Legal Name Change - can I do this?

[Lights 56]

I have a 2 year conditional GC. We originally filed for a K1 visa and have since adjusted status.

When we got married, we decided to keep my maiden name because we were worried about SSN and other paperwork that may create complications when we adjusted. Now that we have our GC, I want to know whether I can legally change my name and then update my GC before the 2 year expiration?

Thanks!

[Merrytooth 5,748]

You can legally change your name but you have to pay $450 I-90 form to replace your Green Card.

http://www.uscis.gov/i-90

You should probably wait till ROC to change your name, so that your 10 years permanent green card is in your new legal name.

Edited May 18, 2015 by Merrytooth

[Lights 56]

You can legally change your name but you have to pay $450 I-90 form to replace your Green Card.

http://www.uscis.gov/i-90

You should probably wait till ROC to change your name, so that your 10 years permanent green card is in your new legal name.

Thank you! I will do just that.

[dvensel1 5]

I have a similar question. I hope someone can shed some light on it. I talked about this before too but it's moved on a bit more now.

So, we got married in NY state in May 2015.

Our Marriage Certificate had my wife's maiden name on it because the town clerk had check-marked the box that states "wife will retain her mainden name". Our AOS was filed with her new married name (my last name) so the girl at USCIS would not process it under this married name due to this mismatch of names. Again......maiden name on Marriage Certificate, married name on the AOS paperwork.

We ended up filing for her AOS using her maiden name since this was easier. Success!

At the suggestion of the agent at the USCIS office, we applied and received a legal name change for my wife. Her last name is now LEGALLY my last name and no longer her maiden name. Oddlly enough however, we received her working permit in the original name we submitted (using my last name). LOL!!

Two days ago we received a notice that her interview is being waived. She won't need one. Happy days!! But now I'm not sure when to inform USCIS of her legal name change. Do we wait until we file for her ROC? Without the interview I have no idea on how or when to proceed to make the name change with immigration. One girl here in our town said to wait until she files for her ROC in 2 years and then send in the legal paper work (documentation) of the legal name tchange then. But I don't know what forms I need or how much to pay. It's just a simple name change to her married name.

Can someone guidfe us?

Thanks so much everyone for all your help.

Doug and Ana Vensel

[single4now 8]

You may need to fill out an I-90 form and pay the fee ($450). I am going thru something similar, however in my case my wife is completely changing her name as her Chinese name is only one alphabet rather than her nickname, which is longer. I went to a local court office to have her name legally changed and will wait patiently for two weeks till I get the order in hand to complete the AOS.

[dvensel1 5]

UPDATE:

Friday following Thanksgiving we received my wife's official notification of her temp. green card. It should arrive in 3-4 weeks. This is pretty funny though. If any of you remember my previous posts you'll also remember what a time we had at the local USCIS office in St. Albans Vt. To make a long story short, we applied and received a legal name change for my wife thereby allowing her to take her maiden name as her middle name as is done in the Philippines. Her work card came through with the original name we had used, I.E.: her maiden name moved to her middle name, and her last name was now MY family name. We were told this wouldn't fly with immigration and decided to do the name change to make sure we were covered on all fronts. Conclusion: her work card was in the very name we had wanted to use to begin with. But wait, there's more!

Today we received her official notification of her approval for her temp. (2 year) card. And it came through with the original name we used on the applicatoin! Much to our amazement, we are now lined up legally. Her middle name came through as her former maiden name and my family name is now her last name! All that trouble for one little thing and they still did it our way. Haaaahaaahaaahaaahaaaa.

We had received a notice that she would not have to go through an interview but her visa would be lagging due to so many applications sent in. The USCIS said it wouldn't be until March before we heard anything. Yet, today, Nov. 27th, we got her residency! What a wonderful Thanksgiving this turned out to be. Plans are now being made to head to New York City to change her name on her passport. And then we're done for awhile - Thank God! A trip to the Philippines is being planned now for Sept. of 2016. I can't wait!

THANK YOU to all who aided us and advised us during this time. Your experience and wisdom was priceless.

Edited November 28, 2015 by dvensel1