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How to change my maiden name?

By J&N* in Moving to the US and Your New Life In America

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J&N* Rising Star

J&N*   68

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Egypt
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I'm a little behind on this (moving to 3 different places in the 20 months I've been here) and other things, but I really want to change my name now, where do I start?? It feels so overwhelming but I need to do it fast before we've our first child (due in 2 months) cause I want us all to have the same last name. I remove conditions next January so I'm really confused...

Thanks a lot!

K1 Timeline
03/08/10 - I-129F packet sent to VSC
07/07/10 - Interview Date - APPROVED!
10/28/10 - POE @ Chicago
11/21/10 - Marriage

AOS, AP, EAD.
01/18/11 - AOS, AP, EAD packet sent
03/07/2011 - Biometrics appointment
03/29/2011 - AOS, AP and EAD approved (After 2.5 months)
04/04/2011 - Green card in hand[/size]

ROC
02/12/2013 - ROC packet sent
02/21/2013 - NOA1 Received
03/09/2013 - Biometrics appointment
06/19/2013 - ROC APPROVED!

N-400 Naturalization

06/20/2014 - N-400 Packet sent

07/15/2014 - Check Cashedarrow-10x10.png

08/04/2014 - Biometrics

02/19/2015 - Interview

03/26/2015 - Oath Ceremony
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amykathleen2005 Proficient

amykathleen2005   441

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Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: England
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Posted

This can sometimes be tricky because sometimes you have to establish residency in a certain county to change your name. Officially you do it at Social Security when you first get married, but I don't know if there is a time limit to when you have to change it with just a marriage certificate.

England.gif England!

And in this crazy life, and through these crazy times

It's you, it's you, You make me sing.

You're every line, you're every word, you're everything.

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Sent: 7/21/12

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Card Production Ordered: 3/6/2013

*Eligible for Naturalization: October 13, 2013*

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Deema & Wayne Collaborator

Deema & Wayne   28

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Jordan
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This can sometimes be tricky because sometimes you have to establish residency in a certain county to change your name. Officially you do it at Social Security when you first get married, but I don't know if there is a time limit to when you have to change it with just a marriage certificate.

Social security won't let you change it unless your married name is on your green card. I'm changing mine when it's time to remove conditions cause they wouldn't allow me to do that until I get my name changed to my married name on my green card first.

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Adjustment of Status

AOS packet sent - 08/24/2011
AOS packet received - 08/31/2011
Checks cashed - 09/01/2011
NOA received - 09/6/2011
Biometrics appointment - 09/19/2011 - Done
RFE received - tax returns 2010 and original birth certificate - 9/19/2011
RFE sent 09/28/2011
EAD Card Production 10/20/2011
EAD Received 10/29/2011
Interview letter received 11/1/2011 Interview on 12/5/2011
Applied for SSN - will receive in 2 weeks
SSN Received
Interview - APPROVED!!! (Thank Allah)
Green card in hand 12/12/2011

Lifting Conditions

I-751 sent - 09/05/13

I-751 received - 09/06/13

Check cashed - 09/11/13

NOA received - 09/12/13

Biometrics Notice received - 09/19/13

Biometrics Done - 10/07/13

Case transferred to CSC - 10/08/13

Card Production Notice - 1/22/14

Card in Hand - 1/29/14 (Thank Allah)

Naturalization

N-400 sent - 12/29/14

Received - 12/31/14

Check Cashed - 1/7/15

NOA Received- 1/12/15

Biometrics - 1/29/15

Interview Done - Passed!

Citizen!

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LeftCoastLady Proficient

LeftCoastLady   441

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Filed: Lift. Cond. (pnd) Country: United Kingdom
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There's actually a "change my name" kit that is customized based on your location/jurisdiction and includes the relevant documents: http://www.namechangekit.com/newlywed/

It's $30 and you'd still have to file those documents in person.

Or, you can take your marriage certificate to the DMV and the Social Security Administration office to with a request change your name from your maiden name to married name. (Be sure to specify that because there's a whole different process involved for people who want to legally change their name when it's not tied to marriage.) If you don't have a copy of your marriage certificate, get that first. If you were married in Chicago, that would the Cook County Clerk's office: http://www.cookcountyclerk.com/vitalrecords/marriagecertificates/Pages/default.aspx

I'm a little behind on this (moving to 3 different places in the 20 months I've been here) and other things, but I really want to change my name now, where do I start?? It feels so overwhelming but I need to do it fast before we've our first child (due in 2 months) cause I want us all to have the same last name. I remove conditions next January so I'm really confused...

Thanks a lot!

Part One: The K-1 Visa Journey:

USCIS Receipt of I-129F: January 24, 2012 | Petition Approval: June 15, 2012 (No RFEs)
Interview: October 24, 2012 - Review | Visa Delivered: October 31, 2012



Part Two: Entry and Adjusting Status:

POE: November 18, 2012 (at SFO) - Review
Wedding: December 1, 2012 | Social Security: New cards received on December 7, 2012.
AOS Package (I-485/I-765/I-131) NOA1: February 19, 2013 | Biometrics Appt.: March 18, 2013
AP/EAD Approved: April 29, 2013 | Card Received: May 6, 2013 | AOS Interview Appt.: May 16, 2013 - Approved Review Card Received: May 24, 2013

Part Three: Removal of Conditions:

Coming Soon...

"When you're born you get a ticket to the freak show. When you're born in America, you get a front row seat." – George Carlin

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And_Sam Experienced

And_Sam   44

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Egypt
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I'm a little behind on this (moving to 3 different places in the 20 months I've been here) and other things, but I really want to change my name now, where do I start?? It feels so overwhelming but I need to do it fast before we've our first child (due in 2 months) cause I want us all to have the same last name. I remove conditions next January so I'm really confused...

Thanks a lot!

Wow Nermeen! Has it been that long??? Congrats on the new addition to you and Joe! I would think with all your paperwork, ie..marriage certificate you can put in a request to change your name on your green card. That would be the first thing then you can go to the Social Security office to get it changed there and also the DMV.

http://www.usimmigration.com/greencard-name-change.html Here is some information that can help you!

Take care and good luck!:thumbs:

Andrea

"A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. " – Herm Albright

POE: JFK New York: 04/18/2010
Receive Green Card in mail: 06/03/2010
Received SSN: 06/17/2010
Received NEW SS CARD: 07/20/2010 (to match GC!)
Got JOB!!: 09/27/2010
Got a better JOB!!: 11/20/2010
ROC Mailed: 02/16/2012
Check cashed: 02/24/2012
NOA received dated for: 02/22/2012
Biometrics dated: 04/18/2012
RFE: 10/23/2012
RFE Response Confirmed: 11/16/2012
Interview at Orlando office: 02/13/2013

2nd RFE!!: 10/03/13

2nd RFE Response: 10/09/2013

Update Biometrics: 10/13/2013 NEVER GOT 10 yr card!

N-400 mailed: 01/21/2014

Biometrics (N-400): 02/21/2014

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Dave&Roza Experienced

Dave&Roza   748

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Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: Kazakhstan
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Posted (edited)

Social security won't let you change it unless your married name is on your green card. I'm changing mine when it's time to remove conditions cause they wouldn't allow me to do that until I get my name changed to my married name on my green card first.

That person at the SSA was wrong wrong wrong. They state on their own website you need a marriage certificate or other legal document to show the new name. What if you are a USC that just got married? You do not have a GC. You have your maiden name and a marriage certificate that state you are married. You take that into the SSA and have them change the name on your SSC. You never have to tell them that you are not a USC. Of course most people that work at the SSA are dummer than a box of rocks. E-mail the main SSA office listed on the website and ask them about changing your name due marriage.

Good luck,

Dave

Edited by Dave&Roza
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GlobeHopperMama Collaborator

GlobeHopperMama   95

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa (DCF) Country: Mexico
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Posted

I legally took on a married name last summer after 4 years of marriage. Just a lot of international travel and I had been avoiding it so I wouldn't have to change my passport. Anyway, at least in IL, it gets a little dicey after 2 yrs have elapsed since the marriage, but you're still within that so I think you shouldn't have a problem getting it done just with the marriage certificate. If possible, try to get some other record as well, like a doctor/lab report, a piece of mail, anything else using your married name. I went through the SSA office in Aurora. It kind of drove me nuts and I almost gave up after the 3rd failed attempt, but 4th time was a charm for me.

Long story short, we have a complicated case. We've been at this for nearly 5 years. You can read our story here. I highly recommend our attorney Laurel Scott, as well as attorneys Laura Fernandez and Lizz Cannon .

Filed I-130 via CSC in Feb 2008. Petition approved June 2008. Consular interview in Mexico, Oct 2008, visa denied, INA 212a6cii. We allege improper application of the law in this case.

2012, started over in Seoul: I-130 filed DCF on 7/2, I-130 approved 8/8, Medical at Yonsei Severance 11/20, IR1 appointment in November 2012.

CRBA filed 1-3-13 at Seoul for our daughter

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You can find me at

Immigrate2us.net as Los G :)

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Mithra Proficient

Mithra   1,185

Posted
Filed: Citizen (pnd) Country: Egypt
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Posted

Take your marriage cert. along with another form of ID (passport, drivers license, etc.) down to the local DMV and have it changed there. When I changed my last name I went to the DMV then to SSA to have it changed.

"The truth will set you free. But first, it will piss you off.

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And_Sam Experienced

And_Sam   44

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Egypt
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When my husband got here to the US we went to the SSA office to get his ss card. The woman who we spoke to said that his full name that is on the visa in his passport was too long and wouldn't fit on the card. I argued with her because I knew it would. Well sure enough they put his first, middle and very last name (he has 2 last names) on the card. Well he got his greencard and it had his first, middle, and BOTH last names. Next step was to the dmv to get his driver's license. Well the DMV would NOT take his greencard AND ss card because it did not match IDENTICALLY. So back to the ss office again. The first woman we talked to said that Homeland Security had to change his name to match his social security card. Yeah, right. Finally, after talking to a supervisor, he was able to get his ss card with the same exact name that is on his greencard. What a mess....

So yes, Nermeen you do need to get your name changed on your greencard then get it changed on your social security number, driver's license....

Let us know how it goes!

"A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. " – Herm Albright

POE: JFK New York: 04/18/2010
Receive Green Card in mail: 06/03/2010
Received SSN: 06/17/2010
Received NEW SS CARD: 07/20/2010 (to match GC!)
Got JOB!!: 09/27/2010
Got a better JOB!!: 11/20/2010
ROC Mailed: 02/16/2012
Check cashed: 02/24/2012
NOA received dated for: 02/22/2012
Biometrics dated: 04/18/2012
RFE: 10/23/2012
RFE Response Confirmed: 11/16/2012
Interview at Orlando office: 02/13/2013

2nd RFE!!: 10/03/13

2nd RFE Response: 10/09/2013

Update Biometrics: 10/13/2013 NEVER GOT 10 yr card!

N-400 mailed: 01/21/2014

Biometrics (N-400): 02/21/2014

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