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Change name when applying for Naturalisation

Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2015 12:27 pm
by al.lutonee
Hi all,

Your assistance will be much appreciated. I will be using a substitute name for example purposes

My wife will be getting her BRP as she has just got her ILR letter through. She will hopefully be applying for Naturalisation in December after 3 years stay as a spouse of British citizen on 2 year route

On all her documents, including our marriage certiricate, BRP, etc, she has her name as Roxanna Begum Lena, with Lena being her surname (Mrs Lena).

She wants to change her name to take my surname, Ahmad, so it will become Roxanna Ahmad. This is what ideally we want on her Passport and any subsequent letters .

Before applying for Naturalisation, can she apply with the new name or do we have to wait until after receiving the passport?

Ideally i would like to at the time of applying of Naturalisation, apply with the new name and just include the deed poll letter. Do i need to do anything for the deed poll letter?


Many thanks all

Re: Change name when applying for Naturalisation

Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2015 3:54 pm
by fwd079
Problem with this I see is Marriage Certificate.

If it is in name of Roxanna Begum Lena as you stated, then personally I'd go with Naturalisation with name Roxanna Begum Lena and after getting approved I would apply for first Adult UK Passport with Roxanna Begum Lena and be that done with it, after that I would change the name on Passport following the instructions therein.

Or, if I can have your original Marriage Registration Certificate modified, then I would skip First Adult Passport part and apply for First Adult Passport in new name, and attach Marriage Registration Certificate. Either way, process seems to cause problems it seems, please click here to view such thread.

Re: Change name when applying for Naturalisation

Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2015 5:21 pm
by noajthan
Hello, the link offered above is to my thread, tracking my wife's passport application 'experience'...

Be aware of recent difficulties that some newly naturalised married ladies are now having.
This is occurring when they naturalise in their married name and apply for a first British passport in the married name but all previous visas, id cards & other documents (including a current, foreign passport) are in their previous, maiden name.

HM PO see this as creating a second or 'Dual Identity' and a British passport is not being issued or is significantly delayed.
(It is happening whether or not the applicant is a dual citizen).

See more details here:
british-citizenship/passport-refused-un ... 83170.html

Re: Change name when applying for Naturalisation

Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2015 2:53 pm
by al.lutonee
ok mmm that makes it more difficult and expensive (ignoring the other high costs so far :))

I will apply everything normally and then do it after passport granted, just thought it would be easier to do it now:)

If anyone else can input i would be interested

Thanks

Re: Change name when applying for Naturalisation

Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2016 5:13 pm
by shazell
Hi there,

I am interested in your post as I have exactly the same dilemma with my wife and I am leaning towards the route you suggested of applying for naturalisation and first Adult UK passport as "Roxanna Begum Lena", then do the name change after the passport is granted.

Can I ask, did this work for you? Did she get naturalised, receive first passport with name as per naturalisation, then update the name on her passport OK. Also, when you applied for the first passport, did the PP office ask for any evidence to prove what name she was using? There seem to be so many ‘gotchas’ to this process I am interested to find out what worked for trailblazers like you :)

Thanks