Should I change my last name? also proof of marriage help

[draga 14]

I have an almost teenager from a previous relationship whom I share my last name with. When my husband and I got married, I did not change my last name as we planned to do it all at the same time when he adopts my oldest. Until then, especially since he doesn't live here, I was to keep my current last name.

But should I change it before I file? Will that look any better to them?

Also, we don't have any co-ownership of anything, I bought my house before we even met, my car before we started dating. We don't mingle our finances in a recordable way. We had a joint bank account, but it was with a bank I no longer used and the account is now closed. Neither of us put money in it because we never used it. The bank I am with currently won't add him until he has a valid social or immigrant number.

Until his job put a stop to it, he used to come twice a year for 6-8 weeks at a time. Now we are trying out him being here for 1-2 weeks every 3-4 months.

What kind of advice can you give on providing proof to them that they will recognize?

[draga 14]

and I'll tack another question here.

When determining if you qualify for sponsorship alone, not with a cosponsor, do you base the family size including your spouse or just yourself and any children?

I'm assuming it would be all of us, which means I don't qualify alone based on my salary.

[draga 14]

Anyone?