Spouse and Maiden Name Possible?

[Halcyon 1]

Hey all,

My wife and I just received our NOA2, but after discussing some unrelated topics I discovered a problem that may occur with the rest of our process. We had originally planned on her keeping her maiden name in Japan (her home country) and taking my name in America. We didn't think this would be a problem; just fill out all visa forms with my surname. After looking things up on the forums though, it looks as though they will use her passport name for the final visa. Is this correct? And do any of you know a way to avoid this? I know we can change her name once she's here, but that'd be a lot of extra paperwork and fees we're hoping to avoid. Would it be possible to request the visa with my surname?

Does anyone have experience with a similar situation?

Thanks in advance!

[Done--Really 331]

I think what you really want is the green card in her married name. The visa MUST be the same as the passport because it occupies a full page in the passport, but the green card can be issued in either name. We wanted the GC in my wife's married name, and when we were at the embassie for the interview, they asked which way we wanted it, and we told them married name, and no problem at all--that is the way the GC arrived.

[Halcyon 1]

Thanks for the reply!

I definitely forgot that the visa is different than the green card. When did you request the green card in her married name? At the interview? Or at some other point?

[Done--Really 331]

It was at the interview