Jump to content
Aubrey

Changing last names with marriage

By Aubrey in General Polls

 Share

Changing last names with marriage  

72 members have voted

  1. 1. Which partner will change/changed their last name, if any, and how?

    • Wife - take husband's name
      61
    • Wife - hyphenate (wife's-husband's)
      1
    • Both - hyphenate (wife's-husband's)
      0
    • Both hyphenate (husband's-wife's)
      0
    • Husband - take wife's name
      0
    • Husband - hyphenate (husband's-wife's)
      0
    • Neither of us are changing our names
      9
    • Both taking spouse's name as middle name
      0
    • Making up a new last name together
      0
    • Other (Specify)
      1

  2. 2. How important is it to have the same last name as one's spouse?

    • Vital
      11
    • Important, but not life-ending if someone doesn't
      32
    • Not really a big deal either way
      26
    • I'm against it entirely. One's name is their identity.
      3

  3. 3. If you changed your last name at marriage, do you still use your maiden name professionally?

    • Yes
      8
    • Sometimes
      8
    • No, I changed my business cards and notified all my contacts
      37
    • Not applicable, I did not change my name
      15
    • Other (specify)
      4

47 posts in this topic

Recommended Posts

Nessa Grand Master

Nessa   23

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Brazil
 Timeline
Posted

i changed mine. i think it's best for a family to share the same last name, plus my brazilian/german last name is way too dayum long n complicated to use in the states. hubby's last name is very common here.

as for business, i had to start my career from the beginning, so using my last name would make no sense.



* K1 Timeline *
* 04/07/06: I-129F Sent to NSC
* 10/02/06: Interview date - APPROVED!
* 10/10/06: POE Houston
* 11/25/06: Wedding day!!!

* AOS/EAD/AP Timeline *
*01/05/07: AOS/EAD/AP sent
*02/19/08: AOS approved
*02/27/08: Permanent Resident Card received

* LOC Timeline *
*12/31/09: Applied Lifting of Condition
*01/04/10: NOA
*02/12/10: Biometrics
*03/03/10: LOC approved
*03/11/10: 10 years green card received

* Naturalization Timeline *
*12/17/10: package sent
*12/29/10: NOA date
*01/19/11: biometrics
*04/12/11: interview
*04/15/11: approval letter
*05/13/11: Oath Ceremony - Officially done with Immigration.

Complete Timeline

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • Replies 46
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Popular Days

Top Posters In This Topic

Popular Days

Nagishkaw Grand Master

Nagishkaw   510

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: Egypt
 Timeline
Posted

I didn't change mine because I didn't want to.

Don't just open your mouth and prove yourself a fool....put it in writing.

It gets harder the more you know. Because the more you find out, the uglier everything seems.

kodasmall3.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites
PB&JAM Rising Star

PB&JAM   1

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: England
 Timeline
Posted
I'm definitely taking his last name, no hyphen. I strongly believe in two become one flesh and giving up part of myself. To me its a testimony that I am serious, I love this man and I am joined with him for as long as we live.

Really? I don't see marriage as giving up part of oneself but adding to it. If I had to give up being part of who I am, then I'd know I was with the wrong person.

Well I am giving up part of myself, its not just me now solo, its the two individuals joined as one unit, in that sense i'm giving up some of independence, as now i have to think of someone other then myself. We both have to make sacrifices now...when i make big decisions now, i will consult him and vice versa. We will compliment each other. Its no longer just me, its us and i think you have to give up part of your freedom when you get married.

Thats not how he feels, thats how I feel. So no, he is not the wrong person.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jere. 29:11

Link to comment
Share on other sites
KAT&Allie Community Regular

KAT&Allie   0

Posted
Filed: AOS (pnd) Country: United Kingdom
 Timeline
Posted

We decided against hyphenation since both our surnames are long enough by themselves, hyphenated surname just wouldn't fit on any forms :). Therefore, I'll be taking his surname but will keep using my maiden name if and when I need to work with UK clients again.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AOS timeline

I-485,I-765 & I-131 sent: 07-27-2009

Arrived at Chicago lockbox: 07-29-2009

NOA (for all 3): 08-03-2009

Transfer to CSC: 08-26-2009

Touched I-485: 09-01, 02, 03 & 04-2009

Biometrics appointment: 09-02-2009

AP received: 09-18-2009

EAD card received: 09-21-2009

AOS approved: 10-15-2009

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

fed8ac68ff.png

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Big Papa Zone Proficient

Big Papa Zone   93

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: England
 Timeline
Posted
I'm definitely taking his last name, no hyphen. I strongly believe in two become one flesh and giving up part of myself. To me its a testimony that I am serious, I love this man and I am joined with him for as long as we live.

Presumably the above applies to your SO's feelings for you as well? That being the case, is there not a case for him taking your name? Or at least discussing it?

Naturalization Timeline:

Event

Service Center : Phoenix AZ Lockbox

CIS Office : Saint Louis MO

Date Filed : 2014-06-11

NOA Date : 2014-06-16

Bio. Appt. :

Interview Date :

Approved :

Oath Ceremony :

Comments :

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Emancipation Mentor

Emancipation   2

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

I made out like a bandit with my last name change.. jumped up 10 letters in the alphabet!! I was near the end, now I'm near the beginning.. YEAH

AOS:

2007-02-22: Sent AOS /EAD

2007-03-06 : NOA1 AOS /EAD

2007-03-28: Transferred to CSC

2007-05-17: EAD Card Production Ordered

2007-05-21: I485 Approved

2007-05-24: EAD Card Received

2007-06-01: Green Card Received!!

Removal of Conditions:

2009-02-27: Sent I-751

2009-03-07: NOA I-751

2009-03-31: Biometrics Appt. Hartford

2009-07-21: Touched (first time since biometrics) Perhaps address change?

2009-07-28: Approved at VSC

2009-08-25: Received card in the mail

Naturalization

2012-08-20: Submitted N-400

2013-01-18: Became Citizen

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Zee Bee Grand Master

Zee Bee   61

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Ghana
 Timeline
Posted

I took my husband's last name but still use my maiden name professionally. It was not a big deal to us, even though at first he said it was. Once we got married I procrastinated for about 5 months before actually changing it, and when I showed him my license with his name he was like "I didn't know you were changing it" :bonk:

I made out like a bandit with my last name change.. jumped up 10 letters in the alphabet!! I was near the end, now I'm near the beginning.. YEAH

Same here! I went from M to B :dance:

Mama to 2 beautiful boys (August 2011 and January 2015)

Click for full timeline

Link to comment
Share on other sites
tom&tata Proficient

tom&tata   2

Posted
Filed: Country: Indonesia
 Timeline
Posted

did not change it & it is not a big deal.

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

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Rob&Dawn Rising Star

Rob&Dawn   1

Posted
Filed: AOS (pnd) Country: United Kingdom
 Timeline
Posted

I've taken his name, not hyphenated.

My maiden name was hyphenated and very few people outside of family managed to pronounce it let alone spell it (Polish), and the amount of people that just missed the 1st part off totally as they couldn't pronounce it used to irritate me, so changing to an easier surname is kinda cool.

07/15/2008 I-129f sent to VSC

07/19/2008 I-129f received at VSC

12/09/2008 NOA2 approved

01/13/2009 Medical completed

02/03/2009 Interview - APPROVED!!

02/28/2009 POE Raleigh/Durham

05/02/2009 Official wedding day...get to see the family!

04/11/2009 AOS paperwork sent

04/17/2009 NOA for I-765 & I-131

05/13/2009 Biometrics appointment

05/08/2009 Biometrics done

06/05/2009 EAD & AP approved

06/23/2009 back in the UK

Link to comment
Share on other sites
PB&JAM Rising Star

PB&JAM   1

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: England
 Timeline
Posted
I'm definitely taking his last name, no hyphen. I strongly believe in two become one flesh and giving up part of myself. To me its a testimony that I am serious, I love this man and I am joined with him for as long as we live.

Presumably the above applies to your SO's feelings for you as well? That being the case, is there not a case for him taking your name? Or at least discussing it?

haha, no we arent switching names, we will both have his. these are my feelings, whatever i want to do is fine with him.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jere. 29:11

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Marilyn. Grand Master

Marilyn.   340

Posted
Filed: Other Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted (edited)

I had my last name for about 30 years.. I was tired of it and wanted a change so I took his name :P

I like my new name but it is kind of a pain because it isn't spelled like it sounds so I have to spell it out a lot.. or people pronounce it wrong, like I did when I first saw his last name... it wasn't until a few months later that I learned how to say it correctly :lol:

Edited by *Marilyn*
mvSuprise-hug.gif
Link to comment
Share on other sites
redglasses Proficient

redglasses   1

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa (DCF) Country: Japan
 Timeline
Posted

I took my husband's.

I just didn't want my kids to have two different surnames in the US and Japan.

I am still using my maiden name at work though.

It's too much trouble having a western surname here in Japan.

Immigration Process (DCF Japan)

08/06/2008 I-130 petition at Tokyo, Japan

08/13/2008 I-130 approved

|

| Waited until we were ready to move back

|

07/13/2009 IV interview at Tokyo, Japan

07/15/2009 IV(IR-1) in hand

Post-DCF

07/29/2009 POE at Las Vegas

08/17/2009 GC(10yrs) received

Click here for the detailed timeline.

Done with USCIS until

- naturalization in May 2012 or

- GC replacement in February 2019

CXmLm7.png

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Saska+Tim Rising Star

Saska+Tim   7

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Serbia
 Timeline
Posted

I will take his last name. For me that is vital :

To me its a testimony that I am serious, I love this man and I am joined with him for as long as we live.
and + my last name has 10 letters and his has 4

N-400: filled online on May 8th, 2021

Biometric Reuse Notice: May 8th, 2021
Interview: May 10th, 2022 - Interview De-Scheduled

Interview rescheduled on May 11th, 2022

New Interview: Jun 27th, 2022 - Approved 🥳

Oath Ceremony: July 14th, 2022

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
 

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing
- Back to Top -

Important Disclaimer: Please read carefully the Visajourney.com Terms of Service. If you do not agree to the Terms of Service you should not access or view any page (including this page) on VisaJourney.com. Answers and comments provided on Visajourney.com Forums are general information, and are not intended to substitute for informed professional medical, psychiatric, psychological, tax, legal, investment, accounting, or other professional advice. Visajourney.com does not endorse, and expressly disclaims liability for any product, manufacturer, distributor, service or service provider mentioned or any opinion expressed in answers or comments. VisaJourney.com does not condone immigration fraud in any way, shape or manner. VisaJourney.com recommends that if any member or user knows directly of someone involved in fraudulent or illegal activity, that they report such activity directly to the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement. You can contact ICE via email at Immigration.Reply@dhs.gov or you can telephone ICE at 1-866-347-2423. All reported threads/posts containing reference to immigration fraud or illegal activities will be removed from this board. If you feel that you have found inappropriate content, please let us know by contacting us here with a url link to that content. Thank you.
×
×
  • Create New...