Name changing

[Sassyandswoop 2]

I'm the beneficiary (Australian Citizen bride) and my husband is the petitioner (USC).

Just wondering if I need to apply for name changes on my Aussie passport and driver's licence before I go to my interview, or can I just keep using my maiden name in Australia and then use my new married name while over in the USA. Will it affect the interview or POE if I don't change my passport?

[coraliesolms 47]

I kept my maiden name because applying for a new SA passport was going to take too long.. it didnt affect my interview at all Havent gotten to the POE part yet, but you can change all that when you get to the states Im sure.. Good luck on your visa journey!!

[canadian_wife 1,829]

You can change it whenever you like. I do suggest that if you plan on changing it, do it before the interview. The visa is issued in the name in the passport and the Green Card is issued in the name on the visa. If this is your maiden name, it's a pain to get it changed once it's been issued

Good luck

[VanessaTony 3,567]

I'm the beneficiary (Australian Citizen bride) and my husband is the petitioner (USC).

Just wondering if I need to apply for name changes on my Aussie passport and driver's licence before I go to my interview, or can I just keep using my maiden name in Australia and then use my new married name while over in the USA. Will it affect the interview or POE if I don't change my passport?

To give you Aussie specific advice, you have a year from marriage to change your passport for free. After that time, you'll have to pay anyway so it doesn't really matter.

If you got married in Aus, it's going to be pretty simple to change stuff. If, like me, you got married overseas, you will need to apply for an official name change (which you have to pay for) because no places accept the international marriage licence as an official name change document but DO accept an Aussie marriage licence.

Changing your passport in Australia was suprisingly quick for one of my friends (doing CR-1 also) if you check the Aussie site (called Aussie chat in my signature) her name is "jamiemcd". Changing it in Aus will be quicker and easier. If you filed for CR-1 using your married name then changing your passport can't hurt, but you don't HAVE to.

Interview and POE shouldn't be affected by your name on your passport, but it might look a little odd if your visa says "Smith" in the passport of "Jones". Up to you

**Edit - i just saw a previous post of yours where you say you got married in Sept in Aus. Your name change stuff should be really quick and painless and you are still entitled to the free passport. Here's the info on that:

- Proving it's free: https://www.passports.gov.au/web/requiremen...gemarriage.aspx

- Processing time: https://www.passports.gov.au/Web/TimeRequired.aspx according to this it's 10 working days to get your new passport which sounds in line with "jamiemcd's" results.

- Renewal forms: https://www.passports.gov.au/Web/Renewal/index.aspx

If you don't get the free one, it's $208... I think it's worth it to get the free one

Edited February 26, 2010 by Vanessa&Tony

[kaffy 2]

You can keep your maiden name in Aus and use your new married name in the US. I wasn't able to change my name in Aus (long story) but the US Consulate processed my application in my married name (noting my maiden name in the 'other names' fields), issued my visa in my married name and now everything I have in the US (bank accounts, social, drivers license, etc) are all in my married name