The instructions I was given, via telephone, from USCIS for the I-130/325A forms was; use my wife's family name (I.e. Name she was given at birth) even though we are legally married by Thai law. This didn't sound appropriate, but that is the way I filled the out, and submitted, forms to NSC a week ago.

I'm starting advanced preparation of the I-129/G-325 forms, but once again, using her maiden name still doesn't seem appropriate since we are talking about a married visa (K3) petition.
Another possible glitch is; that my wife had her named changed to her married name on her Thai passport . I'm sure that the Visa (Paperwork) and Passport names must be the same.

I've read and reread the USICS instructions, and still I have to ask these questions; which is wrong and what is is right? Should I have used my wife's maiden, or married name for the I-130 package. The same questions applies to the I-129F package.

You may, or may not, think about putting this question to me "Why don't I just call USCIS for the answers?"

If you would like to know, my answer is: I don't appreciate talking to someone (USCIS in this case) who responds to my inquiry as if I'm bothering them-and they start out the discussion with " You don't have more then 5 questions, right?"

I will appreciate any inputs/suggestions.

Thanks!

Sincerely;

Bernie

Good question,

I have not sent out the I130 yet but I am planning on using my wifes maiden name because her passport is in her maiden name.


You might want to check with others but my "best guess" is that the application should be in the name of her passport.

Another problem you might have if everything doesn't conform is placing the name correctly on the airline tickets

Just a thought

I am using my wife's married name (which is my last name) in all applications and everything is fine. Our marriage certificate also has her married name as well as her passport. Only her birth certificate does not have her married name, because that requires her name at the time of the birth.

I think, you can safely use her married name. Please make sure that your marriage certificate has her married name too in order to be consistent. This is just my opinion. Looks like, her passport already has the married name.

Bernie,

Your wife should make out her applications using the name that she intends to be known by. Apparently that's your surname since you say that she's updated her passport.

I submitted my petitions, and my wife submitted her visa application forms, using my surname. However, her passport remains in her maiden name.

Yodrak

You are right. The USCIS instructs that you use the maiden name [even if the name has changed post marriage] for your wife in the G-325A for I-130 and for I-129F. I was not given any logical rhyme or reason from USCIS but they just told me to play dumb and do as they said.

It doesnt make any freakin sense to me as to why the I-130/I-129F application itself can have the current name and the G-325A needs the maiden name. Then again, a lot of government procedures dont make sense either.

crifever,

G-325A doesn't "instruct" anything, it merely asks for certain information. Beyond that, it's the tail not the dog.

Yodrak

I used my married name as Family Name... because it also asks you, I believe, any other names you've used in the past, such as maiden or previously married names.. I believe there is a section on the forms for that question.

I did just that used my married name but on the ofmr it asks of all other names that i have used andI put my maiden name.

I guess I will have to just wait and see what USCIS does-I used her maiden name per telcon with USCIS, and put married name as "Other names used"

Thanks

I used my wife's maiden name on everything. Her K-3 was approved and she is now in the US with me. I am going to go get her a state ID and use hber married name on the new ID card. We are going to keep her thai passport as well as thai ID card in her Thai name.

I would say to use whatever name is in her passport. I would suggest leaving her thai name on her Thai documenst and just changing her last name to the married name for use in the US (ie: ssn card and id card)

Jayman,

You've lost me - these two statements are inconsistent. If one is going to leave their home-country documents in their maiden name, but use their married name for immigration and US documents, how can they apply for immigration and the US documents using the name in the passport?

In any event, my wife did the same as you suggest in your 2nd sentence - all of her Thai documents remain in her maiden name while all of her USA document are in her married name. But note that to get theses USA documents in her married name it required that she not use the name that is in her passport.

Yodrak

That is precisely what I'm suggesting. Keeping her Thai name for use in Thailand and using her married name in the US. You are correct, this means that when she is in the US she will be using her married name that is NOT in her passport. This shouldn't be a problem as you can still get her a State ID and SSN in your married name without changing the passport name from her maiden name.

that is the question

My husband will submit today our application for I-130, and i already used married name in filling-up the informations needed. As what the other members said, they used their married name since there is a question asking for any other names/aliases used before which shows the maiden name. I already have my passport still in my maiden name but im going to apply to renew/change my passport to adopt my husband family name to be consistent with the informations i supplied in our papers.. But, married female citizen in my country are allowed to still use the maiden name in the passport and i think it needs an affidavit... not so sure...