Spanish Naming Convention?

[the.ronin 0]

Last week during my wife's biometrics appointment, one of the agents who happened to be Spanish practically scolded my wife for inappropriately adopting my last name. So for the sake of discussion, let's say her full name is (just making this up):

Julia Maria Sanchez Cruz

... and that my name is ...

John Andreas

So upon marriage, she took on the name Julia Maria Andreas. That is the name we've used on her ITIN, AOS, and everything else.

But the biometrics lady insisted that it should be ...

Julia Maria de Andreas

... and practically forced my wife to change her name. I am concerned that even this minor change will cause some hiccups or delays in the process. My friends had just gone through the exact same process we have and they said they were allowed to change the name during the GC interview (there was a mistake in the paperwork).

Any advice or observations greatly appreciated.

Edited May 15, 2008 by the.ronin

[BlakeandOlha 0]

Last week during my wife's biometrics appointment, one of the agents who happened to be Spanish practically scolded my wife for inappropriately adopting my last name. So for the sake of discussion, let's say her full name is (just making this up):

Julia Maria Sanchez Cruz

... and that my name is ...

John Andreas

So upon marriage, she took on the name Julia Maria Andreas. That is the name we've used on her ITIN, AOS, and everything else.

But the biometrics lady insisted that it should be ...

Julia Maria de Andreas

... and practically forced my wife to change her name. I am concerned that even this minor change will cause some hiccups or delays in the process. My friends had just gone through the exact same process we have and they said they were allowed to change the name during the GC interview (there was a mistake in the paperwork).

Any advice or observations greatly appreciated.

You gotta be kidding. That is about the most unprofessional behavior I've ever heard of. I don't know if it will cause any hiccups but my opinion is you should have told those folk to shove thier opinions where the sun don't shine. If you can change it later in the process back to what you originally wanted then fine, otherwise I'd raise a stink about it.

[soulprovider915 4]

Last week during my wife's biometrics appointment, one of the agents who happened to be Spanish practically scolded my wife for inappropriately adopting my last name. So for the sake of discussion, let's say her full name is (just making this up):

Julia Maria Sanchez Cruz

... and that my name is ...

John Andreas

So upon marriage, she took on the name Julia Maria Andreas. That is the name we've used on her ITIN, AOS, and everything else.

But the biometrics lady insisted that it should be ...

Julia Maria de Andreas

... and practically forced my wife to change her name. I am concerned that even this minor change will cause some hiccups or delays in the process. My friends had just gone through the exact same process we have and they said they were allowed to change the name during the GC interview (there was a mistake in the paperwork).

Any advice or observations greatly appreciated.

Whenever my wife (who is Spanish) is in need of any service that will be provided by another spanish woman she gets nothing but a hassle. (Cashier, Wait Staff, etc.) There is a bitterness and jealousy that runs so deep when they see a spanish girl with an american guy. They deliberately try to hassle you. Anyone else have these experiences? I unfortunately can't answer your question regarding the name change. I just had to vent out here a bit.

[ELW 5]

That is really ridiculous, the.ronin. I would advise just to keep an eagle eye on your paperwork and if her name appears with the "de", make sure your inform them to get rid of it. Let this be a lesson and help to others, to be on high alert. Don't change anything that doesn't need changing, and get a second opinion!

[the.ronin 0]

Thanks for the responses, all.

I was a bit put off that my wife was put through that as well. But I think we were both just relieved that our process was finally moving - it had been a month since we sent in the AOS application before our check even cashed. I will contact USCIS and inform them of the situation.

[freecake 0]

Ahhh!

when you get married you get a free ticket (you AND your wife) on filling out the marriage license app to change your name to anything you want.. at least thats how it went in NY i could write down literally anything i wanted for me and hubby, Smith, Johnson, Brown, or Dingdong.. anything for a new last name.

So she didn't 'do it wrong' there's no way to!

[Mononoke28 135]

the.ronin, that is complete nonsense. Her married name in the US is not "de Andreas", that's a latino thing and it does not apply here in the States. The agent was completely unprofessional and I would've gone off. I'm a pretty calm person but that would have made me blow a gasket.

Her married name should be Julia Maria Andreas. Non of that "de Andreas" nonsense!

Diana

[GlobeHopperMama 95]

I'm assuming this was a Mexican official even though you said the agent is Spanish. Actually in either country (Spain or Mexico), the convention IS for women to maintain their maiden names through life, or put "de" before the husband's name, like you said. I never legally changed my name, just because of a billion things going on when I got married, and I'm glad I didn't because living/working in Spain and Mexico, I've always been forced to use my maiden name (plus mother's maiden name) for EVERYTHING.

Still, regardless of local tradition, we're talking about someone married to a US citizen, where the naming tradition is totally different. The official had no right to try to harass your wife for choosing the US tradition for taking on a married name. That's outrageous!