Question about US plane travel with passport ID

[lbounds 16]

My wife never yet got her state ID with her married name. I know we won't get it before our plane travel to see family.

My question is, will we have any problems if I buy the ticket with her married name when her passport name is her unmarried name ?

We have a now expired I-94 on her Visa before AOS.

Will we have any problem buying a ticket in married name for US travel if we have a copy of marriage certificate with her Visa / Passport ?

Please let me know as we plan to travel very soon to visit family.

Thanks very much for your replies

[TBoneTX 45,267]

will we have any problems if I buy the ticket with her married name when her passport name is her unmarried name ?

The ID necessary to board and the name on the ticket need to match, so use the name on the passport.

We have a now expired I-94 on her Visa before AOS.

You didn't ask, but be sure to avoid traveling (by car, in particular) to or around any cities within a 50-mile radius (at least) of either border. There may or may not be CBP agents alongside the TSA agents at your destination or arrival airport. Your wife is technically out of status, which can result in anything from nothing to a stern lecture or worse. File for the AOS/AP/EAD as a priority! Edited August 24, 2010 by TBoneTX

[Inky 1,110]

I traveled recently INSIDE the united states by plane and used my married name. I signed in for my ticket with my drivers license, they never asked to see my passport(its in my maiden name).

If your using your passport for ID you want the tickets in your passport name. They do check that the name matches the tickets.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

I asked a similar question of airport security this summer. He was checking passports and made some comment about everything needs to match. I asked (out of curiosity) if I had changed my name after marriage, but my passport was still in the former name, how would that work. He said a marriage certificate would explain the different names on ticket and passport and it would be fine. He said "we see this at least 50 times a day."

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

I agree with the other posters. Either get the ticket using the name in the passport, or have her bring a copy of the marriage certificate to prove the name change.

Personally, I would not travel by air even within the United States if I was out of status. TSA does occasionally notify CBP when they encounter a traveler who is out of status. It would be safer to file the AOS and bring a copy of the receipt notice to prove that she's lawfully present.