Changing Last Name in San Francisco

[ramu2012 23]

My wife and I filed online today and our jurisdiction is San Francisco. She did not change her name after we got married since we were told it is much less complicated to do the name change when going through naturalization. 

We are both Indian citizens and got married in India. In the N-400, she filed to change her name and add in my last name to her name. After submitting the application, I read posts about the fact that name change does not happen in ceremonies in San Francisco. 

Now some threads suggest changing the name now by going to the courts and asking the interviewer for the updated name in the passport. Since naturalization now takes a very long time (12 to 15 months), can we go the courts route and change her name but keep the same name as today everywhere (SSN, Taxes, Workplace, Credit cards, Green Card, and most importantly, Indian Passport)? Once we get the US Citizenship and the passport, we change names everywhere.

Is this OKAY? Or is it mandatory to update all records with the new name right after changing it? Anyone else gone through this and can suggest?

[Steven and Alice 30]

We want to follow your post. Since we are wondering about the same thing too. We want to update middle and last name. We understand we have to legal name change through court but if we can avoid updating with I90 would be best since updating green card can take almost a year.   

[ramu2012 23]

2 hours ago, Steven and Alice said:

We want to follow your post. Since we are wondering about the same thing too. We want to update middle and last name. We understand we have to legal name change through court but if we can avoid updating with I90 would be best since updating green card can take almost a year.   

Given that it is taking about 13 months to process, we are waiting at this point and not changing names. We have also heard and read that marital name changes are allowed via USCIS and don't need a judicial ceremony. Not sure how much truth there is to it. 

[parampara 15]

I am trying to get some clarification on changing last name from maiden to married as well. My wife and I were married overseas. Her passport has her maiden name so were advised to put the same for the H4 visa initially and then the green card application. I only recently realized that name change is not at option in San Francisco because they don't offer judicial oath ceremonies.

 

[ramu2012 23]

Bumping this up. What are peoples thoughts on going to court to change the name but not changing it actually in banks, license etc till citizenship comes through?

[anonee 8]

I did the name change at the courts. I haven't done notified other places reg. the name change yet. I am waiting on my interview before i do that. The idea had been that my interview would get scheduled sometime this month so it wouldn't be too long a delay, it hasn't been scheduled yet.