Petitioner's Name Change During Visa Process

[meesu 1]

Hello! I'm having a lot of anxiety about this situation, so I would like some advice.

 

My fiance, the petitioner, and I, the beneficiary, have applied for my K-1 Visa and are now in the process of waiting for NVC to receive it. (Yay!) My fiance had gone and gotten approved for his name change about a few months ago, and had started the process of changing his documents. This name change included both his first and last name. He's still getting some of his documents in order.

 

I am worried that changing documents in the middle of the process may create problems. The files we applied for the visa with have his deadname. (This is a gender-based issue, and therefore really emotional and important for us.) Is changing the documents (SS card, passport, etc.) okay as long as we include the court-ordered approval in? We have the legal "okay" to have his name changed, but I'm still nervous about things being "mismatched", if that makes sense.

 

Thank you so much!

[TBoneTX 48,747]

Thread is shifted from the K-1 Case Progress subforum to the K-1 Process forum.

7 hours ago, meesu said:

Hello!

Welcome to the forum!

7 hours ago, meesu said:

Is changing the documents (SS card, passport, etc.) okay as long as we include the court-ordered approval in?

As long as the name-change is thoroughly documented, include it or mention it with every submission at the key phases, and you should be OK.  Others here may have further advice.

[Fr8dog 562]

Should be ok but I would prepare for some small hurdles on this one. Make absolutely sure you have copies of all documents (old and new) and all official approvals of the change. Changing names after signing a petition is not a common thing for K-1 so don't be surprised if you are going to get some questions about it. 

[meesu 1]

Thank you for the responses! (I hope I'm doing the reply accurately, haha.)

 

I understand, I'll be prepared just in case! We have his chosen name in the documents we sent, so it's not a big surprise to see his name has legally changed, I hope. We also have the reasoning of wanting to change the name legally so that I can marry into his chosen last name, and I hope that'll be easier to explain!

[meesu 1]

Update to anyone who may check: we decided this type of mental stress was not worth it, so we'll wait until we get our visa approval and I get to, hopefully, enter the states! We'll try to get his SSC and driver's license changed before we sign our marriage certificate, so we can have the desired last name.