Changing Last Name

[Miss Natalie 0]

Hi everyone

My fiance and I are getting married on Feb 20th. I am a little confused about which last name to put on my AOS forms. Both the marriage license and My SSN are in my current last name. Therefore I am thinking I need to put that name on the paperwork, and change my name to his last name after I get my greencard. Is this right?

Will this look bad when it comes to the AOS interview?

Please help!

[payxibka 10,045]

Hi everyone

My fiance and I are getting married on Feb 20th. I am a little confused about which last name to put on my AOS forms. Both the marriage license and My SSN are in my current last name. Therefore I am thinking I need to put that name on the paperwork, and change my name to his last name after I get my greencard. Is this right?

Will this look bad when it comes to the AOS interview?

Please help!

If you change your name after the greencard, then you must pay again to have the greencard changed... A one step process would be to fulfill the name change requirement for your state, and then file for the greencard in your new legal name.

[Miss Natalie 0]

Thanks for the quick reply

Just to clarify, after we are married I should get the name on my SSN changed to my married name and apply for AOS in my married name? Will it matter that this does not match my passport and other identification?

The other option is to just keep my current last name. Would this cause problems further down the line?

[payxibka 10,045]

Thanks for the quick reply

Just to clarify, after we are married I should get the name on my SSN changed to my married name and apply for AOS in my married name? Will it matter that this does not match my passport and other identification?

The other option is to just keep my current last name. Would this cause problems further down the line?

my wife's name in her passport still has not been changed

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Hi everyone

My fiance and I are getting married on Feb 20th. I am a little confused about which last name to put on my AOS forms. Both the marriage license and My SSN are in my current last name. Therefore I am thinking I need to put that name on the paperwork, and change my name to his last name after I get my greencard. Is this right?

Will this look bad when it comes to the AOS interview?

Please help!

Hey love

Okay, first what does your marriage licence say exactly? I've found the US has 3 different kinds:

1. One's like mine where there are two lines, one "name before marriage" and the other "name after marriage" so if I had put those names the same then I would need to do a legal name change to change my name (this is from Iowa).

2. Other states only have one line for name (like CA and Vermont) so in those states if you want to change your name then all you need to do is go the SSA and change your name on that using your marriage licence.

3. Some states have a single line BUT require you to write your married name in that single line in order to be able to change your name by marriage.

So, as stated above by someone else though, it's best that you find out the state requirements. I hope for your sake (to make it easier ) that it's more like mine

If your ultimate aim is to change your name to your husbands name (no need to, just if that's what you want) it's best that you make that decision BEFORE you apply for AOS. After you have your GC it will cost $300 to get a replacement card with the new name. Not to mention going through the process of a legal name change (in some cases like the 3rd option).

So, if you want to change your name it's perfectly fine to wait to change all your other ID AFTER getting your EAD or GC (or during the process). Some SSA offices won't allow you to get a new SSN (if you got one before marriage) until you present your EAD or GC so that's fine. If you want to change your name to your husbands name (or some other variation) then you need only put that name on the forms (your maiden name in the "former name" section) for AOS so all your cards arrive with that name on them. After that you can go to the SSA office and get a new SSN, then from there a new US drivers licence and all the other fun stuff.

In my personal situation that's what i'm doing. After I have my GC then I'll go start get my US drivers licence, change my SSN to my married name and everything else. I have my bankcard in my married name already (which I just realised I'll have to carry my marriage licence with me (or a copy) if anyone ever asks to see my ID before accepting my card...) but that's all. The rest will wait. The Aussie stuff will wait till I'm there in person.

Edited January 30, 2010 by Vanessa&Tony

[Miss Natalie 0]

Thanks Vanessa.

You're a godsend. I think I am going to follow your route, and apply for AOS in my husbands name, then change the SSN afterwards. We don't have to do any legal name change paperwork in Louisiana, so after we are married I will go by his name with all my ID and other documents. I don't yet have a bank account or drivers license so I will wait till everything is squared off before organising them.

3 weeks till the wedding

I have noticed you waited longer than the 90 days for your AOS, so it doesn't really cause any problems? I am concerned the Marriage certificate will take a while to get to us, and we wont get it in in time. I have been told is we physically walk the license into the office, we could get the certificate the same day, but then I was told they do not expedite anything also. Govt officials never seem to get their stories straight!

thanks again!!

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Thanks Vanessa.

You're a godsend. I think I am going to follow your route, and apply for AOS in my husbands name, then change the SSN afterwards. We don't have to do any legal name change paperwork in Louisiana, so after we are married I will go by his name with all my ID and other documents. I don't yet have a bank account or drivers license so I will wait till everything is squared off before organising them.

3 weeks till the wedding

I have noticed you waited longer than the 90 days for your AOS, so it doesn't really cause any problems? I am concerned the Marriage certificate will take a while to get to us, and we wont get it in in time. I have been told is we physically walk the license into the office, we could get the certificate the same day, but then I was told they do not expedite anything also. Govt officials never seem to get their stories straight!

thanks again!!

Yeah longer than 90 days :S I have to admit I don't like it, but unfortunately though we had the money set aside LONG before I came over, stuff happened that meant that money had to be reallocated.

Waiting longer than the I-94 date is perfectly fine in terms of approval BUT it does carry certain other risks. For example I'm currently "out of status". Though I did the right thing and married in the deadline, and though AOS doesn't NEED to be done before the I-94 date, some ICE (immigration and customs enforcement) workers CAN decide if they come across you, to make your life difficult. One particular case a woman travelled on a Greyhound with her foreign husband and although they had the NOA1 from applying for AOS, he was locked up, she had to pay $5K bail and lawyers fees to fight it.

So I SHOULD be fine but there's always that little bit of fear every now and then (especially living in Houston!). The other issue is if you wait 180+ days from your I-94 date and apply for AP, you cannot use the AP document because on your attempt to re-enter you will most likely be denied entry (stupid huh?).

So yeah, waiting is fine in terms of it not affecting your approval or ability to apply for AOS... but like I said, I don't like it very much at all. I told Tony that I'm sure my stress levels would decrease dramatically just by APPLYING for AOS. Soon soon!

3 weeks till the wedding!! Look forward to seeing pics Hope you have a fabulous day

Edited January 30, 2010 by Vanessa&Tony