Name Change

[Waldo 0]

My wife is Peruvian. Right now were hung up on if we should change her name now or wait until she gets to the states. Also because of the latin' herritage she has four names. All of which are important to her and have meaning withen the family so she doesn't want to give them up. I'm the only son to pass my family name. I would prefer not to hyphonate our last names or combine them. With all the traveling and signing I do It's just impractical. We were married in Peru and we are working on the K3 right now if that makes any difference.

Can she have four names?

Should we change it now or wait until she comes to the US?

Any suggestions?

[DaniDimo 0]

My wife is Peruvian. Right now were hung up on if we should change her name now or wait until she gets to the states. Also because of the latin' herritage she has four names. All of which are important to her and have meaning withen the family so she doesn't want to give them up. I'm the only son to pass my family name. I would prefer not to hyphonate our last names or combine them. With all the traveling and signing I do It's just impractical. We were married in Peru and we are working on the K3 right now if that makes any difference.

Can she have four names?

Should we change it now or wait until she comes to the US?

Any suggestions?

My husband is Peruvian also, he has 4 names as well ... and yes, she can have 4 of them too but in case she initial her second name and use two last names, otherwise it will be too complicated and confusing. Will give you an example, on form for address change from the post office my husband received two confirmation letters, one of them had two names and first last name, the other one had first name (no middle)and two last names, so not to be confusing for all those institution that you will be applying/signing a forms(banks, post office, jobs, etc.) use only first name, middle initial and two last names. And good luck with all her names.

[vareska 3]

Hello everyone,

I also have a question regarding name change:

My husband and I were married in Bosnia 3 months ago, I came back to the US,we're getting ready to file the paperwork as soon as I figure out what to do:)

I took his last name at our marriage ceremony, and now I wonder if I should change my name and all documents (SS, DL,etc) BEFORE I file I-130, do I apply with my maiden name or do I apply with my new last name even though the marriage certificate is the only document with my new name? What is the right way to go about it? I know this sounds kind of stupid to ask, but I am so scared that I will make a stupid mistake and have it bite me at some point in this visa process. I don't even know what last name to put on the application :) lol

Thank you for all your help!

[msnoob 3]

Hello everyone,

I also have a question regarding name change:

My husband and I were married in Bosnia 3 months ago, I came back to the US,we're getting ready to file the paperwork as soon as I figure out what to do:)

I took his last name at our marriage ceremony, and now I wonder if I should change my name and all documents (SS, DL,etc) BEFORE I file I-130, do I apply with my maiden name or do I apply with my new last name even though the marriage certificate is the only document with my new name? What is the right way to go about it? I know this sounds kind of stupid to ask, but I am so scared that I will make a stupid mistake and have it bite me at some point in this visa process. I don't even know what last name to put on the application :) lol

Thank you for all your help!

I filed shortly after I was married and prepared all of the documents with my *new* last name, however, at that time all of my IDs were still in my previous name. I then went about changing my driver's license, passport, SS# and every thing else. Once I had the license changed, everything else was a piece of cake.

I didn't need any of my documents for the I-130 so it didn't matter that I had not changed my name before applying. Good Luck with your journey!

[vareska 3]

Thank you for your response, msnoob!

[Shannon and David 0]

My wife is Peruvian. Right now were hung up on if we should change her name now or wait until she gets to the states. Also because of the latin' herritage she has four names. All of which are important to her and have meaning withen the family so she doesn't want to give them up. I'm the only son to pass my family name. I would prefer not to hyphonate our last names or combine them. With all the traveling and signing I do It's just impractical. We were married in Peru and we are working on the K3 right now if that makes any difference.

Can she have four names?

Should we change it now or wait until she comes to the US?

Any suggestions?

Hi,

It sounds like the names are important to her. There really isn't a problem with her keeping as many names as she wants. She could just add your last name to her other two last names, and then she'd still have 3 last names.

My husband has two last names. I wouldn't think of asking him to get rid of one just to make it more American. I added my husband's last name to mine. No hyphenation needed. So now I have two last names.

What does your traveling and signing things have to do with her signing her name? How is it impractical?

If and when you all have children, they can be your last name and her first last name. For example, you're Smith. She's, for example, after marriage, Rodriguez Garcia Smith. Your kids would be Smith Rodriguez. Totally cool! Your name would be carried on.

Not trying to be mean, but isn't it a lot to ask her to give up her cultural traditions just because she's coming here? The transition of just moving here is going to be huge...

Good luck!