Surname Change

[Tofu 343]

Hi there, I am in the process of changing my surname - I noticed on the Government of Canada website it indicates that's you need your birth certificate to match your passport.  Seems odd to me that you would change your surname on a birth certificate. Does anyone have any insight?  Any other comments / concerns about changing my surname during this process?

[Alix64 425]

Hi Tofu,

Administratively talking, you cannot change your surname (ever! unless your name sounds ridiculous or is disturbing ;-).

I guess you mean add your spouse surname to your family (parents) name?

(but maybe I totally misunderstood what you meant - sorry 🙄)

I don't know about Canada, but in France, few days(couple of weeks) after you marry someone, your birth certificate changes: they add (on your birth certificate) the fact that you married someone and so the name of your spouse is taken into account in your official personal records.

And like in Canada, they ask for the birth certificate anytime you want to add or change your offical personal records.

 

Now regarding the visa process, all your personal papers must match together. So since you have already started the process (USCIS already has your passport copy, birth certificate copy, etc. with your former/parents name), I would suggest you don't change a thing for now.

Don't make it harder than it is.

Take care 🤗

Alix

 

Edited November 22, 2019 by Alix64

[NikLR 13,227]

56 minutes ago, Alix64 said:

Hi Tofu,

Administratively talking, you cannot change your surname (ever! unless your name sounds ridiculous or is disturbing ;-).

I guess you mean add your spouse surname to your family (parents) name?

(but maybe I totally misunderstood what you meant - sorry 🙄)

I don't know about Canada, but in France, few days(couple of weeks) after you marry someone, your birth certificate changes: they add (on your birth certificate) the fact that you married someone and so the name of your spouse is taken into account in your official personal records.

And like in Canada, they ask for the birth certificate anytime you want to add or change your offical personal records.

 

Now regarding the visa process, all your personal papers must match together. So since you have already started the process (USCIS already has your passport copy, birth certificate copy, etc. with your former/parents name), I would suggest you don't change a thing for now.

Don't make it harder than it is.

Take care 🤗

Alix

 

what are you talking about?  A married woman in Canada can use her spouses surname in place of her birth name unless she lives in Quebec.   They definitely do not change your birth certificate in Canada. 

So Canada is NOT like France. 

 

3 hours ago, Tofu said:

Hi there, I am in the process of changing my surname - I noticed on the Government of Canada website it indicates that's you need your birth certificate to match your passport.  Seems odd to me that you would change your surname on a birth certificate. Does anyone have any insight?  Any other comments / concerns about changing my surname during this process?

No you just need to send evidence you can adopt that surname.  So when you change your passport you send the certified copy of your marriage certificate along with your birth certificate to get your surname changed on your passport.  

[Alix64 425]

18 minutes ago, NikLR said:

what are you talking about?  A married woman in Canada can use her spouses surname in place of her birth name unless she lives in Quebec.   They definitely do not change your birth certificate in Canada. 

So Canada is NOT like France. 

Hi,

I wrote that in France, they ADD on the birth certificate the fact that you got married and so your spouse name is added in the loop. I never pretend to know how it was in Canada and never pretend that France was like Canada.

Thanks for your understanding and tolerance

But for sure, since I don't live in Canada - I should not have replied in the first place.

 

Alix

Edited November 22, 2019 by Alix64

[NikLR 13,227]

6 minutes ago, Alix64 said:

Hi,

I wrote that in France, they ADD on the birth certificate the fact that you got married and so your spouse name is added in the loop. I never pretend to know how it was in Canada and never pretend that France was like Canada.

Thanks for your understanding and tolerance

But for sure, since I don't live in Canada - I should not have replied in the first place.

 

So what you mean is that once you are married in Canada (except in Quebec), there is - if the spouse wishes to - no mention of the maid name anymore on your birth certificate?

Alix

No, your birth certificate does not change. Your birth certificate is your birth certificate unless you legally change your name through the courts, like a permanent change not because of a marriage. 

Edited November 22, 2019 by NikLR
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