Name change?

[PerditaD 35]

Hi everyone,

What's the procedure about changing your name? On our marriage license I wrote my husband's last name as my new last name and we finally got our marriage certificate today.

Is this enough for my name to officially be changed? I know I need to change it on my SS card, bank acc/debit card, lease... but legally, has my name changed upon receiving a certified copy of our marriage certificate, which shows my husbands's last name as my new last name?

Thanks!

[Girl from Celebes 588]

Hi everyone,

What's the procedure about changing your name? On our marriage license I wrote my husband's last name as my new last name and we finally got our marriage certificate today.

Is this enough for my name to officially be changed? I know I need to change it on my SS card, bank acc/debit card, lease... but legally, has my name changed upon receiving a certified copy of our marriage certificate, which shows my husbands's last name as my new last name?

Thanks!

Yes, marriage certificate is a sufficient document to show you can change your name. But it is not automatically will be changed. You decided it. In Florida, marriage certificate still bears my maiden name and no where to show that I have changed my name. The only legal binding shows on the marriage certificate that I can changed my name is that I am married to my husband which is provided his last name.

Your name will be changed legally when you put it on SSN, driver license, all of your AOS papers to get a green card. The woman from courthouse told me that if I wanted my name is legally changed I have to put it on such ID like SSN, driver license to show that I am officially changed my maiden name into married name.

[TBoneTX 45,451]

Thinking ahead: Order at least a couple more official copies of your marriage certificate. Keep one with you at all times until you get your green card. This is especially crucial if you plan to travel out of the country with use of Advance Parole, and if you ever travel within the U.S. in areas where there are inland CBP checkpoints.

Edited August 22, 2014 by TBoneTX

[PerditaD 35]

Thanks for your replies! I don't have a DL, I only have a SS card so I'll change it there and then fill out AOS forms with my new last name, I guess that should be it

[Girl from Celebes 588]

Thanks for your replies! I don't have a DL, I only have a SS card so I'll change it there and then fill out AOS forms with my new last name, I guess that should be it

You only can changed your name on SSN after you have received at least EAD. It serves as a proof that you "officially" have changed your maiden name to married name. Marriage certificate serves as a document you "can" changed your name but SSA employees won't accepted (most of times) because in some states, bride still bears her maiden name like mine. With an EAD you can apply driver license as well.

[Expat1 971]

Yes, marriage certificate is a sufficient document to show you can change your name. But it is not automatically will be changed. You decided it. In Florida, marriage certificate still bears my maiden name and no where to show that I have changed my name. The only legal binding shows on the marriage certificate that I can changed my name is that I am married to my husband which is provided his last name.

Your name will be changed legally when you put it on SSN, driver license, all of your AOS papers to get a green card. The woman from courthouse told me that if I wanted my name is legally changed I have to put it on such ID like SSN, driver license to show that I am officially changed my maiden name into married name.

My wife had a notation with name change put in her passport by Immigration office before she left Indonesia. She just had to provide them with our marriage book.

Everything including passport is issued in her married name.

[Girl from Celebes 588]

My wife had a notation with name change put in her passport by Immigration office before she left Indonesia. She just had to provide them with our marriage book.

Everything including passport is issued in her married name.

Do you guys have married in Indonesia? These things are on the different roads. The OP and me were adjusting from K-1 visa whereas a spousal visa (IR-1/CR-1/K-3) will received green card shortly after landed in the US which I believe that's your wife's immigration path. She does not need to show name changed because she's already did it during the process of when she submitted all papers works including marriage book or in Indonesia it calls " buku nikah".

Just note:

Most of married woman in Indonesia don't changed their maiden name into married name because it is not our custom.