Need Help with Name Change

[PuppyLove 24]

My husband and I married in his country and received our marriage certificate which only states my maiden name as there was no place on the form to write the bride's new married name. Later I came back to the US and changed my name using this marriage certificate at the Social Security Administration and on my driver's license and bank accounts. I sent a letter to NVC as they told me to do saying that I changed my last name to my married name and that my address is now in the US. Today I received an email from NVC saying they received the documents that I submitted. I sent proof of my old and new social security card and driver's license. Well, they didn't seem to have read my letter well because I called NVC and found out that my husband's address in Pakistan had been deleted and that they wrote my US address for him instead. My last name was also not updated. The person on the phone told me that social security cards are not evidence of name change and that they only accept a marriage certificate with both the maiden and married name written or a passport. Now I'm really confused how anyone with a foreign marriage certificate that does not follow this format is supposed to update their name change with NVC. I really am stressing out about this and I'm at a lost as to what to do. How do you change your name on your passport if it does not say both maiden and married name on the marriage certificate? Has anyone who married abroad had this problem? We already mailed in our choice of agent form using my married name, since I thought that was legally changed, now what are we supposed to do? Am I supposed to keep using my maiden name when so many of my legal documents are showing my married name? I wanted to send more evidences of our bonafide relationship but those all contain my married name now (joint bank account, checks, phone records, etc.) Please someone help with this

[PuppyLove 24]

Please someone help me with this problem.

[PA132 5]

http://travel.state.gov/passport/correcting/ChangeName/ChangeName_851.html

You can get it changed on your passport by applying for a renewal and sending in a copy of your wedding certificate.

It's strange that they don't accept the social security card... but I imagine you were going to have to get the passport changed anyway.

[MR193 2]

My husband and I married in his country and received our marriage certificate which only states my maiden name as there was no place on the form to write the bride's new married name. Later I came back to the US and changed my name using this marriage certificate at the Social Security Administration and on my driver's license and bank accounts. I sent a letter to NVC as they told me to do saying that I changed my last name to my married name and that my address is now in the US. Today I received an email from NVC saying they received the documents that I submitted. I sent proof of my old and new social security card and driver's license. Well, they didn't seem to have read my letter well because I called NVC and found out that my husband's address in Pakistan had been deleted and that they wrote my US address for him instead. My last name was also not updated. The person on the phone told me that social security cards are not evidence of name change and that they only accept a marriage certificate with both the maiden and married name written or a passport. Now I'm really confused how anyone with a foreign marriage certificate that does not follow this format is supposed to update their name change with NVC. I really am stressing out about this and I'm at a lost as to what to do. How do you change your name on your passport if it does not say both maiden and married name on the marriage certificate? Has anyone who married abroad had this problem? We already mailed in our choice of agent form using my married name, since I thought that was legally changed, now what are we supposed to do? Am I supposed to keep using my maiden name when so many of my legal documents are showing my married name? I wanted to send more evidences of our bonafide relationship but those all contain my married name now (joint bank account, checks, phone records, etc.) Please someone help with this

You need to change your name on you passport aswell. Write down exactly in which order everything happened and on what date . (in format 1. 2. 3. ) I was married previously so my name had changed twice . Luckily I had also worked in Hospitals in England where you had to undertake a Criminal records bureu background check which I got a print out from . This showed all name changes. They were very pleased at my interview when I gave them a copy of this as it gave them a lot of the information they needed. My husband is the USC. My name was changed automatically in my native country Sweden where we got married . But in your case, first address your Passport: you will need to change your surname with the U.S. Department of State by mail or in person. I recommend an expedited passport . Contact the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778 with questions. Mail these documents:

* Your current passport

* Certified copy of marriage certificate showing your name change (Phone number above in regards for clarification)

* Form DS-554 (mailing address is on the form)

* A recent, color photo

Your passport is your ultimate proof of identity so it should always be addressed first , especially if your marriage was in another country. Good Luck

[The Mean Lady 604]

You need to change your name on you passport aswell. Write down exactly in which order everything happened and on what date . (in format 1. 2. 3. ) I was married previously so my name had changed twice . Luckily I had also worked in Hospitals in England where you had to undertake a Criminal records bureu background check which I got a print out from . This showed all name changes. They were very pleased at my interview when I gave them a copy of this as it gave them a lot of the information they needed. My husband is the USC. My name was changed automatically in my native country Sweden where we got married . But in your case, first address your Passport: you will need to change your surname with the U.S. Department of State by mail or in person. I recommend an expedited passport . Contact the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778 with questions. Mail these documents:

* Your current passport

* Certified copy of marriage certificate showing your name change (Phone number above in regards for clarification)

* Form DS-554 (mailing address is on the form)

* A recent, color photo

Your passport is your ultimate proof of identity so it should always be addressed first , especially if your marriage was in another country. Good Luck

It's not a recent color photo.

It's (2) passport style photos.

[MR193 2]

It's not a recent color photo.

It's (2) passport style photos.

Yes you are right . This was just an example . This will be clarified when the instructions are read and the forms are being completed . Information change constantly on a lot of the forms.. Thats why I wrote to phone them for clarifications and advice. Thanks for pointing it out

[The Mean Lady 604]

Everything can be found here:

http://travel.state.gov/passport/renew/renew_833.html

I just renewed my passport with name change in june.

[PuppyLove 24]

You need to change your name on you passport aswell. Write down exactly in which order everything happened and on what date . (in format 1. 2. 3. ) I was married previously so my name had changed twice . Luckily I had also worked in Hospitals in England where you had to undertake a Criminal records bureu background check which I got a print out from . This showed all name changes. They were very pleased at my interview when I gave them a copy of this as it gave them a lot of the information they needed. My husband is the USC. My name was changed automatically in my native country Sweden where we got married . But in your case, first address your Passport: you will need to change your surname with the U.S. Department of State by mail or in person. I recommend an expedited passport . Contact the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778 with questions. Mail these documents:

* Your current passport

* Certified copy of marriage certificate showing your name change (Phone number above in regards for clarification)

* Form DS-554 (mailing address is on the form)

* A recent, color photo

Your passport is your ultimate proof of identity so it should always be addressed first , especially if your marriage was in another country. Good Luck

Thank you for your replies. I didn't know that passport was so important to change right away. I thought I wouldn't need to change it until before I wanted to travel again. You do think that they will accept my marriage certificate that has only my maiden name on it and then my husband's name as evidence to change my name? I have my driver's license and SS cards too. Also please tell me your opinions if we should delay our processing at NVC for this passport to come or if we should fill out the forms with my maiden name and then update the NVC later. If I expedite the passport it should come back in time before NVC stage is over correct? They have not sent us the IV bill yet or accepted choice of agent yet.

[The Mean Lady 604]

i didnt change my name on my passport for a year and a half.

i changed my license and that was it.

i still havent done my social security card.

as long as i carried my certified marriage license as proof, it never mattered that nothing matched.

[ktb 15]

I was also married abroad. Our marriage certificate only shows my maiden name. I applied for a new passport right away with my married name (before we started the process), but changed no other documents (SS card, bank accounts, etc). However, I have used my married name on all my forms and haven't had any problems. If you are unsure you can use both names on your forms. i.e. writing <your name> (formerly known as <your maiden name>). I have done that a few times on my forms.

[PuppyLove 24]

I was also married abroad. Our marriage certificate only shows my maiden name. I applied for a new passport right away with my married name (before we started the process), but changed no other documents (SS card, bank accounts, etc). However, I have used my married name on all my forms and haven't had any problems. If you are unsure you can use both names on your forms. i.e. writing <your name> (formerly known as <your maiden name>). I have done that a few times on my forms.

I was wondering if I could write my name the way you are talking about, but I was afraid they would not like it since I haven't "proved" my name change to them yet.

[The Mean Lady 604]

I hyphenated my name with my hospital that way no matter what they got from me, they could tell it was me lol.

My ID is my married name, but my doctor and insurance have me as maiden.

Problem solved!

[Aya820 33]

I hyphenated my name with my hospital that way no matter what they got from me, they could tell it was me lol.

My ID is my married name, but my doctor and insurance have me as maiden.

Problem solved!

On official documents like SSN or passport I use my married name, but I did this with my bank as well...so far so good. Creditors find me no matter what name they have

[PuppyLove 24]

Ok so I mailed out my passport with expedite. Hopefully that will come back soon and I can mail a copy to NVC. I will fill out forms for now with my maiden name.

Thank you everyone for your advices