I-130 for Husband: When Should I Change My Last Name??

[KrispyKringle 12]

I filed the I-130 for my husband last month. I used my maiden name on the paperwork because that's the name on my passport, and I didn't want any confusion or delay. I originally planned to change my last name to his after the process was complete, but I've since realized that the process may take up to a year.

 

Can I change my name during this process? Or should I wait until next year?

[EandH0904 1,184]

I was wondering the same thing! I want to change my name when I get married but I won't necessarily have all the necessary documents in my new name so I also didnt know to file the name in my married name or my maiden name or when I can legally change it or how to do all this. Hopefully we can find out together! 

[Mr Geminian 691]

33 minutes ago, KrispyKringle said:

I filed the I-130 for my husband last month. I used my maiden name on the paperwork because that's the name on my passport, and I didn't want any confusion or delay. I originally planned to change my last name to his after the process was complete, but I've since realized that the process may take up to a year.

 

Can I change my name during this process? Or should I wait until next year?

You should have done that before the petition. I'd say wait until your petition gets over with and once he's here you can change name on SS, Driving License, etc. The I-130 takes several months to process and if you want to add this info during the process then it might delay your process. 

[DandTO16 39]

3 hours ago, KrispyKringle said:

I filed the I-130 for my husband last month. I used my maiden name on the paperwork because that's the name on my passport, and I didn't want any confusion or delay. I originally planned to change my last name to his after the process was complete, but I've since realized that the process may take up to a year.

 

Can I change my name during this process? Or should I wait until next year?

I changed mine three months after marriage. No issues thus far.

[Ryan H 3,790]

3 hours ago, KrispyKringle said:

I filed the I-130 for my husband last month. I used my maiden name on the paperwork because that's the name on my passport, and I didn't want any confusion or delay. I originally planned to change my last name to his after the process was complete, but I've since realized that the process may take up to a year.

 

Can I change my name during this process? Or should I wait until next year?

 

Are you the petitioner or beneficiary?  If you're the petitioner, you can change your name whenever you want and it will not affect the process in any way, shape, or form.  The poster who said otherwise was grossly incorrect.

[pushbrk 12,105]

3 hours ago, Aviinashh said:

You should have done that before the petition. I'd say wait until your petition gets over with and once he's here you can change name on SS, Driving License, etc. The I-130 takes several months to process and if you want to add this info during the process then it might delay your process. 

There is no "should" here.  It might possibly have been a better choice to use the married name on the petition, but when to start using it is entirely up to the person.  Had you asked before filing, I would have advised you to use the married name on the petition to avoid possible confusion later.  But, you can unconfuse any immigration officials pretty easily, since it's a pretty simple issue.

[Mr Geminian 691]

1 minute ago, pushbrk said:

There is no "should" here.  It might possibly have been a better choice to use the married name on the petition, but when to start using it is entirely up to the person.  Had you asked before filing, I would have advised you to use the married name on the petition to avoid possible confusion later.  But, you can unconfuse any immigration officials pretty easily, since it's a pretty simple issue.

Totally agree to that

[KrispyKringle 12]

Thank you everyone for your help!!

 

Since discovering how lengthy this process is, my husband and I have decided to start "being married", if that makes sense haha

 

It felt like we were on pause until we're physically together again--based on the assumption that we would be together soon. So I'd like to start using his name immediately ❤️

 

Thanks again everyone

[KrispyKringle 12]

13 hours ago, EandH0904 said:

I was wondering the same thing! I want to change my name when I get married but I won't necessarily have all the necessary documents in my new name so I also didnt know to file the name in my married name or my maiden name or when I can legally change it or how to do all this. Hopefully we can find out together! 

So it looks like you should file in your married name! Maybe try and update your passport ASAP after the wedding, then file with your married name.

 

Edit: Perhaps you don't even need updated ID? Does anyone know? 

Edited October 18, 2017 by KrispyKringle

[pushbrk 12,105]

14 hours ago, EandH0904 said:

I was wondering the same thing! I want to change my name when I get married but I won't necessarily have all the necessary documents in my new name so I also didnt know to file the name in my married name or my maiden name or when I can legally change it or how to do all this. Hopefully we can find out together! 

You do not need any documents except a marriage certificate in order to "use" your married name on the petition.  Get the documents when you get to doing so.

 

[pushbrk 12,105]

1 hour ago, KrispyKringle said:

It felt like we were on pause until we're physically together again

Sounds like you've come to your senses.  You are married and if Consular Officers in Nigeria see any inkling that you have "paused" your relationship in any way between marrying and the visa being issued, they will consider your marriage to be other than genuine.  

 

There are four degrees of fraud seen in Consular Immigrant Visa Units.  They are low, medium, high and Lagos.  If you haven't already become an A-student on relationship evidence and interview preparation.  Search the forum for "side load" and "front load".  It's too late to front load your petition package but not too late to understand why you should have if you didn't.

[tiyyo 68]

I plan on waiting until my husband is here to change my name on everything while I am applying his name to everything.

I figured making one trip for the both of us to all the places, Soc Sec office, bank, driver's licenses, etc will be easier.

[pushbrk 12,105]

1 hour ago, tiyyo said:

I plan on waiting until my husband is here to change my name on everything while I am applying his name to everything.

I figured making one trip for the both of us to all the places, Soc Sec office, bank, driver's licenses, etc will be easier.

And since he's coming from Spain, there's little reason to do otherwise.  Spain is not Nigeria.

 

[tiyyo 68]

1 hour ago, pushbrk said:

And since he's coming from Spain, there's little reason to do otherwise.  Spain is not Nigeria.

 

No but he is a Pakistani national living and working in Spain, that's why he is going through Madrid

[KrispyKringle 12]

9 hours ago, pushbrk said:

Sounds like you've come to your senses.  You are married and if Consular Officers in Nigeria see any inkling that you have "paused" your relationship in any way between marrying and the visa being issued, they will consider your marriage to be other than genuine.  

 

There are four degrees of fraud seen in Consular Immigrant Visa Units.  They are low, medium, high and Lagos.  If you haven't already become an A-student on relationship evidence and interview preparation.  Search the forum for "side load" and "front load".  It's too late to front load your petition package but not too late to understand why you should have if you didn't.

Thank you so much for the advice! I have learned so much about this process since I joined this forum yesterday. (Mostly about how little I knew before :facepalm:)

 

Edit: P.S. I am definitely doing my homework now!

Edited October 18, 2017 by KrispyKringle