Changing Last Name on Green Card Conundrum

[notquitesurehow 9]

TLDR: my SSN is in my married name, my 10-year GC is in my maiden name and I am looking to change it back to my married name which I'd subsequently decided to keep. Can I do that?

 

Hi all, 

 

I have a situation that's maybe a little different than most folks' who have been in my place, which is getting a divorce after obtaining a green card, and I'm looking for some tips.

 

My husband and I separated and subsequently got divorced shortly after I got my temporary 2-year Green Card. It wasn't exactly a peaceful separation, and after we finalized the divorce he essentially cut contact with me. Naturally, when I had to apply for Permanent Residence and obtain my 10 year green card after the divorce, I filled out the paperwork with my maiden name assuming I'd want to change it back.

 

 

My case, however, took years and during those years I kept going by my married name and never made an attempt to change it back to my maiden one with SSA because I assumed I would need an updated immigration document first and a divorce decree wouldn't be enough. I started getting used to that name and my ex and I eventually did reconnect and he said he'd be okay with me keeping it. Obviously, at this point my whole life is under that name.

 

Now with the new requirements for Real ID I am finding myself in a situation where I'm going to have to use my green card for domestic flights, which would be a problem given miles statuses, etc. I figured the best way to go about this is to change my Green Card name. I haven't looked into how much it costs, but what worries me more is - what type of evidence could I provide justifying the name change? Given I already got a divorce but decided to keep the name regardless? 

 

I may be overthinking this but any insight you may have would be helpful 

Thanks!

[TBoneTX 47,361]

Thread is moved from the "AOS from K Visas" forum to General Immigration Discussion.

[K1visaHopeful 2,989]

You can:

1. Apply for citizenship and request a name change. 

2. Apply for a legal name change through your local government and then apply for a new GC when eligible. 

1 is feasible. 

[notquitesurehow 9]

On 4/11/2025 at 11:24 PM, K1visaHopeful said:

You can:

1. Apply for citizenship and request a name change. 

2. Apply for a legal name change through your local government and then apply for a new GC when eligible. 

1 is feasible. 

Thank you for your response. Technically, even though my 10-year GC is now back in my maiden name, I never actually went forward with an official name change and my married name (the one I'd like to keep) is still on my SSN. From my understanding, this is what entails an actual, legal name change. So that's why I'm a bit confused as to what actions I need take. Applying for a legal name change from my current name to the same name? 🤷🏼‍♀️😀Even applying for a citizenship would present the same challenges, I think - a name change back to your married name after a divorce seems like a bit of a conundrum. 

[appleblossom 4,252]

On 4/11/2025 at 3:11 PM, notquitesurehow said:

TLDR: my SSN is in my married name, my 10-year GC is in my maiden name and I am looking to change it back to my married name which I'd subsequently decided to keep. Can I do that?

 

Hi all, 

 

I have a situation that's maybe a little different than most folks' who have been in my place, which is getting a divorce after obtaining a green card, and I'm looking for some tips.

 

My husband and I separated and subsequently got divorced shortly after I got my temporary 2-year Green Card. It wasn't exactly a peaceful separation, and after we finalized the divorce he essentially cut contact with me. Naturally, when I had to apply for Permanent Residence and obtain my 10 year green card after the divorce, I filled out the paperwork with my maiden name assuming I'd want to change it back.

 

 

My case, however, took years and during those years I kept going by my married name and never made an attempt to change it back to my maiden one with SSA because I assumed I would need an updated immigration document first and a divorce decree wouldn't be enough. I started getting used to that name and my ex and I eventually did reconnect and he said he'd be okay with me keeping it. Obviously, at this point my whole life is under that name.

 

Now with the new requirements for Real ID I am finding myself in a situation where I'm going to have to use my green card for domestic flights, which would be a problem given miles statuses, etc. I figured the best way to go about this is to change my Green Card name. I haven't looked into how much it costs, but what worries me more is - what type of evidence could I provide justifying the name change? Given I already got a divorce but decided to keep the name regardless? 

 

I may be overthinking this but any insight you may have would be helpful 

Thanks!

 

Not sure you can tbh. You would normally file a I-90 (be aware that they are taking 2+ years at the moment so it won't be a quick process) to change the name on your GC, but you do need to provide evidence of the name change i.e. a marriage certificate or divorce certificate. If you want to go back to your married name but you're not divorced, I've no idea what you'd provide. Have a look at the I-90 instructions and see what they say. 

 

But do you really need to change it? After all, if you fly internally all you need to provide is your GC, you don't need a passport as well, so it probably doesn't matter if your name is different - just make sure you book the ticket in the name on your GC. 

[OldUser 9,552]

5 minutes ago, appleblossom said:

 

But do you really need to change it? After all, if you fly internally all you need to provide is your GC, 

 

Realistically, even Real ID (driver's license or state ID).

I never used GC to fly domestically. Only DL for TSA.

[appleblossom 4,252]

36 minutes ago, OldUser said:

Realistically, even Real ID (driver's license or state ID).

I never used GC to fly domestically. Only DL for TSA.

 

I think that's the OP's conundrum though, they say they're going to have to use their GC because of the Real ID rules. But definitely probably easier (and cheaper than the I-90 at $600ish!) in the long run.

[K1visaHopeful 2,989]

1 hour ago, notquitesurehow said:

Thank you for your response. Technically, even though my 10-year GC is now back in my maiden name, I never actually went forward with an official name change

You seemed to have done an immigration name change (key word: back ??) although the additional details added are still not enough to conclude what you really did. 🙄

1 hour ago, notquitesurehow said:

and my married name (the one I'd like to keep) is still on my SSN.

? You can change your name through SSA with any immigration document. Ie. Your GC would have allowed you to change your SSA name with your GC to your maiden name (which you should have).

1 hour ago, notquitesurehow said:

From my understanding, this is what entails an actual, legal name change.

Define "this" please?

An immigrant "changes" their name through IMMIGRATION and then SSA, State ID etc.

1 hour ago, notquitesurehow said:

 

 

So that's why I'm a bit confused as to what actions I need take. Applying for a legal name change from my current name to the same name? 🤷🏼‍♀️😀Even applying for a citizenship would present the same challenges, I think - a name change back to your married name after a divorce seems like a bit of a conundrum. 

With citizenship you can be whoever you want. 

Joe Blow.

Ivana T.

Marilyn Monroe.

You don't need a reason to pick any name you want. 

On 4/12/2025 at 2:24 AM, K1visaHopeful said:

You can:

1. Apply for citizenship and request a name change. 

This is a legal name change through immigration. 

On 4/12/2025 at 2:24 AM, K1visaHopeful said:

2. Apply for a legal name change through your local government and then apply for a new GC when eligible. 

This is a legal name change process for nonimmigrants that can still be used by immigrants.

On 4/12/2025 at 2:24 AM, K1visaHopeful said:

1 is feasible. 

Because 2 would take a long time and it's a two step process. Local court then immigration.