What name to file on I-485 and put on medical form?

[kishida 0]

Hi. I am a H1B visa holder and engaged to another H1B holder. My fiancé is waiting for his green card priority date to become current and when it gets current, we both file I-485 (I'm a beneficiary). We're having a wedding ceremony next summer, but because we think the priority date gets current before that, we will get married in court secretly.

Now, I do not want to change my last name on SSN etc. until we have a ceremony with families and friends because we do not want others to know we're already married in court and I will be using my H1B visa with my current name until I get the green card.

Do you put my fiancé's last name on I-485 because when the green card comes I want to start using his last name? If so, when do I change the last name for SSN etc? After I file the I485 or before I-485 but after the ceremony in summer (if the priority date comes before my summer wedding ceremony)? Also, I'm hoping to get the medical exam done early. DO you need to wait until I get married in court? Or can I just go ahead and do it with my current last name before court marriage (so no marriage certificate)?

Moreover, does marriage certificate have my new last name on it even if I do not intend to change my SSN, Credit card etc until the summer wedding ceremony?

Thank you

[NikLR 13,220]

~~moved to AOS from work, student and travel visas from what visa do I need~~

[Ian H. 207]

Why are you getting married in secret? I hope it's not to qualify for a GC, because that would be a very bad idea. If you will get legally married and plan to change your name, your forms should reflect your married name only after you are actually married. Any form before the marriage should be in your maiden name.

[kishida 0]

Hi-

Thank you!

So if I get this medical exam done before marriage (so that we won't miss the window of priority date), I'll use my current name and they know it's me, not a different person. Do you change SSN when you file AOS? I don't want to change it before as my H1B visa is in my current last name and my h1b visa lawyer suggested waiting.

We are together for 2.5 years, publicly engaged for six months, and we already have the venue, dress for the big day. But we are getting married in court as we need to be married before AOS. It's just the ceremony w all of our families must be a few months after the court marriage due to their schedule and weather. People have a reception later, correct? And we don't need everybody to know we already married in court because some people feel we don't need a reception which we do want. So no we are not getting married for GC but the timing of the paperwork has to be dependent on the immigration process. If we just want GC, not marriage, we would marry a US citizen - quick and easy.