When to change my name?

[Pheebs1201 269]

Not sure if this is the right forum, so please mods move as you see appropriate.

I have been approved for my K1 *YAY!* and intend to fly out this week. Dan and I intend to marry at the courthouse whilst we save for a "real" wedding in 2016. My question is, when should I take his last name? Would it be simpler to do it now or can I wait and change my name later?

Any thoughts/input/advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[VFittipaldi 30]

It would have to be now, technically. In Oregon when you apply for your marriage certificate it asks for "Name after marriage" and that is where you would put in your new name. After that when you file AOS you would file with your new name. Otherwise you would have to change your green card and EAD later. I don't know of a better way, there might be one.

By the way Clackamas County Justice Court is a great place, that is where we got married. The judge does a great job and her court room is very nice and private, also its free.

Congratulations!!!

[Pheebs1201 269]

Thanks so much! I'm happy to change it now, just wanted to check. We are about three hours away from there unfortunately! Thanks again!

[VFittipaldi 30]

Oh yeah than no...

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

Thanks so much! I'm happy to change it now, just wanted to check. We are about three hours away from there unfortunately! Thanks again!

It costa $450 to change your name on the green card, so apply in the name you want for your happily ever after.

[Pheebs1201 269]

It costa $450 to change your name on the green card, so apply in the name you want for your happily ever after.

Ideal, thank you.

[GabsUSA 19]

What I have read is that it makes travelling a lot harder if you have your UK (and only passport) with your Maiden name and GC with Married name...

I am in the same situation at the moment, basically decided to keep my maiden name until Citizenship when I can change my name again and at the end of my Visa Journey.

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

What I have read is that it makes travelling a lot harder if you have your UK (and only passport) with your Maiden name and GC with Married name...

I am in the same situation at the moment, basically decided to keep my maiden name until Citizenship when I can change my name again and at the end of my Visa Journey.

Lots of people travel internationally with a maiden name passport. Book the ticket in the passport name to get by the airline counter easier. Take the marriage certificate to show the name change if needed. If you want to eventually use your husband's name, then jump in and do it. Changing after 4-5 years of establishing your maiden name in the US at the bank, driver license, credit cards, tax returns, leases or home deed, auto insurance, health insurance, birth certificate of future children, etc will be a lot harder to do than taking your marriage certificate on the occasional international trip.

[Pheebs1201 269]

Lots of people travel internationally with a maiden name passport. Book the ticket in the passport name to get by the airline counter easier. Take the marriage certificate to show the name change if needed. If you want to eventually use your husband's name, then jump in and do it. Changing after 4-5 years of establishing your maiden name in the US at the bank, driver license, credit cards, tax returns, leases or home deed, auto insurance, health insurance, birth certificate of future children, etc will be a lot harder to do than taking your marriage certificate on the occasional international trip.

This was the impression I was under, thanks for confirming

[VFittipaldi 30]

Lots of people do travel on the green card and passport being different name. People on here say that the best way of doing this is to give each document where needed. So like when exiting US and getting on the plane nobody cares about your green card, they wanna see the passport and or visa to allow you to enter the country where you are traveling. In your case UK and the same thing when returning. So, flying to UK you would only show your UK passport everywhere (airport check in and customs in England). Returning to US you would only show your Green Card everywhere. And yes bring your marriage license along. Now the question of which name to book your ticket in is interesting, I would like to know that myself.

[GabsUSA 19]

Lots of people do travel on the green card and passport being different name. People on here say that the best way of doing this is to give each document where needed. So like when exiting US and getting on the plane nobody cares about your green card, they wanna see the passport and or visa to allow you to enter the country where you are traveling. In your case UK and the same thing when returning. So, flying to UK you would only show your UK passport everywhere (airport check in and customs in England). Returning to US you would only show your Green Card everywhere. And yes bring your marriage license along. Now the question of which name to book your ticket in is interesting, I would like to know that myself.

That's why I preffered to save myself the hassle.

[KayDeeCee 4,891]

As Nich-Nick stated above, you purchase the ticket in the name that is on your passport.