ROM and passport renewal

[Junefifteen 0]

Hi all, I have a few questions.

Background info:

-Married in AZ last year (LA Consulate's jurisdiction)

-Both with no prior marriage

-Planning to file ROM and passport renewal application simultaneously in person

1) I read that if filing after 30 days of marriage it is more complicated? How exactly is it different/more complicated?

2) In the ROM form, should wife's signature be her maiden or married signature?

I ask because the other particulars asked in the form are pre-marriage info (like premarriage civil status, address, etc) plus they might want to compare signature on the form and on marriage certificate. On the other hand, they might want the married signature as it just makes sense to sign the present signature.

3) Which passport application forms to use: http://www.philippineslosangeles.org/uploads/pdfs/passport.pdf OR http://www.philippineconsulatela.org/Forms/epassport.pdf ?

4) In the passport renewal application form, I am putting my full married name as it appears on my Greencard. The format is <First name, Old middle name, Husband's lastname>. I was not allowed by USCIS to use my maiden last name as my new middle name as that requires a court order. Will there be any issues with Philippine embassy? Is there anyone here who successfully got their passport in the format <First name, Old middlename, Husband's lastname> ? I ask because another thread here says the Philippine Consulate only follows their traditional format <First name, Maiden lastname, Husband's lastname> but that will cause a lot of problem keeping differing ID names.

5) Philippine consulate website says no need for appointment, walk-ins only. When is the best day and time to go? How many hours/days should the ROM and passport application take? I just want to know what to expect, so I can plan the trip better.

6) What documents need to be notarized?

7) How will they return original documents presented, on-the-spot or by mail? Please tell me it is on-the-spot! Mail services aren't very reliable in my experience!

Sorry, I know this is a lot, but I know you guys understand and many of you can help. Thanks in advance.

[bendinlar 16]

We've not had to deal with this ourselves, but from what I know of the forms and such in the Philippines, I can take a shot at some of these.

1) After the 30 days, they just want to know why the report was delayed, not too much of an issue.

2) On the Philippines marriage contract, there is no spot for new names, its all maiden names, so im guessing maiden signature on the report for the Philippine government.

There was someone trying to figure out the form on here one time, confused with the married on___ at___ part, and the consensus was the at was for the time since that's what is called for on the marriage contract here. Thus my reasoning on the signature.

3) Got me. Not on my computer at the moment, can't check them out, sorry.

4) I think the person at USCIS was an idiot. Just my opinion. Getting married is a valid name changing event, no court order necessary. Should have let you put whatever name you wanted. < am I right?

Don't know if you can complain to uscis and get the green card the way you like it or not. Might be worth trying if you want your name to follow traditional Filipino format.

The Philippines will use the Filipino method in her new passport. Move the last name, and add the new name, its the way its done here, its the law. Same if you have kids, in the us you can name them what you want, but in the Philippines they will have the mothers maiden name as their middle name.

The rest sound like they need experience, we don't have any doing this, but hope I've got ya started.

Best wishes.

[Hank_ 9,174]

Hi all, I have a few questions.

Background info:

-Married in AZ last year (LA Consulate's jurisdiction)

-Both with no prior marriage

-Planning to file ROM and passport renewal application simultaneously in person

1) I read that if filing after 30 days of marriage it is more complicated? How exactly is it different/more complicated?

2) In the ROM form, should wife's signature be her maiden or married signature?

I ask because the other particulars asked in the form are pre-marriage info (like premarriage civil status, address, etc) plus they might want to compare signature on the form and on marriage certificate. On the other hand, they might want the married signature as it just makes sense to sign the present signature.

3) Which passport application forms to use: http://www.philippineslosangeles.org/uploads/pdfs/passport.pdf OR http://www.philippineconsulatela.org/Forms/epassport.pdf ?

4) In the passport renewal application form, I am putting my full married name as it appears on my Greencard. The format is <First name, Old middle name, Husband's lastname>. I was not allowed by USCIS to use my maiden last name as my new middle name as that requires a court order. Will there be any issues with Philippine embassy? Is there anyone here who successfully got their passport in the format <First name, Old middlename, Husband's lastname> ? I ask because another thread here says the Philippine Consulate only follows their traditional format <First name, Maiden lastname, Husband's lastname> but that will cause a lot of problem keeping differing ID names.

5) Philippine consulate website says no need for appointment, walk-ins only. When is the best day and time to go? How many hours/days should the ROM and passport application take? I just want to know what to expect, so I can plan the trip better.

6) What documents need to be notarized?

7) How will they return original documents presented, on-the-spot or by mail? Please tell me it is on-the-spot! Mail services aren't very reliable in my experience!

Sorry, I know this is a lot, but I know you guys understand and many of you can help. Thanks in advance.

1- We didn't complete ROM until 6 months after getting married, we had zero issues.

2- My wife signed the ROM form in her married name.

3- My wife used the e-passport form. http://www.philippineconsulatela.org/consular%20services/conserv-ppt.htm#1

4- With USCIS did you submit the forms in the traditional Philippine format and they rejected them, or did you read that you couldn't so you didn't? We had no issue with USCIS changing the name to the traditional format?

Philippines tends expect the name to be in the traditional form, not sure if they will have issue with the name as shown on your green card.

5- We attended an outreach event in Phoenix so don't know about LA. http://www.philippineconsulatela.org/

6- Consulate will notarize any documents needs, being as you are going there.

7- The will mail them to you, we complete a label they provided then paid the mailing fee. Mail service is not an issue in the USA very reliable.

Edited August 3, 2014 by Hank_

[Junefifteen 0]

With regard to Question #4, all documents (AOS, EAD, AP) were filed using traditional Filipino change of name. No issues/RFE's prior to Greencard issuance etc, all of my NOA receipts (even EAD and AP, which came before my AOS interview) were approved and I have my new married name on them the traditional Filipino format. However, the USCIS officer who interviewed us made a comment as soon as he signed the AOS approval that I shall continue to use my old middle name, and that will be on my Greencard. He said without giving us really any chance to argue that I am only allowed to change my last name and not the given or middle name. For this reason I had inconsistent names on my SS, drivers license, insurance, etc but didn't feel like the officer was making a mistake until today.

UGGGH.

[Hank_ 9,174]

With regard to Question #4, all documents (AOS, EAD, AP) were filed using traditional Filipino change of name. No issues/RFE's prior to Greencard issuance etc, all of my NOA receipts (even EAD and AP, which came before my AOS interview) were approved and I have my new married name on them the traditional Filipino format. However, the USCIS officer who interviewed us made a comment as soon as he signed the AOS approval that I shall continue to use my old middle name, and that will be on my Greencard. He said without giving us really any chance to argue that I am only allowed to change my last name and not the given or middle name. For this reason I had inconsistent names on my SS, drivers license, insurance, etc but didn't feel like the officer was making a mistake until today.

UGGGH.

Interesting. I guess it is all dependent on "who" does the approval. My wife got her SSN in her (traditional) married name before filing for AOS even, then she had no issue from USCIS about the middle name change either.

So your SS card and everything else is in your traditional married name?

I have read before about issues changing the middle name with SSA heck they have given people issues with the married name on the SS card even.

I have also read of people having the green card "corrected" to the married name. Maybe you can research this if every thing else is in your traditional married name, including your SS card.

[Junefifteen 0]

I had all of those (SS, Drivers License, insurance, grad school registration records, etc) in my traditional Filipino married name format until the USCIS said it was "not allowed" (which confused me given that my EAD and AP co-filed with my AOS were approved weeks prior without issues). Upon Greencard issuance, I changed my name on all those documents so they are consistent with Greencard. Now I am pulling my hair out learning that my passport cannot bear my name as shown in Greencard.

[Junefifteen 0]

Any other replies on the other questions? From those who know or have had similar experience?

[Greenbaum 12,259]

We just were approved for our green card and every document to included EAD and AP, AOS, SS and green card and also ROM all contained the normal Filipino naming context First, Maiden family name, and husbands last name. Keep in mind we did not have a AOS interview so never crossed that bridge.

[Junefifteen 0]

I am considering keeping my passport in my maiden name instead of either traditional Filipino married name format or the ill-advised USCIS format.

My question:

Do I still need the ROM if not changing to married name? If no, can I declare my civil status as "Single"? (Just for the convenience of maiden name = SINGLE).

I plan to file for ROM and new passport in the traditional married name format eventually, after USCIS corrects my Greencard.

[Junefifteen 0]

Also, will there be any problem exiting and re-entering the US with this passport info?

[bendinlar 16]

You have the option of using your maiden name in your passport, not an issue even if you're married. Don't put single, I see issues from that in the future. If you go to the outreach and do both at the same time, they should have no issues with the maiden name being used.

As for entering the us, nope. But it might be a pain with your GC not matching. Carrying your marriage cert will reconsile the two. But your tickets will be in your passport name.

Bottom line, it just makes life easier if everything matches , obviously. Its OK if it doesn't but be ready for the questions that will come up, and it won't be so bad.