Name Change question, already have Social Security Card

[bigkeeser 0]

My fiancee just received her K-1 Visa in the mail a few days ago. She was an au pair in the US a few years back and already has a Social Security card. So, she wants to change her last once we get married in the US. When is the best time to change her name? Right before we send in the papers for AOS or some other time?

She wants to change her name to a hyphenated version of her last name and then adding mine. Her German passport would stay with her maiden name, we looked this up yesterday (hope she is right). When she finally gets her Green Card, would this pose problems with traveling between countries? The hyphenated name on the GC and her regular German last name on her passport seems like it might cause problems.

[canadian_wife 1,822]

She can change her name however she wants. However, she'll need to change her SSN to include her new name then once she receives her green card, it would be a good idea to have the "valid with DHS authorization" removed from the SSN. So it's up to her as to when this is more beneficial for her.

As for the passport, she'll probably change that eventually but until she does, she should probably carry her marriage certificate with her when she travels to prevent any confusion or delays.

Good luck.