name change?

[ravda 0]

I have recently married my US fiance and we are now happily married and living in Oregon. This may seem like a daft question but it is one that has us wondering; now that we are married do we have to legally change my name to my husband's surname or is it the assumption that now we are married that i will be known by my husband's name? Also as my UK passport is still legal till 2008 will this still be legal for me to use even now that i am married? We have an appointment with the INS next week and will be asking these types of questions then but we were hoping for some advice sooner from this great forum that has helped us in the past.

thanks to all who help

R & D

[VivaMexico 0]

I have recently married my US fiance and we are now happily married and living in Oregon. This may seem like a daft question but it is one that has us wondering; now that we are married do we have to legally change my name to my husband's surname or is it the assumption that now we are married that i will be known by my husband's name? Also as my UK passport is still legal till 2008 will this still be legal for me to use even now that i am married? We have an appointment with the INS next week and will be asking these types of questions then but we were hoping for some advice sooner from this great forum that has helped us in the past.

thanks to all who help

R & D

First of all, you don't HAVE to change your name when you get married, and the government most certainly will not assume that you did. Did you change it on your marriage certificate? If not, then you have not changed your name! If you did change it on the marriage license, then you can still use the old passport, but carry a copy of your marriage license to explain why the name is different.

[raymaga 25]

It is your choice as to whether you want to keep using your maiden name or take your husband's surname now that you are married. If you plan on taking your husband's surname, make sure you fill out all your AOS forms (and EAD and AP as well, if needed) using your new surname. You will be enclosing a photocopy of your marriage certificate with your AOS application, so USCIS will see why your name changed.

You can keep using your current passport as long as you keep a certified copy of your marriage certificate with you at all times to show why your other ID has a different name than your passport (assuming you are taking your husband's surname). When you travel outside the U.S., make sure your tickets are in the same name as your passport. You will have your marriage certificate with you to show why your other ID is in a different name.

[Peter Miami 0]

It is your choice as to whether you want to keep using your maiden name or take your husband's surname now that you are married. If you plan on taking your husband's surname, make sure you fill out all your AOS forms (and EAD and AP as well, if needed) using your new surname. You will be enclosing a photocopy of your marriage certificate with your AOS application, so USCIS will see why your name changed.

You can keep using your current passport as long as you keep a certified copy of your marriage certificate with you at all times to show why your other ID has a different name than your passport (assuming you are taking your husband's surname). When you travel outside the U.S., make sure your tickets are in the same name as your passport. You will have your marriage certificate with you to show why your other ID is in a different name.

Ditto, very well put!

Peter Miami