Legally changed my name and now worried

[nmuntz]

Hi there! I recently became a Canadian citizen and the first thing I did after that was to legally change my name.
This process took a very long time by the province (around 9 months) and was waiting for it to complete before applying for my first passport as I wanted it under the new name. While reviewing the paperwork required for the passport application I realized that they needed a copy (or the original, I don't remember exactly) of my citizenship certificate. Given that this was under the old name I figured they would need an updated citizenship certificate so I immediately filled in the application to get a new certificate.

Fast forward to today it's been almost two months since I sent the paperwork to get an updated citizenship certificate and I still haven't received an AOR which I understand is the first step in the process and would allow me to get an accurate status on my application.
To make matters worse I had to send them the original copy of my citizenship certificate so if the passport application also requires the original then i'm in extra trouble. I have some travel coming up later this year and I'm worried that I might not have my passport by then.

I was reading some other threads on this topic and it seems like some people were able to submit a copy of the citizenship certificate under the old name. I should have read this way before but given my situation I would like some advice. Should I try and apply to a passport using a copy of my citizenship cert or is it too late for this and I should wait for the updated certificate or perhaps the old certificate is not allowed?

Would appreciate any suggestions - thank you!

 

[scylla]

Hi there! I recently became a Canadian citizen and the first thing I did after that was to legally change my name.
This process took a very long time by the province (around 9 months) and was waiting for it to complete before applying for my first passport as I wanted it under the new name. While reviewing the paperwork required for the passport application I realized that they needed a copy (or the original, I don't remember exactly) of my citizenship certificate. Given that this was under the old name I figured they would need an updated citizenship certificate so I immediately filled in the application to get a new certificate.

Fast forward to today it's been almost two months since I sent the paperwork to get an updated citizenship certificate and I still haven't received an AOR which I understand is the first step in the process and would allow me to get an accurate status on my application.
To make matters worse I had to send them the original copy of my citizenship certificate so if the passport application also requires the original then i'm in extra trouble. I have some travel coming up later this year and I'm worried that I might not have my passport by then.

I was reading some other threads on this topic and it seems like some people were able to submit a copy of the citizenship certificate under the old name. I should have read this way before but given my situation I would like some advice. Should I try and apply to a passport using a copy of my citizenship cert or is it too late for this and I should wait for the updated certificate or perhaps the old certificate is not allowed?

Would appreciate any suggestions - thank you!

I would try applying for the passport with a copy of the citizenship certificate under your old name. Worst thing they can do is say no.

To the best of my knowledge, you'll likely be waiting around a year for the updated citizenship certificate. So it doesn't make sense to wait if you want to travel later this year and need a passport.

Good luck.

 

[armoured]

I would try applying for the passport with a copy of the citizenship certificate under your old name. Worst thing they can do is say no.

To the best of my knowledge, you'll likely be waiting around a year for the updated citizenship certificate.

Agree with above, best to try. For reference of others: VERY BAD IDEA to do it the way you did. Apply for new passport under new name FIRST, and only after you get it apply for new citizneship certificate (if you want - you really don't need it to show your new name).

They - and almost everyone else - will and should accept documents under your old name plus the change of name documents to believe that you ... changed the name.

That's what the change of name documents are for! They would have issued you the new passport under new name with no problems at all.

You in fact had no need whatsoever to change your citizenship certificate to reflect your new name, AT ALL, except for personal preference. You now face the possibility that it may prove very difficult indeed to apply for your passport because they need the citizenship certificate.

They will claim they need the original. You should take whatever you can to show them you applied for a new one after change in name (eg copy of your app for new certificate). You may have to ask if they can confirm or get a copy - and that may not be easy (the Passport Office is a separate agency and may not have the type of access they need). Ask for their help - their must be a way to solve it. Let others know.

 

[d13]

Hi I am starting my citizenship application.but I have to change my Middle name and surname so what can I do first?? Change name process or citizenship first??
I have an Indian passport. Please anyone let me know the steps of the process.i am so confused. Thanks. What is processing time for all these process?

 

[Miss bee]

Hi I am starting my citizenship application.but I have to change my Middle name and surname so what can I do first?? Change name process or citizenship first??
I have an Indian passport. Please anyone let me know the steps of the process.i am so confused. Thanks. What is processing time for all these process?

Don’t do before. It will create lot of hassle. It will be easy to do after you became citizen.

 

[Kayne]

Hi I am starting my citizenship application.but I have to change my Middle name and surname so what can I do first?? Change name process or citizenship first??
I have an Indian passport. Please anyone let me know the steps of the process.i am so confused. Thanks. What is processing time for all these process?

It will complicate your citizenship process if you change your name first, in addition to also making you wait longer to apply for citizenship while waiting for change of name to complete processing. Best thing is to apply for citizenship, get citizenship. Apply for passport, get passport. Then apply for change of name. That way there is no complication in applying for citizenship or passport and you can just wait as long as you need to for the change of name while still using your current name.

 

[d13]

It will complicate your citizenship process if you change your name first, in addition to also making you wait longer to apply for citizenship while waiting for change of name to complete processing. Best thing is to apply for citizenship, get citizenship. Apply for passport, get passport. Then apply for change of name. That way there is no complication in applying for citizenship or passport and you can just wait as long as you need to for the change of name while still using your current name.

Ok.thanks
But I have to surrender the Indian passport and then after I have to apply for the OCI so that time the name change will affect on this process?? I don't know about it so..

 

[d13]

Don’t do before. It will create lot of hassle. It will be easy to do after you became citizen.

Ok.thanks
But I have to surrender the Indian passport and then after I have to apply for the OCI so that time the name change will affect on this process?? I don't know about it so..

 

[Kayne]

Ok.thanks
But I have to surrender the Indian passport and then after I have to apply for the OCI so that time the name change will affect on this process?? I don't know about it so..

You can change your name after OCI and passport surrender too. So long as you have the change of name document proof you'll be fine. The reason why you wanna do the change of name last is so that you don't prolong any of the other processes. Doing the name of change last won't hinder or delay anything. But if you do it first or in the middle it would delay and complicate a lot of things.

 

[d13]

You can change your name after OCI and passport surrender too. So long as you have the change of name document proof you'll be fine. The reason why you wanna do the change of name last is so that you don't prolong any of the other processes. Doing the name of change last won't hinder or delay anything. But if you do it first or in the middle it would delay and complicate a lot of things.

Thank you so much

 

[octadag]

Hi there! I recently became a Canadian citizen and the first thing I did after that was to legally change my name.
This process took a very long time by the province (around 9 months) and was waiting for it to complete before applying for my first passport as I wanted it under the new name. While reviewing the paperwork required for the passport application I realized that they needed a copy (or the original, I don't remember exactly) of my citizenship certificate. Given that this was under the old name I figured they would need an updated citizenship certificate so I immediately filled in the application to get a new certificate.

Fast forward to today it's been almost two months since I sent the paperwork to get an updated citizenship certificate and I still haven't received an AOR which I understand is the first step in the process and would allow me to get an accurate status on my application.
To make matters worse I had to send them the original copy of my citizenship certificate so if the passport application also requires the original then i'm in extra trouble. I have some travel coming up later this year and I'm worried that I might not have my passport by then.

I was reading some other threads on this topic and it seems like some people were able to submit a copy of the citizenship certificate under the old name. I should have read this way before but given my situation I would like some advice. Should I try and apply to a passport using a copy of my citizenship cert or is it too late for this and I should wait for the updated certificate or perhaps the old certificate is not allowed?

Would appreciate any suggestions - thank you!

In the passport application form , it is mentioned that you can apply for the passport in your new name , provided that you showed your proof of citizenship ( in your old name ) , as well as the legal name change document from old name to new name.