Previous marriage & documentation of name change

[saramarinara 0]

Hi all, this is my first time posting. I recently got married to a Canadian and we are beginning the long process of filing for his visa to come to the states. We are trying to gather all our paperwork for the I-130 package and I am worried about one thing:

I was married previously and took my first husband's name, but I do not have the marriage certificate from that union. The marriage took place in England and it is very difficult to request a copy of it from the UK (unless someone knows an easy way to get a money order in pounds sterling?? the banks here do not do that). I have the divorce certificate but I know the visa instructions say that evidence is required for any changes in names. By the time we file the I-130 package the only papers that will have my ex's last name will be the divorce certificate.

My question is, will USCIS for sure have to see that old marriage certificate, or will they be understanding about it not being available?

I think I know the answer already because I have been through immigration before with the ex and "they" are rarely understanding. But has anyone else had a similar experience?

Thank you in advance!

[Sweetcheeksss 91]

I've been previously married and all we had to submit was proof that my previous marriage had been ended legally before my current hubby and I married. All we submitted with my I-130 was the divorce decree and the only marriage certificate I had to show was to my current hubby.

Good luck!

Edited July 4, 2010 by Sweetcheeksss

[saramarinara 0]

I've been previously married and all we had to submit was proof that my previous marriage had been ended legally before my current hubby and I married. All we submitted with my I-130 was the divorce decree and the only marriage certificate I had to show was to my current hubby.

Good luck!

That is just what I was hoping to hear! Thank you so much!!

[pushbrk 13,716]

Hi all, this is my first time posting. I recently got married to a Canadian and we are beginning the long process of filing for his visa to come to the states. We are trying to gather all our paperwork for the I-130 package and I am worried about one thing:

I was married previously and took my first husband's name, but I do not have the marriage certificate from that union. The marriage took place in England and it is very difficult to request a copy of it from the UK (unless someone knows an easy way to get a money order in pounds sterling?? the banks here do not do that). I have the divorce certificate but I know the visa instructions say that evidence is required for any changes in names. By the time we file the I-130 package the only papers that will have my ex's last name will be the divorce certificate.

My question is, will USCIS for sure have to see that old marriage certificate, or will they be understanding about it not being available?

I think I know the answer already because I have been through immigration before with the ex and "they" are rarely understanding. But has anyone else had a similar experience?

Thank you in advance!

It can be tricky to track name changes. There's no hard and fast rule. If your divorce certificate mentions both your maiden name and married name, that will do. If your birth certificate is for Mary Jones and your divorce certificate shows only that Mary Smith divorced Bill Smith, then Mary Smith married Current Husband, then you need something that shows Mary Jones and Mary Smith are the same person. Generally, you show that with a marriage certificate where Mary Jones married Bill Smith. Any reference to returning to your married name or a Social Security record indicating Mary Jones and Mary Smith have the same SS number might suffice as well.