Questions regarding name change

[Turquoise 7]

Hello!

I apologize if I'm posting in the wrong topic.

 

I have several questions regarding K1 visa. I have a lot of questions

Please, be nice, that's what I've decided, so these are the questions for those who have done that and are okay with it.

 

1. Question to those who have changed the last name after getting married.

As I understand, after getting married, we'll receive a marriage certificate. Where should I go to legally change my last name after marriage? I know that I would need to take the certificate with me, of course.

Do I also need to go to my country's embassy in the US to change my passport (my full new name) too?

And when I apply for Adjustment of Status, am I going to be able to apply with my new last name?

 

2. I heard somewhere, that when you arrive to the US with the K1 visa you can immediately apply for Social Security number. Is that true?

In that case, I should be using my current full name, right? Although, for some reason, I think I read somewhere that I could write my soon-to-be husband's last name as mine.

 

If you have any other extra info I would really appreciate it!

Edited 3 hours ago by Turquoise
more accurate

[OldUser 10,078]

For name change, I'd think long and hard about this. The easiest time to change name is when becoming a US citizen. Before changing name, I'd also check how easy it is to change name in your country. Yes, if you're in the US, you'd have to deal with your consulate of your country to renew passport to have married name. You can file for AOS with married name and get GC with married name, as long as married name is mentioned in marriage certificate (for example it's your spouse's current name)

Edited 3 hours ago by OldUser

[Crazy Cat 44,633]

1.  Your marriage certificate, itself, is a legal name change document.  You can immediately, after marriage, start using your new legal name.  For USCIS purposes, your new legal name can be any combination of the names listed on the marriage certificate.  Use your new legal name on AOS paperwork.

2.  Yes, you can apply for a Social Security number before marriage.  Use your maiden (Pre-marriage) name for the application.

 

Another option is to wait until naturalization to change your name.  In our case, wife has never changed her name, and it has been fine.

 

Edited 3 hours ago by Crazy Cat

[OldUser 10,078]

8 minutes ago, Turquoise said:

2. I heard somewhere, that when you arrive to the US with the K1 visa you can immediately apply for Social Security number. Is that true?

 

Yes, this is the recommendation. Once you marry, it'll be almost impossible to get SSN without green card or EAD.

 

Again, as you can see, changing name at this stage of immigration can result in:

 

1) Your home passport in maiden name

2) GC in married name

3) Social security card in maiden name

 

People live just fine with such setup, and eventually update all the docs to have matching name. I'd personally just wait for N-400 to change name to keep it simple. On the other hand, even then you'd have to update SS card and your country's passport. So it's really your call when you want to deal with it.

Edited 3 hours ago by OldUser

[Crazy Cat 44,633]

9 minutes ago, Turquoise said:

I heard somewhere, that when you arrive to the US with the K1 visa you can immediately apply for Social Security number.

This K-1 flowsheet might be helpful:

 

 

[Turquoise 7]

3 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

1.  Your marriage certificate, itself, is a legal name change document.  You can immediately, after marriage, start using your new legal name.  For USCIS purposes, your new legal name can be any combination of the names listed on the marriage certificate.  Use your new legal name on AOS paperwork.

2.  Yes, you can apply for a Social Security number before marriage.  Use your maiden (Pre-marriage) name for the application.

 

Another option is to wait until naturalization to change your name.  In our case, wife has never changed her name, and it has been fine.

 

Thank You so much!

About 2. - When I get the SSN, is it easy to update it with my new last name?

[Turquoise 7]

1 minute ago, Crazy Cat said:

This K-1 flowsheet might be helpful:

 

 

This is perfect! I'll print it out. Thank You! ☀️

[Crazy Cat 44,633]

1 minute ago, Turquoise said:

Thank You so much!

About 2. - When I get the SSN, is it easy to update it with my new last name?

According to the K-1 flowsheet, you should be able to change it with your marriage certificate.

[Turquoise 7]

Now I have another new question!

 

From everyone's experience - did you need to prove that you're not married? I think I read somewhere that I would need a document from my country, translated and notarized, proving that I'm not married. I guess it's better to get it to be extra safe

[Turquoise 7]

About this ⬇️ - I thought I needed to apply for the interview by myself once I finished DS-160 and paid for it
 

U.S. Embassy issues Beneficiary with Interview date U.S. Embassy issues Beneficiary with Interview date

[Edward and Jaycel 1,989]

36 minutes ago, Turquoise said:

From everyone's experience - did you need to prove that you're not married? I think I read somewhere that I would need a document from my country, translated and notarized, proving that I'm not married. I guess it's better to get it to be extra safe

 

For what purpose? Jaycel never needed her CENOMAR (Certificate of No Marriage) from the Philippines for any reason here in the US

[Turquoise 7]

5 minutes ago, Edward and Jaycel said:

 

For what purpose? Jaycel never needed her CENOMAR (Certificate of No Marriage) from the Philippines for any reason here in the US

To be honest I have no idea.. I just read somewhere that some states require a Certificate of No Marriage when you're getting married and you're from a country outside the U.S.

Edited 2 hours ago by Turquoise

[Crazy Cat 44,633]

5 minutes ago, Turquoise said:

To be honest I have no idea.. I just read somewhere that some states require a Certificate of No Marriage when you're getting married and you're from a country outside the U.S.

Never heard of needing one for a marriage inside the US.  Marriages OUTSIDE the US commonly need a certificate of single status. 

[Sam Burns 201]

23 minutes ago, Turquoise said:

To be honest I have no idea.. I just read somewhere that some states require a Certificate of No Marriage when you're getting married and you're from a country outside the U.S.

My wife is polish, we needed no “not married” doc when getting married in Pennsylvania 

[Turquoise 7]

Just now, Sam Burns said:

My wife is polish, we needed no “not married” doc when getting married in Pennsylvania 

Perfect! Thank You a lot for the info! At least I won't need to spend extra money for translation and notarization