About name on green card

[ViVi and JimJim 0]

Since I received my EAD yesterday, and I found out that it was with my maiden name. Also earlier I received my AP with my maiden name too. Therefore, I started to worry if this would be the same happen to my green card. (if they approved me without an interview, how can I tell them?)

My marriage cert shown that I took my new last name after married.

So what can I do now? Do I have a right to call them to request for an amendment? If yes, will they charge me to order a new card?

Futhermore, I haven't applied for my SSN yet...Anyone can give me some advices? Thanks a lot....

[YuAndDan 153]

Looks like you used maiden name on all the forms.

If you wanted green-card, EAD, AP in married mane you fill the first part of the forms with married name, and later on the forms where it asks for "Other Names Used" or "Name on I-94" you put maiden name.

To change a name on the green-card. you will file form I-90 and pay a fee.

You can apply for SSN using EAD, you can apply for it in maiden or married name, you will need to show Marriage Cert to show name change, some SSA offices may insist on using the name that is on the EAD though. The one in downtown Rochester NY did ours shortly after marriage using married name and the still valid K-1 I-94 card.

[ViVi and JimJim 0]

Thanks for your reply.

Aiya, it's my bad to fill the name wrong... Oh my gosh, I just check on the USCIS website, the I-90 costs $290??? And I need to do the biometrics again??

I'll try to bring along with my marriage cert to apply for my SSN then. SSA in Rochester, do we need to make an appointment before we go there?

So if I still use my maiden name for most of govt stuff, is there any problem? Cause some of my personal stuffs, like bank, insurance, lease agreement, etc. used my marriage name.

Looks like you used maiden name on all the forms.

If you wanted green-card, EAD, AP in married mane you fill the first part of the forms with married name, and later on the forms where it asks for "Other Names Used" or "Name on I-94" you put maiden name.

To change a name on the green-card. you will file form I-90 and pay a fee.

You can apply for SSN using EAD, you can apply for it in maiden or married name, you will need to show Marriage Cert to show name change, some SSA offices may insist on using the name that is on the EAD though. The one in downtown Rochester NY did ours shortly after marriage using married name and the still valid K-1 I-94 card.

[YuAndDan 153]

Thanks for your reply.

Aiya, it's my bad to fill the name wrong... Oh my gosh, I just check on the USCIS website, the I-90 costs $290??? And I need to do the biometrics again??

I'll try to bring along with my marriage cert to apply for my SSN then. SSA in Rochester, do we need to make an appointment before we go there?

So if I still use my maiden name for most of govt stuff, is there any problem? Cause some of my personal stuffs, like bank, insurance, lease agreement, etc. used my marriage name.

Looks like you used maiden name on all the forms.

If you wanted green-card, EAD, AP in married mane you fill the first part of the forms with married name, and later on the forms where it asks for "Other Names Used" or "Name on I-94" you put maiden name.

To change a name on the green-card. you will file form I-90 and pay a fee.

You can apply for SSN using EAD, you can apply for it in maiden or married name, you will need to show Marriage Cert to show name change, some SSA offices may insist on using the name that is on the EAD though. The one in downtown Rochester NY did ours shortly after marriage using married name and the still valid K-1 I-94 card.

No appointment for SSA, I would go to the office in Buffalo first and work with them there, there is no guarantee that the Rochester office will behave like they did for us last year.

You will want to pick what you want to do with name, consider this most Chinese wives do not take their husband's family name, it may be easier and less of a pain to follow that tradition at least until you file I-751 to remove conditions. You can then file the I-751 using married name, and after getting 10 year green-card in married name you could then visit SSA and get name change on SSN to married name

[ViVi and JimJim 0]

Sorry, why would you go to Buffalo office first?

Yes, you are right...Chinese wives do not take their husbands' family name, as my mom didn't too!! But since I'm married to an american man, I want to respect his tradition. My hubby insisted me to take his family name before we married, and he said he ate my name instead.

I think AP with maiden name should be fine, cause I have to travel with my passport. SSN I'll try to see if they can use my marriage name. (if not, just wait)

So you suggested me to wait until 2 years when file the I-751 using married name??

By the way, I called them but they have no clue, just ask me to make an appointment with InfoPass for more information about the name change.

[YuAndDan 153]

Sorry, why would you go to Buffalo office first?

Yes, you are right...Chinese wives do not take their husbands' family name, as my mom didn't too!! But since I'm married to an american man, I want to respect his tradition. My hubby insisted me to take his family name before we married, and he said he ate my name instead.

I think AP with maiden name should be fine, cause I have to travel with my passport. SSN I'll try to see if they can use my marriage name. (if not, just wait)

So you suggested me to wait until 2 years when file the I-751 using married name??

By the way, I called them but they have no clue, just ask me to make an appointment with InfoPass for more information about the name change.

Your profile says Buffalo for field office and I missed where you live so I assumed you are near Buffalo, but if you live closer to Rochester, then that is where you should visit SSA.

Yes Info-Pass, they may be good enough to change name on the file so that when you do get green-card it will have the name that you want on it.

Edited March 22, 2008 by YuAndDan

[ViVi and JimJim 0]

Thank you so much!!

I just made an appt with InfoPass again, it will be scheduled on April 1st. We decided to ask them if they can make my name on marriage name before they issue my green card, I hope they may help me and it's still have enough time to make it right as they keep "touching" me these few days for my AOS.

Also we'll bring along with our marriage cert to apply SSN at the same day. We found out both offices are just in 4 mins away, so we hope to make everything to be done in the half dayoff!!