I am in a similar situation that Mary81 was in from this thread https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,148899.0.html, with some minor details. I currently live in Norway. I have lived here for the past 8 years. As I understand it, I can legally change my name here after which I can get it changed in the US. This is where it becomes complicated. According to the "Changing Birth Certificates in the US" California 

Quote...Starting January 1, 2014, trans people seeking gender marker change on their birth certificate will be able to apply directly to the Office of Vital Records to amend a birth certificate. Later in the same year on July 1, 2014, one will be able to bypass the expensive court filing fee and the publication of legal notice in order to changes ones legal name [6].

This leads me to believe that I should wait until July at the very least before doing so. How may this be done from where I live? A phone call? How long must I wait from when I change my name to informing the US that I have done so? I do not plan on doing my transition in the US.

To further complicate matters, I am a US Veteran receiving disability benefits for a head injury that I received while in service. Would I have to also have a "second opinion" from a US Certified psychiatrist? So many questions and follow-up questions to be asked.

Rachel

Try contacting the society for trans people on post@ftpn.no or phone number 93207921 (although I would probably go for email as there will be a lot of information going back and forth but you can always give them a call to ask if they can help at all), they have probably been through a situation like that before and should know a thing or two.

I would also contact the department of public health (in Cali) and ask them about the needed paperwork, not to mention continuing receiving benefits and how you should solve that practically. Regarding waiting until July or not I'd simply take into account both when the transition date is, along with how long you can wait (and should wait. Might be that the hospital also has some formal paperwork you need to go through prior to the surgery).

Have you considered applying for a Norwegian citizenship? After 8 years you should get it. Depending on how much you are receiving, becoming Norwegian and getting the Norwegian benefits from NAV instead might be just as good. Just a thought.

Anyways, good luck. I hope things turn out for the better.

Oh thank you Kittens. A lot of useful and relevant information. Have been considering lots and lots of options. Of course they just realised today that my registered name was wrong in their system, so I went to the police and they sent me to Folkeregistret. This isn't even to get my girl name changed.

The simplest option is also the most difficult. That is becoming a Norwegian citizenship, the us has a 450 dollar renunciation fee, however it would simplify some things like transitioning. Might complicate my Veterans benefitis. I guess that  I will take contact with the FTPN. Thank you again!

Rachel

If there's anything you need help with regarding paperwork, NAV and eventually the process of changing citizenships - I also receive benefits (for other reasons though) and I got my Norwegian citizenship earlier this year.

Gutted for you having to work around the paper mill like that, it's such a long and frustrating journey but I hope it turns out just fine.