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Posted

I am still debating the whole name change thing (just got married a couple weeks ago). I have decided not to make any official changes until our church wedding ceremony in April, but have come up with a probable plan. It does not matter to my husband what name I choose. He has 2 sisters; one kept her maiden name, the other took her husband's name.

I am PRETTY sure that I will keep my maiden name for professional use ... my degrees and licenses are in that name and I am known professionally by it.

I will then change my name to add my husband's last name at the end, still keeping my whole (first middle and last) name. For me, I would like our (future) children to have the same name and am not liking the sound of our two names together hyphenated.

2e020152f8374f4fbd9014e3cc2c05fe.jpg

catcatadb20080508_-7_My%20child%20is.png

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Brazil
Timeline
Posted

My sister is getting married in a few months and is still trying to figure this out... She hasn't decided yet. At first she said NO but I think she's getting used to the idea. She wanted to hyphen it so we'll see.

I'm a teacher and I'll be happy when I can stop hearing Ms. D...... Ms. D..... Ms. D.... ahhhhh!!! :lol:

But then I do realize that it will just be my new name that I'll hear every two seconds ;) .

I'm excited for the name change, but supportive of women who choose not to. My mom changed her name back to her maiden name when she was divorced. When she got remarried she just added my stepdad's name so she has 2 last names (no hyphen). She is always referred to by her newer last name but legally she still has her maiden name.

I think it's nice that she did that since I now have a little sister and the 3 of them have the same last name.

11/2004 - Met in Brazil

09/2006 - Apply for K1

03/2007 - K1 approved

04/2007 - Apply for AOS & EAD

07/2007 - EAD approved

01/2008 - Conditional Residency approved

11/2009 - Apply to remove conditions

02/2010 - Permanent Residency approved

11/2010 - Apply for Citizenship

03/2011 - Citizenship approved

07/2011 - Moved back to Brazil

Posted
I think a woman taking her husband's last name is more tradition then anything else. Legally it doesn't matter what either person's last name is or if they are the same, etc. It's tradition just like a man buying an engagement ring for his fiancee when he proposes to her.

So a woman saying "I love you darling, and I want to marry you and be together with you forever, BUT I don't want to take your last name" is the equivalent of a man saying "I love you darling, and I want to marry you and be together with you forever, BUT I do not plan to buy you an engagement ring!" :innocent:

It's not a universal tradition. Neither is the engagement ring. And it certainly doesn't mean the couple loves each other less or more. Plenty of bitter divorcés whose ex-wives changed their names.

AOS

-

Filed: 8/1/07

NOA1:9/7/07

Biometrics: 9/28/07

EAD/AP: 10/17/07

EAD card ordered again (who knows, maybe we got the two-fer deal): 10/23/-7

Transferred to CSC: 10/26/07

Approved: 11/21/07

Filed: Citizen (pnd) Country: Jordan
Timeline
Posted

When my husband was at his interveiw in Amman for the CR-1, we were put on A/R for this very topic. The A/R was for proof of a name change. I had not addressed that in any paperwork before hand, as I had not thought that would be an issue. We had a lot of other proof that was provided. i had already changed my name to his name and it's a good thing we had so that i was able to provide proof that i had done that. I really don't think his visa would have been issued if I had not. I guess they think its a statement to the world that you are married and its permanent. Maybe it depends on the consulate and other things also and maybe it is something you should address before the interview. I think they look for any reason to deny and this was ours. So you just never know! But in today's society many women do not change their names. Consulates need to step up to more modern times!!

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: India
Timeline
Posted
I wouldn't be hurt if I didn't have an engagement ring. I'm not much of a jewelery person.

Ditto. I didn't get an engagement ring, won't get one, and don't care! I agree with the simple wedding band though - announce to the world in that way at least, that we're hitched! (I'm not a jewelry person either - never wore earrings, bracelets, necklaces etc.).

***Nagaraju & Eileen***
K1 (Fiance Visa)
Oct 18, 2006: NOA1
Feb 8, 2007: NOA2
April 13, 2007: INTERVIEW in Chennai -Approved
May 25, 2007: USA Arrival! EAD at JFK
June 15, 2007: Married
AOS (Adjustment of Status)
June 21, 2007: AOS/EAD Submitted
Sept 18, 2007: AOS Interview - APPROVED!!
ROC (Removing of Conditions)
June 23, 2009: Sent in I-751 packet
Sept 11, 2009: APPROVED!!
Sept 18, 2009: Received 10-year Green Card!

Naturalization
July 15, 2010: Sent N-400 packet
July 23, 2010: NOA Notice date
Oct 15, 2010: Citizenship Interview - Passed!
Nov 15, 2010: Oath Ceremony in Fresno, CA
Nov 24, 2010: Did SSN and Applied for Passport
Dec 6, 2010: Passport Arrives
Dec 7, 2010: Sent for Indian Passport Surrender Certificate
Dec 27, 2010: Surrender Certificate Arrives
Jan 3, 2011: Sent for Overseas Citizenship of India Card
March 1, 2011: Received OCI card!

Divorce

Feb 2015:​ Found out he was cheating (prostitutes / escorts)

​May 2015: Divorce Final

Posted

I used to have a friend in Japan who took his wife's last name after marriage. The reason was because she was the only child so there was no one who could "inherit" the last name but her.

My fiance is the only child also...he got 2 pairs of parents and his dad and step-mom do not have children after they got married, so.. I've decided to take his last name so that when we have kids later on, they will have their dad's last name :) Beside, I don't have a last name hahaha.... must be weird for you guys but.... lots of Indonesians do not have last names. So my fiance's last name will be an addition to my first and second name.

TIMELINE :

Nov 16th, 2006 Sent I-129F to VSC - overnighted

Nov 20th, 2006 NOA1

Dec 4th, 2006 NOA2 !!!!! Dang...that was fast.. thank you GOD....

Dec 12th, 2006 E-mail from NVC : Petition forwarded to US Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia

Dec 14th, 2006 E-mail from US Embassy in Jakarta : Packet 3

Jan 08th, 2007 Medical exam! --- Done! Dunno the result tho......... =/

Feb 06th, 2007 Sent packet 3 back to the Embassy with DHL!!!

Feb 15th, 2007 Packet 4 (By phone...)

Feb 22nd, 2007 Interview date!! - VISA APPROVED!!!!!

Apr 15th, 2007 POE : Detroit

May 04th, 2007 Barefoot wedding at Hutchinson Island, FL

May 09th, 2007 Applied for SSN

May 18th, 2007 SSN Received

June 9th, 2007 AOS + EAD paperwork sent

June 15th, 2007 NOA1 for AOS and EAD

June 18th, 2007 CHECKS CASHED (for both AOS and EAD)

July 10th, 2007 Biometrics Appt.

Aug 02nd, 2007 AOS transferred to CSC

Aug 22nd, 2007 EAD card production ordered!

Aug 29th, 2007 Greencard production ordered!!

Aug 31st, 2007 EAD card received

Sept 7th, 2007 2 Year Greencard received

June 24, 2009 I-751 sent (Priority Mail)

June 29, 2009 NOA 1

July 31, 2009 Biometrics

Oct 30, 2009 Card production ordered!!!

Nov 06, 2009 10 Year Greencard received

Filed: K-1 Visa Country: United Kingdom
Timeline
Posted

Interestingly enough - the ACLU just brought suit in California over this issue. The question of whether a man can take the woman's name is both simple and complicated. The answer is: yes, a man can take the woman's name.

HOWEVER, the process by which he would do that varies from state to state. In many states, it's as simple as ticking off a box and writing in the desired new name (that's about all it takes from women - even in Cali - to change to their husband's name, plus going to the DMV, etc, to make the change on those documents).

BUT, for a man to change to his wife's last name in Cali and a few other states requires all the legal mess as if you just wanted to change your name for some reason other than marriage: that is, it take filing with the court, a bunch of money, and a hearing in front of a judge to explain why you want to change it and then awaiting final approval.

Wisely, the ACLU has said, um, is it just us or does that strike you as antiquated and discriminatory at this point in time?

So there's your answer. Custom-wise, it is far more common for the woman to opt for the husband's name, but also increasingly common for women to retain their own names.

Personally - I like the Icelandic system where everyone is [someone's]son or dottir - that way a family of 4 each has a different patronym (it isn't even a last name). Wikipedia it - totally fascinating.

I-129F/K1

1-12-07 mailed to CSC

1-22-07 DHS cashes the I-129F check

1-23-07 NOA1 Notice Date

1-26-07 NOA1 arrives in the post

4-25-07 Touched!

4-26-07 Touched again!

5-3-07 NOA2!!! Two approval emails received at 11:36am

5-10-07 Arrived at NVC/5-14-07 Left NVC - London-bound!

5-17-07??? London receives?

5-20-07 Packet 3 mailed

5-26-07 Packet 3 received

5-29-07 Packet 3 returned, few days later than planned due to bank holiday weekend

6-06-07 Medical in London (called to schedule on May 29)

6-11-07 "Medical in file" at Embassy

6-14-07 Resent packet 3 to Embassy after hearing nothing about first try

6-22-07 DOS says "applicant now eligible for interview," ie: they enter p3 into their system

6-25-07 DOS says interview date is August 21

6-28-07 Help from our congressional representative gives us new interview date: July 6

7-06-07 Interview at 9:00 am at the London Embassy - Approved.

7-16-07 Visa delivered after 'security checks' completed

I-129F approved in 111 days; Interview 174 days from filing

Handy numbers:

NVC: (603) 334-0700 - press 1, 5; US State Department: (202) 663-1225 - press 1, 0

*Be afraid or be informed - the choice is yours.*

Posted

I'm the USC but I did not change my name because I didn't want to have a different last name than my children.

8-30-05 Met David at a restaurant in Germany

3-28-06 David 'officially' proposed

4-26-06 I-129F mailed

9-25-06 Interview: APPROVED!

10-16-06 Flt to US, POE Detroit

11-5-06 Married

7-2-07 Green card received

9-12-08 Filed for divorce

12-5-08 Court hearing - divorce final

A great marriage is not when the "perfect couple" comes together.

It is when an imperfect couple learns to enjoy their differences.

Filed: Timeline
Posted
I'm planning on keeping my own name, at least for now. My name has a funny meaning in Italian and I'd miss not having it anymore. Besides, the first 3 letters of my fiance's last name are a-s-s! "How do you spell your name miss?" "A-s-s..." No thanks! We thought of hyphenating, but MyName-HisName has the same rhythim as Snuffulufugus, and HisName-MyName still starts with a-s-s! We thought of combining our last names, but going back to point one, I'd miss the funny meaning of my first and last name together. :blush: We joke about this all the time, it's one of our funny things at the moment. He hasn't offered to take my last name yet, I think it'd be a blow to his ego, and his family wouldn't exactly be happy. Like someone else said though, I like the sound of Mr. and Mrs. So-and-so. We've decided to keep our own last names and figure it out when kids come into the mix!

So yeah, I, too, am glad that it's not considered a red flag. :thumbs:

Oh my God thats hilarious! (Pissin myself laughing @ Snuffulufugus) AHAHAHA

Filed: K-1 Visa Country: United Kingdom
Timeline
Posted

No legal difference. The name is whatever you say it is legally. A hyphen or no hyphen has no force of law.

I-129F/K1

1-12-07 mailed to CSC

1-22-07 DHS cashes the I-129F check

1-23-07 NOA1 Notice Date

1-26-07 NOA1 arrives in the post

4-25-07 Touched!

4-26-07 Touched again!

5-3-07 NOA2!!! Two approval emails received at 11:36am

5-10-07 Arrived at NVC/5-14-07 Left NVC - London-bound!

5-17-07??? London receives?

5-20-07 Packet 3 mailed

5-26-07 Packet 3 received

5-29-07 Packet 3 returned, few days later than planned due to bank holiday weekend

6-06-07 Medical in London (called to schedule on May 29)

6-11-07 "Medical in file" at Embassy

6-14-07 Resent packet 3 to Embassy after hearing nothing about first try

6-22-07 DOS says "applicant now eligible for interview," ie: they enter p3 into their system

6-25-07 DOS says interview date is August 21

6-28-07 Help from our congressional representative gives us new interview date: July 6

7-06-07 Interview at 9:00 am at the London Embassy - Approved.

7-16-07 Visa delivered after 'security checks' completed

I-129F approved in 111 days; Interview 174 days from filing

Handy numbers:

NVC: (603) 334-0700 - press 1, 5; US State Department: (202) 663-1225 - press 1, 0

*Be afraid or be informed - the choice is yours.*

Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: Egypt
Timeline
Posted
Could the man change his last name to the woman's? It's not that I would even think of doing something like that, I am just curious, sorry if this is a dumb question LOL.

Just curious! :blush:

Yes, it is possible because my ex husband took my last name back in '91. As long as he squares it off with Social Security and the IRS, your good to go.

Don't just open your mouth and prove yourself a fool....put it in writing.

It gets harder the more you know. Because the more you find out, the uglier everything seems.

kodasmall3.jpg

Posted
Of course those of you who don't change your name would probably consider yourselves "Ms." instead of "Mrs." anyway! ;)

I don't think I'll change my name, but I still intend to be called Mrs.

Just starting the journey, haven't yet filed... Until today(2/12/07)!

K-1

2/12/07 - Mailed I-129F via USPS Priority w/ Delivery Confirmation

2/16/07 - VSC received package

2/22/07 - Check has been deposited, now I can track!

2/23/07 - NOA1 Received via snail mail

3/9/07 - NOA2 via email!

3/15/07 - NOA2 via snail mail

3/19/07 - Called NVC, case sent to embassy on 3/15/07

4/19/07 - DS230 submitted to embassy

4/30/07 - Email from embassy: Interview scheduled for 6/19/07!

5/30/07 - Medical

6/19/07 - Interview!!! - Approved!!!

7/6/07 - VISA delivered!!!

7/21/07 - Fiance arrives

AOS

11/30/07 - Mailed packet Priority w/signature

12/2/07 - Received in Chicago

12/7/07 - Check cashed

12/10/07 - Received 3 NOA1s via snail mail

12/27/07 - RFE - Tax returns

12/27/07 - RFE returned

1/3/08 - RFE received at Lee's Summit

1/8/08 - I-485 Receipt # shows up in case status

1/15/08 - Case transferred to CSC

1/30/08 - Email: EAD Card production ordered

2/1/08 - Email: AP approval

2/8/08 - EAD card received

4/4/08 - RFE for full medical

6/9/08 - RFE received at CSC (according to USPS)

6/16/08 - RFE received at CSC (according to USCIS)

6/19/08 - Card production ordered

6/24/08 - Approval email & Welcome letter in mail

6/26/08 - Card arrives in the mail

 
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