I-130 Name Change

[desiboy2k4 0]

Hey all,

I already filed my I-130 to bring my wife here from India. After marriage, my wife's middle name changes from her father's name to the my first name. She already has a passport with her original name(the one with her father's name). When I filed my I-130, I put her original name. Is this going to be a problem? Also, what can I do now to fix this? Some people are saying that they put the new name on the I-130.

I really don't want to get a lawyer just for this change but if I have to then I will.

Thanks for your help!

[rjp44 1]

Hey all,

I already filed my I-130 to bring my wife here from India. After marriage, my wife's middle name changes from her father's name to the my first name. She already has a passport with her original name(the one with her father's name). When I filed my I-130, I put her original name. Is this going to be a problem? Also, what can I do now to fix this? Some people are saying that they put the new name on the I-130.

I really don't want to get a lawyer just for this change but if I have to then I will.

Thanks for your help!

The I-130 will ask the beneficiary's name which is her present legal name. Further down it will as any other names she has been known by including her maiden name so her name with her father's would go here.

[desiboy2k4 0]

Hey all,

I already filed my I-130 to bring my wife here from India. After marriage, my wife's middle name changes from her father's name to the my first name. She already has a passport with her original name(the one with her father's name). When I filed my I-130, I put her original name. Is this going to be a problem? Also, what can I do now to fix this? Some people are saying that they put the new name on the I-130.

I really don't want to get a lawyer just for this change but if I have to then I will.

Thanks for your help!

The I-130 will ask the beneficiary's name which is her present legal name. Further down it will as any other names she has been known by including her maiden name so her name with her father's would go here.

Thanks for the reply. Does she need to get a new passport with the new name? Also, how do I correct my I-130 at this point?

[rjp44 1]

Hey all,

I already filed my I-130 to bring my wife here from India. After marriage, my wife's middle name changes from her father's name to the my first name. She already has a passport with her original name(the one with her father's name). When I filed my I-130, I put her original name. Is this going to be a problem? Also, what can I do now to fix this? Some people are saying that they put the new name on the I-130.

I really don't want to get a lawyer just for this change but if I have to then I will.

Thanks for your help!

The I-130 will ask the beneficiary's name which is her present legal name. Further down it will as any other names she has been known by including her maiden name so her name with her father's would go here.

Thanks for the reply. Does she need to get a new passport with the new name? Also, how do I correct my I-130 at this point?

The passport only needs to be valid for 6 months after the issue of the visa. If you would like to get another with the married name you can, if not, be she carries a copy of the marriage license when traveling. Easiet way might be to download new copies of I-130. If you don't want to do that, use white out. http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/I-130.pdf

[desiboy2k4 0]

Thanks but I have already filed, meaning have sent it off to USCIS and they received it on 12/3/2007. I called today to USCIS and told them about my situation. They said she has a choice between using a new name or the old name. But whatever she chooses, she needs to be able to provide identification in that name. USCIS also said that I will be able to make "corrections" to the I-130 once I receive the NOA1 because then I will be assigned a case # to refer to.

Does anyone know if correcting the I-130 form causes a huge delay? This is the only thing I'm worried about. I wouldn't mind correcting it and have her get a new passport, if it won't cause much delay.

[Justin and Masako 0]

I had a similar situation to this. My wifes name in the US is different then in Japan. When we were married she took her family name as her middle name and used my last name. As is allowed by Hawaii state where we were married. I asked USCIS about this and they said it wouldn't be an issue. I put her US name as under "Name" and listed her Japanese name under "Other Names Used". I also noted that her family name would be different in the US and Japan on the cover letter.

I will say that this was all a bit of a guess as USCIS would never give me a straight answer on this. I talked to several agents who all agreed that she could have a different name in the US then in Japan but they wouldn't tell me which needed to be in which spot on the I-130. I guess I am just hoping for the best and that it won't cause us troubles along the way.

[rjp44 1]

Thanks but I have already filed, meaning have sent it off to USCIS and they received it on 12/3/2007. I called today to USCIS and told them about my situation. They said she has a choice between using a new name or the old name. But whatever she chooses, she needs to be able to provide identification in that name. USCIS also said that I will be able to make "corrections" to the I-130 once I receive the NOA1 because then I will be assigned a case # to refer to.

Does anyone know if correcting the I-130 form causes a huge delay? This is the only thing I'm worried about. I wouldn't mind correcting it and have her get a new passport, if it won't cause much delay.

We had to make a name change on my wife because of an error I made on the I-130. We only had to send a letter informing them of the correct name and a copy of biometric page of passport. She had already gotten a new passport so it was easy and didn't cause any delay.

[OOM 0]

Hi everyone

I m an Indian Citizen and my husband is a US citizen

We got married in August 2007 in India

My husband has filed all the paper work needed for wife immigrant visa and he got NOA-1 with my new last name (his last name) but I have a valid passport with my old name as single will that be a problem for issuing the visa?

Question – 1:- Is it necessary that PASSPORT MUST MATCH EXACTLY WITH THE NAME ON THE VISA?

Question - 2:- Do I have to make a fresh passport with my new last name and marital status?

Please reply

[Travis & Kim 0]

I have a similar question

I am planning on eloping next week (he's American and I am Canadian)

I want to change my name to his after we are married

we are going to file thru the IR-1/CR1 route

my question is - do I have to change all my documents back home (ie - passport) to my married name or can I keep it in my maiden name without causing problems?

I just really don't want to slow down the whole process then it already is

Thanks for all the help!

[crazysamurai 0]

Hey all,

I already filed my I-130 to bring my wife here from India. After marriage, my wife's middle name changes from her father's name to the my first name. She already has a passport with her original name(the one with her father's name). When I filed my I-130, I put her original name. Is this going to be a problem? Also, what can I do now to fix this? Some people are saying that they put the new name on the I-130.

I really don't want to get a lawyer just for this change but if I have to then I will.

Thanks for your help!

In my opinion (which may or may not be correct as I am no expert with this stuff and I had similar question like you):

Since you used her "original" (i.e. before marriage) name, you should tell your spouse to continue using "original" passport because name on the passport will match name on you application.

I did it the other way. I told my spouse to get a new passport with her "new" (after marriage) legal name and I am using her "new" name on the application.

I believe, you can do it either way (as long as her passport doesn't expire in next few months). And after she comes to US, she can always get a new Indian passport by applying to nearest Indian consulate in US.

I wouldn't try to change anything. It's best not to confuse USCIS.

Edited February 27, 2008 by crazysamurai