Change my name before or after??

[British_Cupcake 1]

I got married in october but havent yet changed my last name on my passports or anything. I have a german and a british passport and all my IDs and such still have my old last name. i was thinking it would make more sence to wait till i have my visa and am in the states and change it then, rather then pay loads of money and change it now? Will this be a problem if i change my name after i enter the states with my visa? Edited January 1, 2010 by Jonswifey

[VanessaTony 3,567]

I got married in october but havent yet changed my last name on my passports or anything. I have a german and a british passport and all my IDs and such still have my old last name. i was thinking it would make more sence to wait till i have my visa and am in the states and change it then, rather then pay loads of money and change it now? Will this be a problem if i change my name after i enter the states with my visa?

Well it depends how you have applied. For instance, for my K1 I applied under my previous name, so my passport had to be the same, just like plane tickets. I don't HAVE to change my name in Australia but if I ever travel I need to have the same name on the tickets as on my passport. Going BACK to the states i would have to show my passport and marriage licence in order to use my greencard (when I get it it will be in my married name).

So, in your case I would think that a visa in your married name, stuck in a passport in your non-married name would be a little weird... but maybe taking your marriage licence would be okay... I think you should ask in your visa interview... but maybe someone here would know. At the very least I would change your immediate ID (your british passport) so that that passport reflects the name on your visa...

I know all about expensive though.. I have to change my Aussie passport (it's free though) and my british one, but I also need to apply for a name change certificate in Australia because they won't register an overseas marriage certificate... ugh. Not to mention the drivers licences, bank accounts etc :S

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

Given that you most likely will have 3 passports from 3 different countries eventually, I strongly advise you not to make your life complicated to a point of a mental breakdown by changing your name, unless it's so horrible that you got close to committing suicide because of it more than once.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Given that you most likely will have 3 passports from 3 different countries eventually, I strongly advise you not to make your life complicated to a point of a mental breakdown by changing your name, unless it's so horrible that you got close to committing suicide because of it more than once.

I already have two, and I, like the OP, will most likely end up with 3, I will be changing my name in my home country (Australia) and in the USA. I would hold off on the UK except my passport is about to expire so I may as well change my name at the same time, otherwise I would have left it. I KNOW it's a huge pain but I married my husband and this means changing my name, it's part I always thought about as a kid so I can't imagine not doing it just 'cause it's gunna be a HUGE pain (and $$$ in some cases too). That and I'm SURE I would get pretty confused after a while if I changed it in one country and not another and probably book the tickets in the "wrong" name etc... not changing my name at ALL just feels wrong... esp as I'd have to be know as either Ms. or MRS and I'm sure not my mum so being called Mrs. Maiden Name would weird me out!

[British_Cupcake 1]

I already have two, and I, like the OP, will most likely end up with 3, I will be changing my name in my home country (Australia) and in the USA. I would hold off on the UK except my passport is about to expire so I may as well change my name at the same time, otherwise I would have left it. I KNOW it's a huge pain but I married my husband and this means changing my name, it's part I always thought about as a kid so I can't imagine not doing it just 'cause it's gunna be a HUGE pain (and $$$ in some cases too). That and I'm SURE I would get pretty confused after a while if I changed it in one country and not another and probably book the tickets in the "wrong" name etc... not changing my name at ALL just feels wrong... esp as I'd have to be know as either Ms. or MRS and I'm sure not my mum so being called Mrs. Maiden Name would weird me out!

i agree with this. Im def going to change my name either way. I will most likely just change my german pasprt and IDs as i actually live in germany and its hell of alot cheaper then getting my british passport changed. Im also sure i have to give one up after a few years too so i will most likely be giving up my british one anyway just for the fact tht if anything ever happend and i had to go back i know i would be in better care in germany..NHS is not my type of thing lol

Edited January 2, 2010 by Jonswifey

[VanessaTony 3,567]

i agree with this. Im def going to change my name either way. I will most likely just change my german pasprt and IDs as i actually live in germany and its hell of alot cheaper then getting my british passport changed. Im also sure i have to give one up after a few years too so i will most likely be giving up my british one anyway just for the fact tht if anything ever happend and i had to go back i know i would be in better care in germany..NHS is not my type of thing lol

You have to give one up? Why? (I'm talking when you become a US citizen.. do you mean after not living there for a set period?)

Here's the US's position on it: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1753.html basically they don't care if you have more than one, BUT the other countries might.

Here is a list of countries (not complete) that allow dual/multi-citizenship: http://www.800citizen.com/dualCitizenship.htm This could be an old list but it says that when responding to a survey about obtaining US citizenship and whether you could retain or lose your other citizenships, Germany replied you would lose their passport, the UK said you could retain. Hopefully this is old information but I would double check so you know for sure. Actually, I found this article too: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_nation...man_citizenship so it looks like you lose it automatically unless you apply for permission (UK was allowed because of the EU clause and the UK is EU).

Here's a wiki article about multi-citizenships too: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiple_citizenship

As for British passport change.. I'm with you there. It's ridiculous. Australia allows a free (or gratis) passport if you change your passport within a year of marriage and still have a set number of years validity. The UK doesn't allow that at all :S

Edited January 2, 2010 by Vanessa&Tony

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

You don't have to give anything up but vacation time while sitting in an airport cell while the drones trying to figure out while you have 3 fake passports from 3 different countries with different names in your possession.

By the time the drones have sorted that out, your plane has already left and you can use their apology as tuition for a lesson not learned.

Just a warning; you are of course welcome to do as you please.

Best of luck to you!

[VanessaTony 3,567]

You don't have to give anything up but vacation time while sitting in an airport cell while the drones trying to figure out while you have 3 fake passports from 3 different countries with different names in your possession.

By the time the drones have sorted that out, your plane has already left and you can use their apology as tuition for a lesson not learned.

Just a warning; you are of course welcome to do as you please.

Best of luck to you!

Oooo valid point!! I didn't even think of that, 'cause how WOULD I prove that maiden name is my maiden name when it just looks like I have passports in different names. I guess until I can afford to have them all changed I'll need to carry my marriage licence around with me... maybe even my birth cert just to be safe... hmmm...

[British_Cupcake 1]

Well i havent taken on husbands name yet so i wouldnt have 3 different names unless i did it before i move to the states?! I kept my name after we got married as i always thought it would make more sence to get it all done once im in the states and have everything sorted.

Luckily i read on that link that i will have to give up my german passport because that would have been the only one that i would have changed lol

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Well i havent taken on husbands name yet so i wouldnt have 3 different names unless i did it before i move to the states?! I kept my name after we got married as i always thought it would make more sence to get it all done once im in the states and have everything sorted.

Luckily i read on that link that i will have to give up my german passport because that would have been the only one that i would have changed lol

You should be able to keep your German passport, as long as you never get a US passport. Being an LPR to the States shouldn't affect it you can just never become a US citizen or you lose it. That sucks.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

I apologize if I come over as an a**, but why would you want to give up your German passport -- assuming you mean citizenship as well? To save money for the BBG when becoming a USC as well? Or because you don't see any merit in keeping "it" anyway?

Most Germans, myself included, want to keep their German citizenship primarily as a backup for social security reasons. If the sh*t hits the fan in the USA, I could go to Germany and say: "I'm broke, and sick, and hungry, and homeless" and they would give me money, medical care, food, and a roof over my head. I'm positive you'll have the same or something similar in The Kingdom, yet since it's so difficult to attain another country's citizenship, I'd go through hell and back before giving one up.

Just food for thought.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

I apologize if I come over as an a**, but why would you want to give up your German passport -- assuming you mean citizenship as well? To save money for the BBG when becoming a USC as well? Or because you don't see any merit in keeping "it" anyway?

Most Germans, myself included, want to keep their German citizenship primarily as a backup for social security reasons. If the sh*t hits the fan in the USA, I could go to Germany and say: "I'm broke, and sick, and hungry, and homeless" and they would give me money, medical care, food, and a roof over my head. I'm positive you'll have the same or something similar in The Kingdom, yet since it's so difficult to attain another country's citizenship, I'd go through hell and back before giving one up.

Just food for thought.

Sorry bob but you should probably go back and re-read... she DOESN'T want to EVER give up her German passport. She said she would prefer to give up her UK if she had to give up one or the other "Im also sure i have to give one up after a few years too so i will most likely be giving up my british one anyway just for the fact tht if anything ever happend and i had to go back i know i would be in better care in germany..NHS is not my type of thing lol" ... so I posted links telling her if she became a US cit she WOULD have to give up her GERMAN passport as they don't allow multi-cits. UK allows multi-cits. So she said "Luckily i read on that link that i will have to give up my german passport because that would have been the only one that i would have changed lol".

In short, your post is completely off the topic and relates to nothing that's been written except explaining how awesome Germany is.

P.s. I have two passports because I was born in Australia, and my dad was born in the UK so I got a passport through him. No hassle involved except conception. The US on the other hand.. yah... this one's a pain. Why do I want this passport? Because it'll make travel easier seeing my husband is US cit. Just like he wants a Aus passport so he can travel to visit my parents with ease

Edited January 4, 2010 by Vanessa&Tony

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

... so I posted links telling her if she became a US cit she WOULD have to give up her GERMAN passport as they don't allow multi-cits. UK allows multi-cits. So she said "Luckily i read on that link that i will have to give up my german passport because that would have been the only one that i would have changed lol".

In short, your post is completely off the topic and relates to nothing that's been written except explaining how awesome Germany is.

First of all, you advise is not only wrong, but also harmful. So let's get the facts straight in order to avoid this from happening again.

As of the year 2000, Germany does allow dual citizenship. The procedure is just different from the UK citizenship.

The UK doesn't care about one of its citizens taking on the US citizenship as well. In British eyes, a Brit is a Brit and will always be a Brit.

The Krauts require its citizens to apply for a "Beibehaltigungsgenehmigung" (a permission to keep their citizenship) when becoming a citizen of another county before doing so. It requires to argue why one would want to keep their German citizenship, while also wanting to become the citizen of another country.

A good source of information in English is the Yahoo Group "ZweiPaesse" (two passports).

Finally, Germany is not awesome. It just has a superior social system in place that makes sure that its citizens don't have to push around shopping carts and live in cardboard boxes. England, France, Canada, and I'm sure a few more countries have similar systems in place.