name change

[Seven 24]

Hi everybody!!!

I was thinking about the name change after the marriage. I'm entering the states under a K-1 and i will get married very soon. I'm from Spain so I have two last names and the same two last names are the ones in my K-1 visa.

I will have to do the AOS after getting married. All my papers till now are in my current name so I'm wondering if a name change would be nothing but trouble with paperwork and even my Spanish passport and ID. So would be better don't change it and don't have the need to change the name in all papers, passport, ID's etc?

Please let me know your opinions and experiences.

Thank you all in advance

God bless!

[Nik+Heather 122]

So, first question: Do you WANT to change your name?

If you do, the way you do that is to first apply for your green card with your new name in all the fields under "name" , and your old name under "previous name(s) used" (Check the SSA regulations on what changes are standard, and what changes would require a court order, to make things go more smoothly, go with something "standard"). You can travel with your green card and passport in different names - people on VJ do it ALL THE TIME, they simply carry their marriage certificate as proof of legal name change. When it comes time to renew your passport, you can make the change then.

Changing your name due to marriage is not all that remarkable, and just about everyone makes it really easy (just tedious) to do, if you do it in a traditional/standard way. Also, you can continue using your maiden name where it is convenient for you - ie, if you don't want to change it on any of your Spanish documents you don't have to. In the US, you can use your married name or your maiden name where it is appropriate/convenient, provided that you are not doing so to commit fraud.

[Seven 24]

Yes, I do want to change it. I've just read some stories of ppl having trouble during AOS because of it etc but I guess it's because they already had EAD's or applied for everything with the maiden name. Good to know there's a gap pointing out the previous name, I guess like this there's no problem with the prior paperwork done in maiden name.

Thank you for your reply and the explanation about greencard and passport.