Middle Name on I-485 Part 1

[Carpe-Diem 0]

We got married in New York City this week. Our marriage certificate lists my wife with her old First Name and new Last Name (she took on my Last Name), but leaves the Middle Name blank. NYC County Clerk said that since her Indian passport has no Middle Name listed, they cannot print any middle name on the marriage certificate.

However she would like to use a Middle Name of her choice going forward.

Now that I am ready to file her I-485, I have a question. Does the Middle Name field on Part 1 of the I-485 form has to correspond exactly to the marriage certificate (in which case I will have to leave it blank) OR can we slip in a Middle Name of our choice here? Does the USCIS really care about middle names?

[Ngoc-Anh 1]

I did not have a middle name on my marriage certificate but on the AOS form I put my given name (old last name) as middle name.

[YuAndDan 153]

Sounds like you dealt with someone who dose not understand NYS Marriage License rules.

My Wife too had NO middle name, She took her old family name as middle name, and my family name as her new family name. That is how it is on our marriage cert, her green-card, her SS Card, and her learner's permit.

You should be able to put a middle name there on the I-485 if you choose.

Edited April 9, 2008 by YuAndDan

[Carpe-Diem 0]

Thanks for the quick response, guys.

I am going ahead and using a middle name on the I-485 form even though no middle name is listed on my marriage certificate.

In any case, anyone can change their name in New York City at any point. And best of all the NYC court system offers a free interactive name change petition program so you don't even need an attorney. You just need to answer some basic questions online and your affidavit is ready in seconds. You can then print it and file it in civil court for a $65 fee. Check the link below...

http://www.courts.state.ny.us/courts/nyc/c...mechanges.shtml

[DanielParul 50]

Our marriage cert has my old name as the last name... will that be a problem while filing for AOS??

[YuAndDan 153]

Our marriage cert has my old name as the last name... will that be a problem while filing for AOS??

NO though you should use name that is on marriage cert. If you want to take married name, depending on what state you live in you may have to get name changed legally before you file AOS.

[motu 6]

Our marriage cert has my old name as the last name... will that be a problem while filing for AOS??

NO though you should use name that is on marriage cert. If you want to take married name, depending on what state you live in you may have to get name changed legally before you file AOS.

You and Dan - I was confused by your response. I thought one can change their name while filing for AOS - whether they wanted to change their last name or middle name. I didn't think they will have to get it changed through the state first for any reason - I always thought the Feds trumped state in such cases.