Travelling with Different Last Names in Passport & Green Card

[Kim2023 0]

Hello!

I got my Conditional Green Card and I am in India currently, visiting my family. The last name in my green card is my married name and the last name in my passport is my maiden name. Now here's my question:

I have to come back to the US asap, what do I do, so that I face no problems with the Immigration Authority here, if I do not change the last name on my passport (I do not wish to change my last name on the passport, bec I may go thru a divorce, so I think it does not make sense to change and then re-change again and again) ?

I can apply for a change in name in the passport due to marriage, here in my country, but as I said that I will be using my madein name once the divorce is final, hence I feel it does not make sense.

I had read on some website(don't recall which one), that I can carry my Marriage Certificate along with the passport and Green Card to the airport and hand that to the Immigration Officer before borading the flight, is that ok, or would there be any problems ?

My ticket is in my maiden name, and I know that there would be no problem with the US Immigration officer, because they told me that all they will see when I come back is my Green Card.

Please advice! I'm quite confused.

[Rob and Melinda 0]

When you arrived in the US at the POE did you use the same passport them? If so, that passport along with your Green Card and Marriage certificate should be enough. If not then get a new visa in your married name.

Rob and Melinda

[Kim2023 0]

When you arrived in the US at the POE did you use the same passport them? If so, that passport along with your Green Card and Marriage certificate should be enough. If not then get a new visa in your married name.

Rob and Melinda

Hi

Thanks for responding. But just wanted to bring to your notice that I have a Conditional Green Card, so what do I need a visa for then now ???

[raymaga 25]

As long as your ticket and passport are in the same name, you will be fine.

To re-enter the U.S., your unexpired GC is all that will be required. You can always show your marriage certificate if there are any problems.

My passport is in my previous name, my GC is in my new married name, just like yours.

Edited March 13, 2007 by raymaga

[Kim2023 0]

As long as your ticket and passport are in the same name, you will be fine.

To re-enter the U.S., your unexpired GC is all that will be required. You can always show your marriage certificate if there are any problems.

My passport is in my previous name, my GC is in my new married name, just like yours.

Thnx Raymaga ....I am not concerned about my re-entry to the US. I am worried about the Immigration Officer at my home country. Before boarding the flight I will have to go thru Immigration here in India, so at that time will it not be a problem if my Green Card and my passport have different names ? My question is that can I show the immigration officer my marriage certificate copy (pls not its a copy, not original) along with my passport and green card to board the flight to US ??? or will they not allow me ?

[JT4/25 38]

It is fine to carry your GC and your passport with different last names.....as long as you have the marriage certificate with you...you should be fine. They pulled my husband and I out of the customs line to question the difference in last names...but they let us through once I showed the marriage certificate.

[k1spain 0]

My "desi" husband says that you need to change your last name in your indian passport to make it match with your green card. For indian officers the green card does not belong to you. You should contact an indian attorney to help you do this last name change. I think you need to publish the name change in indian newspapers and that kind of stuff.

You will also need to carry copies of the newspaper with you, to show to the indian officer. He thinks they will not let you fly if your green card and your passport does not match and of course the name in your ticket as well.

Good luck and keep us posted.

[tweety 1]

My "desi" husband says that you need to change your last name in your indian passport to make it match with your green card. For indian officers the green card does not belong to you. You should contact an indian attorney to help you do this last name change. I think you need to publish the name change in indian newspapers and that kind of stuff.

You will also need to carry copies of the newspaper with you, to show to the indian officer. He thinks they will not let you fly if your green card and your passport does not match and of course the name in your ticket as well.

Good luck and keep us posted.

you can't change the name in a ticket

[Mrs.J06 4]

As long as your ticket and passport are in the same name, you will be fine.

To re-enter the U.S., your unexpired GC is all that will be required. You can always show your marriage certificate if there are any problems.

My passport is in my previous name, my GC is in my new married name, just like yours.

Same here, I travelled twice with my GC in married, and passport in maiden name. Once coming from Germany and once from Tokyo.

Both times the airline employee entered the number of my GC in the computer when I checked in, and there were never any further questions. I took our marriage certificate along, just in case, but never needed it so far.

[k1spain 0]

As long as your ticket and passport are in the same name, you will be fine.

To re-enter the U.S., your unexpired GC is all that will be required. You can always show your marriage certificate if there are any problems.

My passport is in my previous name, my GC is in my new married name, just like yours.

Same here, I travelled twice with my GC in married, and passport in maiden name. Once coming from Germany and once from Tokyo.

Both times the airline employee entered the number of my GC in the computer when I checked in, and there were never any further questions. I took our marriage certificate along, just in case, but never needed it so far.

Guys, this poster is going to deal with INDIAN officers!!! It is a different situation. It's as simple as if they believe you do not have a valid GC (in this case) they will not let her leave India.

[Mrs_S 0]

I checked with the Indian Consulate in the US about this, and they told me that it would be okay to travel to and from India with a passport in one's maiden name and a green card in one's married name.

Do carry your marriage certificate with you. If it makes you more comfortable, travel with a copy of your GC application, on which both your maiden name and married name are listed.

[Pitaya 2,577]

~Ancient thread closed to further comment~

~New inquiry moved to Working & Traveling During US immigration Forum~

PItaya

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