When to change my wife's last name?

[ray_and_mally 0]

Another question for you guys. At what point do we indicate/file that my wife wants to change her last name to reflect our marriage? We are about to send out our I-485/AOS package and we're unclear as to when and how we should go about this part of the process. Should we do it in the AOS package or do it after we're (HOPEFULLY!) approved? HELP!

And yes, I'm totally happy to fill out all the I-485/AOS stuff again if need be. We just want to make our package as correct and detailed as possible.

Many thanks!

Ray

[lesthatsri 9]

Hi

Your wife needs to file with her desired married name in all documemts. This is because her green card will have this name, and changing it after it has been produced cost $400. Also in most forms you will have a space to put "others names used" specially on the biographical information one. Please keep in mind that her medical examination will be on her maiden name, as it is showed in her passport. That's fine. Also any supporting documents will be on her original name because she needs the GC to be on her married name to change it on Social Security.

On a side note when i did my fingerprints appointment they couldn't use my married name (despite my notice of action was sent with this name) because i didn't bring my marriage certificate with me. However USCIS has always addressed me by my married mame.

[ray_and_mally 0]

Hi

Your wife needs to file with her desired married name in all documemts. This is because her green card will have this name, and changing it after it has been produced cost $400. Also in most forms you will have a space to put "others names used" specially on the biographical information one. Please keep in mind that her medical examination will be on her maiden name, as it is showed in her passport. That's fine. Also any supporting documents will be on her original name because she needs the GC to be on her married name to change it on Social Security.

On a side note when i did my fingerprints appointment they couldn't use my married name (despite my notice of action was sent with this name) because i didn't bring my marriage certificate with me. However USCIS has always addressed me by my married mame.

Hi there! Thanks for the response and insight! Ok, well, now I'm in a dilema. See, when my wife and I got married, we put her name on the marriage certificate exactly the same as it is on her passport. So, what can we do now? Does the fact that our marriage certificate has her maiden name on it rather than the name my wife wants to change to? Really hope we didn't screw this up.

What are your thoughts on this?

Thanks in advance!

Ray

[Zedayn 485]

Put your wife's married name on all forms from now on, especially the I-485.

[CdnRN 40]

I can't speak directly for your location, but our marriage certificate had to have my maiden name - but it still is my name change document.

[jxn 86]

Did your wife change her name during marriage?

Generally, the marriage certificate allows for a name change without going through a separate name change process. In my marriage certificate, the state of Hawaii asked for the "Name" of the bride and groom, which means (old) maiden name, and the "Declared Name" of the bride and groom, which means (new) married name.

Following our marriage, every U.S. document my wife has filed is with her married name, and the marriage certificate is proof of the legal name change. When filing for AoS, we used my wife's married name for everything except the section that asked for maiden name / any previous names.

One exception is that we haven't change her name in her home country, so for international travel we will book flights under her married name, as she will be traveling on her foreign passport until she becomes a U.S. citizen in approximately three years. I have read that in this case, when we reenter the U.S. she will show her foreign passport, U.S. green card, and our marriage certificate to connect the two names.

Edited August 20, 2014 by jxn

[lesthatsri 9]

Hi there! Thanks for the response and insight! Ok, well, now I'm in a dilema. See, when my wife and I got married, we put her name on the marriage certificate exactly the same as it is on her passport. So, what can we do now? Does the fact that our marriage certificate has her maiden name on it rather than the name my wife wants to change to? Really hope we didn't screw this up.

What are your thoughts on this?

Thanks in advance!

Ray

Hi again,

Sorry for not getting back at you earlier. I had the same dilemma. I got married in Indiana, and the Marriage Certificate was made with my maiden name (according to my legal documents) and there was no place to put a new married name. It felt weird that I didn't have my new name declared somewhere in an official document. (My husband and I decided to change our names together, so we both will have a compound last name ) I searched online to see what people do to get their name change after marriage. Apparently the only thing you need to do is go to Social Security showing your marriage certificate and change it. However, since your wife doesn't have a green card, she can't go SS yet.

If she files all the forms with her new married name and lists the maiden name as "others" she will be fine.

[CdnRN 40]

When I submitted my package I used my marriage certificate as proof of my name change. Because it has my husband's name on it, along with my maiden name it is the name change document.

Just full the entire package out with your married name. I included many photocopies of the marriage certificate along with my ID in my maiden name - just to be extra certain that each form had a copy. When I went for my biometrics, I used my passport (maiden name) with my marriage certificate and they accepted it as my document for ID.

I went for my Updated SSN card, and my EAD and marriage certificate is all I needed to make the change. You will be fine.