I can put my new last name on the AOS, right? (merged)

[stuckonyou 75]

Hi,

 

I'm new on the AOS forum. I'm a K1 from Sweden that moved to Chicago and got married a few weeks ago.  ☺️ 

 

My question is about my last name on the AOS (I-485). I'm changing my last name to my husband's last name, but as of yet I don't have any ID with my new last name nor have I legally changed it in Sweden yet (which might be a little while with snail mail, processing times and all 😅). I do remember hearing before, though, that as a K1 that want to change your last name it's okay to just write the new one from the start when you're filling out the application... So is this correct? I don't want to get into trouble since it's asking for my current legal name... but I do also realize that legal name changes after marriage might be different in Sweden (where it has to be applied for) and the US. So just double checking.

[Crazy Cat 39,222]

Your marriage certificate will be a legal name change document.  You can use your new name on all the Adjustment of status forms .

Edited May 17, 2021 by Lucky Cat

[Chikiting 10]

You can definitely use your marriage name for AOS.

[stuckonyou 75]

I assume I should answer no to this since my husband isn't applying to adjust his status with me?

 

Or are they talking about if he is applying with me in as that he's the petitioner for the underlying petition? I'm slightly confused...

[stuckonyou 75]

I'm not sure what to answer here or what they mean. Does it count having been a member of a few different churches or that I was supporting UNICEF for a period of time a few years back? And if so I'm not even sure I know all the dates for membership or involvement...

 

I know there was a similar question on the DS-160 back when I was applying for the visa, but I don't remember what I responded then. I do know that I was confused back then as well and asked for guidance to be able to answer it... Should I look up what I answered back then? If so, how would I do that?

 

I do realize that the following questions in part 8 is all about checking so that you haven't done any bad stuff or intend to do so. So churches and UNICEF doesn't really fall into that category, but still... they don't really specify in the question (8. 1.) ...

[stuckonyou 75]

I've read through all of the instructions and will send in everything asked for. But I also know that K1's adjusting status tend to send in relationship proof as well, meaning that their marriage is legit, so I was surprised not to find that in the instructions. Yes, the marriage certificate is asked for, but not things like wedding pictures or joint bank accounts or other similar things like that...

 

I assume it's okay if I choose to send that in with the application, but I'm a little bit confused as they don't specify things like that in any way at all. I don't want to miss anything.

[Crazy Cat 39,222]

The answer is "No". Your husband is not applying for adjustment of status.  You are. 

[Ayrton 965]

13 minutes ago, stuckonyou said:

I've read through all of the instructions and will send in everything asked for. But I also know that K1's adjusting status tend to send in relationship proof as well, meaning that their marriage is legit, so I was surprised not to find that in the instructions. Yes, the marriage certificate is asked for, but not things like wedding pictures or joint bank accounts or other similar things like that...

 

I assume it's okay if I choose to send that in with the application, but I'm a little bit confused as they don't specify things like that in any way at all. I don't want to miss anything.

Those are only needed at the interview. For the package, marriage certificate is enough.

[payxibka 10,044]

2 hours ago, stuckonyou said:

I assume I should answer no to this since my husband isn't applying to adjust his status with me?

 

Or are they talking about if he is applying with me in as that he's the petitioner for the underlying petition? I'm slightly confused...

It would include for example. any alien children who migrated with you 

[payxibka 10,044]

2 hours ago, stuckonyou said:

I'm not sure what to answer here or what they mean. Does it count having been a member of a few different churches or that I was supporting UNICEF for a period of time a few years back? And if so I'm not even sure I know all the dates for membership or involvement...

 

I know there was a similar question on the DS-160 back when I was applying for the visa, but I don't remember what I responded then. I do know that I was confused back then as well and asked for guidance to be able to answer it... Should I look up what I answered back then? If so, how would I do that?

 

I do realize that the following questions in part 8 is all about checking so that you haven't done any bad stuff or intend to do so. So churches and UNICEF doesn't really fall into that category, but still... they don't really specify in the question (8. 1.) ...

They are more concerned about your membership in for example terrorist groups or the CCP.  

 

You are not harmed if you fill out your church and benevolent memberships

[Ontarkie 13,915]

~~Four threads merged together. Please do not start a new thread for every question. It helps members if you keep your questions to one thread.~~

[stuckonyou 75]

On 5/21/2021 at 6:55 PM, payxibka said:

They are more concerned about your membership in for example terrorist groups or the CCP.  

 

You are not harmed if you fill out your church and benevolent memberships

Yeah, that's what I thought. 😇

 

But I'm wondering if my answer should be exactly the same as on the DS-160, and I'm not sure I remember that. Did I put every church I've ever been involved in or just the latest one, for example... I did figure out how to access my DS-160, but now I don't remember one of the security questions to do so... 😛

 

Or could I answer NO and then explain at the end where you have the option to do so to any question you want to add information to? That might be the easiest as remembering the specific times for membership/involvement is not that easy either and like you said it's not really church memberships or UNICEF that they care about anyway... They do state: If you answered "No", but are unsure of your answer, provide an explanation of the events and circumstances in the space provided in part 14. Additional information.

[stuckonyou 75]

On 5/21/2021 at 5:03 PM, Ayrton said:

Those are only needed at the interview. For the package, marriage certificate is enough.

So the reason that some people send this in with the actual AOS packet is most likely that they didn't know this? Or is there any advantage at all of sending it in now even if it's not required? Or is it literally just a waste of our time to do so? 😅

[arken 4,197]

2 hours ago, stuckonyou said:

So the reason that some people send this in with the actual AOS packet is most likely that they didn't know this? Or is there any advantage at all of sending it in now even if it's not required? Or is it literally just a waste of our time to do so? 😅

Though not mandatory, if one already has such additional evidences, i think it's advantageous to include them during filing. The IO will already have some relationship info before the interview.