Name on marriage certificate

[fabulous02 1]

Hi all,

I am in a state of confusion. My husband and I got married last week (yipppeeeee ) in Vegas and the marriage certificate I got from the minister only has my maiden name on it and no where mentions the name I will take up after my marriage. My understanding was that My marriage certificate will mention my married name, so it will not be a problem when I file my AOS in my married name, since I want the GC to come in my new name.

The people at the marriage license place said that I need to take the marriage certificate to the SSN office and get a new SSN or a new id with the new name on it. Now, I have the following questions:

1. Is the marriage certificate I got from the wedding chapel sufficient for me to file my AOS and I just submit a photocopy of that? I know we need to order something like the marriage certificate from the county clerk or something. Is that the ACTUAL marriage certificate I need to use for my AOS?

2. How do I fix the name issue? I want to submit my AOS docs in my new name. I am here on an H1B visa, so I already have an SSN in my maiden name. Please help me understand how to go about this. Is there a way I can have my married name emntioned in my marriage certificate I send to USCIS?

Thanks....

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Hi all,

I am in a state of confusion. My husband and I got married last week (yipppeeeee ) in Vegas and the marriage certificate I got from the minister only has my maiden name on it and no where mentions the name I will take up after my marriage. My understanding was that My marriage certificate will mention my married name, so it will not be a problem when I file my AOS in my married name, since I want the GC to come in my new name.

The people at the marriage license place said that I need to take the marriage certificate to the SSN office and get a new SSN or a new id with the new name on it. Now, I have the following questions:

1. Is the marriage certificate I got from the wedding chapel sufficient for me to file my AOS and I just submit a photocopy of that? I know we need to order something like the marriage certificate from the county clerk or something. Is that the ACTUAL marriage certificate I need to use for my AOS?

2. How do I fix the name issue? I want to submit my AOS docs in my new name. I am here on an H1B visa, so I already have an SSN in my maiden name. Please help me understand how to go about this. Is there a way I can have my married name emntioned in my marriage certificate I send to USCIS?

Thanks....

You will need to find out whether the licence you got from the minister is the OFFICIAL licence. I honestly have no idea how Vegas weddings work...

For my husband and I (married in IA), we got 2 certificates. One came from the minister and wasn't the official licence. It was a prettier version that had the church details and pretty stuff on it. The official version was sent off to the county recorders office and we were mailed an official one with a state stamp and stuff.

Our pretty one had my married name on it, and so did my official one BUT not all states do it that way. Did you have to fill out a form to register to marry? That's all ours was but copied onto pretty paper and typed out. On the registration I was able to write name before marriage and name AFTER marriage. Some states don't have that ability. Not sure why...

The marriage certificate serves as your name change document. Just make sure you fill in your married name on the AOS paperwork, and your maiden name in the "former name" or "other name" sections. You will need to change your SSN to your married name (make sure it's EXACTLY the same as on the AOS paperwork as some people have been having issues with it not matching the DHS records when they file taxes) and all the other fun stuff.

So, in short, having your name mentioned will only matter if you have a certificate like mine where it specifically mentions "name after marriage". If there's no spot for that then don't worry.

Hope that all makes sense. Good luck

Edited February 8, 2010 by Vanessa&Tony

[skidivawannabe 2]

Hi all,

I am in a state of confusion. My husband and I got married last week (yipppeeeee ) in Vegas and the marriage certificate I got from the minister only has my maiden name on it and no where mentions the name I will take up after my marriage. My understanding was that My marriage certificate will mention my married name, so it will not be a problem when I file my AOS in my married name, since I want the GC to come in my new name.

The people at the marriage license place said that I need to take the marriage certificate to the SSN office and get a new SSN or a new id with the new name on it. Now, I have the following questions:

1. Is the marriage certificate I got from the wedding chapel sufficient for me to file my AOS and I just submit a photocopy of that? I know we need to order something like the marriage certificate from the county clerk or something. Is that the ACTUAL marriage certificate I need to use for my AOS?

2. How do I fix the name issue? I want to submit my AOS docs in my new name. I am here on an H1B visa, so I already have an SSN in my maiden name. Please help me understand how to go about this. Is there a way I can have my married name emntioned in my marriage certificate I send to USCIS?

Thanks....

I got married in Nevada too, and yes the MC contains the maiden name. I did, however, use my married name in my AOS application. In two weeks or so, you can order the certified copies from the county clerk (Clark County, I believe). The Certificate you get from the chapel is not sufficient for the AOS...You will need to get copy from Clark County (you may do this online)

[fabulous02 1]

I got married in Nevada too, and yes the MC contains the maiden name. I did, however, use my married name in my AOS application. In two weeks or so, you can order the certified copies from the county clerk (Clark County, I believe). The Certificate you get from the chapel is not sufficient for the AOS...You will need to get copy from Clark County (you may do this online)

Thanks guys.... So I will order the certified copies online and will they have a place for me to mention my married name? What all did you have to do to make sure you can legally use your married name in the AOS forms?

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Thanks guys.... So I will order the certified copies online and will they have a place for me to mention my married name? What all did you have to do to make sure you can legally use your married name in the AOS forms?

No they won't.

Re married name, it was explained in my post above, pasting it below

The marriage certificate serves as your name change document. Just make sure you fill in your married name on the AOS paperwork, and your maiden name in the "former name" or "other name" sections. You will need to change your SSN to your married name (make sure it's EXACTLY the same as on the AOS paperwork as some people have been having issues with it not matching the DHS records when they file taxes) and all the other fun stuff.

hope that helps

[fabulous02 1]

No they won't.

Re married name, it was explained in my post above, pasting it below

hope that helps

Ok.. So I will keep my AOS forms in my married name. My marriage certificate will only contains my maiden name, and the new SSN that I get in my married name will serve as proof of my new name, correct? Do I still send in my passport containing my maiden name as a proof of identification? Also, if I get a new state Id with my married name and send a copy of that for the AOS paperwork, will I still need to update my SSN? Also wanted to confirm that I will retain the same SSN number but will just have a different name on it, correct? I want to be sure since I am on an H1b visa currently working for my employer using my current SSN and need to know the implications of havign a new SSN number.

I read in a lot of the topics that changing the SSN to have your married name is not required before you apply for AOS. Could I have avoided all this extra work if my marriage certificate referenced my married name?

[TheCockyLockies 2]

Our marriage certificate contained my maiden name. I then used my married name to fill up the form - no issues.

Make sure you go to your local county court to get the chapel certificate you received sealed first tho.

[menina 50]

Your social security number will stay the same. ijust changed mine, and the only difference was in my name. They also printed a date of issue on there probably to show when the name change became effective. It only took me a week to get the new card in the mail.

[fabulous02 1]

Your social security number will stay the same. ijust changed mine, and the only difference was in my name. They also printed a date of issue on there probably to show when the name change became effective. It only took me a week to get the new card in the mail.

ok, but do I definitely need to change my SSN to have my married name before I file the AOS forms? Also, if I am asking for certified copies of my marriage certificate from the county clerk from Nevada, do I still need to go to my local county office to get the marriage certificate I got from the chapel, sealed? I live in Minnesota but got married in Nevada. I would think I can just order the certified marriage certificate from the Nevada county clerk and submit copies of that for my AOS package and I don't need to do anything in Minnesota.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Ok.. So I will keep my AOS forms in my married name. My marriage certificate will only contains my maiden name, and the new SSN that I get in my married name will serve as proof of my new name, correct? Do I still send in my passport containing my maiden name as a proof of identification? Also, if I get a new state Id with my married name and send a copy of that for the AOS paperwork, will I still need to update my SSN? Also wanted to confirm that I will retain the same SSN number but will just have a different name on it, correct? I want to be sure since I am on an H1b visa currently working for my employer using my current SSN and need to know the implications of havign a new SSN number.

I read in a lot of the topics that changing the SSN to have your married name is not required before you apply for AOS. Could I have avoided all this extra work if my marriage certificate referenced my married name?

Fill in the AOS forms in your married name.

You do not need to change your SSN NAME yet, but as stated, the number remains the same so if you want to wait until your greencard arrives to do all that, then that's fine.

Please read this thread: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=235331 which explains the AOS

[Tina&Roland 4]

Hi all,

I am in a state of confusion. My husband and I got married last week (yipppeeeee ) in Vegas and the marriage certificate I got from the minister only has my maiden name on it and no where mentions the name I will take up after my marriage. My understanding was that My marriage certificate will mention my married name, so it will not be a problem when I file my AOS in my married name, since I want the GC to come in my new name.

The people at the marriage license place said that I need to take the marriage certificate to the SSN office and get a new SSN or a new id with the new name on it. Now, I have the following questions:

1. Is the marriage certificate I got from the wedding chapel sufficient for me to file my AOS and I just submit a photocopy of that? I know we need to order something like the marriage certificate from the county clerk or something. Is that the ACTUAL marriage certificate I need to use for my AOS?

2. How do I fix the name issue? I want to submit my AOS docs in my new name. I am here on an H1B visa, so I already have an SSN in my maiden name. Please help me understand how to go about this. Is there a way I can have my married name emntioned in my marriage certificate I send to USCIS?

Thanks....

1. I have the exact same situation. The marriage cert only had my maiden name on it and I had to change it with SSA office. The certificate from the county clerk is what you need to file with AOS. I applied with my married name for the AOS.

2. You'll have to go to the SSA office to get your name changed and put the SSN on the application. Make sure you have the SSN with your married name. That likely helps because I haven't had any problems....yet.

Good luck!

[marie09 5]

Hi all,

I am in a state of confusion. My husband and I got married last week (yipppeeeee ) in Vegas and the marriage certificate I got from the minister only has my maiden name on it and no where mentions the name I will take up after my marriage. My understanding was that My marriage certificate will mention my married name, so it will not be a problem when I file my AOS in my married name, since I want the GC to come in my new name.

The people at the marriage license place said that I need to take the marriage certificate to the SSN office and get a new SSN or a new id with the new name on it. Now, I have the following questions:

1. Is the marriage certificate I got from the wedding chapel sufficient for me to file my AOS and I just submit a photocopy of that? I know we need to order something like the marriage certificate from the county clerk or something. Is that the ACTUAL marriage certificate I need to use for my AOS?

2. How do I fix the name issue? I want to submit my AOS docs in my new name. I am here on an H1B visa, so I already have an SSN in my maiden name. Please help me understand how to go about this. Is there a way I can have my married name emntioned in my marriage certificate I send to USCIS?

Thanks....

Congrats you guys! We got married in Las Vegas too. Like another poster said you have to order a certified copy of the marriage certificate from County Clark recorders office: http://www.accessclarkcounty.com/depts/rec...ertificate.aspx

Or anyone can go in and purchase/pick up copies for you - it's a public record. The chapel have 10 days to notify clark county. We had a nice pastor who agreed to do it the next day. You can check online though. It will show once its registered.

Then you send the copies of that certified certificate to the USCIS.

Our cert also didn't list a new name but has worked fine for name changes. I took it to SS, DMV etc... USCIS too. It's just the way Nevada does their marriage certs and still perfectly acceptable to use to change your name.

FYI with SS, ours asked again to see a work related reason to issue a new card with the new name in addition to the marrigae cert. I'd had the same SS card and work visas for years. But as my visa only had weeks left on it they said I had no need for a new ss card. Hopefully your work visa isn't about to expire. I ended up waiting for EAD then used that and the cert to change my name.

Good Luck

Edited February 9, 2010 by marie09