Name Change for US Citizen (K1)

[marriedin2017 18]

I'm a US Citizen Female, and my husband-to-be is coming to the states on a K1 visa for our 15 July wedding.

 

Should I hold off on changing my name until all of the paperwork is taken care to adjust his status, and possibly even wait for his green card to come through. Or, will we be okay to go ahead and do name changes at the same time? I don't want to cause any problems on his adjustment of status.

[Dashinka 24,579]

45 minutes ago, marriedin2017 said:

I'm a US Citizen Female, and my husband-to-be is coming to the states on a K1 visa for our 15 July wedding.

 

Should I hold off on changing my name until all of the paperwork is taken care to adjust his status, and possibly even wait for his green card to come through. Or, will we be okay to go ahead and do name changes at the same time? I don't want to cause any problems on his adjustment of status.

With you being the USC, I would think you can change your name immediately if that is your decision.  Fill out the AOS forms with your new name, etc. and do all the other name change stuff like DLs, SSC, bank accounts, etc.  I would think you can also do it the other way as well, I.e. after the AOS process.  It really depends on your own choice.  You could also probably file the AOS using your maiden name then do the name change for yourself while it is processing.  I am not sure if the USC is required to notify USCIS with this change.

 

Good Luck?

Edited June 20, 2017 by Bill & Katya

[Wuozopo 4,293]

Use the married name as soon as you marry then start changing it on official things when you get to it. Social Security card, Driver license, bills, the bank, your W-4 at your job. . USCIS doesn't need to be notified because you aren't applying for anything. Your husband is. When he applies for his AOS, they will have the new married name anyway as his spouse. They deal with it every day.

 

AOS is a new process separate from the visa so start it with the married name. Think "starting over from scratch" and don't cling to the old K1. It's over. They understand you just got married and your tax return and such would be in the previous name. 

 

If you hang onto the maiden name until after AOS, then two years later there is Removing Conditions. You'll be back saying "USCIS thinks my name is my maiden name. should I continue to use it for ROC?" Make the change now.