Changing my name?

[amylou 0]

I entered on a K-1 visa from Canada.

What exactly is the process for me to change my last name to my husband's now that we are married? Can I just start using my new name?

[Otto 83]

I entered on a K-1 visa from Canada.

What exactly is the process for me to change my last name to my husband's now that we are married? Can I just start using my new name?

It differes by state but...

For a US Citizen married woman (it's almost always the woman changing her name) - in most states (In Texas for example) she would take her marriage certificate to the DMV to get a new license then to the SSA to get a new card issued and that is it. (Obviously once that is done, she can change things like banking records etc.)

For non-US Citizens - it is still the same but if you're planning to use your married name and you haven't file AOS yet - file all the AOS/EAD/AP forms in the new married name - easier to do it this way than to change it later on once you have the PR/Green Card.

Hope that helps..

[Arun+Catie 1]

We did SSA first than DMV and rest...

[Nina~ 431]

Yeah, you need to change your name at SSA first, and then go to DMV to get your name changed on your d/l. Depending on which state you are from, DMV usually relies on SSA's database to verify your information. Once you get your name changed on your d/l, all you need if your new d/l with marriage certificate to change your name on your bank a/c, etc..

[SabrinaFrance 8]

Ok, then I understand that if I want my GC to be issued with my married name I have to file the AOS with this new name, that makes sense. I guess that you have to indicate your maiden name so they can match you with your previous paperwork, correct?

Also I am wondering how it works in the States, once you take your husband's name, do your official documents still show your maiden name + married name, or do you have to give up your maiden name? Because here in France even if you use your husband's name in daily life, your 'real' name is still your maiden name, and I am afraid that if I take my USC husband's name my American docs wont show my maiden name, and if I have to come back to France it could prove pretty difficult.

So I'd like to have people feedback on that. Thanks a lot.

[Nina~ 431]

Ok, then I understand that if I want my GC to be issued with my married name I have to file the AOS with this new name, that makes sense. I guess that you have to indicate your maiden name so they can match you with your previous paperwork, correct?

Also I am wondering how it works in the States, once you take your husband's name, do your official documents still show your maiden name + married name, or do you have to give up your maiden name? Because here in France even if you use your husband's name in daily life, your 'real' name is still your maiden name, and I am afraid that if I take my USC husband's name my American docs wont show my maiden name, and if I have to come back to France it could prove pretty difficult.

So I'd like to have people feedback on that. Thanks a lot.

I too anticipated that problem and so I dropped my middle name and used my maiden name as my new middle name. So if I was Nina Ballerina before marriage and I married a Mr. Dancer, my new married name is Mrs. Nina Ballerina Dancer.

[SabrinaFrance 8]

So when you take your husband's name you do really" change name! To me this is kind of crazy. I understand that you can keep your maiden name but as your second name, not as your last name. So it means if you get divorced then you have to have a change name again?!

I dont like it. I dont mind using my future husband's name, but it bothers me to have to drop my birth name (or my second name).

Then if my understanding is correct, when looking at someone's passport one could not tell if the last name is actually the birth name or married name, correct? I think it is very confusing and pretty unfair to the person changing name in the marriage having to give up a part of his/her identity

[Gemmie 142]

You don't *have* to change your name.

You can keep using your birth name (Ms Ballerina), you can have a hyphen last name (Mrs Ballerina-Dancer), you can make your birth name your middle name (Mrs Ballerina Dancer) or you can completely drop your birth name (Mrs Dancer).

There are many options available for name changes.