Question on name change during filing of I-751

[vylex 0]

Hi folks,

My wife is due for removing conditions. We had used her maiden name when getting the visa and hence the green card reflects that. Now my question is, can we use my last name when we apply for the 10yr GC? We didn't want to pay to have the conditional GC changed since we knew we are applying soon anyway for the next one (and it was like $200 or so to change it).

Has anyone done this?

Thanks for any info!

[Anh map 2,098]

Use her legal name.

[vylex 0]

Use her legal name.

Technically her legal name could be my last name and not just her maiden name. I just wanted to know if I can do this change while filing for the 10 yr GC so I can avoid yet another process and more money for the USCIS.

Thanks.

[Twomoles 8]

Thought through one way and other, and in the end I never changed surname, did not wanted to complicate namechecks. If I would change than only when the USCIS mess is done and over.

[vylex 0]

Thought through one way and other, and in the end I never changed surname, did not wanted to complicate namechecks. If I would change than only when the USCIS mess is done and over.

Thanks for the feedback. You do have a point. The USCIS sometimes has problems with straightforward processing.

I wish I was thinking straight when we filed for the IR-1. I didn't realize I could apply using our married name.

[Alpha1978 0]

I know it is not completely the same case as yours but when I was applying for my conditional green card i put the slash where my middle name should be since I do not have one.Somehow they interpreted that as a letter "I" so my green card and my DL had it too.And like you I never changed it.When I was applying for Removal Of Conditions I wrote a nice letter explaining how mistake happened and asked them if they could correct it and when I was filling out the paperwork for it, this time I just left the middle name field blank.

You too, I suppose, could do the same thing - write the letter explain how you thought you had to use her maiden name as that is the name they knew her through K-1 but that she is actually using your last name,then fill out the forms with YOUR last name this time as that is what they will go by when processing the Removal.Might wanna add a copy of your Marriage Certificate again just to make sure.

In the worst case they might say no and you would still have to go through the name change letter but if they do it it might save you a couple of hundred.

[harborNY 0]

Hi vylex,

I just recieved my 10 year green card.

I was in the same situation. I filed I 485 under my maiden name in order not to create a mess with my married name and documents.

When it was time to remove conditions and file I 751 , I filed it under my husbands name (married name).

When I send a package I wrote a cover letter which stated that I wish to change my maiden name to married name. Everything went smooth. No mess, no USCIS confusion, no mishaps. All correspondence from USCIS come under my new name.

I advise to file under married name, dont forget to attach your marriage certificate. This way when your wife will get 10 year GC she won't have to file I 90 and you will save $$$$390!

I am so exited now. Now I legally have my husbands last name, I can change my DL and bank paperwork.

Good Luck!

Edited July 24, 2009 by harborNY

[Twomoles 8]

But I always wonder how it is to travel and do everything else with husbands name. I probably should start a new topic, but, I have had a life back in my country - my passport, my bank accounts, my school papers etc.

I figured that to go to Washington and change passport (plus my university credit transfers, my social security back in home, plus what my mum will say etc. it would be more expensive than dealing with USCIS.

Or maybe it is only culture, and preference, and traditions of the country you are from.

Some women get excited to get husbands surname, I am resisting to change it.

[harborNY 0]

to twomoles:

well I come from the same culture as you do actually. I come from Estonia, we are neighbors.

Women in my country do change their last name to husbands name after they get married. Why not? You both become a union after you get married. I am proud to have my husbands last name.

I probably not gonna change my last name in Estonian paperwork(or maybe when my Est passport expires in 5 years). But it doesnt cost any money to change your name on DL or SScard or the bank here in the US.

You dont have to change your last name on school transcripts, you can keep it maiden. If you go to college here in the US you can show them your Latvian translated birth certificate or copy of old passport. I didnt have problems when I enrolled.

By the way, are you consider to apply for US Citizenship?

Does Latvia recognize dual citizenship? Estonia sucks. They dont. I will have to make a big decicion soon.

[Twomoles 8]

to twomoles:

well I come from the same culture as you do actually. I come from Estonia, we are neighbors.

Women in my country do change their last name to husbands name after they get married. Why not? You both become a union after you get married. I am proud to have my husbands last name.

I probably not gonna change my last name in Estonian paperwork(or maybe when my Est passport expires in 5 years). But it doesnt cost any money to change your name on DL or SScard or the bank here in the US.

You dont have to change your last name on school transcripts, you can keep it maiden. If you go to college here in the US you can show them your Latvian translated birth certificate or copy of old passport. I didnt have problems when I enrolled.

By the way, are you consider to apply for US Citizenship?

Does Latvia recognize dual citizenship? Estonia sucks. They dont. I will have to make a big decicion soon.

I do consider applying for citizenship, - and I do not. My country does not allow dual citizenship - anymore. I think actually it is not so much because of concern of returning wartime immigrants, but more so because of the Russian side. They used to allow. Now they allow kids until 18 years old to have dual, I think. Then you have to choose. And I like the idea of being GK holder, and EU citizen at the same time, easier to travel. But it is generally quite confusing questions for me.

Well, the change of citizenship is also a moral question. I am rooted in two places, and loyal to two countries, and I think it is possible. But my mum will never forgive me if I will change, and I do not want to change before I am done with my hypothetical future kids, so that they can have dual citizenship. (And by the way, for kids I would change surname, for now I just can not change my name after I have owned it for more than two decades, my husband is fine and he does not care). Just latest trend in Latvia is not to get married at all. I have many friends, who happily live together, who have kids, but who do not consider marriage as something necessary.

[harborNY 0]

Yeah,

I am in the same shoes regarding applying for citizenship. The same laws they have in Estonia.

Do you know if there is any exchange of new citizens database between two countries?

Will US tell Estonia that I became US Citizen? Every time when I go back to Estonia I can show them just my Estonian passport, I dont have to tell them that I became American Citizen? They dont have to know that???

Edited July 25, 2009 by harborNY

[Twomoles 8]

Yeah,

I am in the same shoes regarding applying for citizenship. The same laws they have in Estonia.

Do you know if there is any exchange of new citizens database between two countries?

Will US tell Estonia that I became US Citizen? Every time when I go back to Estonia I can show them just my Estonian passport, I dont have to tell them that I became American Citizen? They dont have to know that???

LOL. Well, that is funny, but I think actually it could work and they would let it go. On the other hand, US will require you documents from Estonia (I suppose similar as to Latvia), such as that you do not have criminal record, that you are not on debt search (I think it is only in regard to alimony and student debt, at least they have decent data basis now).

However, even with the visa waiver, it does not seems there is great communications between and exchange of data.

The other thing is about owning property. I do not know about Estonia, but it could be similar - if you are non-citizen, you can own house, apartment, or invest in anything, but you are not allowed to have farming land. Do not know why, but you would be limited in this regard. So as my mum has a country house, if I change citizenship, I will not be able to claim on the land, just on house.

So weighting this all out, I am not rushing with citizenship and burning all the bridges. And I wonder why so many other are trying so hard, every country has different rules, in some Southern Europe countries, you are not even allowed savings or investment accounts. So I will go as I am, with my GK, maybe change surname some time later.

I have no idea how to warn my country that I am a permanent resident of USA (and maybe they do not care, since so many from Baltic states travel everywhere, especially England and Ireland to work, or other EU - to study.) Well, I simply do not want to loose my personal code, my family doctor and my official address, my rights to land, and ease to travel to East from Europe, if I for example decide to go to vacation to Crimea or Saint Petersburg.

Do I do not think it is wise to change citizenship. Here, by married with US citizen, I have little limitations - I still can have my social security, we can buy property, we can travel. The only thing is that there are certain honor scholarships I am not allowed to apply. (But it might not matter, times are to hard to go on with MA)