Name change questions

[beetee4ever 0]

Hello, I would like to get some info on this matter.

How is the procedure for a name change in the US ???

And is it true that you can only change your name if you are a US Citizen, even LPR's cannot change name, how about lastnames if you are married ????

Thank you for reading this

[Nessa 23]

Not sure. all i know is what i've seen one tv, one day i was watching Friends and Phoebe changed her name for Princess Consuela Banana Hammock Sorry can't help

[I'm Gone 60]

Hello, I would like to get some info on this matter.

How is the procedure for a name change in the US ???

And is it true that you can only change your name if you are a US Citizen, even LPR's cannot change name, how about last names if you are married ????

Every state allows a woman to change her last name to her husband's with marriage. You can change your name with a divorce, when you become a U.S. citizen (the N-400 asks if you want to change your name) or through a court order.

If you want to change the name on your SSN record you need a legal name change document, i.e. marriage certifice, divorce decree, court order, naturalization certificate, or a valid immigration document in that name, i.e. EAD card or I-551 card.

[KimTung 0]

Hello,

I'm confused on which last name to use. My husband is a US citizen and if he will petition me for I-130 and K3 visa should I change my last name to his surname or can still use my current last name? I hope you can help me with this issue.

Hello, I would like to get some info on this matter.

How is the procedure for a name change in the US ???

And is it true that you can only change your name if you are a US Citizen, even LPR's cannot change name, how about last names if you are married ????

Every state allows a woman to change her last name to her husband's with marriage. You can change your name with a divorce, when you become a U.S. citizen (the N-400 asks if you want to change your name) or through a court order.

If you want to change the name on your SSN record you need a legal name change document, i.e. marriage certifice, divorce decree, court order, naturalization certificate, or a valid immigration document in that name, i.e. EAD card or I-551 card.

[Thrak 0]

I'm a bit confused on the name change as well.

My wife(from Mexico) entered the US on a K1 visa in April, and we got married by the Justice of the Peace on May 12th. She already received her Social Security Number, and at the time we applied for it...the person helping us told us to get married then return to change her last name to mine. We returned with our marriage certificate and they told us that they can't change her name until after she has permanent residency. The guide online here says to get married and then return to change the last name.

Is there any official documentation on this? I'd like to take something official to the SS office or point them to the official site.

p.s. we are about to file for her Adjustment of Status and I am also wondering what name do we put for her Family name on the I-485. Do we use her original maiden name or do we put my last name now? any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks and good luck to everyone!

[evilcanuck 0]

All of my paperwork for the k-1 was in my maiden name, and when I got here I applied for SSN and got it in my maiden name. I sent in all the paperwork for the AOS, AP and EAD in my maiden name which I began using after we were married. When you send in all the papers you have to send copies of your marriage certificate so it isnt rocket science for them to figure things out, you still have the same A# and case #

When I went to get my drivers license, I took my Ontario license, and marriage certificate and got the new license with my married name (apparently I wasnt supposed to get the license until after AOS but they were screwing everything up so bad and I had to go back so many times, that they eventually erred in my favour LOL).

When I went to go change my name on my SSN, they wouldnt do it either because they said my visa had expired...remember its only good for 6 months from date of issue? Thas why they wont do anything with it.

I will go see about changing it when I go for my AOS interview in 2 months...its in the same building

[I'm Gone 60]

I'm a bit confused on the name change as well.

My wife(from Mexico) entered the US on a K1 visa in April, and we got married by the Justice of the Peace on May 12th. She already received her Social Security Number, and at the time we applied for it...the person helping us told us to get married then return to change her last name to mine. We returned with our marriage certificate and they told us that they can't change her name until after she has permanent residency.

Is there any official documentation on this? I'd like to take something official to the SS office or point them to the official site.

If she ented as a K-1 and hasn't been here over 76 days and the marriage certificate has her age or date of birth, that along with her I-94 and passport should be enough for the name change with SSA. However, her status still needs to be verified and if she is getting close to the 76th day time could run out before her status is verified. Then she will need either an EAD card or I-551 card.

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203210

RM 00203.210 Changing Numident Data

a. Bride Takes Groom’s Last Name

In all 50 U.S. States (this means the 50 States, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands,

Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa) the bride may take her husband's last name

(surname or family name) as her new last name. (EXAMPLE: Jane Doe married John Jones and she may

change her name to Jane Jones.)

Interim Guidance: If the bride wants to take her husband's last name, accept the marriage document

as a legal name change for the bride if the new name can be derived from the marriage document; even

if the marriage document only shows each partner's first names, the bride's prior surname and

husband's surname.

Marriage document or marriage record to be acceptable as an identity document it must show, in addition to the new name, the person’s age or DOB or parents’ names.

C. Procedure - Immigration Document as Evidence of Legal Name

When issuing immigration documents, the Department of State and DHS issue them in the person's legal

name. The legal name is also generally the name in which the foreign passport was issued.

When an alien applies for an SSN card, presume the name on the immigration document is the legal

name unless the applicant presents evidence of a legal name change (e.g., marriage) that occurred

after the immigration document was issued.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The SSA office will try to verify her status through the SAVE system while she is in the office. If they can't, they will send a form G-845 to immigration for manual verification. This could delay the issuing of the card for weeks and some times months.

If they can verify her through SAVE as "tempoary employment authorized" this may stop them from sending the G-845:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203735

RM 00203.735 Requesting Online (Primary) Verification By SAVE

E. PROCEDURE—ONLINE SAVE QUERY RESPONSE INFORMATION DOES NOT AGREE WITH MMIGRATION DOCUMENT

1. Name

e. Applicant Has Changed His/Her Name But SAVE Query Response Shows Old Name

In some cases, the applicant may have changed his/her name after DHS issued the immigration document (e.g., he/she has married and is now using the spouse’s last name) but does not present an immigration document showing the new name. In these cases, the DHS system reflects the new name only when the person provided the name change information to DHS and requested to have his/her immigration record changed to show the new name.

When the SAVE query response shows the old name that is shown on the immigration document presented and not the new name on the identity document presented, do not consider this a name discrepancy for enumeration purposes. See RM 00203.200 when the applicant presents an identity document in the new name that is more recent than the immigration document to determine if the identity document is acceptable. Tell the applicant he/she must report the name change to DHS so that DHS can update its records.

NOTE FROM ME: Procedure tells the SSA office to tell you to report the name change to DHS, not that the application can't be processed.

If the SSA office does send the G-845, suggest that she go back to the SSA office no more than once a week with your documents to (1) ask them to check SAVE again (2) ask if they sent a G-845 (3) if yes, did it come

back (4) after 30 days ask if they have followed up on the G-845 by calling or sending another mark "second request."

When I went to go change my name on my SSN, they wouldnt do it either because they said my visa had expired...remember its only good for 6 months from date of issue?

It's your I-94, not your visa that matters. The I-94 is what establishes your K-1 status and it good for 90 days. However, SSA is not assign an SSN or issued a card to a person who's status has expired or is within 14 days of expiring. So that only gives you 76 days as a K-1 to get things done with SSA. After that time you need either an EAD card or I-551.