing my name so I will keep my own name. I'm scared to do SS, license, .....again. Have a good weekend.
mylove_1959FemaleVietnam2011-12-16 10:49:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionNeed Help, pls
Hi everyone!

I have had the letter that USCIS received my pkg and my friend advised me to change my own name to become my husband's last name.
My question is:

1) What can I do to change my name now? :(
2) If I can change my name and what is happening with my SS, my driver license, my diplomat, my bank accounts,.......because they are diffirent name then. I worry that I have to start over every singer one of them again, I'm not sure. I appreciate you helping me. Thanks a bunch.
mylove_1959FemaleVietnam2011-12-16 10:30:00
US Citizenship General Discussionbecoming a citizen

What, two different posts (http://www.visajourn...-need-help-pls/) on the same exact subject?

Its up to you, as stated, nobody really cares, but if you have kids, they will carry your husbands' last name. Not really a problem, wife goes by her new married name, her daughter elected to stay with her biological fathers name. As a stepdad, could sign for her for school, drivers' license, or even medical appointments. With 50% divorce rates in this country, common to have a family living together with three different names.

For legal reasons, whatever name you choose, should be the same as your elected ID papers. If dealing with any governmental agency, will want a paper trail of your name, whatever it is. Your SS number will always be the same from day one.

Really not an issue, and the bottom line is that nobody cares, except you.


Sorry everyone, I didnt know I shouldnt do that. Just stress out, .........Thanks for helping. Have a good weekend.
mylove_1959FemaleVietnam2011-12-19 12:06:00
US Citizenship General Discussionbecoming a citizen

You do not need to change your name to your husband's name if you don't want to. There is no legal requirement to do so. You can keep using your maiden name as long as you want. USCIS will not question this decision at all because a lot of women don't change their names after marriage anymore.



Thanks raymaga so much.
mylove_1959FemaleVietnam2011-12-18 16:05:00
US Citizenship General Discussionbecoming a citizen
Ok, When I filed my N400 I did not indicate I wanted to change my name. My question is, if I deceide to keep my full name the same, will the USCIS want to know why, and if so, what should is the best way to answer. My husband says it doesn't matter to him if I change my name, and he will always call me by my birth name, because that is who he married. My concern is what the USCIS thinks if I decide to keep my birth/family name. Any ladies here who kept their birth/family name?
mylove_1959FemaleVietnam2011-12-18 15:28:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionWhen to start studying for the civics test?

So, I already have the civics booklet with CD.

when should I start studying the questions and answers?

I am a March filer, guessing my bios will be sometime end of this month maybe early April then the interview.


At least two weeks before you go to interview. For me, I was studying when I was done with finger print ( biometric ).
mylove_1959FemaleVietnam2012-03-12 21:17:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionSS card vs oath ceremony???

Only if you want to invite the employees of the SSA and the DMV to attend your Oath Ceremony. I can't think of any reason why they would want to see you taking the Oath though. It would be a fair punishment though, as attending the Oath as a guest is pure torture. So you should invite those guys!


You are funny, Brother Hesekiel. Thanks Mari&Ryan for the answer.
mylove_1959FemaleVietnam2012-03-12 21:42:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionSS card vs oath ceremony???
Hi everyone! I passed the interview couple weeks ago and my question is do I need to call the SS or driver license before I go to the oath ceremony or after the oath ceremony? Thanks for helping.
mylove_1959FemaleVietnam2012-03-12 21:23:00