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johhny5 Contributor

johhny5   26

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: South Korea
 Timeline
Posted

Hi my wife and I got married a few days ago. We are currently working on her paperwork for adjustment as well as 765, 131, etc.

1. I had specifically asked the clerk when we got married about changing her name and was told that it had to be in her legal maiden name.
2. There was no space on the license to put a changed married name.
3. I read in a lot of places that all I could use my last name on the forms but put down her maiden name as a "other names used" BUT I dont see this on the form.
4. Can we change her first name too?

For example:

My Name: John White
Her Name (Passport): Maritza Rodriguez, but she goes by Mary
Marriage License: John White and Maritza Rodriguez


Can we change the name at the same time to be: Mary White?? or do I have to use Maritza White?


Thanks in advance.

AOS: I-130, I-485, I-765, I-131   ( 128 DAYS )

Spoiler
  • 12/08/2016 [ Day -002 ] Medical Exam Done
  • 12/10/2016 [ Day 000 ] AOS package mailed out by USPS flat rate ( I-130, I-485, I-765, I-131 )
  • 12/12/2016 [ Day 002 ] Delivered and signed by R. Mercardo
  • 12/22/2016 [ Day 012 ] Checks cashed by USCIS Chicago
  • 12/28/2016 [ Day 018 ] Received text & email e-Notices of acceptance
  • 01/03/2017 [ Day 024 ] Received hard copy NOA1 ( Received Date - Dec 13, Notice date - Dec 23 )
  • 01/07/2017 [ Day 028 ] Received bio-metrics appointment letter ( Notice date: Dec 31 2016 )
  • 01/17/2017 [ Day 038 ] Bio-metrics Appointment at Elizabeth, NJ ( Completed )
  • 03/09/2017 [ Day 089 ] Received letter of interview appointment scheduled Apr 6
  • 04/03/2017 [ Day 114 ] Received notice that EAD / AP card was being produced via text and email
  • 04/06/2017 [ Day 117 ] Went to Scheduled Interview. I-485 Approved same day
  • 04/07/2017 [ Day 118 ] Received hard copy notice that EAD / AP card was being produced
  • 04/15/2017 [ Day 128 ] Received EAD / AP and Greencard on the SAME DAY

 

ROC: I-751  ( 374 DAYS )

Spoiler
  • 01/21/2019 [ Day 000 ] ROC package mailed out by UPS due to gov shutdown ( I-751, sent 20 days late )
  • 01/23/2019 [ Day 002 ] Delivered to Lewisville TX and signed by Edwards
  • 01/29/2019 [ Day 008 ] Check cashed by USCIS Dallas
  • 02/01/2019 [ Day 011 ] Received NOA I-797 receipt # EACxxxx ( Received Date - Jan 23, Notice Date - Jan 28 )
  • 02/25/2019 [ Day 035 ] Received bio-metrics appointment letter ( Notice Date: - Feb 15 2019 )
  • 03/04/2019 [ Day 042 ] Bio-metrics Appointment at Elizabeth, NJ ( Completed )
  • 01/23/2020 [ Day 367 ] I-751 Approved and card ordered. ( Mailed out Jan 27 2020 )
  • 01/30/2020 [ Day 374 ] New Greencard Delivered

 

Naturalization: N-400  ( 439 DAYS )

Spoiler
  • 02/06/2020 [ Day 000 ] N-400 submitted online ( Eligible 1/5/2020 ). Fee paid by Credit Card.
  • 02/08/2020 [ Day 002 ] Received bio-metrics appointment letter ( Notice Date: - 2/7/2020 )
  • 02/27/2020 [ Day 021 ] Bio-metrics Appointment at Elizabeth, NJ ( Completed )
  • 03/16/2021 [ Day 404 ] Letter for Interview Appointment
  • 04/20/2021 [ Day 439 ] Interview at Mount Laurel, NJ ( Completed )
  • 04/20/2021 [ Day 439 ] Oath Ceremony ( Completed )

 

 

 

 

 

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johhny5 Contributor

johhny5   26

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: South Korea
 Timeline
  • Author
Posted

For first name change you have to go through local court. Marriage only allows last name change.

So when would be the right time to do this? After the greencard and before citizenship? Or some other time? I dont want it to mess up the process but changing it later brings its own issues no?

AOS: I-130, I-485, I-765, I-131   ( 128 DAYS )

Spoiler
  • 12/08/2016 [ Day -002 ] Medical Exam Done
  • 12/10/2016 [ Day 000 ] AOS package mailed out by USPS flat rate ( I-130, I-485, I-765, I-131 )
  • 12/12/2016 [ Day 002 ] Delivered and signed by R. Mercardo
  • 12/22/2016 [ Day 012 ] Checks cashed by USCIS Chicago
  • 12/28/2016 [ Day 018 ] Received text & email e-Notices of acceptance
  • 01/03/2017 [ Day 024 ] Received hard copy NOA1 ( Received Date - Dec 13, Notice date - Dec 23 )
  • 01/07/2017 [ Day 028 ] Received bio-metrics appointment letter ( Notice date: Dec 31 2016 )
  • 01/17/2017 [ Day 038 ] Bio-metrics Appointment at Elizabeth, NJ ( Completed )
  • 03/09/2017 [ Day 089 ] Received letter of interview appointment scheduled Apr 6
  • 04/03/2017 [ Day 114 ] Received notice that EAD / AP card was being produced via text and email
  • 04/06/2017 [ Day 117 ] Went to Scheduled Interview. I-485 Approved same day
  • 04/07/2017 [ Day 118 ] Received hard copy notice that EAD / AP card was being produced
  • 04/15/2017 [ Day 128 ] Received EAD / AP and Greencard on the SAME DAY

 

ROC: I-751  ( 374 DAYS )

Spoiler
  • 01/21/2019 [ Day 000 ] ROC package mailed out by UPS due to gov shutdown ( I-751, sent 20 days late )
  • 01/23/2019 [ Day 002 ] Delivered to Lewisville TX and signed by Edwards
  • 01/29/2019 [ Day 008 ] Check cashed by USCIS Dallas
  • 02/01/2019 [ Day 011 ] Received NOA I-797 receipt # EACxxxx ( Received Date - Jan 23, Notice Date - Jan 28 )
  • 02/25/2019 [ Day 035 ] Received bio-metrics appointment letter ( Notice Date: - Feb 15 2019 )
  • 03/04/2019 [ Day 042 ] Bio-metrics Appointment at Elizabeth, NJ ( Completed )
  • 01/23/2020 [ Day 367 ] I-751 Approved and card ordered. ( Mailed out Jan 27 2020 )
  • 01/30/2020 [ Day 374 ] New Greencard Delivered

 

Naturalization: N-400  ( 439 DAYS )

Spoiler
  • 02/06/2020 [ Day 000 ] N-400 submitted online ( Eligible 1/5/2020 ). Fee paid by Credit Card.
  • 02/08/2020 [ Day 002 ] Received bio-metrics appointment letter ( Notice Date: - 2/7/2020 )
  • 02/27/2020 [ Day 021 ] Bio-metrics Appointment at Elizabeth, NJ ( Completed )
  • 03/16/2021 [ Day 404 ] Letter for Interview Appointment
  • 04/20/2021 [ Day 439 ] Interview at Mount Laurel, NJ ( Completed )
  • 04/20/2021 [ Day 439 ] Oath Ceremony ( Completed )

 

 

 

 

 

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embay16 Contributor

embay16   12

Posted
Filed: AOS (apr) Country: India
 Timeline
Posted

So when would be the right time to do this? After the greencard and before citizenship? Or some other time? I dont want it to mess up the process but changing it later brings its own issues no?

Alot of marriage licenses only allow names as they are currently. You can use her current legal name (with your last name) on the forms, but you cannot use the name she goes by for her first name. The greencard will then be in her current first name and married name.

Out of curiosity, is there any specific reason she wants to change her first name? Many many people have "legal names" and then the names that they go by at work, socially, and otherwise. As milimelo said, even if she did want to go through with changing her first name only (you'd have to thoroughly explain why), she would have to do so through the court in your state/county, and I am not sure about that process before getting the GC. I think you'd probably have to wait until after she gets the GC because otherwise she doesn't have any legal standing to change her name in the US.

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  • 2 months later...
Nightshadow Rookie

Nightshadow   14

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Timeline
Posted (edited)

Guys I wanted to follow up on this same question. 

 

My wife's name is rather complicated, she's Indonesian and has like 8 different names on her visa/passport. We wanted to keep only her current first name with the addition of a new "westernized" first name. Same as the example above: 

 

My Name: John White

Her name (on Passport/Visa): Purple Machine Table Forklift Vehicle Sofa Orange White

 

We wanted to change her name to Jane Purple White for example and eliminate all of the other names. Has anyone tried to do this on the adjustment of status form(s)? Otherwise we will be getting stuck with a green card, social security and multiple other documents with a lot of names. I am curious if anyone has ever been successful in actually changing the first name at all? We are debating risking it to see what they say but figured we would check here first. 

 

Additional question, has anyone tried to simply not state other names on their application to see if they drop-off?

 

Thanks in advance! 

 

Edited by Nightshadow
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milimelo Veteran

milimelo   4,187

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Bosnia-Herzegovina
 Timeline
Posted
48 minutes ago, Nightshadow said:

Guys I wanted to follow up on this same question. 

 

My wife's name is rather complicated, she's Indonesian and has like 8 different names on her visa/passport. We wanted to keep only her current first name with the addition of a new "westernized" first name. Same as the example above: 

 

My Name: John White

Her name (on Passport/Visa): Purple Machine Table Forklift Vehicle Sofa Orange White

 

We wanted to change her name to Jane Purple White for example and eliminate all of the other names. Has anyone tried to do this on the adjustment of status form(s)? Otherwise we will be getting stuck with a green card, social security and multiple other documents with a lot of names. I am curious if anyone has ever been successful in actually changing the first name at all? We are debating risking it to see what they say but figured we would check here first. 

 

Additional question, has anyone tried to simply not state other names on their application to see if they drop-off?

 

Thanks in advance! 

 

That won't work. Either change the name after getting the green card and before ROC (so you get the 10 yr card in new name) or change as part of naturalization process. 

ROC 2009
Naturalization 2010

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