Can you state your full name?

When the USCIS officer asks an applicant to state his or her full name, the applicant should respond with the complete legal name as it appears on the Form N-400 application and supporting documents, including given name (first name), any middle names, and family name (last name) in that order. The officer asks this question for several practical reasons. First, it establishes the applicant's identity and verifies that the person sitting for the interview is the same person who filed the application. Second, it serves as the first oral English test of the day, demonstrating that the applicant can understand a basic English question and respond appropriately. Third, it begins the formal process of placing the applicant under oath; everything the applicant says during the interview is sworn testimony, and the case can be denied for any false statement.

Applicants should give the same name on Form N-400, Part 1, that appears on their birth certificate, passport, and Permanent Resident Card (commonly called a green card). If the applicant has changed names through marriage, divorce, court order, or other formal process, that change should be documented in Part 1 of the N-400. Some applicants who immigrated under one name and now use a different one (an Anglicized version, a married name, or a religious name) need to disclose all names used. The N-400 application asks specifically about other names used, including aliases, maiden names, and nicknames. Misspelling of names from non-Latin alphabets (Chinese, Arabic, Cyrillic, Hindi, etc.) is common and applicants should make sure their N-400 spelling matches their other documents to avoid confusion.

If the applicant wants to change his or her name during the naturalization process, the N-400 includes a section to request a name change, and the change becomes legal at the oath of allegiance ceremony when the certificate of naturalization is issued in the new name. Applicants should arrive at the interview with their Permanent Resident Card, passport, state-issued ID, and any name-change documents (marriage certificates, divorce decrees, court orders) ready to show the officer.

Speaking the full name clearly and slowly helps the officer follow along. If the applicant is nervous, taking a short pause before responding is acceptable. Applicants who do not understand a question should politely ask the officer to repeat or rephrase it. Officers expect some accent or pronunciation differences and are not testing for native-speaker pronunciation, only for basic comprehension and ability to communicate. The interview is conducted in English unless the applicant qualifies for an exception based on age and length of residence under section 312 of the Immigration and Nationality Act.