Name changing after (fiancée's) arrival in the US

[cchhat01 14]

I have filed for a K1 Visa on behalf of my fiancée.

My question is, if my fiancee would like to change how her first name is spelled, how do we go about doing this so that we don't have to re-apply for thigns like social security, etc.

For example, pretend her name is Amy Waters and she wants to change it to Aimee Waters.

Point to note is that we would be getting married sometime soon after her arrival so we would like to incorporate the name change in our official documents while filing for the Adjustment of Status (AOS I-485), Advanced Parole, Employment Authorization (EAD)... alond with Social Security Card, Driver's licence, etc...

This is going to be in addition to the Last name change after our wedding. She will be taking my last name.

Also, currently she has no middle name. And after marriage she will likely take my first name to be her middle name.

Pretend that my name is Chigs Gilmour. After wedding she would be Aimee Chigs Gilmour.

How can all this be worked into the process so that all the documents are done in the right order.

Thanks in advnace

Chigs

Edited May 12, 2011 by Ami&Chigs

[Ryan H 3,790]

You may want to contact the division of your conunty court system that deals with name changes. The change in spelling of your fiancee's first name may require the jumping through of some hoops.

As for middle and last names, it may be as simple as getting a marriage certificate issued with the names and then going forward with paperwork for all the agencies. Other who have been through this can answer better.

Also, once the spelling of her first name is changed, she may need a new passport issued if she intends to use it for international travel.

[cchhat01 14]

You may want to contact the division of your conunty court system that deals with name changes. The change in spelling of your fiancee's first name may require the jumping through of some hoops.

As for middle and last names, it may be as simple as getting a marriage certificate issued with the names and then going forward with paperwork for all the agencies. Other who have been through this can answer better.

Also, once the spelling of her first name is changed, she may need a new passport issued if she intends to use it for international travel.

Well according to the following:

http://www.cityclerk.nyc.gov/html/marriage/name_change.shtml

She cannot change her middle name at marriage. We are trying to get this done before the wedding. But if its not possible, then we won't delay our wedding just for this reason. I was just trying to understand if there is a way to get this done asap once she gets here.

Its basically going to go from Amy to Ami.

Since I am a new york city resident, I guess it would be great if some New Yorkers can chime in on this.

I'll also be digging around on google and will post if I find something.

Also, with respect to name change after the wedding, will she not need a new Passport irrespective of the spelling change of her first name?

Thanks,

Chigs

[Ryan H 3,790]

Also, with respect to name change after the wedding, will she not need a new Passport irrespective of the spelling change of her first name?

I mentioned the passport thing because a frequently asked question on the forums is this, "my passport has my maiden name but my green card has my married name, which name should I use to book the airline ticket to an international destination." (Answer being name in the passport)

In general, there does not appear to be a requirment to obtain a new passport should a person take a married last name.

Specific to you, since your fiancee will legally change how her first name is spelled, she will need a new passport.

[Anh map 2,098]

She can call herself anything that she wants. The legal name change is likely a bit more complicated and a US court wouldn't have jurisdiction until she is at least an LPR (I would think). You already learned about the middle name. Might be worth contacting an immigration attorney to ask the question. Couldn't cost that much to get the answer.

Edited May 13, 2011 by Anh map

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Just because if I don't someone else will I should correct you... YOU filed for a K1 PETITION, you did not file for a Visa. She files for the K1 Visa if your petition is approved. There's a big difference. You filed a petition the US government for permission for HER to apply for the fiancee visa.

First name requires a court order and as others have said, the US might not have jurisdiction to do that until she's an LPR. Why doesn't she change her name in her home country before filing for the K1 visa? She is able to apply for the visa in her new changed name showing the name change document from the name you petitioned for her in. This might be your best bet. The only issue here would mean she would change her passport to get her visa issued in her new name and then again in her married name if she wants BUT there is no urgency to do the married name change.

For me (in Australia), there was a year deadline under which I could get a free passport in my married name if I applied within the first year of marriage so that's why I did it quick. Otherwise I would have waited until my passport expired BUT would have needed to carry the marriage certificate to link GC married name to passport maiden name.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

I mentioned the passport thing because a frequently asked question on the forums is this, "my passport has my maiden name but my green card has my married name, which name should I use to book the airline ticket to an international destination." (Answer being name in the passport)

No it's any government-issued photo ID. I know 'cause it says it on the State website (also emailed CBP about it) and also because I did it. Wasn't even given a sideways look for booking in my married and passport in maiden. I simply showed my GC at security checkpoints. Even when entering Aus. People say "to be safe" but it didn't make sense for me to leave on my maiden name when I was leaving the country AND changing my passport to married name while gone. Booking in married made a lot more sense.

Edited May 13, 2011 by Vanessa&Tony

[Ryan H 3,790]

No it's any government-issued photo ID. I know 'cause it says it on the State website (also emailed CBP about it) and also because I did it. Wasn't even given a sideways look for booking in my married and passport in maiden. I simply showed my GC at security checkpoints. Even when entering Aus. People say "to be safe" but it didn't make sense for me to leave on my maiden name when I was leaving the country AND changing my passport to married name while gone. Booking in married made a lot more sense.

The point I was making was this: when you check-in for an international flight, airline personnel will ask to see your passport. If the name on the ticket and the name on the passport do not match, you do not fly. This is a somewhat recent government directive, the name on the official identification used at check-in and the name on the ticket MUST MATCH.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

The point I was making was this: when you check-in for an international flight, airline personnel will ask to see your passport. If the name on the ticket and the name on the passport do not match, you do not fly. This is a somewhat recent government directive, the name on the official identification used at check-in and the name on the ticket MUST MATCH.

Care to show a link? The requirement is government-issued photo ID. I flew in Sept 2010. I do know that they're no longer accepting the marriage certificate but other government-issued photo-ID is fine. Please see here: http://www.wkrn.com/story/10366280/tsa-name-on-airline-ticket-must-now-match-id?redirected=true with the most recent update showing exactly what I just wrote which is that your ticket name must match your government issued photo ID exactly (apparently including middle names).

Also TSA website here: http://www.tsa.gov/what_we_do/layers/secureflight/index.shtm

What if a passenger’s boarding pass and ID do not match exactly?

Secure Flight and travel document checking are both critical security functions, yet they serve different purposes at different points in the security process. Secure Flight is a behind-the-scenes watch list matching process that takes place before checkpoint screening. Secure Flight asks that passengers enter their names as they appear on their government ID and passengers should strive to stay consistent between the name on their ID and the information they provide when booking their reservation. Once a passenger receives their boarding pass, the Secure Flight process is already complete.

At the security checkpoint, TSA strives to ensure your identification and boarding pass are authentic and validate you are who you say you are. Small differences in the name on the boarding pass and ID, like middle initials, should not impact your travel. It is not uncommon for the information printed on boarding passes to differ slightly from the information on IDs, depending on the boarding pass printing practices of individual airlines.

Edited May 13, 2011 by Vanessa&Tony

[Ryan H 3,790]

I see your point. Every time I have flown internationally, airline personnel specifically asked me for my passport. I was posting from what I have encountered.

This thread has appears to be straying from the original intent of the OP. The OP is looking a NY specific answer regarding a name change for his fiancee prior ot their wedding.

[TBoneTX 43,058]

Just because if I don't someone else will I should correct you... YOU filed for a K1 PETITION, you did not file for a Visa. She files for the K1 Visa if your petition is approved.

A gentle alteration to what the good V. has written: You filed an I-129F petition so that she can apply for the K-1 visa. Chigs, let us know what you learn, si man. Edited May 13, 2011 by TBoneTX

[cchhat01 14]

A gentle alteration to what the good V. has written: You filed an I-129F petition so that she can apply for the K-1 visa. Chigs, let us know what you learn, si man.

Indeed.

I just checked this thread, and boy it just turned into somethign else.

I see a good idea in having her change her name in her home country before her interview. But I'd rather not complicate things before the interview is over. I think the first name change was somewhat of a "can we do this while we're at it" kind of a thing. Does not necessarily need to happen. However, it would be insane to have these changes made during her Naturalization process (or maybe not) because that would require officially changing her social security, driver's license, ( passport for obvious reasons), etc.

So we're still thinking about this, and I will look into this further but the chances are somewhat dwindling right about now.

Will let everyone know what we end up doing.

thanks for all the responses.

PS. I like how V. was so ####### about the correct verbiage. I'm also like that to others when they do this to me

[Ready to do it 101]

Recommendation... if she is going to change her first name, I'd do it BEFORE she gets a passport.

A little story that I am just recalling based on the responses. My ex-wife(who I had petitioned for 15 years ago) took my last name and has kept it as such. All her docs... DL, SS card,permanent residence card etc all say my last name. Her passport has her maiden name. This was a complete disaster when she went to her citizenship country last year. I got involved because she was taking my child with her. For months we were told different things i.e. 2 different US airlines told us different things. Then 2 different supervisors at the same airline would say different things. TSA agents told us different things. We had to go to consulates, get notirizations from the Secretary of State to notarize their own signatures, send it here, pay this, then get that. End of story... I concluded no one really knows what name is supposed to be on the ticket and until my future wife is a US citizen she's just best off keeping her maiden name. It really was a complete nightmare that stressed me, my ex-wife, and my child for months.

[cchhat01 14]

Recommendation... if she is going to change her first name, I'd do it BEFORE she gets a passport.

A little story that I am just recalling based on the responses. My ex-wife(who I had petitioned for 15 years ago) took my last name and has kept it as such. All her docs... DL, SS card,permanent residence card etc all say my last name. Her passport has her maiden name. This was a complete disaster when she went to her citizenship country last year. I got involved because she was taking my child with her. For months we were told different things i.e. 2 different US airlines told us different things. Then 2 different supervisors at the same airline would say different things. TSA agents told us different things. We had to go to consulates, get notirizations from the Secretary of State to notarize their own signatures, send it here, pay this, then get that. End of story... I concluded no one really knows what name is supposed to be on the ticket and until my future wife is a US citizen she's just best off keeping her maiden name. It really was a complete nightmare that stressed me, my ex-wife, and my child for months.

I would think that because she (my fiancee) is going to be coming here, getting married to me, changing her last name to be her last name, a new passport is the least that we need to do. Once we're married, a new passport, ss card, etc will be in the works (with the new last name). I am not sure how this can be complicated. If I know ahead of time that I am getting married and changing my last name (and then potentially fly sometime after my marriage), the least I would do is change my passport to show that my last name has changed. Of course, this is only done via the embassy of the alien fiance(e)'s country within the united states.

Am I missing something?

Thx

[TracyTN 237]

It isn't complicated, but there is no one all encompassing process which will change her name everywhere. Each agency (SSN, driver's license, passport, USCIS) has it's own rules for what documentation, etc. is required to prove the name change. Follow those rules as you go along and you'll be fine.

Moving thread from K1 process forum to 'moving here and your new life in America' forum.

Edited May 16, 2011 by TracyTN