Name changed ??

[tafi]

I have changed my first name on my interview day.Initially the officer(interviewer) informed me that i do have my ceremony on December 2007. Then the same officer asked me to wait in a hall for the officer(thier big boss) who manages ceremony dates, he came to me and told me you are free to go now, the court should contact you soon.
I asked him do you know the court time frame to change my name? he said no.
I asked him do i need to show up here sometimes on December based on what the other officer(interviwer) told me? he said no, your ceremony details should be done in the court too.
Any one has similar experience?
How long does a court process take to change a name? weeks? months?
Is it true that things will be finalized thru the court and no need for me to attend ceremony?
Thanks for your help.

[ckayhan]

It would have been so much more easier if you had said that you do not want to change your name, and receive your citizenship and then apply to change your name. Now you just will have to wait to appear in court for the name change and take the oath with your new name either at the court house or as the officer said at a USCIS center on a later date. You do not need to meet with the officers again, except for the brief moment when they ask you if anything has changed since your interview right before your oath.

Best regards.

[tafi]

Thanks for the reply. So i still able to travel using my red stamp on my foreign passport(green card)?
If the court process takes long time, do i need to renew my red stamp when expires soon?
Thanks.

[ckayhan]

You can still travel with your greencard, since until the oath you are still a permanent resident. Do bear in mind though, your travel time should not exceed the 6 month limit or other total time out of the US because that could cause a problem. Do bring your travel documents and passport when you are called for the oath, they will definitely look at the dates on it. And if the stamp expires, you will need to renew it. Well congratulations, and do not fret, you are almost there. (I became a citizen last week, so I truly understand your situation!)

Best of luck

[tafi]

I was outside usa for 3 months and 10 days last summer(May 10th/07 to august 20th/07).
Now i'm planning to go back home for 2 months 19 days( october 5th/07 to December 24/07)
So the total time will be 5 months and 29 days.
I know that you should not stay over 6 months one time outside usa, but i'm not sure about if they total your time for all trips.
Any idea please? do they total your days for all trips abroad? and so they should be less than 6 months?
OR can you travel as many as you want as long as each trip does not exceed 6 months?
Thanks.

[knowledgeable]

Each individual trip

Each individual trip

[tafi]

I have changed my first name, still has not changed it back home. I got my marriage certification back home with my original first name on it.
Now I have 2 different first names, how does that effect my I-130 application to get my wife here?
Thanks a lot.
Tafi