Does my wife need to get a passport with my last name?

[Zen Den 18]

you're already married but whatever name she wants and is allowed (based on your country's and laws) to carry now should be the name in her passport. if she had a passport before you got married she still could have the option to change and use her new last name in the new passport or retain her maiden name.

it is not correct that her greencard will show whatever name she uses on her passport. the greencard will show whatever name you put in your AOS application. which is why it's possible for you to use your passport which has your maiden name to go visit your country and have your greencard show your married name (never your maiden name) remember your fiancee will come to the US on a marriage-based visa.

you/she cannot change her birth cert name, it's her name when she was born (unless she chooses to change it legally, which is not the case here)

with other legal docs (SSS, police clearance etc she can also change her name or retain it. ) she'll be required to declare changes in her name anyway and the reason for each (marriage)

the key is consistency

[DouglasFiel 53]

Well, im going to start the k3 process soon. My wife doesn't have a passport yet, i told her to get one asap. BUt she asked me if she should get one with her original last name, or get one with my last name since we're married. Which way should she go to cause the less confussion or trouble???

Use her current last name. The name on the marriage certificate. If you submit the I-130 with the maiden name,, And, the passport bio page is submitted to the NVC with the married name. Immigration with change the name on the paperwork to match the passport.

I submitted all I-130 paperwork married name, The NVC passport bio page was maiden name, NVC changed her paperwork to match the passport. Now she has a passport with her married name (same as mine). When she gets her visa, The embassy will make sure it matches the passport, As the green card, visa and passport name will need to match for traveling. And, that does make sense for the Immgration Folks keeping the passport and immgrant names in sync.

Good Luck,