Proof of Name Change for I-129F Packet

[KiwiBird 132]

So I'm still kind of planning a completely new packet in case I am forced to refile. I'd like to have it all ready to go so I can mail it out the day I get the denial letter in the mail. (IF I get a denial).

In the guides, it says to include a Proof of Name Change if the name is different on relevant documents. I was married years and years ago. When I divorced, I never bothered to change my name back. (It was a pain to do it, so I didn't bother.)

The name on all the documents is the same, except for my birth certificate. That has my maiden name, obviously. Do I need to include proof that I was married before and that's why the name changed? (I mean, the are getting the divorce papers, so it's obvious I was married, and my last name matched my ex husband's.)

[Wayne-Rachel 8]

My fiancee and I had the exact same question... we are just about to file and have been wondering about this - we were going to also send a copy of her marriage certificate but would like to know any answers people can provide for this.

[pushbrk 12,107]

My fiancee and I had the exact same question... we are just about to file and have been wondering about this - we were going to also send a copy of her marriage certificate but would like to know any answers people can provide for this.

If the divorce decree shows the maiden name or both maiden and married names, no marriage certificate to track the name change would be needed. If not, show a marriage certificate for a paper trail of last names.

[TJ01212011 47]

we have the same dilemma about name change- my fiance changed name from his Vietnamese first name to American first name when he was younger...do we need to submit the proof of name change along the packet? hope for a reply...thanks in advance..

[baron555 934]

So I'm still kind of planning a completely new packet in case I am forced to refile. I'd like to have it all ready to go so I can mail it out the day I get the denial letter in the mail. (IF I get a denial).

In the guides, it says to include a Proof of Name Change if the name is different on relevant documents. I was married years and years ago. When I divorced, I never bothered to change my name back. (It was a pain to do it, so I didn't bother.)

The name on all the documents is the same, except for my birth certificate. That has my maiden name, obviously. Do I need to include proof that I was married before and that's why the name changed? (I mean, the are getting the divorce papers, so it's obvious I was married, and my last name matched my ex husband's.)

If you were married before, then you should have included the certified divorce decree plus your birth certificate. Those two documents together trace the history of your name(s). The divorce decrees and BC are part of the requirements for the filing; if you didn't send them, then yes you will get an RFE.

[payxibka 10,044]

if your current name is different than your birth name you need to show documented evidence of the progression of the name changes

[lynJer 7]

yeah both my husband and I had been married twice before and we had to show copies of both previous marriage certificates and both divorce certificates...I remember this distinctly as I was so annoyed because it meant i had to make a special trip down to Melbourne to the dead sh*t office to get the marriage certificates....and quite fronkly I did not want to sight them ever again in my whole life...

[pushbrk 12,107]

If you were married before, then you should have included the certified divorce decree plus your birth certificate. Those two documents together trace the history of your name(s). The divorce decrees and BC are part of the requirements for the filing; if you didn't send them, then yes you will get an RFE.

Sometimes this is correct. When the divorce decree shows the maiden name, that's good enough, but when you submit a birth certificate for Mary Smith and a divorce decree indicating Mary Jones divorced Bill Jones, and makes no reference to Mary Smith in any way, then you need to submit a document indicating Mary Smith married Bill Jones at some point. Usually that document is the marriage certificate.

My divorce decree would work for my ex wife because it says Mary Smith divorced Bill Jones. Others say Mary and Bill Jones divorced and Mary is returning to her maiden name, Mary Smith. Both are ok. The one that only says Mr. and Mrs. Jones got divorced are the ones that present the problem for females with name changes related to marriage or divorce.

[baron555 934]

Sometimes this is correct. When the divorce decree shows the maiden name, that's good enough, but when you submit a birth certificate for Mary Smith and a divorce decree indicating Mary Jones divorced Bill Jones, and makes no reference to Mary Smith in any way, then you need to submit a document indicating Mary Smith married Bill Jones at some point. Usually that document is the marriage certificate.

My divorce decree would work for my ex wife because it says Mary Smith divorced Bill Jones. Others say Mary and Bill Jones divorced and Mary is returning to her maiden name, Mary Smith. Both are ok. The one that only says Mr. and Mrs. Jones got divorced are the ones that present the problem for females with name changes related to marriage or divorce.

We never submitted a copy of my wife's marriage certficate but we did list her other married name on the 129F form. I guess USCIS was able to figure it all out.

[pushbrk 12,107]

We never submitted a copy of my wife's marriage certficate but we did list her other married name on the 129F form. I guess USCIS was able to figure it all out.

If they figured it out, then there was a paper trail. The devil is in the details. You provided none.

[Wayne-Rachel 8]

If the divorce decree shows the maiden name or both maiden and married names, no marriage certificate to track the name change would be needed. If not, show a marriage certificate for a paper trail of last names.

Cool... that helps a lot. Thanks so much for this help Hopefully her divorce papers will show her maiden name as she's not sure of the location of her marriage certificate having just moved and quite frankly I don't think she even wants to see it (can't blame her there lol)

[pushbrk 12,107]

Cool... that helps a lot. Thanks so much for this help Hopefully her divorce papers will show her maiden name as she's not sure of the location of her marriage certificate having just moved and quite frankly I don't think she even wants to see it (can't blame her there lol)

Certified copies of marriage certificates can be obtained in the same way copies of divorce decrees are. The divorce decree is a certified copy, right?

[Wayne-Rachel 8]

Certified copies of marriage certificates can be obtained in the same way copies of divorce decrees are. The divorce decree is a certified copy, right?

I am certain it is, but will make sure to be certain.