Applying for new UK passport before interview?

[dirtyweebesom 8]

I'm applying to change my status from F1 as a result of getting married to a US citizen.

I would like to apply for a new UK passport which will have my new last name, but apparently the British Embassy or Consulate are having severe technical difficulties and require 6 weeks for processing.

I have no idea how long it will take me to get an interview for my green card (I'm finally sending the application off on Monday after a long delay caused by the sheer expense of filing those forms! $1355?!), but I was just wondering whether it would be better to wait until after the interview.

On the other hand, I am now walking about with the incorrect name on my ID card (because of those ridiculous laws which make it illegal for an immigrant with less than six months left on their visa to apply for a new ID card or driver's licence). This is irritating because I need to take teacher certification exams soon, which I have signed up for with my new name, and apparently I need to present ID with my name on it.

Please let me know what you think!

Thanks!

[Old Dominion 26]

In some states when you get the EAD it is easy to obtain your drivers' license/ID for the period stated on the work permit. You'll have that in 90 days or less. In Virginia, even the receipt for her AOS application was good enough for a 6-month state drivers' license for my beloved. You'll have that NOA1 (receipt) in a couple of weeks. Good luck!

[Jon&Lindsey 0]

Like Old Dominium said, see if you can get a new ID once you have NOA1's/EAD. Personally I wouldn't take a risk with your passport, you'll definitely need it for the interview and also if you ever had to prove it, your passport/I94 is the only thing you have to prove that you entered the country legally. From what I hear on other forums, right now it can take a lot longer than 6 weeks to get a new UK passport. If you do renew, make sure you take out the I-94 so you can keep it safe. I managed to take professional certification exams (veterinary) using one name but with another on my ID, even though they had the same rule about ID, I just called the certifying board and they simply notified the testing center that I would come with ID in the old name but the marriage license to prove that I was the same person. I still haven't got round to getting a new passport (I hate spending all the money when I still have 4 years left on it) and it's never been a problem as long as I have the marriage license with me (for flying, I book tickets in my passport name and carry the marriage license in case immigration need to check it since my GC name and passport name are different, though they've never asked for it so far). I would call the teaching board and explain and hopefully they'll help you. Good luck!