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Fiance wants to change her first and middle names while changing her last name after marriage. Possible?

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Ukraine
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I know changing a last name after marriage is extremely common and not an issue, but what about also changing her first and middle name at the same time?

 

She's Ukrainian, and her current "middle" name is the Patronymic name after her father.

 

She wants to give herself a chosen middle name, and also change up her first name to something close, but not quite a direct derivative of her translated given name.

 

Will this cause any issues for AOS or other parts of the immigration process, assuming our state allows for it as part of the post-marriage name change? 

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Russia
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I don’t believe she can change her first or middle name based on a marriage certificate.  I believe if she wants to change her first and middle names she would have do follow a legal name change path.

 

You may want to ask this question in the Russian/Ukrainian regional forum as topics regarding patronymic names comes up there from time to time.  

 

Good Luck!

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Russia
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State laws vary on this. In California, you can change your middle name as part of a marriage under some circumstances.

 

Quote
Each party to the marriage may adopt any of the following last names (Family Code Section 306.5(b)(2)):
·                 Current last name of the other spouse.
·                 Last name of either spouse given at birth.
·                 A name combining into a single last name all or a segment of the current last name or the last name of either spouse given at birth.
·                 A hyphenated combination of last names.
Each party to the marriage may adopt any of the following middle names (FC Section 306.5 (b)(3)):
·                 Current last name of either spouse.
·                 The last name of either spouse given at birth.
·                 A hyphenated combination of the current middle name and the current last name of the person or spouse.
·                 A hyphenated combination of the current middle name and the last name given at birth of the person or spouse.
   
NOTE: Parties to the marriage may not change their first name on the marriage license. Parties to the marriage may not add or amend this information after the marriage license is issued unless it is a clerical error and the amendment is signed by the county clerk or his or her deputy and one of the parties to the marriage.

Though that wouldn't get you all the way to what you she wants, I think.

K-1                             AOS                            
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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Ukraine
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7 hours ago, x_driven_x said:

I know changing a last name after marriage is extremely common and not an issue, but what about also changing her first and middle name at the same time?

 

She's Ukrainian, and her current "middle" name is the Patronymic name after her father.

 

She wants to give herself a chosen middle name, and also change up her first name to something close, but not quite a direct derivative of her translated given name.

 

Will this cause any issues for AOS or other parts of the immigration process, assuming our state allows for it as part of the post-marriage name change? 

Since it's not just about taking a married name as her new last name, I'm pretty sure she needs to go through your local civil court with this.

 

Have you already applied for I-485? Or  - you are willing to do so after she gets her name changed?

 

Just keep in mind - to travel internationally she will still need her Travel passport to book a ticket, and green card - to enter USA. Until she becomes a US citizen.

 

To get her name changed on Travel document, she would need FIRST, to change her name on her interior Ukrainian passport...It can be done ONLY in Ukraine and  is a little bit a " pain in someone's behind". Literally.

Plus - time. It takes at least 2-3 weeks to get your name changed in the interior passport.


Let's assume Ukrainian agency was "happy" with provided documents (because they are not always satisfied with your paperwork, especially if it comes to name change)  and your wife got her name successfully changed on her interior passport. Then  - she will need to do the same change with her International passport.  A wait time -  used to be 7-10 days if you pay "emergency" fee.  And it's "who knows how long"  - currently.

 

  Maybe, it would be reasonable to do the change when she applies for N-400?...

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Ukraine
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1 minute ago, Ksenia_O said:

Since it's not just about taking a married name as her new last name, I'm pretty sure she needs to go through your local civil court with this.

 

Have you already applied for I-485? Or  - you are willing to do so after she gets her name changed?

 

Just keep in mind - to travel internationally she will still need her Travel passport to book a ticket, and green card - to enter USA. Until she becomes a US citizen.

 

To get her name changed on Travel document, she would need FIRST, to change her name on her interior Ukrainian passport...It can be done ONLY in Ukraine and  is a little bit a " pain in someone's behind". Literally.

Plus - time. It takes at least 2-3 weeks to get your name changed in the interior passport.


Let's assume Ukrainian agency was "happy" with provided documents (because they are not always satisfied with your paperwork, especially if it comes to name change)  and your wife got her name successfully changed on her interior passport. Then  - she will need to do the same change with her International passport.  A wait time -  used to be 7-10 days if you pay "emergency" fee.  And it's "who knows how long"  - currently.

 

  Maybe, it would be reasonable to do the change when she applies for N-400?...

She's not even in the US yet, was just thinking ahead. I think you're right though... might be best just to do surname after marriage to keep it easier all around while there's still more paperwork to do and travel needed on her Ukrainian passport.

K1 / K2 Visa

Service Center: California Service Center

Consulate: Kyiv, Ukriane

 

I-129-F mailed to USCIS 2017-11-10

Case Status received (NOA1) by USCIS: 2017-11-14

Check cashed: 2017-11-17

Case Received Email Notification: 2017-11-17

Case status available on myUSCIS: 2017-11-20

NOA1 Hardcopy received by mail: 2017-11-24

NOA2 Approval (204 days): 2018-06-06

Approval status updated on  new website: 2018-06-08

-- no updates on old website, no text, no email --

NOA2 Hardcopy received by mail: 2018-06-12

NVC Case Number Generated (21 days since NOA2): 2018-06-27

Case Left NVC: 2018-07-10 (13 days at NVC)

Case Received by Embassy: 2018-07-12 (2 days travel time!)

Medical Exam: 2018-07-16

Interview: 2018-08-08 (Approved)

Entry: 2018-09-19 (Chicago POE)

Marriage: 2018-10-12

 

"New" Case Status website: https://myaccount.uscis.dhs.gov/

"Old" Case Status website: https://egov.uscis.gov/casestatus/landing.do

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Indonesia
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2 hours ago, x_driven_x said:

She's not even in the US yet, was just thinking ahead. I think you're right though... might be best just to do surname after marriage to keep it easier all around while there's still more paperwork to do and travel needed on her Ukrainian passport.

The best thing to do is call the court clerk that handles marriage licenses and ask. Usually, the same court that does marriages also does name changes, so the clerk should be well versed in the procedures required for both in your state.

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Ukraine
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Best would be to wait for Naturalization and then get the chosen name she wants. Changing last name is not an issue...changing first name you have to go through the court system and have it legally done for both US and Ukranian system. The Ukranian side would be more complex and timely IMO

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Ukraine
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23 hours ago, x_driven_x said:

She's not even in the US yet, was just thinking ahead. I think you're right though... might be best just to do surname after marriage to keep it easier all around while there's still more paperwork to do and travel needed on her Ukrainian passport.

...not after marriage.. when it's time to apply for citizenship ;) 

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