Urgent name change needed - GA DMV refuses to renew the DL

[Hrushka3 0]

Hello everyone!!

I have a VERY complicated red-tape situation with GA DMV and I hope somebody can help us with a piece of advice.

I moved to the USA from Russia in November 2005 and received a temporary Green Card in my maiden name - Elena Markina. We went to Social Security Office and updated my card - the new card wa issued in the name of Elena Markina Harrison (for some reason without a hyphen - God knows why). After having passed the driving test I received the GA DL in the name of Harrison, Elena Markina (I believe they though that it was a middle name ). Anyways, since then I had to renew my DL annualy even when I got my permanent green card. Can you imagine how surprised I was when this year I was told that they can't renew my DL because the name on the DL does not change the name on the GC? it sounds like they're trying to put Harrison (or Markina Harrison - who knows?) in SAVE system and but of course it doesn't appear there, because according to the GC my name is Markina. The supervisor in DMV office told me that according to the new Georgia Law of December 2008, every non-resident has to be checked through SAVE system and if the name doesn't match - too bad - you have to change the name on the GC. Even despite the fact that it was DMV who changed my name in the first place and the fact that it takes ages to received the new document from INS. When I asked them if they could renew the DL in my maiden name, they said that they couldn't because I'm not divorced. Ha, interesting! And what if hypothetically I wanted to change back to maiden name without getting divorced - say on the basis of missing my national identity . Ok, jokes apart - I never even officialy changed my name in court - I just got married.

So now it brings me to 2 main questions to you guys:

1. How long does it take to get naturalized with the name change? (It doesn't make any sense for me to get the new GC, because I was going to get naturalized anyways and I don't think that obtaining a new GC will take less time).

2. If anybody has been in such a situation, is there ANYTHING I can do to get some kind of paper or document that would entitle me to drive during those months that we will be waiting for the documents to come through.

Thank you!

[NickD 202]

Maybe they are not accustomed to changing last names with marriage as usually a brother marrying a sister with the same last name. Just kidding.

But I gathered you came here single, and received a green card in your maiden name, got married and went back to the USCIS with your marriage certificate and all that to change your green card to your new married name.

Typically, at least in my state, when a woman gets married, she brings in her old DL for renewal and her marriage certificate. Women are getting married all the time and they update your information. Did you bring in your marriage certificate?

[jsnearline 2]

It appears your options are to either wait until you naturalize or file an I-90 to get the green card re-issued in your married name.

Depending on where you live, doing a name change as part of the N-400 may (or may not) delay the Oath because a federal court has to administer it.

[Hrushka3 0]

Hello people!

Thanks for replying .

Nick,

No I already came here married. My temporary GC was in my maiden name because we getting the GC in married name would have made the process too complicated (I would have had to change my Russian passport in my married name which is ha ha ha - VERY difficult and complicated and all other fun red-tape stuff). So now I simply have to change the INS issued document in my married name - and all this time I will probably have to drive without a valid DL.

jsnearline,

I live in GA. Will the oath be postponed?

Edited July 2, 2009 by Hrushka3

[jsnearline 2]

I found the following on another forum that might be worth reading...

http://forums.immigration.com/showthread.php?t=270838