I130 - Married Name or Maiden

[JaimeRipley 0]

Hi everyone,

 

My husband and I both live in NZ - he is the US Citizen and we are in the process of filling in our i130 application. 

The one thing that I am confused / worried about is that my passport is in my maiden name - But I want the visa to be in my married name. 

 

As far as I can tell my 3 options are:

 

1.Fill in the forms with my married name, using the passport with my maiden name, however because we are sending our marriage certificate this will suffice as evidence of name change - to explain why the name on the passport and the name on the forms is different

2. Apply for a new passport in my married name and then submit all the forms with my married name and that new passport number

3. Fill in the forms with my maiden name as that is what my passport has on it.

 

As far as I can tell number 2 is probably the most straight forward option.

Any advice? We are trying to avoid any RFE at all so we are trying to cover every single base we possibly could to submit a perfect application.

 

TIA, Jaime

[JFH 12,196]

The visa will be in the same name as your passport. It's much easier just to start with a new passport in your married name. 

 

Whilst there is no legal requirement in the USA for a married woman to change her name, visas are travel documents and, as such, must match the name of the passport holder. 

 

It would also be easier for you to get a new NZ passport whilst you're still living there rather than when you move to the USA. If you get one now, you won't have to worry about the renewal drama for another 10 years. 

[Abies 1,713]

11 hours ago, JaimeRipley said:

Hi everyone,

 

My husband and I both live in NZ - he is the US Citizen and we are in the process of filling in our i130 application. 

The one thing that I am confused / worried about is that my passport is in my maiden name - But I want the visa to be in my married name. 

 

As far as I can tell my 3 options are:

 

1.Fill in the forms with my married name, using the passport with my maiden name, however because we are sending our marriage certificate this will suffice as evidence of name change - to explain why the name on the passport and the name on the forms is different

2. Apply for a new passport in my married name and then submit all the forms with my married name and that new passport number

3. Fill in the forms with my maiden name as that is what my passport has on it.

 

As far as I can tell number 2 is probably the most straight forward option.

Any advice? We are trying to avoid any RFE at all so we are trying to cover every single base we possibly could to submit a perfect application.

 

TIA, Jaime

Option 1 is the best&more convenient. Your visa will be issued in the name you used in filling out your application. Same thing I did but make sure you buy your ticket in your passport name(maiden name)because when booking your passport number will be required&it must tally with what's on your passport else you might not be allowed to board the plane. My friend who flew to the US in May told me to add a copy of my certificate&copy of a sworn affidavit of change of name inside my passport when boarding because that was exactly what she did&she wasn't delayed unlike the 2 other ladies with CR1 visas.

Edited July 28, 2017 by Abies

[Ryan H 3,925]

Use your married name on all the forms; obtain a new passport with your married name before your interview.  That way, the visa will be issued in your married name which will result in your green card being issued in your married name.

 

People update passports all the time between the initial submission of paperwork and the visa interview, it's a non-issue that requires no explanation.