Marriage Name Change after filing I-130

[RCable 75]

I know I need to inform USCIS after I change my name. Should I do this right after I file the change with the Social Security office? I'm worried that if USCIS search for my SSN and a different name shows up that it will cause issues. 

Has anyone changed their name after marriage while in the process of waiting for I-130 approval? I assume I have to call them directly to update the name? 

 

I just want to make sure I don't do anything that will affect our application. 

[arken 4,197]

Are you the petitioner or beneficiary?

[RCable 75]

9 minutes ago, arken said:

Are you the petitioner or beneficiary?

I'm the petitioner. (Hence why I have a SSN, my spouse wont for a while 😉)

[arken 4,197]

One thing for sure, a phone call is not sufficient. Did you file i130 with your new name and the required evidences of name change? That’s all USCIS will need. You already know about changing name in SS record.

[RCable 75]

1 minute ago, arken said:

One thing for sure, a phone call is not sufficient. Did you file i130 with your new name and the required evidences of name change? That’s all USCIS will need. You already know about changing name in SS record.

No, I didn't file with that. It's not my name yet, I haven't applied for a new card with social security yet, so my legal name is still my maiden name. I couldn't have used my "future" name on the I-130 application. 

[arken 4,197]

15 minutes ago, RCable said:

No, I didn't file with that. It's not my name yet, I haven't applied for a new card with social security yet, so my legal name is still my maiden name. I couldn't have used my "future" name on the I-130 application. 

In that case, either update your married name with SS office and you can send a letter to USCIS about the name change with the evidence (copy of marriage certificate for married name), It may delay the process as they take a while to update you info

OR

you can wait till i130 gets approved and update your married name from NVC phase.

 

FYI, you could have used your married name on i130 and change the name in SS office anytime later. There are some petitions where beneficiaries with existing SSN under maiden name use married name on i130 and change name with SS office only after getting GC or EAD under married name.

[bishnup 44]

1 hour ago, arken said:

In that case, either update your married name with SS office and you can send a letter to USCIS about the name change with the evidence (copy of marriage certificate for married name), It may delay the process as they take a while to update you info

OR

you can wait till i130 gets approved and update your married name from NVC phase.

 

FYI, you could have used your married name on i130 and change the name in SS office anytime later. There are some petitions where beneficiaries with existing SSN under maiden name use married name on i130 and change name with SS office only after getting GC or EAD under married name.

I think it doesn’t matter. I have middle name while i submit i130 but when i naturalized i remove my middle name and send the naturalization certificate. They update and when i got approved notice they still have middle name. The uscis lady told me name change doesn’t effect on case processing. 

[RCable 75]

I wouldn't feel comfortable signing a legal document declaring that all information is correct with a last name that is legally my last name yet. That just doesn't seem right to me. 

Does anyone have experience changing your last name after filing the I-130? I want to change it now, but if waiting is better I will. I don't feel like the petitioner updating their last name should delay anything as long as USCIS is notified. And they have all of the evidence for name changing (ie marriage certificate). I would think changing my last name is just another good way to show bonafide marriage? 

 

But, I don't want to start the process if it is going to cause more headaches than necessary. 

[Madison S. 48]

Hi, 

 

I am also a petitioner and legally changed my name (making my last name now my husband's name, and my middle name my maiden name). This change was technically made while my I-130 was already submitted and pending. My attorney advised me to let the I-130 go through the process with my old name, because it will all be transferred from USCIS (under Department of Homeland Security) to the US Department of State once it reaches the NVC -- meaning all of my documentation will be overviewed by a separate governmental department at this point. At the NVC stage, beginning with the Affidavit of Support, he said we will update my name on all documentation and provide evidence of my name change (SS card, passport, etc.). 

[RCable 75]

23 minutes ago, Madison Simoes said:

Hi, 

 

I am also a petitioner and legally changed my name (making my last name now my husband's name, and my middle name my maiden name). This change was technically made while my I-130 was already submitted and pending. My attorney advised me to let the I-130 go through the process with my old name, because it will all be transferred from USCIS (under Department of Homeland Security) to the US Department of State once it reaches the NVC -- meaning all of my documentation will be overviewed by a separate governmental department at this point. At the NVC stage, beginning with the Affidavit of Support, he said we will update my name on all documentation and provide evidence of my name change (SS card, passport, etc.). 

That's for that information, I was hoping someone who had changed their name during the process would answer.

Your I-130 was approved then? Even with your name being changed during the process? 

My concern is that I'll change my name on my SS card and USCIS will do a check against the SSN and see that my name doesn't match what's listed in SS. 

It's tough, I just want to have the same last name as my husband, but I don't want to mess anything up in the process either. Anyway, thanks for your feedback!

[Madison S. 48]

Yes, my I-130 was approved! As for the timeline, I filed my I-130 at the end of February, and my I-130 was received within the first week of March. I changed my name with the SS administration in the middle/end of March. I updated my driver's license (RealID) in June. Despite all of this, my I-130 was approved at the very end of May. 

 

I initially was going to change my name at the end of the entire process (for the same reason -- fear of messing anything up in the process). My attorney said he hasn't had problems with it in his experience and, if anything, it may show a "slightly higher level of commitment" in the consideration of our process (although women keep their maiden names for a variety of reasons). He also said so far as official documentation goes, the petitioner name/details aren't really of much importance except for citizenship status (to determine priority) and address (for mailing correspondences) during the I-130 USCIS portion of the process. The real legal importance of petitioner name and documentation comes at the Affidavit of Support stage. 

Edited June 27, 2019 by Madison Simoes
typo

[Ryan H 3,812]

Moved from Progress Reports to Process & Procedures.