So confused, change name before AOS or after?

[lesthatsri 9]

Hi Lesthatsri, your view is mostly same as sweet cakes', which make me feel much better and more clear. Thank you! What you've said makes sense and is very logical. And thanks for the reminder of the EAD. My opt will be cancelled once they receive my package, right? Or once I send the package out? And do you by any chance know if I can put my maiden name as a middle name on the application, just wondering~~

Thank you sooo much!

Hi again,

You can do any combination you feel like when you change to your married name.

Let me tell you what I did.

I am from South America and I have two Given names and two last names. When I got married, my hubby didn't want me to change my name to his because he believes that I should be independent and keep my name, but since I really really wanted it we came to an agreement: We made a new last name with both our names and we are changing it together. I picked my mother's last name and mixed it with his family name. So my new name is Valdivia DeMeritt. He will change his too after he is done with his current job (He works truck driving over the road so he is away for several weeks) because he doesn't feel like doing paperwork in his home time. I wasn't ready to give up on any of my given names so I didn't make my mom's last name my middle name, but I could have.

----- About your OPT status. I believe that once your application is approved you are no longer on the student category, but instead a permanent resident. But I am unsure of this. I've also read that once your application is accepted your previous status becomes invalid. :/

[pinksquare 0]

Hi again,

You can do any combination you feel like when you change to your married name.

Let me tell you what I did.

I am from South America and I have two Given names and two last names. When I got married, my hubby didn't want me to change my name to his because he believes that I should be independent and keep my name, but since I really really wanted it we came to an agreement: We made a new last name with both our names and we are changing it together. I picked my mother's last name and mixed it with his family name. So my new name is Valdivia DeMeritt. He will change his too after he is done with his current job (He works truck driving over the road so he is away for several weeks) because he doesn't feel like doing paperwork in his home time. I wasn't ready to give up on any of my given names so I didn't make my mom's last name my middle name, but I could have.

----- About your OPT status. I believe that once your application is approved you are no longer on the student category, but instead a permanent resident. But I am unsure of this. I've also read that once your application is accepted your previous status becomes invalid. :/

Lesthatsri,

Thank you for sharing your experience with me. Actually, I was thinking about change my first name to my english name. ( Because my husband and his family and friends all call me my english name. And my Chinese name looks crazy and so hard to pronounce...So I have been thinking about changing it so make it eaiser for me to adapt the society here). Do you think I can do that on the application? Probably not~~ I feel I bothered you for so many questions already.

Thank you for the help. I'll keep sorting out about the OPT status thing. Thank you so much

[NikLR 13,220]

Thank you for the explanation NLR! That explains the fact that I don't have my new last name on my marriage certificate hah. And yea, I expected I would have to pay more $$$ for a replacement card if I change name after the fact. $450? No, not doing that hah.

Thank you again, NLR!

You're welcome!

[BigDaddy28 228]

Lesthatsri,

Thank you for sharing your experience with me. Actually, I was thinking about change my first name to my english name. ( Because my husband and his family and friends all call me my english name. And my Chinese name looks crazy and so hard to pronounce...So I have been thinking about changing it so make it eaiser for me to adapt the society here). Do you think I can do that on the application? Probably not~~ I feel I bothered you for so many questions already.

Thank you for the help. I'll keep sorting out about the OPT status thing. Thank you so much

Your marriage certificate is your proof for a name change. It doesn't have to state your new last name, but you can change your other documents to your new last name. You can apply now and put your new last name on your green card, that way you don't have to pay extra later. After approval you can change your SS card. One you have your green card you are not in visa anymore and you don't need the work permit because your green card is your work permit.

Good luck

[raven52 233]

My wife and I made a terrible mistake, we should have got her SS card, as soon as she was here in USA, but we waited until after marriage, and it took months for our SS office to get her SS card, even on order.,.,.,as the I-94 and everything in the system had her maiden name.,.,.,.,.,""GET YOUR SS card ASAP! would be my advice.,.,.could be our office was inept.,.,but..,,.I would get the SS asap!

[AnotherLostSoul 167]

if it's not super urgent for you to depart from your original name, then just do the name change free of charge at the time of your citizenship (if you'll apply at all)...just an idea...

[NikLR 13,220]

if it's not super urgent for you to depart from your original name, then just do the name change free of charge at the time of your citizenship (if you'll apply at all)...just an idea...

you would do it first at removal of conditions at 2 years. The earliest someone can become a citizen, is at 3 years. I recommend actually at 5 years so that you do not have to send in relationship evidence, again.

[lesthatsri 9]

Lesthatsri,

Thank you for sharing your experience with me. Actually, I was thinking about change my first name to my english name. ( Because my husband and his family and friends all call me my english name. And my Chinese name looks crazy and so hard to pronounce...So I have been thinking about changing it so make it eaiser for me to adapt the society here). Do you think I can do that on the application? Probably not~~ I feel I bothered you for so many questions already.

Thank you for the help. I'll keep sorting out about the OPT status thing. Thank you so much

Hi pinksquare

I believe you should be able to input your name in the english version if you desire. You will know once the USCIS letters start coming on that name. If they have any questions about it, they would send you a letter. Your passport will remain the same, and as far as China you name will be the same as well. You should put open a thread in the regional forum for China:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/94-china/

Maybe you will get better answers.

PS> The OP has a SS already, and she will only need to change her name once she gets her green card. Which doesn't take as long as getting a new one.

[KayDeeCee 4,891]

My wife and I made a terrible mistake, we should have got her SS card, as soon as she was here in USA, but we waited until after marriage, and it took months for our SS office to get her SS card, even on order.,.,.,as the I-94 and everything in the system had her maiden name.,.,.,.,.,""GET YOUR SS card ASAP! would be my advice.,.,.could be our office was inept.,.,but..,,.I would get the SS asap!

They already have an SSN.

[Caryh 5,206]

As soon as you get married, you can start using your married name. This is regardless of whether or not your marriage certificate actually shows your married name, because some states don't show the new married name [only the maiden name] in the marriage cert. This means you can definitely use the marriage certificate as proof for a legal name change.

Also, you can fill out your AOS forms (including EAD and AP) using your married name, even if you haven't changed it yet with SSA.

For the name change on your SS card, that is a separate process. You can check with your SSA office, because some folks mentioned here that one only needs the MC for the name change. However for non-USCs, SSA will typically look for a valid immigration document showing that your new name like EAD or GC on top of the marriage cert, because they will have to check your name on the SAVE database.

The ability to change all your names based on marriage is controlled by state law. For example NY state has a law that only the last name may be changed based on marriage. In many other states tradition rather than laws prevent some from being able to move the maiden name to the middle name position. Its good to know what your state laws and traditions are, plus the experience of others in your state, or you could run into some stiff resistance when you then go on to assert your married name at some state office, such as getting your drivers license or state ID.

[pinksquare 0]

Your marriage certificate is your proof for a name change. It doesn't have to state your new last name, but you can change your other documents to your new last name. You can apply now and put your new last name on your green card, that way you don't have to pay extra later. After approval you can change your SS card. One you have your green card you are not in visa anymore and you don't need the work permit because your green card is your work permit.

Good luck

Thank you siliafi88! What you said makes sense and agrees with what I heard earlier. Thank you so much!

[pinksquare 0]

My wife and I made a terrible mistake, we should have got her SS card, as soon as she was here in USA, but we waited until after marriage, and it took months for our SS office to get her SS card, even on order.,.,.,as the I-94 and everything in the system had her maiden name.,.,.,.,.,""GET YOUR SS card ASAP! would be my advice.,.,.could be our office was inept.,.,but..,,.I would get the SS asap!

Thank you raven52 for your kindly reminder. I do have a SSN so I think I'll change it after I get a new EAD or GC.

Thank you so much for sharing your experience and I'll be careful with everthing.

All the best!

[pinksquare 0]

if it's not super urgent for you to depart from your original name, then just do the name change free of charge at the time of your citizenship (if you'll apply at all)...just an idea...

Thank you for your advice AntoherLostSoul! I agree with you on "doing it when it's free of charge", .

Thank you very much!

[pinksquare 0]

you would do it first at removal of conditions at 2 years. The earliest someone can become a citizen, is at 3 years. I recommend actually at 5 years so that you do not have to send in relationship evidence, again.

Thank you NLR for coming back and tell me the general time frame and the suggestion.

I think I'm going to change the name before I accumulate even more records/docs in the USA. I think it's easier for me hah

And I can wait long enough for the citizenship which i don't know if I like it yet hah.

All in all, thank you VERY much!

[pinksquare 0]

Hi pinksquare

I believe you should be able to input your name in the english version if you desire. You will know once the USCIS letters start coming on that name. If they have any questions about it, they would send you a letter. Your passport will remain the same, and as far as China you name will be the same as well. You should put open a thread in the regional forum for China:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/94-china/

Maybe you will get better answers.

PS> The OP has a SS already, and she will only need to change her name once she gets her green card. Which doesn't take as long as getting a new one.

Hi lesthatsri,

Thank you for the information and the link. You really helped me a lot! [flowers]

I'll see if it's too troublesome hah.

Many thanks!