Last Name Change - ROC process

[second stage 14]

Looks like several people we able to change their last name during ROC. Congrats to them

My spouse changed her last name during the conditional PR process and now SSN card, Driver's license, Utility bills, conditional GC all show that last name except for the passport(still in maiden name).

We carry marriage certificate during international travel just to explain name discrepancy.

We are considering changing the last name again during ROC(will be filing in Feb 2010)

Here is what we plan to do:

File I-751 with the new last name we would like to have and all other supporting documents would still show the current last name.

Would a note in the cover letter suffice for name change?

How difficult is it to change last name once we have the new GC on hand?

Would it be a problem at the SSN office, DMV, utility bills etc..

Edited December 27, 2009 by second stage

[v333k 59]

Looks like several people we able to change their last name during ROC. Congrats to them

My spouse changed her last name during the conditional PR process and now SSN card, Driver's license, Utility bills, conditional GC all show that last name except for the passport(still in maiden name).

We carry marriage certificate during international travel just to explain name discrepancy.

We are considering changing the last name again during ROC(will be filing in Feb 2010)

Here is what we plan to do:

File I-751 with the new last name we would like to have and all other supporting documents would still show the current last name.

Would a note in the cover letter suffice for name change?

How difficult is it to change last name once we have the new GC on hand?

Would it be a problem at the SSN office, DMV, utility bills etc..

I recommend you change the name on the passport. If I understand things correctly, India does not allow dual citizenship, and therefore IF you intend to apply for USC then you need to relinquish your Indian passport before you can get your US passport. When applying for naturalization, there is a section that asks about previous legal names used, so that will become a hassel to fill out and if the officer will ask about it then it will become confusing.

If you are eventually going to be a USC and not an Indian citizen, then I suggest you proceed with the easier direction which is keeping your GC, DL, SSC, and all related documents as they are with the new name in the US and just request a change on the passort - this may be more trouble knowing how foreign consulates are, but it saves some headache in the future.

Hope this helps or gives you something to think about.

[second stage 14]

I recommend you change the name on the passport. If I understand things correctly, India does not allow dual citizenship, and therefore IF you intend to apply for USC then you need to relinquish your Indian passport before you can get your US passport. When applying for naturalization, there is a section that asks about previous legal names used, so that will become a hassel to fill out and if the officer will ask about it then it will become confusing.

Hope this helps or gives you something to think about.

Am sorry but I don't understand you.

Am talking about ROC and this has nothing to do with Citizenship or even changing the passport.

[Lona.C. 16]

Am sorry but I don't understand you.

Am talking about ROC and this has nothing to do with Citizenship or even changing the passport.

its not hard to understand ,

if you look at the big picture for the future V333K said IF you go for USC in the future it will be a hassel ,

therefor it would be easier to just change passport instead of changing GC and all other documents since everything is on married name

it would be easier to keep as is and just go to change passport from maiden name to married

( there is a advantage you wouldnt have to carry the marriage cert anymore when you travel and the passport would match all other documents )

[second stage 14]

its not hard to understand ,

if you look at the big picture for the future V333K said IF you go for USC in the future it will be a hassel ,

therefor it would be easier to just change passport instead of changing GC and all other documents since everything is on married name

it would be easier to keep as is and just go to change passport from maiden name to married

( there is a advantage you wouldnt have to carry the marriage cert anymore when you travel and the passport would match all other documents )

Why is it a hassle in the future? if I change the name during ROC then it should be pretty simply while applying for USC since all my documents(tax returns, utility bills, GC) will be under the new name.

I think the other person was talking about changing name in the Indian passport and not US passport.

Changing name in the Indian passport is a hassle now when the easy solution is to carry the marriage cert.

Has anyone successfully changed their last name during ROC? will the real Slim Shady please stand up?

[v333k 59]

Why is it a hassle in the future? if I change the name during ROC then it should be pretty simply while applying for USC since all my documents(tax returns, utility bills, GC) will be under the new name.

I think the other person was talking about changing name in the Indian passport and not US passport.

Changing name in the Indian passport is a hassle now when the easy solution is to carry the marriage cert.

Has anyone successfully changed their last name during ROC? will the real Slim Shady please stand up?

Then I guess you answered your own question. If the passport is not a major issue and you don't mind carrying your marriage cert, then keep all the documents the way they are.

In the long run, you most likely will apply for US Citizenship - am I correct? Then why you want to change all the documents back to the maiden name?

I'll put it in different terms. Let's say you have a penny, and you have 5 quarters - you are deciding to change the 5 quarters into 125 pennies so you can have 126 equal coins to make all "things" even.

Edited December 29, 2009 by v333k

[Lona.C. 16]

Then I guess you answered your own question. If the passport is not a major issue and you don't mind carrying your marriage cert, then keep all the documents the way they are.

In the long run, you most likely will apply for US Citizenship - am I correct? Then why you want to change all the documents back to the maiden name?

I'll put it in different terms. Let's say you have a penny, and you have 5 quarters - you are deciding to change the 5 quarters into 125 pennies so you can have 126 equal coins to make all "things" even.

[it proves everyday aplying for a Visa is a complicated Issue , but lol am glad it aint as complicated as going to change 5 quarters into pennies just to be on egal level , I like that explanation , lol ]

Edited December 29, 2009 by Lona.C.

[v333k 59]

[it proves everyday aplying for a Visa is a complicated Issue , but lol am glad it aint as complicated as going to change 5 quarters into pennies just to be on egal level , I like that explanation , lol ]

Well, I guess it is not the same - but all I wanted to convey to the OP is that his world/documents should now revolve around the US and USCIS and not his Indian Passport - assuming he wants a smoother ride to citizenship.

[second stage 14]

In the long run, you most likely will apply for US Citizenship - am I correct? Then why you want to change all the documents back to the maiden name?

Who said anything about changing back to maiden name?

If I change document now then it's less hassle during US Citizenship time.

Life happens between now and then..changing now is easier than later.

Again, my question:

Has anyone changed their last name during Conditional GC process and then again during ROC?

Edited December 29, 2009 by second stage

[Yurika & Jim 77]

Sorry, I'm not the one changed last name during ROC.

But I'm curious why and how she wants to change last name again?

Is her last name your last name now? And wants to change like "(her maiden name) - your last name" like that?

[Lona.C. 16]

you say she takes marriage cert when you guys travel to prove of last name ,

so my guess is when she changed last name the first time after marriage it must have been to your last name ,

so the only doc left on her maiden name is her passport , am I correct so far ?

now my question is ,since you said who said anything about changing last name back to maiden name ,

( we put 2 and 2 together and came up with her wanting to change it back to maiden name since the passport is the only doc thats on her maiden name and will not be changed )

what name is she trying to chose if everything is on marriage name and it wont be the maiden name ,

incase she did a legal name change totaly differant then maiden name or marriage name she would have to change her passport in the long run too ,