changing my last name

[Allen and Karin 0]

We were so excited to get my visa, we crossed the border of Ontario Canada and drove to Wyoming together. We went in to the social security office and started the process, they said in 10 days I will get a card with my last name on it and could change it to my husbands name after. We looked up on the visa flowchart what we do after we get married, and it says to go back there with the marriage license. We did that, but were told that we need to change my last name first at immigration in order to get a social security card with my new name on. The court office says to go to social security, social security says immigration, we don't know how to change my name to his. We are in cheyenne Wyoming, where do we go, what do we need, and do I change my name before the green card or after? Please would someone be able to walk me through this, I'm so confused.

[C-ma'am 684]

You will be able to change your name with Social Security, to reflect your married last name, once you have a document that shows you with the new last name, for example: EAD, Green Card.

So, when you file for AOS, do it with your new name, so you'll receive your EAD and Green Card under that same name. Once you have it, go back to SS and let them know you need to update your information. Some SS Offices will accept your NOA for AOS where it will show that name.

**Post moved from K1 to Social Security Numbers

[Allen and Karin 0]

My k1 and all my paperwork say Karin S.... My now social security card says Karin S..... My marriage license says Allen O and Karin S...... I can't file anything as Karin O.... Until I legally change my name. Where do I do that? I have nothing that says I am Karin O.... Other than my husbands name. So far no one tells us where to go. We can't file for a green card or ead under Karin O.... Because I need a ssn with that name, and they won't change it till then. So I'm still confused where to change it.?

[mariepear 12]

You can file for AOS with your new name and without your SSN. To change your name you don't need to do anything else than just go apply for SSN with your marriage certificate. Your name automatically changed when you got married.

[Lainie B 465]

My k1 and all my paperwork say Karin S.... My now social security card says Karin S..... My marriage license says Allen O and Karin S...... I can't file anything as Karin O.... Until I legally change my name. Where do I do that? I have nothing that says I am Karin O.... Other than my husbands name. So far no one tells us where to go. We can't file for a green card or ead under Karin O.... Because I need a ssn with that name, and they won't change it till then. So I'm still confused where to change it.?

You already did legally change your name by getting married. The marriage certificate is the legal proof. It doesn't matter if you new married name actually appears on the marriage certificate or not. It's still all the proof you need of your new married name. The rest is just updating various organisations of the name change.

However, this applies only to the US. I don't know if it also applies in Canada. For me, the US marriage certificate was accepted as proof of my name change within the US, but not in Australia. I had to do an official name change in Australia.

[aaron2020 11,651]

Google "legal name change after marriage" for your state of residence. Print out the law and return to SS. Tell the idiots there that under state law, you have have the legal authority to change your last name to the your husband's last name. That is all you need.

This is from SS. This is the requirements published by SS. Help the idiots understand their own rules.

http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/315/~/change-a-name-on-a-social-security-card

http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10002.pdf

Edited October 4, 2013 by aaron2020

[mariepear 12]

You can file for AOS with your new name and without your SSN. To change your name you don't need to do anything else than just go apply for SSN with your marriage certificate. Your name automatically changed when you got married.

You need this form for SSN:

http://www.ssa.gov/online/ss-5.pdf

[hikergirl 277]

You already did legally change your name by getting married. The marriage certificate is the legal proof. It doesn't matter if you new married name actually appears on the marriage certificate or not. It's still all the proof you need of your new married name. The rest is just updating various organisations of the name change.

However, this applies only to the US. I don't know if it also applies in Canada. For me, the US marriage certificate was accepted as proof of my name change within the US, but not in Australia. I had to do an official name change in Australia.

For Canada (i.e. passport, SIN, etc) your marriage certificate is proof. You don’t need to go to court or anything to change your name.