Anyone with Name Change experience?

[St&Sv 33]

Hey everyone so my Fiance and I are getting closer and closer each day and one of the things we've talked about is her name. Being that it is Sveta, and there is no english equivalent she wants to change it altogether. It more or less has to do with that it's a difficult name to properly pronounce and she would be irritated hear it said wrong all the time. That said, I've told her she could take on a middle name and use that as her official name. My question is does anyone have any experience with the name change and when in the process can you do it?

[Neonred 3,553]

My wife's official name was Svetlana but she was always called Veta. She hated Svetlana and wanted to change it. We talked about changing it several times and I was able to put her off until her citizenship approval. That is when we changed it officially and it was done as part of that paperwork with no additional effort or expense. Of course it can be done at any time but requires additional paperwork and a trip to court. At least I am assuming that can be done for a non citizen.

Edited July 5, 2013 by Neonred

[eekee 182]

a permanent resident can change their name, but then you'd need a new green card etc. and then you'd have to consider whether she'd keep her old citizenship and such, and what the ramifications of a name change would be.

What about going by Lana in the US? No name change necessary.

[St&Sv 33]

My wife's official name was Svetlana but she was always called Veta. She hated Svetlana and wanted to change it. We talked about changing it several times and I was able to put her off until her citizenship approval. That is when we changed it officially and it was done as part of that paperwork with no additional effort or expense. Of course it can be done at any time but requires additional paperwork and a trip to court. At least I am assuming that can be done for a non citizen.

I would say my Fiancee isn't too keen about her name either, but when you said until Citizenship approval do you mean the AoS or Naturalization? I'm wondering if it is possible to change or add the middle name during the time she changes her last name to mine. Though what would this do to her official name is Russia, would that need to be changed or could she still be known as she is now there?

As for Lana, she told me about this shortened version but doesn't like it.

[Neonred 3,553]

I would say my Fiancee isn't too keen about her name either, but when you said until Citizenship approval do you mean the AoS or Naturalization? I'm wondering if it is possible to change or add the middle name during the time she changes her last name to mine. Though what would this do to her official name is Russia, would that need to be changed or could she still be known as she is now there?

As for Lana, she told me about this shortened version but doesn't like it.

My wife changed hers at citizenship (naturalization). AOS is not citizenship.

It was easy and just part of the paperwork. Don't know about AOS, but I would guess it could be done then too.

In Russia she is still known by her old name, but there is a notation in her passport about her name change in the US. I understand they no longer will add the notation to Rusian passports. Doesn't matter as she is not interested in returning to Russia, and can't because of a problem with her Russian passport. A long story...... let's just say she is having difficulty renewing.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

My wife's official name was Svetlana but she was always called Veta. She hated Svetlana and wanted to change it. We talked about changing it several times and I was able to put her off until her citizenship approval. That is when we changed it officially and it was done as part of that paperwork with no additional effort or expense. Of course it can be done at any time but requires additional paperwork and a trip to court. At least I am assuming that can be done for a non citizen.

Alla did not change her first name but changed her last name to mine with citizenship, no muss no fuss. Her first name was fine and she has several friends named Svetlana and they all kept their first names also, but that is personal preference of course.

Most states allow you to change it with a marriage and any state allows you to change it with a simple court proceeding or with citizenship.

FWIW we found it very simple to keep her madien name until she became a citizen with all documents, including passport, the same. Then changed all documents to her married name including new US passport. Personal preference.

she planned to keep her maiden name but she had one of those classic 33 letter Russian names ending in "-ova" and got tired of spelling it to everyone.

[Abell 11]

I have a friend Svetlana, her american friends who can not say it call her Lana and that is how she usually goes by

but naturalization is the simplest way to change name but of cause you will have to change a lot of other documents to new name also