For the AOS- Married Name and Maiden Name

[gladys 0]

Hello Everyone!!!

Good Morning!

I already sent this question to the other members here and I am very thankful for their responses.

I enter US through the K1 visa and we are on the process of adjusting my status.

We recently submitted the I-485 Forms for my adjustment of status. I wanted to use my married name on it however when I called the toll free of the USCIS the operator said that for the name, I should use the name reflected on my birth certificate. I am also a member of another forum and one of the moderator there said that I just have to use my married name on the forms and my maiden name on the blanks that asked for " other names used". However, there in I 485 form, only 1 name is required, and there is no blanks or spaces to be filled up for " other names used" so I used the my name as reflected on my birth certificate which is my maiden name.

But on my G-325 Biographic Information and on my I-765 Application for Employment Authorization, I filled it up using my married name ( since there is a space asking for " other named used".

When we recieved the NOA for both I-765 and I-485, all the names reflected is my maiden name. Will this be alright? Do we have to send a letter to the local office ( provided on the NOA) that I wanted to use my married name instead?

Since most of the members had already gone through this process, I would like to know their advise about this issue. I wanted to use my married name so that we don't have to apply for a change of name.... I just don't want to encounter any problems with regards to names being used on our documents.

Your help will be much appreciated. Thanks!

[EmilyM 0]

I believe its perfectly fine to use your married name, I did. Haven't recieved any RFE's yet. Seems like applying in your maiden name would just end up being a hassle later because you'd have to change everything like your EAD and green card.

You should have included a copy of your marriage certificate in the package, so they will see that you are still the same person that's listed on your birth certificate.

Just a note though, when you go for your biometrics, bring your marriage certificate because if you still have your maiden name in your passport/ID then they will want to see that and photocopy it.

Edited October 7, 2008 by EmilyT

[JeffnBhing 0]

use your married name on everything except where it asks for maiden name.

[payxibka 10,044]

The name you should use is your current LEGAL name, which I assume is the name you wish to be known as.

[pushbrk 12,175]

The name you should use is your current LEGAL name, which I assume is the name you wish to be known as.

She has already filed, so although this is the absolute correct answer, it's too late. If you have an AOS interview, make sure the adjudicator orders the green card in the name you want. I assume you'll want to use your "current legal name" on the card.

[jom 4]

We did the same thing too and during the interview we requested the officer to have my married name on the card. He said he would update the system. To our dismay, when I received my Notice of Approval my surname was still my maiden name, worst, they wrote it twice with a dash between the two unmarried surnames. We waited for the green card to arrive and when it did, it was the same. So, my card read MARIA LIEZL SANTOS-SANTOS . We called USCIS and they instructed us to file I-90. We also included a cover letter requesting that my married name be written on the card. The I-90, we filled it up using my married surname.

I hope what we did was correct and they would re-issue my card in my married name. This really sucks!

[gladys 0]

Thank you for the responses.

I really wanted to use my married name. But as per the instruction of the operator when I called USCIS, she said to use the legal name which is the name reflected on my birth certificate so I used it on the AOS form.

I hope its not too late for me to change it. I will just send a letter for the changes that I wanted and hope that they will grant it. I want to change it now, for the hopes of not filling the I-90 for change of name.

This forum really gave me a better insight on what to do with my papers.

Thanks a lot!!

[gladys 0]

I believe its perfectly fine to use your married name, I did. Haven't recieved any RFE's yet. Seems like applying in your maiden name would just end up being a hassle later because you'd have to change everything like your EAD and green card.

You should have included a copy of your marriage certificate in the package, so they will see that you are still the same person that's listed on your birth certificate.

Just a note though, when you go for your biometrics, bring your marriage certificate because if you still have your maiden name in your passport/ID then they will want to see that and photocopy it.

We did send our marriage certificate with the AOS and EAD forms. I guess they did follow the name that I have on my passport which is my maiden name. Because I used my married name on the EAD forms but still they used the maiden name.

Thanks for the advise!