Name Changes

[KnightAndMagpie 7]

Heya guys,

I was wondering how it would affect me in terms of documentation and my green card if, when me and Knight get our marriage registered, I change my middle name. It currently is my father's name at the moment (which obviously hadn't been my choice) and I really don't want it attached to my name anymore considering how I'm estranged from him and the rest of my immediate family. He was a very nasty, cruel man and you can imagine that I'm almost ashamed to be toting the name around. Is it possible to do that upon arrival in the US? I know that it would definitely affect my passport, which I was wondering about, too. Would I have to go back to the UK to get it changed on that, too?

Thankums,

Magpie.

[Laura+Tom 2]

I think you can just omit it when you chose what your married name is to be when you register. Then do the same for all other documentation afterwards.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Not sure how your name is now but as an example

Name now: Mary Ann Jones and you marry Mr. Smith

You can use the name: Mary Ann Smith or Mary Jones Smith as your name.

So does one of those work out for you?

When you are landing at your first stop in the US (POE), they will pass out I-94 (white) or I-94VW (green cards). On a visa, you take the white one. Whatever name you put on that card is how you will be listed in "the database." It only has blanks for first and last name. So two weeks later you go to the Social Security office and apply for your Social Security card. The example person would be Mary Smith on the card issued. At least our SS lady said it had to match exactly the name on the I-94card/database and she couldnt add a middle name. So I guess that cuts out your middle name (dad's) name right there. Not sure if that was just our lady or if that's true for all SS offices.

You go fill out a marriage license application. It will depend on the procedure in that state if there is a way they want your names to appear. If not then tell them which way you want your marriage license to appear...Mary Ann Smith or Mary Jones Smith.

Then fill out all your AOS stuff with that same name. Fill out AOS the way you want your green card and EAD card to read. When you open a bank account or get a driver's license, give that same name. AFter you get your green card, go back to SS office and get the card changed to your married name.

Edit: You don't even have to change your name at all. I didn't take my husband's name.

Edited February 9, 2009 by Nich-Nick

[KnightAndMagpie 7]

Thankums guys!

Well, I do want to take Knight's last name, but I want to change my middle name from my father's name (as I have my [middle name] + [family name] at the moment). I wasn't sure if I could choose a middle name when I get married, in addition to changing my family name to Knight's family name. I've always wanted to choose my middle name as well, and I know I'll feel a lot better when I do. At the moment, I still feel like I'm anchored to something I really don't want to be anchored to and don't take any pride in having.

Magpie.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

So you want to ditch both the middle and family names. That's going to muddy the waters with immigration. I think a name change would most likely be a legal matter. It would have to be done perhaps through a court now in the UK?? Or through the state of Alaska once you get there. I guess you could do it and file for AOS with the brand new name. You would have to send the court order allowing the name change so USCIS could figure it out. Like I said, it could muddy the waters, but is probably doable.

Can we hold a contest to help pick the new name???

[KnightAndMagpie 7]

So you want to ditch both the middle and family names. That's going to muddy the waters with immigration. I think a name change would most likely be a legal matter. It would have to be done perhaps through a court now in the UK?? Or through the state of Alaska once you get there. I guess you could do it and file for AOS with the brand new name. You would have to send the court order allowing the name change so USCIS could figure it out. Like I said, it could muddy the waters, but is probably doable.

Can we hold a contest to help pick the new name???

=D well, sure! My first name is Sanaa, so I was thinking "Maria" or something as a middle name. I'd like something kinda girly but I'm open to suggestions.

I think what I'll likely do is just wait until we register the marriage. I don't want to jeopardise my visa by changing my name now and confusing things. I can always wait a little longer when I get there, but I don't see why it would be a problem if I'm changing my family name anyhow.

Throw me watcha got =D names, anybody? As my first name is common as sand (excuse the expression) in the Middle East/Islamic countries, a middle name would be a nice way to make it a little more unique.

Magpie (or Sanaa!)

[Laura+Tom 2]

Sanaa is a pretty name.

[Stinky Monkey 1]

I think you should have Magpie as your middle name hahahah if you do that I will change mine to Shazza Stinky Monkey hahah

[rocks 494]

lol@shazza. that'd be an interesting one to explain to people. imagine handing over your bank card at walmart!

i love the name maria though, trying to think of other "girly" names... alice? chloe? emily? karen? hmm somehow i can only think of 5 lettered names.

whenever i want to look up something about names i use this site, maybe you will find this useful too.

http://www.behindthename.com/

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

How do you pronounce Sanaa?

Sah nahh

Sah nay

suh nay

San ay

Give it a try how you say it.

[Stinky Monkey 1]

lol@shazza. that'd be an interesting one to explain to people. imagine handing over your bank card at walmart!

i love the name maria though, trying to think of other "girly" names... alice? chloe? emily? karen? hmm somehow i can only think of 5 lettered names.

whenever i want to look up something about names i use this site, maybe you will find this useful too.

http://www.behindthename.com/

hahahahahahaha

by the way I dont go to Wally World I am a Taget kinda gal hahahahaha

[Laura+Tom 2]

lol@shazza. that'd be an interesting one to explain to people. imagine handing over your bank card at walmart!

i love the name maria though, trying to think of other "girly" names... alice? chloe? emily? karen? hmm somehow i can only think of 5 lettered names.

whenever i want to look up something about names i use this site, maybe you will find this useful too.

http://www.behindthename.com/

hahahahahahaha

by the way I dont go to Wally World I am a Taget kinda gal hahahahaha

Least your name didn't originate from a 9th-century Spanish martyr called Saint Laura, who was a nun thrown into a vat of molten lead

[Stinky Monkey 1]

ok........could not resist checked mine out

SHARON

Gender: Feminine

Usage: English, Biblical

Other Scripts: שָׁרוֹן (Hebrew)

Pronounced: SHER-ən (English), SHAR-ən (English) [key]

From an Old Testament place name meaning "plain" in Hebrew, referring to the fertile plain near the coast of Israel. This is also the name of a type of flowering shrub, the rose of Sharon. It has been in use as a given name since the 1920s, possibly inspired by the heroine in the serial novel 'The Skyrocket' (1925) by Adela Rogers St. Johns.

hahahahaha

and I thought it was from Chigwell and your mate had to be called Tracy hahahahahahahah

Well I do have a friend called Tracy and I live 5 mins from Chigwell, but I dont own white stilletoes and I do not own a short skirt hahahahah

[Laura+Tom 2]

ok........could not resist checked mine out

SHARON

Gender: Feminine

Usage: English, Biblical

Other Scripts: שָׁרוֹן (Hebrew)

Pronounced: SHER-ən (English), SHAR-ən (English) [key]

From an Old Testament place name meaning "plain" in Hebrew, referring to the fertile plain near the coast of Israel. This is also the name of a type of flowering shrub, the rose of Sharon. It has been in use as a given name since the 1920s, possibly inspired by the heroine in the serial novel 'The Skyrocket' (1925) by Adela Rogers St. Johns.

hahahahaha

and I thought it was from Chigwell and your mate had to be called Tracy hahahahahahahah

Well I do have a friend called Tracy and I live 5 mins from Chigwell, but I dont own white stilletoes and I do not own a short skirt hahahahah

That's nice, you have a rose named after you.

[rocks 494]

lol@shazza. that'd be an interesting one to explain to people. imagine handing over your bank card at walmart!

i love the name maria though, trying to think of other "girly" names... alice? chloe? emily? karen? hmm somehow i can only think of 5 lettered names.

whenever i want to look up something about names i use this site, maybe you will find this useful too.

http://www.behindthename.com/

hahahahahahaha

by the way I dont go to Wally World I am a Taget kinda gal hahahahaha

omg, target! i'm so jealous. i bet you live near an ikea too!! damn you! :lol: