Name Change

[Brian&Mel 0]

My CR1 visa has been approved. All this while, we filed with my maiden name. And now my husband and I are thinking about changing my name (first and last name). However we didn't register our marriage in Malaysia and Malaysian government doesn't recognise our marriage there. And also it is not common for women to change our last name after marriage in Malaysia. If we want to change our name, it will be a long and complicated process.

If I want to change my name now, shall I do it before or after the GC is issued? I understand there are some fees involved if I want to change my name now.

Any advise would be appreciated.

Thanks

[ninjarocket 1]

If you want to change your name before receiving your green card you will have to do it in Malaysia before entering the US. Once you have successfully done this in Malaysia, you would then have to check with the US embassy with your new passport etc... in order to have the visa changed to reflect your legally modified name and that in your new passport. If you don't have your passport and visa changed, the green card will be in your maiden name. Hopefully the visa won't expire before all of this is completed! The temporary I-551 (CR visa) that is placed in your passport after the interview has a limited term of validity, after which you can't use it to enter the US anymore. The green card production doesn't begin unless you enter the US.

An alternative would be to enter the US first so as to obtain your green card and then return to Malaysia in order to legally change your name. You could then reenter the US before applying for you new passport and greencard. Once you enter the US, you can apply for new updated passport at the Malaysian embassy and then apply for a new green card that reflects your name change (using form I-90).

Alternatively, you could consider keeping your maiden name and then change to your married name when and if you apply for US citizenship in a few years. There is an option to change ones name during naturalization process. To me this sounds like a simpler and less risky route.

My CR1 visa has been approved. All this while, we filed with my maiden name. And now my husband and I are thinking about changing my name (first and last name). However we didn't register our marriage in Malaysia and Malaysian government doesn't recognise our marriage there. And also it is not common for women to change our last name after marriage in Malaysia. If we want to change our name, it will be a long and complicated process.

If I want to change my name now, shall I do it before or after the GC is issued? I understand there are some fees involved if I want to change my name now.

Any advise would be appreciated.

Thanks

[ninjarocket 1]

If you want to change your name before receiving your green card you will have to do it in Malaysia before entering the US. Once you have successfully done this in Malaysia, you would then have to check with the US embassy with your new passport etc... in order to have the visa changed to reflect your legally modified name and that in your new passport. If you don't have your passport and visa changed, the green card will be in your maiden name. Hopefully the visa won't expire before all of this is completed! The temporary I-551 (CR visa) that is placed in your passport after the interview has a limited term of validity, after which you can't use it to enter the US anymore. The green card production doesn't begin unless you enter the US.

An alternative would be to enter the US first so as to obtain your green card and then return to Malaysia in order to legally change your name. You could then reenter the US before applying for you new passport and greencard. Once you enter the US, you can apply for new updated passport at the Malaysian embassy and then apply for a new green card that reflects your name change (using form I-90).

Alternatively, you could consider keeping your maiden name and then change to your married name when and if you apply for US citizenship in a few years. There is an option to change ones name during naturalization process. To me this sounds like a simpler and less risky route.

My CR1 visa has been approved. All this while, we filed with my maiden name. And now my husband and I are thinking about changing my name (first and last name). However we didn't register our marriage in Malaysia and Malaysian government doesn't recognise our marriage there. And also it is not common for women to change our last name after marriage in Malaysia. If we want to change our name, it will be a long and complicated process.

If I want to change my name now, shall I do it before or after the GC is issued? I understand there are some fees involved if I want to change my name now.

Any advise would be appreciated.

Thanks

[Brian&Mel 0]

If you want to change your name before receiving your green card you will have to do it in Malaysia before entering the US. Once you have successfully done this in Malaysia, you would then have to check with the US embassy with your new passport etc... in order to have the visa changed to reflect your legally modified name and that in your new passport. If you don't have your passport and visa changed, the green card will be in your maiden name. Hopefully the visa won't expire before all of this is completed! The temporary I-551 (CR visa) that is placed in your passport after the interview has a limited term of validity, after which you can't use it to enter the US anymore. The green card production doesn't begin unless you enter the US.

An alternative would be to enter the US first so as to obtain your green card and then return to Malaysia in order to legally change your name. You could then reenter the US before applying for you new passport and greencard. Once you enter the US, you can apply for new updated passport at the Malaysian embassy and then apply for a new green card that reflects your name change (using form I-90).

Alternatively, you could consider keeping your maiden name and then change to your married name when and if you apply for US citizenship in a few years. There is an option to change ones name during naturalization process. To me this sounds like a simpler and less risky route.

My CR1 visa has been approved. All this while, we filed with my maiden name. And now my husband and I are thinking about changing my name (first and last name). However we didn't register our marriage in Malaysia and Malaysian government doesn't recognise our marriage there. And also it is not common for women to change our last name after marriage in Malaysia. If we want to change our name, it will be a long and complicated process.

If I want to change my name now, shall I do it before or after the GC is issued? I understand there are some fees involved if I want to change my name now.

Any advise would be appreciated.

Thanks

Thanks for your reply.

Is it possible if I do not change my maiden name in my passport as it will be lengthy and complicated process as we did not register our marriage in Malaysia? I have heard of people doing this (Passport- maiden name, GC- new married name)

Or can I change my name when I am llifting the condition of the GC?