I-130 - marriage certificate / assuming last name??? Help please

[amy83 0]

hello,

I am filing all the paperwork for the CR-1 visa. We were just married on June 27th, and when we were married the officiant singed and filled out the marriage certificate and gave it to us. (she also kept additonal paperwork that she said she needed to fill out and submit). What i am wondering, is this the certificate that I submit?? I thought it was, until I was reading elsewhere that some people had to wait 8-10 weeks for their certificates?? So now I am confused. We were married in PA if that makes any difference.

Also, in Canada I know you can just assume your husbands last name, and then your madian name stays on your birth certificate and passport. Is this the same in the US? Do I just assume his last name, and fill out all the forms using his last name? Or should I just do it all in my madian name??

Thanks, Im just so confused!

[WhidbeyGirl 1]

hello,

I am filing all the paperwork for the CR-1 visa. We were just married on June 27th, and when we were married the officiant singed and filled out the marriage certificate and gave it to us. (she also kept additonal paperwork that she said she needed to fill out and submit). What i am wondering, is this the certificate that I submit?? I thought it was, until I was reading elsewhere that some people had to wait 8-10 weeks for their certificates?? So now I am confused. We were married in PA if that makes any difference.

Also, in Canada I know you can just assume your husbands last name, and then your madian name stays on your birth certificate and passport. Is this the same in the US? Do I just assume his last name, and fill out all the forms using his last name? Or should I just do it all in my madian name??

Thanks, Im just so confused!

Birth cert name stays the same.

Passport to be changed if you change your last name.

There are MANY options for last name. You drop your maiden name and assume his name. You can drop your middle name and use your maiden name as your middle name and assume his name. You can add his name to your maiden seperated with a hyphen or not. You both can change your names to something entirely different. A friend of mine combined McNeil and Smith for McNeilsmith and both changed their names. You can just keep your maiden name. Friends of mine did that and then instead of giving their children either last name they only picked out first and middle and the middle name ended up being the children's last name.

Basically, it's all up to you and your SO!

[trailmix 77]

hello,

I am filing all the paperwork for the CR-1 visa. We were just married on June 27th, and when we were married the officiant singed and filled out the marriage certificate and gave it to us. (she also kept additonal paperwork that she said she needed to fill out and submit). What i am wondering, is this the certificate that I submit?? I thought it was, until I was reading elsewhere that some people had to wait 8-10 weeks for their certificates?? So now I am confused. We were married in PA if that makes any difference.

Also, in Canada I know you can just assume your husbands last name, and then your madian name stays on your birth certificate and passport. Is this the same in the US? Do I just assume his last name, and fill out all the forms using his last name? Or should I just do it all in my madian name??

Thanks, Im just so confused!

No, they do not want the certificate that the marriage officiant gave you, you should get one from a registry office.

You can keep your maiden name in your passport if you want to - just be sure if you book a flight to book in your maiden name and bring along your marriage certificate. Your birth certificate will remain in your maiden name. As for other stuff, change it to your married name if you like.

[Twisted K 2]

hello,

I am filing all the paperwork for the CR-1 visa. We were just married on June 27th, and when we were married the officiant singed and filled out the marriage certificate and gave it to us. (she also kept additonal paperwork that she said she needed to fill out and submit). What i am wondering, is this the certificate that I submit?? I thought it was, until I was reading elsewhere that some people had to wait 8-10 weeks for their certificates?? So now I am confused. We were married in PA if that makes any difference.

Also, in Canada I know you can just assume your husbands last name, and then your madian name stays on your birth certificate and passport. Is this the same in the US? Do I just assume his last name, and fill out all the forms using his last name? Or should I just do it all in my madian name??

Thanks, Im just so confused!

No, they do not want the certificate that the marriage officiant gave you, you should get one from a registry office.

You can keep your maiden name in your passport if you want to - just be sure if you book a flight to book in your maiden name and bring along your marriage certificate. Your birth certificate will remain in your maiden name. As for other stuff, change it to your married name if you like.

This is what I did, changed my name on everything but passport (cannot change your birth certificate name). I didn't want to change my passport yet, so I wouldn't have to apply for another tourist visa to visit my husband until he gets here. but other things, it was pretty easy to change, such as drivers license, ssn, work, bills and bank accounts. just had to show them a valid marriage license and/or new drivers license.

[imaisha 0]

If you fill out the forms using your maiden name you will get a green card with your maiden name on it. If you decide to take your husband's name this will be costly to fix (you'll need to order a new card). If you're planning on changing your passport, etc. it's best to file using the married name now.

[sdhiman 0]

If you fill out the forms using your maiden name you will get a green card with your maiden name on it. If you decide to take your husband's name this will be costly to fix (you'll need to order a new card). If you're planning on changing your passport, etc. it's best to file using the married name now.

Hi..Can you please clarify this name change again for me please? I filled in my CR1 forms with my maiden name but my passport is up for renewal in a few months. If I renew my passport with my married name, is that an issue or should I keep my maiden name? I have all my Canadian documents (DL, Bank Cards, Health Card etc) in my maiden name since I didnt want to change everything here. Is that going to cause an issue? I understand that since my forms are filled in with my maiden name, GC will also be in maiden name.

Sorry if the post is confusing, I am just trying to figure out if its better to change my passport to my married name or if it will cause confusion with all documents in maiden name and passport in married name.