Legal Question in Immigration Law in Virginia

Name on citizenship certificate

I have a problem regarding my name on my citizenship certificate. I had my citizenship interview yesterday and I will be soon receiving my certificate and taking the oath. The USCIS officer explained that ''I am not allowed to use'' my maiden name as my middle name and therefore only my first and last name will appear on my certificate. However, that is how my name (first, middle and last) appears on my marriage certificate and everything else I own as documentation. I feel they are performing a name change with no legal basis. Is there such a law that prohibits one from using their maiden name as middle name?

The officer said the reason is because I did not have a middle name when I was single, e.g. name Mary Smith with no middle name. Then, the name Johnson was added as a last name after marriage and Smith has become the middle name.

Thank you

Ceci


Asked on 2/18/09, 9:26 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Michael Hendrickson Law Office Michael E. Hendrickson

Re: Name on citizenship certificate

No, there is no law (of which I am aware) in the Commonwealth which would prevent the use of one's maiden name as a middle name. The USCIS, however, has its own federal rules and you might wish to contact the local district office which is handling your naturalization for further clarification on this particular issue. (I do not agree, however, with your assertion that the omission of a middle name from your citizenship certificate constitutes a name change.)

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Answered on 2/19/09, 11:28 am


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