When to change my name?

[MushyPea 8]

Hello all,

 

My visa is approved and I plan to fly to the US just before Christmas. I am entering with CR1 but plan to point out that it is the day after my 2nd wedding anniversary when I arrive at in the hopes they auto change to IR1.

 

Now to the point: so far during the whole process I have not changed from my maiden name to my married name (double barrelled). The reason is because to me it was either both of us or neither of us. Well now my husband is up for it so we’ll do it

 

My question is WHEN should I do this? I can’t do it before I get there, as need to travel on current passport (maiden name) with visa in. I’m assuming I can’t do it once I’ve arrived because then my passport won’t match my GC (and I don’t want to pay $400+ for a new GC). So do I need to wait until I start the citizenship process in 3 years time? Does it matter if my GC is my maiden name in terms of getting work etc? 

Any help on the topic would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks in advance for this wonderful community!

[Crazy Cat 39,376]

Under you circumstances, I think I would probably wait.  At some point, there are going to have to be changes made since the Green Card will be in your maiden name.

 

A Rose by any other name, is just as sweet.  My wife never changed her name.  It has made several things so much smoother.

Edited November 8, 2021 by Crazy Cat

[MushyPea 8]

4 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

Under you circumstances, I think I would probably wait.  At some point, there are going to have to be changes made since the Green Card will be in your maiden name.

 

A Rose by any other name, is just as sweet.  My wife never changed her name.  It has made several things so much smoother.

Thank you 🙏🏼 

I thought as much 🤔 
Just a shame as I quite liked the idea after he brought it up again. I may still use it for unofficial things. 

[Chancy 6,233]

*** Moved from AOS from Work/Student/Tourist Visas Progress Reports to Moving to the US and Your New Life In America ***

 

[Chancy 6,233]

On 11/9/2021 at 7:14 AM, MushyPea said:

I am entering with CR1 but plan to point out that it is the day after my 2nd wedding anniversary when I arrive at in the hopes they auto change to IR1.

 

If you enter with your visa after your 2nd wedding anniversary, you will be admitted as IR1.  Volunteer the information about your wedding date to the inspecting CBP officer at POE, to ensure they don't overlook it.  But even if CBP or USCIS make a mistake and you receive a 2-year GC, you may file an I-90 for free (due to DHS error) to replace your GC with a 10-year one.

 

On 11/9/2021 at 7:14 AM, MushyPea said:

I have not changed from my maiden name to my married name

 

I'm in a similar situation.  In my case though, I simply changed my mind about using my married name in the middle of my visa process.  Unfortunately, it was too late by then for me to get a new passport in my married name.  I've learned since then that the best time to change my name was before my visa interview 😢  From my research --

 

Your legal name in the US, as far as SSA and DHS are concerned, is the name on your GC or on your legal name change document that was issued after your GC.  Which means you cannot use your marriage certificate for applying for name change on your SSN card or your GC.  If you are not able to change your name on either of these two documents, you will likely not be able to use your married name for any other federal or state government-issued document, like driver's license.

 

So you have two options to be able to change your name in the US -- request for name change as part of your naturalization, or file a petition for name change with the state court that has jurisdiction over your US residence.  You may then use your certificate of name change or your name change court order to apply for name change with SSA.

 

[MushyPea 8]

On 11/13/2021 at 12:04 PM, Chancy said:

 

If you enter with your visa after your 2nd wedding anniversary, you will be admitted as IR1.  Volunteer the information about your wedding date to the inspecting CBP officer at POE, to ensure they don't overlook it.  But even if CBP or USCIS make a mistake and you receive a 2-year GC, you may file an I-90 for free (due to DHS error) to replace your GC with a 10-year one.

 

 

I'm in a similar situation.  In my case though, I simply changed my mind about using my married name in the middle of my visa process.  Unfortunately, it was too late by then for me to get a new passport in my married name.  I've learned since then that the best time to change my name was before my visa interview 😢  From my research --

 

Your legal name in the US, as far as SSA and DHS are concerned, is the name on your GC or on your legal name change document that was issued after your GC.  Which means you cannot use your marriage certificate for applying for name change on your SSN card or your GC.  If you are not able to change your name on either of these two documents, you will likely not be able to use your married name for any other federal or state government-issued document, like driver's license.

 

So you have two options to be able to change your name in the US -- request for name change as part of your naturalization, or file a petition for name change with the state court that has jurisdiction over your US residence.  You may then use your certificate of name change or your name change court order to apply for name change with SSA.

 

Thank you so much - very helpful