Green card process

[Rodriguessbibi 3]

Hi, I just got married in the US and me and my husband want to apply for my green card. 
can I file all the forms together including permission to work? And can I use my husbands surname even though my marriage certificate has my maiden name? 

[PaulaCJohnny 713]

Is he an US citizen? You can’t change your name in your application, not that I know. 
 

The name that you have in your marriage license is your current name. You can ask to your County clerk office about it. 
 

Here is the guide for AOS and all the forms that you need to apply 

 

Good luck 

 

 

[powerpuff 6,734]

What visa did you arrive on to the US? I need to move this to the right forum section so you can get better responses.

[Rodriguessbibi 3]

I’m on a tourist visa 

[powerpuff 6,734]

~Moved from US Immigration News forum to AOS from tourist, student & work visas forum - OP is on a tourist visa adjusting status ~

[Timona 4,207]

You can file all concurrently. I think even F2As are current as we speak. So it won't matter if he's USC or LPR

[Neonred 3,576]

13 hours ago, PaulaCJohnny said:

Is he an US citizen? You can’t change your name in your application, not that I know. 
 

The name that you have in your marriage license is your current name. You can ask to your County clerk office about it. 
 

Here is the guide for AOS and all the forms that you need to apply 

 

Good luck 

 

 

Most marriage licenses/certificates in the US don't indicate the woman's new name.  In the application for the green card use the last name you want to go by.  No need to go to the county for this.

[Scandi 4,168]

Yup, you just file all the forms in your married name (your husband's last name), doesn't matter if your new name is on the marriage certificate or not. The marriage certificate is still proof of name change if you want to take your husband's last name. 

 

Don't forget to add your maiden name where the form asks about previous names. 

[Yan yan 19]

23 hours ago, PaulaCJohnny said:

You can’t change your name in your application, not that I know. 

Not true.... This can be done even though the name change isn't on the marriage cert. As someone mentioned earlier, put the name u want to go by on the application and previous name you input your surname by birth!

[chancecody 125]

On 9/11/2021 at 12:46 PM, PaulaCJohnny said:

Is he an US citizen? You can’t change your name in your application, not that I know. 
 

The name that you have in your marriage license is your current name. You can ask to your County clerk office about it. 
 

Here is the guide for AOS and all the forms that you need to apply 

 

Good luck 

 

 

Confused by your advice so wanted to provide clarity for other people’s benefit:

 

1. A marriage license permits a couple to get married while a marriage certificate shows that the marriage took place legally. Not sure why you are advising about using a license. USCIS needs a marriage certificate.

2. A marriage certificate is a legal document showing legal name change. I took my husband’s name. My marriage certificate shows our birth names. See below.

 

From USCIS:

For purposes of requesting immigration benefits, a married person may use a legal married name (spouse’s surname), a legal pre-marriage name, or any form of either (for example, hyphenated name, pre-married name or spouse’s surname). Requestors must submit legal documentation, such as that listed below, to show that the name used is the requestor’s legal name:^[2]

• Civil marriage certificate;

• Divorce decree;

• Family registry;

• Country identity document;

• Foreign birth certificate;

• Certificate of naming; or

• Court order.   

Reference: 

https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-1-part-e-chapter-5

[Rodriguessbibi 3]

Thank you everyone for the information! 
just one more question regarding the medical exams, can I send the forms and send the medical exams later? 

[Scandi 4,168]

3 hours ago, Rodriguessbibi said:

Thank you everyone for the information! 
just one more question regarding the medical exams, can I send the forms and send the medical exams later? 

You can do it either way, but USCIS recommends that you send it all together. Them not having to waste time on RFEs is helping them to clear the backlog. 

[Rodriguessbibi 3]

Hey, came back to ask something else. 
can I travel to Puerto Rico while waiting for my paperwork?
Hope you can help me

[arken 4,197]

14 hours ago, Rodriguessbibi said:

Hey, came back to ask something else. 
can I travel to Puerto Rico while waiting for my paperwork?
Hope you can help me

You can but it's better if your i94 is still valid or if you have i485 receipt. Even though you don't need to go through immigration, some smarty TSA agents might check for documents.