Changing Maiden Name

[monyfer 27]

Hi again,

So, my fiancé arrives in a few weeks and we will make it legal at the court house so we can adjust for status ASAP. We are having a more elaborate religious ceremony and reception (for us, our wedding) in May. I am not planning to change my maiden name until after the May wedding. This shouldn't prove problematic, should it? IE in our green card interview...will they think it's weird that I am keeping my maiden name!? I'll change it eventually but don't really want to until after we are declared hubby and wife in front of God and all our friends in May. Our October wedding is really just for legal purposes.

Thanks!

Edited October 2, 2011 by monyfer

[KevinF 3]

Wow, you have had a journey! Check with your courthouse, but I would not think it would be a problem.

Congratulations and best of luck.

[sachinky 464]

You might not even have an interview for the AOS.

Keeping your maiden name is not an issue. I didn't change it, have no plans to, and had no issues through the process.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

So, my fiancé arrives in a few weeks and we will make it legal at the court house so we can adjust for status ASAP. We are having a more elaborate religious ceremony and reception (for us, our wedding) in May. I am not planning to change my maiden name until after the May wedding. This shouldn't prove problematic, should it? IE in our green card interview...will they think it's weird that I am keeping my maiden name!? I'll change it eventually but don't really want to until after we are declared hubby and wife in front of God and all our friends in May. Our October wedding is really just for legal purposes.

If your ultimate plans are to change your name you would be better off writing your married name on the AOS documents so that the stuff arrives in your married name. There is no need for you to GO by that married name, it's just on your GC.

If you choose to put your maiden name on your GC you will either have to:

1. Pay the $450 fee to change the name on your GC; or

2. wait till ROC (2 years after your get your GC).

Realistically... you said he arrives "in a few weeks". Lets say that's a month. So he's here at the start of Nov. You get married right away, you file AOS and with the holidays you could end up with your GC in March, or even in May (3-5 months is the norm). Seeing your religious ceremony occurs in May, so close to the time you'll probably get your GC, it would be better (in my opinion) to just apply for it in your married name, and refer to yourself by your maiden name until the religious ceremony then it's just a simple process to change the rest of your documents/ID over.

[monyfer 27]

If your ultimate plans are to change your name you would be better off writing your married name on the AOS documents so that the stuff arrives in your married name. There is no need for you to GO by that married name, it's just on your GC.

If you choose to put your maiden name on your GC you will either have to:

1. Pay the $450 fee to change the name on your GC; or

2. wait till ROC (2 years after your get your GC).

Realistically... you said he arrives "in a few weeks". Lets say that's a month. So he's here at the start of Nov. You get married right away, you file AOS and with the holidays you could end up with your GC in March, or even in May (3-5 months is the norm). Seeing your religious ceremony occurs in May, so close to the time you'll probably get your GC, it would be better (in my opinion) to just apply for it in your married name, and refer to yourself by your maiden name until the religious ceremony then it's just a simple process to change the rest of your documents/ID over.

I am not applying for the green card...my fiancé is the immigrant. Thanks though. It seems to be more of an issue when the immigrant is female and planning to change her name on the green card etc. I am the female and the USC so I think it is not as big a deal when I change it..

Thanks all.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

I am not applying for the green card...my fiancé is the immigrant. Thanks though. It seems to be more of an issue when the immigrant is female and planning to change her name on the green card etc. I am the female and the USC so I think it is not as big a deal when I change it..

Thanks all.

Oh in that case no no issue at all

[Pooh Pee 1]

My fiancee is changing her name at our wedding. First, she thought it was strange to do so. I explained the custom here and she explained Mexican custom. We are learning many things together and that is the fun part.

We are planning to do all the other things like Social Security card and bank accounts after we are married in a few weeks. I read that these things can be done immediately. But I think this would need to be done twice when her name changes. We decided to wait until after our wedding because we don't need the added stress to our wedding.

In New York City, changing your name at the wedding is straight forward. But changing it after is a little more involved. Maybe you should check with your city hall to find out the requirements.

You will be filing your AOS under your maiden name. I don't think there should be any problems for your green card interview because you will have legal documentation showing your name change. It is your family's decission. But Immigration might question your decission because it might be a flag for fraud.

K-1 visa makes our lives a little more complicated. We have to consider Immigration in all our decissions. We are not the traditional boy-meets-girl, boy-marries-girl situation. In your case, girl-meets-boy, girl-marries boy.

[Jojo92122 1,924]

Hi again,

So, my fiancé arrives in a few weeks and we will make it legal at the court house so we can adjust for status ASAP. We are having a more elaborate religious ceremony and reception (for us, our wedding) in May. I am not planning to change my maiden name until after the May wedding. This shouldn't prove problematic, should it? IE in our green card interview...will they think it's weird that I am keeping my maiden name!? I'll change it eventually but don't really want to until after we are declared hubby and wife in front of God and all our friends in May. Our October wedding is really just for legal purposes.

Thanks!

Not a problem at all.

In most states, a spouse can change his or her last name to the other spouse's last name with just a marriage certificate. Social Security will change it no problem and so will your bank. Government agencies may charge a fee to change the names on certain documents; driver's license, green card, etc.

http://www.ehow.com/how_2049711_change-surname-after-marriage.html

Edited October 3, 2011 by Jojo92122

[sachinky 464]

But Immigration might question your decission because it might be a flag for fraud.

Changing your last name, or lack thereof, is NOT a fraud indicator.

[bigdog 376]

We will try to change ours at the interview.