Must I change my name to my husband's name for a CR-1?

[NikLR 13,220]

On 1/26/2019 at 9:36 AM, Ronnietee said:

Hello everyone. My fiance and I are getting married soon in my home country(Nigeria) after which we would file for CR-1. We both talked about it and I don't want to change my last name to my husband's last name. I want to retain my maiden name as it has been on all my documents(Birth cert, passport, etc) 

Would this be a red flag for a CR-1 visa? Especially since I am from a 'high fraud country'?

Would the consular officer suspect we are genuine because I don't bear my husband's last name? 

Does this have any effect on the approval? 

Thank you!

🇳🇬

You can choose to keep your maiden name provided you don't have a lot of red flags otherwise.  It can help overcome those by showing solidarity.  

So if you're the same religion, about the same age, and don't have a bunch of marriages to foreign people under your belts, you should be fine if you choose not to change your name. 

[NikLR 13,220]

I know many doctors and professionals choose to keep their maiden names because that is how they are known.  Their doctorate says "Smith" so they don't want to change it to "Jones" after marriage. 

 

I was more than happy to change my surname.  I had no attachment to my maiden name.  But that is not the case for everyone.  

[pm5k 127]

FWIW, my wife did not change her last name (data point from Pakistan)

[afrocraft 313]

Sigh. Well I didn't change my name. And the issue didn't even come up in Lagos. Not one second. Isn't Lagos supposed to be zenith of "high-fraud" consulates?

 

And I didn't present 200 pictures either (I used 12). Or 1000 pages of text messages and emails (used maybe like 8). In Lagos.

 

My interview wasn't even a real interview. No gotcha questions from the CO. Just a pleasant conversation about plans, etc. He'd approved the application before he even met me.

 

Did I mention that was in Lagos?