I-130: Maiden Name or Husband's Last Name?

[Eaglo 0]

I am preparing the i-130 (a bit early) and was wondering for my wife's information: Do I put her maiden last name, or my last name (due to the marriage)?

Sorry for the silly questions...

Thanks.

[Eaglo 0]

Two other things (sorry)... where they ask for 'relative's address abroad' (Line 19) do they want a mailing address or a residential address? If we never lived together (married then lived separately) what should I record in Line 21? I can put my address and three or four days, but I don't know if that's acceptable.

Thanks.

[Georgia16 2,858]

You put her name on it! If she still uses her maiden name then you put that on and if she after marriage took your last name then that IS her name now and then you put that one on.

What you put on the forms will come on her GC. And it cost a lot to get it changed.

[Eaglo 0]

You put her name on it! If she still uses her maiden name then you put that on and if she after marriage took your last name then that IS her name now and then you put that one on.

What you put on the forms will come on her GC. And it cost a lot to get it changed.

Sorry for the noob question, what do you mean by her GC?

Just so I understand clearly. We are legally married by the State of New York, therefore her last name is now my last name on all of the immigration documents -- regardless of whether or not they ask for her 'family name?'

[A'n'L 735]

Did she take your name after the marriage? She is allowed to do so, but not required. If she did, than that goes on the form. She must list her maiden name under "other names used".

GC means green card.

The address abroad should be the residential address.

[Eaglo 0]

Did she take your name after the marriage? She is allowed to do so, but not required. If she did, than that goes on the form. She must list her maiden name under "other names used".

GC means green card.

The address abroad should be the residential address.

Thanks for the name information, it's definitely very helpful. Are you positive about the mailing/residential address? I know the NVC will send her a package and it can't be received at her resident address.

[A'n'L 735]

Thanks for the name information, it's definitely very helpful. Are you positive about the mailing/residential address? I know the NVC will send her a package and it can't be received at her resident address.

Sorry, I might have answered too quickly. I forgot that you fill out her address twice on the form. One has to be the residential address. I'm unfortunately not sure which one has to be the mailing address. Someone else will help you, I'm sure!

[Ryan H 3,892]

The NVC will not send her anything, the NVC is nothing more than a document intake facility. Once they have the file and assign a case number to it, give them your email addresses, once they have those on record, all correspondence will be exclusively electronic

To answer question#21 on the I-130, write this: "We have not yet lived together."

[NikLR 13,234]

Have you asked your wife if she wants to keep her maiden name or take your last name or hybrid them? No matter what, the visa will come in passport name and green card in visa name. So if she wants to change her name, she will need to change her passport. Either that or pay $450 to change the green card later.

[Eaglo 0]

Have you asked your wife if she wants to keep her maiden name or take your last name or hybrid them? No matter what, the visa will come in passport name and green card in visa name. So if she wants to change her name, she will need to change her passport. Either that or pay $450 to change the green card later.

Yes, she wants to take my last name. So if I understand the process:

File a marriage certificate (civil marriage)

Legal wife changes name on Italian passport

File i-130...

etc...

OR

File a marriage certificate (civil marriage)

File i-130...

etc...

Wife receives green card (God willing)

File to have name on green card changed

Do I have that right?

[sajan953 4]

Pretty much, yes. Id recommend changing her name on passport first. Its free and takes same amount of time usually.

[lilsweetie 35]

Have you asked your wife if she wants to keep her maiden name or take your last name or hybrid them? No matter what, the visa will come in passport name and green card in visa name. So if she wants to change her name, she will need to change her passport. Either that or pay $450 to change the green card later.

This is exactly what happened to me. I filled out all my forms with my married name but my passport had my maiden name and they issued my Green CArd in the maiden name to match the passport. Back then I was surprised that this happened since literally EVERY form I filled had my married name on it, but now looking back it makes sense that they had to match the Passport and Visa name on the actual green card.

I filed an I-90 for name error on their part with the submitted evidence that all their correspondence had been addressed to my married name and all the forms I filed were in my married name, and they did issue me a new card with married name at no cost, but it would have been much easier if I just updated the name on my passport BEFORE and had it match from the start.

[NikLR 13,234]

Essentially that is correct. As, long as the passport is changed before interview, the visa will have the married name on it. You dont have to wait to file.