Should I wait until my name changes to file?

[RebeccaAndPhil 5]

My fiance and I are getting married in August 2009. We plan on sending out his AOS paperwork ASAP after that but I'm wondering if I should wait until I have all my records changed to change my last name to his. I read it takes a few weeks to get the marriage license in the mail and I'll need that to change my name everywhere else. Should we just send in the AOS paperwork right away or wait until my name is legally changed?

If we send it in with my maiden name used, what happens when my name changes while our status is pending? Will this be a problem?

Thanks!

[payxibka 10,045]

My fiance and I are getting married in August 2009. We plan on sending out his AOS paperwork ASAP after that but I'm wondering if I should wait until I have all my records changed to change my last name to his. I read it takes a few weeks to get the marriage license in the mail and I'll need that to change my name everywhere else. Should we just send in the AOS paperwork right away or wait until my name is legally changed?

If we send it in with my maiden name used, what happens when my name changes while our status is pending? Will this be a problem?

Thanks!

My wife still does not have all her name changes finished...

[imaisha 0]

I am assuming that you are the USC and your fiance is the immigrant.

You'll need the marriage certificate (not the license! the license just says you are allowed to get married) to send in with the AOS paperwork so you'll have to wait a few weeks anyway. I would suggest requesting multiple copies before the wedding.

Though I did the CR-1, this much should be the same. Once I had the marriage certificate I changed my name with Social Security. It took about a week to get my new card but they give you a print out showing the change right away. Then I mailed off my petitions using my married name, even though the photocopy of my passport I included still had my maiden name. It worked out fine. I changed my passport a few weeks after that once I received the additional copies of the marriage certificate we requested.

As long as you change your name with SSA, I think you'll definitely be fine. The passport and license may take a few weeks, but you're fine to apply before that happens.

[lgg 2]

Hey there... where are you getting married? WE got married in ONtario and it took them 9 weeks to register our marriage! If you're assuming your husbands name, your Birth cert. will remain in your maiden name and then you change all your other documents to your married name. If you want your married name on your immigration documents, it's going to have to change on your passport too.

Not sure if I understand what stage you're at with your process but I just want through the name change thing -- our I-130 is still pending and such so...

If you have any questions that pertain to Canada/Ontario or whatever I can help with, I'm happy to -- so many people have helped me here that I'm happy to return the favour.

Best to you...

LGG

My fiance and I are getting married in August 2009. We plan on sending out his AOS paperwork ASAP after that but I'm wondering if I should wait until I have all my records changed to change my last name to his. I read it takes a few weeks to get the marriage license in the mail and I'll need that to change my name everywhere else. Should we just send in the AOS paperwork right away or wait until my name is legally changed?

If we send it in with my maiden name used, what happens when my name changes while our status is pending? Will this be a problem?

Thanks!

[Otto 83]

We (in Texas) carried our signed marriage license down to the county clerk's office ourselves and had it recorded while we waited - may work the same way in your area/state. Saved a bunch of time.

I think that would be sufficient (the marriage certificate) to start the AOS process .

[RebeccaAndPhil 5]

I am assuming that you are the USC and your fiance is the immigrant.

You'll need the marriage certificate (not the license! the license just says you are allowed to get married) to send in with the AOS paperwork so you'll have to wait a few weeks anyway. I would suggest requesting multiple copies before the wedding.

Though I did the CR-1, this much should be the same. Once I had the marriage certificate I changed my name with Social Security. It took about a week to get my new card but they give you a print out showing the change right away. Then I mailed off my petitions using my married name, even though the photocopy of my passport I included still had my maiden name. It worked out fine. I changed my passport a few weeks after that once I received the additional copies of the marriage certificate we requested.

As long as you change your name with SSA, I think you'll definitely be fine. The passport and license may take a few weeks, but you're fine to apply before that happens.

Yes I am the USC and my fiance is the immigrant So if I send in a copy of the marriage license this is sufficient? If I wait until my name is changed on my SS card does this mean my name will be legally changed when I receive my new SS card in the mail? I'm still not sure if I should use my maiden name while filling out all of the forms.

I'm getting married in the USA, state of PA if this helps at all

[rubyred 0]

use your married name. when you go along to the interview, if you don't have a new driver's license or other ID in your married name, just bring along your marriage CERTIFICATE - the license is meaningless, it's just permission to get married - along with your other ID in your maiden name. DO NOT send the license in with your application for AOS, send a regular photocopy of the certificate after you get married.

man, some of the wait times here for marriage certs are ridiculous. we were lucky - we got ours the day we got married, immediately.

Edited June 20, 2009 by rubyred

[Septembergold 0]

Just use your married name when filling out the AOS paper work. That`s what we did. Your marriage certificate will be enough to show your "name change" for the immigration purposes and then you`ll get your EAD card with your married name on it. Don`t worry about changing your last name too much. We`ve been married for almost a year, and I just NOW got my last name changed on the SS card because otherwise they refused to issue a state ID for me at the Secretary of State....

[RebeccaAndPhil 5]

Just use your married name when filling out the AOS paper work. That`s what we did. Your marriage certificate will be enough to show your "name change" for the immigration purposes and then you`ll get your EAD card with your married name on it. Don`t worry about changing your last name too much. We`ve been married for almost a year, and I just NOW got my last name changed on the SS card because otherwise they refused to issue a state ID for me at the Secretary of State....

Ok thanks to both of you!! I appreciate the help It's nice to know some other people are going through/have gone through the same things we are!