Should I use new married name on marriage certificate? (Washtenaw County/Michigan, K-1)

[dreamer32 8]

Hello everyone! 🙂

 

I'm a K-1 visa holder getting married in Washtenaw County, Michigan. On the marriage license, my current legal name (from my passport) is listed.

The instructions for the "Certificate of Marriage" section (which we’ll sign after the ceremony) say to print the name you’ll use after marriage.

Since I will apply for AOS and change my name through Form I-485, should I print my current legal name (as on my passport) or my intended new married name on the certificate?

I want to avoid issues with USCIS. Has anyone had experience with this in Michigan?

 

I’d be very grateful for any advice or experience you can share!

Edited May 12 by dreamer32

[MalloryCat 622]

I know I signed mine with the new last name (but I'm the US citizen), but I haven't gotten around to actually changing it.

regardless of how you sign it, the marriage certificate is a document to show name change. you can change your last name to any combination of the last names listed on the marriage certificate.

 

you can put the name you want to use on all the AOS forms, ie your married name.

 

And then include your maiden name in the Other names used fields of the forms.

 

That is what @Edward and Jaycel  did for her AOS and her EAD came in her new name if I remember correctly

[Edward and Jaycel 1,499]

1 minute ago, MalloryCat said:

That is what @Edward and Jaycel  did for her AOS and her EAD came in her new name if I remember correctly

 

This is correct - We put Jaycel's married name on the AOS forms and her EAD and replacement SS Card requested on the I-765 both came in her married name. HOWEVER, according to the USCIS Policy Manual, they are supposed to follow the name change guidelines of whatever jurisdiction you are married in. If the forms there in Michigan state to put your new, married name in the "Certificate" portion I would do that. You can still use the AOS forms to make that change official with USCIS when filing. Congrats on getting here and on the upcoming wedding!  

[dreamer32 8]

26 minutes ago, MalloryCat said:

I know I signed mine with the new last name (but I'm the US citizen), but I haven't gotten around to actually changing it.

regardless of how you sign it, the marriage certificate is a document to show name change. you can change your last name to any combination of the last names listed on the marriage certificate.

 

you can put the name you want to use on all the AOS forms, ie your married name.

 

And then include your maiden name in the Other names used fields of the forms.

 

That is what @Edward and Jaycel  did for her AOS and her EAD came in her new name if I remember correctly

Thank you so much for your response! 😊

 

 

[dreamer32 8]

27 minutes ago, Edward and Jaycel said:

 

This is correct - We put Jaycel's married name on the AOS forms and her EAD and replacement SS Card requested on the I-765 both came in her married name. HOWEVER, according to the USCIS Policy Manual, they are supposed to follow the name change guidelines of whatever jurisdiction you are married in. If the forms there in Michigan state to put your new, married name in the "Certificate" portion I would do that. You can still use the AOS forms to make that change official with USCIS when filing. Congrats on getting here and on the upcoming wedding!  

Thank you so much for your congratulations and sharing your experience! I will put my new married name on the certificate then 🎉

[MalloryCat 622]

i just want to clarify, the day you get married you can sign with your new married name

but filling out the marriage license application should be done in your current legal name

[dreamer32 8]

14 minutes ago, MalloryCat said:

i just want to clarify, the day you get married you can sign with your new married name

but filling out the marriage license application should be done in your current legal name

Thanks for the clarification and reminding me again! 🥰  

 

No worries, I already put my current legal name on the marriage license.

[K.T 39]

As others suggested, you can do it on the marriage license. That's one of the legal ways of changing your name. You can not change your name with I-485. It has been a while when we did the initial process but seeing that you are from Turkey if you have any questions feel free to send me DM. Congrats on your upcoming wedding!

[Crazy Cat 43,700]

20 minutes ago, K.T said:

You can not change your name with I-485

USCIS says you can use any combination of names on the marriage certificate on the I-485.  For example, if Mary Smith marries John Doe, Mary can use:

Mary Smith

Mary Doe

Mary Smith Doe

Mary-Smith-Doe

 

These are all acceptable for USCIS forms as new legal name.

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

Edited May 13 by Crazy Cat

[Edward and Jaycel 1,499]

16 minutes ago, K.T said:

As others suggested, you can do it on the marriage license. That's one of the legal ways of changing your name. You can not change your name with I-485. It has been a while when we did the initial process but seeing that you are from Turkey if you have any questions feel free to send me DM. Congrats on your upcoming wedding!

 

Yes you can.... My wife just did it

[K.T 39]

6 hours ago, Crazy Cat said:

USCIS says you can use any combination of names on the marriage certificate on the I-485.  For example, if Mary Smith marries John Doe, Mary can use:

Mary Smith

Mary Doe

Mary Smith Doe

Mary-Smith-Doe

 

These are all acceptable for USCIS forms as new legal name.

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

Of course you can change your name. Maybe it was too broad me to say you can't. Sorry for the confusion. I meant, without providing documentation of the name change, such as a court order, marriage certificate, or divorce decree, you can't just randomly change your name in I-485 saying "that is my new name".

[Edward and Jaycel 1,499]

1 minute ago, K.T said:

Of course you can change your name. Maybe it was too broad me to say you can't. Sorry for the confusion. I meant, without providing documentation of the name change, such as a court order, marriage certificate, or divorce decree, you can't just randomly change your name in I-485 saying "that is my new name".

 

Ah gotcha! Thanks for clarifying  

[dreamer32 8]

On 5/13/2025 at 8:52 AM, K.T said:

As others suggested, you can do it on the marriage license. That's one of the legal ways of changing your name. You can not change your name with I-485. It has been a while when we did the initial process but seeing that you are from Turkey if you have any questions feel free to send me DM. Congrats on your upcoming wedding!

Thank you so much for your reply and congratulations! ❤️  I just sent you a pm  

Edited Monday at 12:47 PM by dreamer32

[dreamer32 8]

On 5/13/2025 at 9:02 AM, Crazy Cat said:

USCIS says you can use any combination of names on the marriage certificate on the I-485.  For example, if Mary Smith marries John Doe, Mary can use:

Mary Smith

Mary Doe

Mary Smith Doe

Mary-Smith-Doe

 

These are all acceptable for USCIS forms as new legal name.

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

Thanks a million for sharing the relevant link!