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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: China
Timeline
Posted
Hey all,

I have been thinking a lot about whether or not I want to change my name. I recently married in March and have not changed my name. First off, it seems like a big pain in the butt to change it when you're in the middle of all this immigration stuff... but secondly, I'm not sure if I want to. I know a lot of people do, and a lot of people add the married name to their maiden name, but I am curious as to why... why did you change your name, or not change your name?

I have been doing a lot of research on the subject and I thought these links were interesting.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maiden_name

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,280574,00.html

It seems horribly sexist to me though, that in some States a man cannot change his name upon getting married as a woman can, and instead has to go through the courts and dish out money to make the change.

Right now I'm leaning toward not changing my name. Or changing both our names, maybe we could make up our own unique last name. The only benefit I see at this point in having the same name is if we had children.

What are your thoughts? I'm curious.

Janny

My wife did not change her name when we married. She is from China and traditionally Chinese women do not change their name when they marry. Unlike some other Chinese names her name is short and very easy to pronounce. Her first name is only 3 letters and her family name is only 2 letters. In English it's pronounced exactly as it's spelled. At first she thought it was required that she change her name to mine in this country. When I told her she had the option she decided to keep her own name. Actually, she asked some of my friends and most of them thought she should keep her own name because her first name combined with my last name sounded a little strange.

10-17-2006. I-129F filed.

10-19-2006. NOA1

01-25-2007. NOA2

02-12-2007. NVC notification saying petition is approved.

05-11-2007. Packet 3 received.

05-14-2007. Packet 3 forms sent.

06-16-2007. Packet 4 received.

07-03-2007. Medical examination.

07-10-2007. Interview. Passed!!!!

07-12-2007. Received visa.

07-18-2007. Applied for Marriage License.

08-04-2007. Fan arrives in the United States.

08-08-2007. Married.

08-24-2007. Applications for AOS, EAD, and Advance Parole.

08-30-2007. NOA for AOS.

09-07-2007. Applied for SSN.

09-18-2007. NOA for EAD and Advance Parole.

09-20-2007. Received SS card.

10-05-2007. Received appointment date for biometrics.

10-23-2007. Received Advance Parole.

11-02-2007. Biometrics.

11-06-2007. AOS transfered to CSC.

11-07-2007. EAD approved.

11-16-2007. EAD card received.

12-06-2007. AOS approved.

12-14-2007. Green Card Received in mail.

09-05-2009. I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence sent.

09-16-2009. NOA and biometrics appointment received.

10-13-2009. Biometrics.

10-26-2009. USCIS email. Approved. Card production ordered.

10-29-2009. Approval notice, dated 10-26, arrives in mail.

11-02-2009. Green Card arrives in mail.

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Canada
Timeline
Posted

I have no particular attachment to my maiden name and when I married my first husband, I happily took his name. It was easy to say & easy to sign. However, after the divorce I didn't want any part of 'him' so I went back to my maiden name. It was such a pain to change it back because I had to deal with Canadian immigration as well as the regular stuff & there was considerable expense involved.

Now I have a new husband (and another immigration process) - I will not be changing my name again. I will use my married name to keep my husband happy for non-official things only. It doesn't mean I love him any less. I think each person should do what feels right to them and I wouldn't cave in to pressure from other people.

Removal of Conditions I-751

07.23.2018 Sent I-751 Priority Express to CSC (California)

08.02.2018 18 month Green Card extension letter

07.16.2019 Biometrics complete

09.04.2019 Case transferred to Lee's Summit, MO (NBC)

03.22.2021 New card in production

03.23.2021 I-751 approval notice (without interview)

03.27.2021 10-year green card received

 

N400 Naturalization Application

07.22.2019 Online application; USCIS estimated completion Sept 2020

07.31.2019 Biometrics complete

12.18.2020 Contacted State Senator (I-751 pending for more than 2 years)

05.10.2021 Interview  - recommended for approval

06.03.2021 Oath day...finally done!!

 

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Brazil
Timeline
Posted

I changed my surname because I wanted to and then I found out my husband liked that (he never said either way before). I was looking forward to becoming Mrs. *******. My maiden name is very common and simple. My married name is not hard, it rhymes with a common food brand in the U.S., but people here don't find it as easy as I thought. :bonk: But I don't care.

Now my complete name is long and I like it. I have a Portuguese last name and I think it fits me.

11/2004 - Met in Brazil

09/2006 - Apply for K1

03/2007 - K1 approved

04/2007 - Apply for AOS & EAD

07/2007 - EAD approved

01/2008 - Conditional Residency approved

11/2009 - Apply to remove conditions

02/2010 - Permanent Residency approved

11/2010 - Apply for Citizenship

03/2011 - Citizenship approved

07/2011 - Moved back to Brazil

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Morocco
Timeline
Posted (edited)

I did not change my name. I wasn't making any particular statement, it was just our decision. But some people really can be so judgmental about it - I often detect a hint of the "oh god not another feminazi" eye roll.

Edited by Jenn!
Posted

I used my hubby's family name. I love it.

God is Great .. God is good... all the time..

N_-400

12/13/2010- SEnt The packet

12/22/2010- The packet was returned due to missing page.

12/23/2010- Resend the packet with complete pages.

12/29/2010- Check cashed in

01/03/2010- Receive NOA

01/10/2011- Email from USCIS for the Required Evidence( Finger printing)

01/26/2011-Biometric Schedule

02/07/2011-USCIS online status update-

02/12/2011- Received Interview Letter Scheduled March 14

02/12/2011- Received Descheduled letter

02/17/2011- USCIS online Status update

02/22/2011-New IL arrived schedule for March 29

02/22/2011-Descheduled Letter Again ( 2nd Time)

02/23/2011- I called USCIS and I was told new schedule in the computer for March 22

02/23/2011-USCIS ONline update....

03/01/2011-Interview Letter for March 22 @ 7:15 AM

03/22/2011- Interview and Oath; US Citizen

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Brazil
Timeline
Posted
I did not change my name. I wasn't making any particular statement, it was just our decision. But some people really can be so judgmental about it - I often detect a hint of the "oh god not another feminazi" eye roll.

Why do people care so much about what others do... jeez.

11/2004 - Met in Brazil

09/2006 - Apply for K1

03/2007 - K1 approved

04/2007 - Apply for AOS & EAD

07/2007 - EAD approved

01/2008 - Conditional Residency approved

11/2009 - Apply to remove conditions

02/2010 - Permanent Residency approved

11/2010 - Apply for Citizenship

03/2011 - Citizenship approved

07/2011 - Moved back to Brazil

Posted

I changed my name when I got married. It wasn't all that important for me to keep my maiden name and besides, people would have just buthered it over here. :lol:

 

May 25, 2004: Got married in Denmark
June 8, 2004: Received passport with new last name
June 11, 2004: Went to the U.S. embassy in Denmark to file the I-130 and DS-230 - approved on the spot
June 18, 2004: Received letter of appointment plus packet 4
August 5, 2004: Interview at U.S. embassy - APPROVED!!!
August 19, 2004: Went back to the U.S. with my husband
May 27, 2006: Filed I-751
July 25, 2006: I-751 approved!

March 13, 2016: Filed I-90 for Permanent Resident Card renewal

March 22, 2016: Received letter of appointment for biometrics appointment

April 8, 2016: Biometrics appointment

September 21, 2016: I-90 approved

December 27, 2022: Filed N400 for US citizenship

December 27, 2022: Biometrics reused

February 2, 2023: Interview notice received

March 10, 2023: N400 approved 

March 10, 2023: Oath ceremony notice provided right after interview 

March 24: Oath ceremony 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed: Country: Canada
Timeline
Posted

I changed my name to my husband's. Reason? I wanted to get rid of my ex's name. It was also a way to honour my husband and not for some traditional whatever. Besides, I like my husband's name! :D

Teaching is the essential profession...the one that makes ALL other professions possible - David Haselkorn

  • 2 weeks later...
Posted

i dont like my fiance's last name,i like mine,but i'm taking his last name when we get married simply because we are going to be as one....we are going to share everything we have....

May 2000 - first time we met

June 2000 - started dating

Feb.16, 2008 - filed for K1

Feb. 25, 2008 -NOA1

July 26, 2008 -NOA2

July 31, 2008 - Package received ny NVC

Aug. 5, 2008 -Recieved by Montreal Consulate

Sept.12, 2008 -Packet 3 received

Sept.17, 2008 -Packet 3 sent

Dec. 12, 2008 -Packet 4 received

Feb 11, 2009 -interview

Feb 20, 2009 - K1 visa received

Feb 25, 2009 - US entry

March 18,2009- Wedding

AOS

April 9, 2009 - filed for application

April 15, 2009 - NOA received for I-1485,EAD, & AP

May 5, 2009 - Biometrics

May 26, 2009 - AP received

May 26, 2009 - card production ordered for EAD

June 5, 2009 - EAD received

July 7, 2009 - Interview appointment received

Aug 20, 2009 - Interview---approved

Sept 2, 2009 - Card recieved

Posted

I've been thinking about it but I'm not sure.

On one hand, I want to take his surname because as the poster above says, I want to share everything with him. I also like tradition.

However, my mum and gran have passed away in the past few years and I'm the only female in the family (except for extended family), and it almost feels like I'm betraying them by changing my last name - my dad and brother will obviously stay with this name, and my mum had it too...

I know that's more about my own issues though, so who knows what I'll decide.

  • 3 months later...
Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Ecuador
Timeline
Posted

I'm reading through this thread quite a bit after it was posted, but this is great information. Thanks for sharing so many super links! How wonderful to learn about Lucy Stone- that's a name we should all know!!

4.25.08: sent K-1 application

4.28.08: NOA1

5.14.08: touched

9.25.08: touched

9.26.08: touched

9.26.08: NOA2

10.2.08: at NVC, letter says our application will be sent to Guayaquil in one week

10.9.08: spoke with consulate, they have our case

10.13.08: Doctor's appointment

10.20.08: Interview READ THE REVIEWS!

10.30.08: entry: Los Angeles

11.12.08: marriage

11.25.08: applied for Social Security card. READ THE vj GUIDE!

12.3.08: packet and letter for interview arrived at fiance's mail in Ecuador- for 10.20 interview! ha ha!

12.5.08: received SS card in mail

1.9.09: sent AOS/EAD/AP applications

2.10.09: Biometrics appt, Sacramento CA

3.15.09: AP recieved in mail

3.26.09: EAD recieved in mail

3.26.09: AOS interview, Sacramento, CA

4.09.09: Permanent Resident card received in mail

3.11.11: Mailed I-751 to CSC

3.14.11: I-751 received by CSC per USPS tracking

3.14.11: NOA date (received in mail on 3.19) one year extension

Filed: Citizen (pnd) Country: China
Timeline
Posted

Interesting. My fiancee and I have not yet decided what to do. I have no problem if she keeps her maiden name, as traditionally women in China don't change their name when they get married. But, in China, the surname comes first. She doesn't like how her name sounds with her surname at the end. There is also the issue that Chinese names are largely incompatible with American English speakers. We've tossed around the idea of her taking my last name, and adopting her unofficial English name as her legal first name, and keeping her Chinese given name as her middle name. I don't know if we will encounter any difficulty in changing her entire name.

10-28-2008 - I-129F petition in the mail

11-03-2008 - NOA1

03-26-2009 - NOA2

04-23-2009 - P3

06-11-2009 - P4

07-16-2009 - interview - APPROVED

07-22-2009 - visa in hand

08-05-2009 - US entry

09-13-2009 - wedding

10-20-2009 - AOS application in the mail

10-28-2009 - NOA

11-25-2009 - biometrics appointment

12-18-2009 - EAD approved

12-22-2009 - EAD card received

01-28-2010 - interview - APPROVED

02-12-2010 - green card received

11-07-2011 - I-751 petition in the mail

11-10-2011 - NOA

12-30-2011 - biometrics appointment

08-13-2012 - approval

03-28-2013 - N-400 application in the mail

04-02-2013 - NOA

04-30-2013 - biometrics appointment

06-13-2013 - interview - APPROVED

08-26-2013 - oath

Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Australia
Timeline
Posted

I will be taking Chris' name, personally I like my madien name, and our family only has 2 girls so it will be sad to see that Dad's name stops with him.

However, My mum took my dad's name and has lived quite happily with it for the last 28 years, in fact, on both my mothers and fathers side they have always taken the name of the husband. Having grown up with this I see it as traditional to take the husbands name.

But I also like the idea of being one and a family, plus at first my name sounded funny with his, but after saying it a few times it feels right (plus it gets rid of the silly little "my intials spell my nickname" that my parents thought was such a good idea). I think Chris is happy that I will be taking his name, I will have to ask to be certain tomorrow when I talk to him though lol....

06-18-2006 Met online in WoW

04-25-2007 Admitted that we had feelings for each other started talking on skype everyday!

10-12-2007 Met in US in person for the first time, love at first sight lol, 2 perfect months together.

06-21-2008 Engaged

08-16-2008 Package finally put together and posted to Vermont! Let the real games begin.

08-21-2008 Delieved, least thats what Fedex told us....

08-27-2008 Check Cashed *dances* come on NOA1!!!!!

08-29-2008 NOA1

10-27-2008 RFE

11-10-2008 RFE returned

03-01-2009 Confirmed Case lost by USCIS

04-03-2009 Refiled K1 Visa application complete with expedite due to USCIS error.

05-14-2009 K1 package once again has vanished....

06-08-2009 Hired lawyer to proceed with Appeal process.

06-26-2009 Paperwork Fedex'ed to lawyer

07-02-2009 Lawyer submitted our suit to court

07-17-2009 Court day 2: Success, must respond by 21st August. - No result ever came from this.

10/06/2009 Withdrew K1 petition

10/10/2009 Married

10/24/2009 CR1 packet completed and posted

10/26/2009 Packet arrived at Chicago - And Submitted our Aussie application

11/04/2009 Application of CR1 returned - was rejected because of a "blurry zip code" we didn't bother to re-apply given that Chris had lost his job

04/05/2010 Australian application still pending

September 2010 - Chris arrived in Australia on Temporary Visa.

10/10/2011 - 2 year wedding anniversary - Chris to be granted Australian Permanent Residency

Summer 2012 - Planned immigration to USA.

*We have visited each other 8 times since 2007*

Filed: Country: Indonesia
Timeline
Posted

No name change - not a culture where I come from. All paperwork in US also carry maiden name. I am just too lazy to change everything.

I-130

Jun 28 2004 : Received at NSC

Oct 25 2004 : Transferred to CSC

Oct 29 2004 : Received at CSC

Nov 8 2004 : Received response from CSC that my file is being requested & review will be done

Nov 10 2004 : Email & online status Approved

Nov 15 2004 : NOA 2 in mail

Dec 16 2004 : NVC assigns case number

Dec 20 2004 : NVC sent DS 3032 to beneficiary, copy of DS 3032 & I-864 fee bill to petitioner

Jan 3 2005 : Petitioner received copy of DS 3032 and I-864 fee bill. Post-marked Dec 23rd.

Jan 11 2005 : Beneficiary received DS 3032 in Indonesia

Jan 31 2005 : Sent DS 3032 to NVC

Feb 8, 2005 : NVC received DS 3032

Feb 21, 2005 : IV fee generated

Feb 25, 2005 : Sent I-864 fee bill

Feb 28, 2005 : I-864 fee bill delivered to St Louis

Mar 3, 2005 : IV fee bill received

Mar 7, 2005 : Sent IV fee bill

Mar 9, 2005 : IV fee bill delivered to St Louis

Mar 28, 2005 : I-864 fee credited against case.

April 6, 2005 : Received I-864 package

April 7, 2005 : Immigrant Visa fee credited against case.

April 11, 2005 : DS 230 is generated

Aug 12, 2005 : I-864 & DS 230 received by NVC

Sep 14, 2005 : RFE on I-864

Nov 3, 2005 : Checklist response received at NVC

Nov 25, 2005 : Case completion

Dec 9, 2005 : Police Cert requested from the Netherlands

Jan 12 2006 : Interview success - Approved !!

Jan 19 2006 : Visa & brown envelope picked up

Filed: Country: United Kingdom
Timeline
Posted

I will be taking Tom's surname which is a very English name anyway. With regards to difficulty changing names whilst going through the immigration process, I don't think it makes any difference whether I was or wasn't going through it as you just show your marriage certificate to change things. I'm having a new life so I might as well have a new name to go with it! Even if I got married to an Englishman I would still take his surname.

 
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