If you need a new UK passport in the US, some help from us

[Shawn&Jodie 14]

As a response to this topic: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/456913-passport-changing-to-married-name/ I hope to add some info that will help those just married in the US when needing a new passport.

This is important since if you have your green card and your passport name does not match your greencard name it would be a pain to travel. Now that I think about it, probably only if you are the one who went through a name change.

As I stated in the original thread you now have to send your old passport to England now, yet they still charge us more plus a courier fee. Anyways, here are my hopefully helpfull tips.

1) Passport photos: They are a different size then the ones needed for your visa. We got ours at Walgreens, the UK size is preprogrammed into their system, make sure you tell them. If they say they can't do it, make them look. I only know this because i checked before hand ( I go there alot) and when we went for the pics there was someone different there who acted like I was making it up.

2) Tell your bank: We got an email form the passport office in the UK letting us know our payment was rejected. Turns out our bank though it was a fraudulent charged. Let your bank know in advance that you will be having a charge from the UK, it is about $250. Lucky for us we emailed them back after talking to our bank and they tried again, and let us know it went through.

3)Tracking number: If you want to track the process you need to write the number on your application. It is the bar code on the front of the application.

4) Amount of time: It seems this time of year Oct, we got ours back in about 10 days. We hear from my wifes friends in the UK it takes about 2 weeks over there. If you are in the travel season, summer, it will take longer. It takes more time for it to get there it seems. You can look in the orginal post on how I sent it.

5) What we sent: We had to send 2 extra items, we only got one back. We got back the marriage certificate but did not get back the proof the document of proof that her name had changed. We sent the offer of employment she got from TX State Universitywhich had her last name as her married name.

6) Photos countersigned: We did not have to do this since she looks the same.

7) How you get it back: We recieved two flat letter envelopes from DHL. One contained her new passport and the other contained her old one and the marriage certificate. You pay about 20 pounds for this but it is added into your fee.

8) How you pay: You also need to print off a payment form that you fill in your bank information. This is how they bill you and please see #2

We both hope that anyone, well it seems this post is for the lovely females, that needs to get a new passport is helped by this post. If any of you VJ's are going to be in Yorkshire this xmas '13 or driving through TX anytime, let us know.

Good Luck on your Journey.

Shawn and Jodie

[lost_at_sea 995]

The info is on here too: https://www.gov.uk/overseas-passports/y/usa/renewing_new/adult

[Kiwinyc 62]

Why is there any issue if your green card does not match your passport name? How does it affect returning to the US? Good tip about Walgreens doing UK passport size photos though, thanks.

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

Why is there any issue if your green card does not match your passport name? How does it affect returning to the US? Good tip about Walgreens doing UK passport size photos though, thanks.

I agree. They don't have to match. Easier with the airlines if you book the ticket in the passport name, but taking the marriage license is accepted as the way to prove name differences on ID. That's what the check-in guy told me at Heathrow when I asked what if your ticket didn't match the passport.

Good tips on the procedure to get a new passport.

Edited October 25, 2013 by Nich-Nick

[N-o-l-a 7,167]

Thanks for the tips. I've been trying to decided whether to change my UK passport now or what until it expires. I sent mine from the US to start out with, but do they require that UK citizen countersignature on the photos with a name change? Last time I had to send my application off to England to a family friend before sending it in and that was a pain.

[Shawn&Jodie 14]

We did not have to have the photos countersigned when having her name changed. There is no requirment on the instructions.

As far as making sure her name matched her green card we just didn't want any issues. We have read post on VJ where it was not a problem returning to the states but they were told they should get it done. I always figure better safe than sorry. I am never sure when some customs person is having a bad day and wants to take it out on someone.

[HikerMark 5]

I used Walgreens and the photo was rejected as not being of acceptable quality even though it was the right size. For $34 I got another set done by a quy here in Phoenix who specializes in foreign passport photos. Way better quality than Walgreens and far superior service than I got at Walgreens. For peace of mind I would recommend finding a local photographer who specializes in foreign passport photos. For a modest extra cost you will get a product that will pass the quality standards.

The guy in Phoenix is Nabil Williams of Williams Passport Photos. http://www.passportphotoaz.com/

[Shawn&Jodie 14]

Wow, your Walgreens must use a 1990 digital camera or decided to use some crappy instagram filter. Ours looked fine and I have used them for my passport photos. I will also say this, they even made us come back since Jodie was wearing a white shirt and they said it would not be accepted since it would be on a white background. I should have added that to my original post.

[N-o-l-a 7,167]

I used Walgreens and the photo was rejected as not being of acceptable quality even though it was the right size. For $34 I got another set done by a quy here in Phoenix who specializes in foreign passport photos. Way better quality than Walgreens and far superior service than I got at Walgreens. For peace of mind I would recommend finding a local photographer who specializes in foreign passport photos. For a modest extra cost you will get a product that will pass the quality standards.

The guy in Phoenix is Nabil Williams of Williams Passport Photos. http://www.passportphotoaz.com/

I think I did mine at home 3 or so years ago and using a cheap printer....

[xmxmx 1]

Thanks for posting these tips. It very useful. I am in the processing of renewing my passport. Did you send the original copy of your marriage certificate? Is that the requirement?

I

As a response to this topic: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/456913-passport-changing-to-married-name/ I hope to add some info that will help those just married in the US when needing a new passport.

This is important since if you have your green card and your passport name does not match your greencard name it would be a pain to travel. Now that I think about it, probably only if you are the one who went through a name change.

As I stated in the original thread you now have to send your old passport to England now, yet they still charge us more plus a courier fee. Anyways, here are my hopefully helpfull tips.

1) Passport photos: They are a different size then the ones needed for your visa. We got ours at Walgreens, the UK size is preprogrammed into their system, make sure you tell them. If they say they can't do it, make them look. I only know this because i checked before hand ( I go there alot) and when we went for the pics there was someone different there who acted like I was making it up.

2) Tell your bank: We got an email form the passport office in the UK letting us know our payment was rejected. Turns out our bank though it was a fraudulent charged. Let your bank know in advance that you will be having a charge from the UK, it is about $250. Lucky for us we emailed them back after talking to our bank and they tried again, and let us know it went through.

3)Tracking number: If you want to track the process you need to write the number on your application. It is the bar code on the front of the application.

4) Amount of time: It seems this time of year Oct, we got ours back in about 10 days. We hear from my wifes friends in the UK it takes about 2 weeks over there. If you are in the travel season, summer, it will take longer. It takes more time for it to get there it seems. You can look in the orginal post on how I sent it.

5) What we sent: We had to send 2 extra items, we only got one back. We got back the marriage certificate but did not get back the proof the document of proof that her name had changed. We sent the offer of employment she got from TX State Universitywhich had her last name as her married name.

6) Photos countersigned: We did not have to do this since she looks the same.

7) How you get it back: We recieved two flat letter envelopes from DHL. One contained her new passport and the other contained her old one and the marriage certificate. You pay about 20 pounds for this but it is added into your fee.

8) How you pay: You also need to print off a payment form that you fill in your bank information. This is how they bill you and please see #2

We both hope that anyone, well it seems this post is for the lovely females, that needs to get a new passport is helped by this post. If any of you VJ's are going to be in Yorkshire this xmas '13 or driving through TX anytime, let us know.

Good Luck on your Journey.

Shawn and Jodie

[wbeem 568]

We did not have to have the photos countersigned when having her name changed. There is no requirment on the instructions.

If memory serves me correctly, there is only a requirement to have photos countersigned if the application is for a first passport or for a minor. Or, if there is a noticeable change in likeness from the previous/existing passport photo.

First of all, thank you for posting the helpful information. That has been bookmarked for future reference.

Now for a new question:

We are awaiting NOA2, so still early in the filing process. What are the drawbacks of having my name changed to my married name over here before I go? If I took both passports (the one I used when the petition was filed) and the new one, would this pose a problem at the interview or at any other stage of the application or POE stage? I'd thought of this previously and dismissed the thought, but now I'm wondering if this would just make things more simple. Thoughts from the more experienced all greatly appreciated.

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

If memory serves me correctly, there is only a requirement to have photos countersigned if the application is for a first passport or for a minor. Or, if there is a noticeable change in likeness from the previous/existing passport photo.

First of all, thank you for posting the helpful information. That has been bookmarked for future reference.

Now for a new question:

We are awaiting NOA2, so still early in the filing process. What are the drawbacks of having my name changed to my married name over here before I go? If I took both passports (the one I used when the petition was filed) and the new one, would this pose a problem at the interview or at any other stage of the application or POE stage? I'd thought of this previously and dismissed the thought, but now I'm wondering if this would just make things more simple. Thoughts from the more experienced all greatly appreciated.

Having a new passport at interview is never a problem in London. Having a different name could be. You would need to prove the name change, normally with a marriage certificate. If you are married, you aren't eligible for a K1.

[wbeem 568]

Having a new passport at interview is never a problem in London. Having a different name could be. You would need to prove the name change, normally with a marriage certificate. If you are married, you aren't eligible for a K1.

Thank you for clarifying. No, we are not married. We are in the K1 application process. I wondered about changing it before because the UK passport service does actually allow you to apply for a passport in your new name prior to the wedding for those who want to travel using their married last name. However, as we are dealing with the US Embassy, I realized that the rules may be different. It was a curious question, wondering if this would be simpler than with name changes and new passports once in the US. It doesn't look like it's worth the trouble though

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

Thank you for clarifying. No, we are not married. We are in the K1 application process. I wondered about changing it before because the UK passport service does actually allow you to apply for a passport in your new name prior to the wedding for those who want to travel using their married last name. However, as we are dealing with the US Embassy, I realized that the rules may be different. It was a curious question, wondering if this would be simpler than with name changes and new passports once in the US. It doesn't look like it's worth the trouble though

I don't know anybody who has done this, but I would think the embassy would require a document if you show up to interview with a new name in your passport, different than your birth certificate and previous passport, as well as different from the petition.

You can continue to use your maiden name passport after marriage until it expires. You carry a copy of the marriage certificate to show the name change if needed. You will of course apply for adjustment of status in you married name so the greencard carries your married name.

[justin-s 8]

Quick question related to name changes: (mods, feel free to split off into a new topic if it isn't deemed related enough)

I'm a Belgian citizen, but lived in London since 2005. Back in 2005, I got my name changed by deed poll (not because of marriage, my old name was just not pronounceable in English and I didn't like it). The Belgian government doesn't recognize UK deed polls, and the procedure was always too costly in Belgium, so my passport is still in my old name. We used my old name on the I-129F to match the passport and birth certificate, but included the current one under "other names used" and included a copy of the deed poll. We got our NOA2, so clearly USCIS sees no issue with it.

Obviously, once I'm in the US I'd like to use my actual current name, rather than the old one. Also, I'd hate if my marriage certificate had a name on it that I haven't actually used in over 9 years (not to mention that my fiancé obviously addresses me with my current name).

So my plan is to, once I arrive in NYC on the K1, get the name changed in court before I even get the SSN ($65, and doesn't take long) and then get married, and start the AOS process.

Will this present any problems with the AOS? My passport still won't get changed in time for this, though Belgium does change it if I get US citizenship, as they have to match the names then.