Is middle name suppose to change with marriage?

[ray77755 0]

Hi all hope everyone is well. Has been 2 years now since my love has been in the US. So have not checked in here for awhile now.

Have a burning question. Is your wifes middle name suppose to change when you get married? For example if Mary Ramos Vargas married John Smith should her name now become Mary Vargas Smith? In my opinion after marriage her name would be Mary Ramos Smith. Hope what I am asking is clear.

[Inky 1,111]

It depends on the country and their customs.

[april082010 3]

Hi all hope everyone is well. Has been 2 years now since my love has been in the US. So have not checked in here for awhile now.

Have a burning question. Is your wifes middle name suppose to change when you get married? For example if Mary Ramos Vargas married John Smith should her name now become Mary Vargas Smith? In my opinion after marriage her name would be Mary Ramos Smith. Hope what I am asking is clear.

In Filipino custom, it would be Mary Vargas Smith.

[jkelly07 120]

some country keep her maiden family name, if you chose to take your husbands name what ever,

[ray77755 0]

It depends on the country and their customs.

But can that custom cause a problem? In the US if Mary Ramos Vargas marries John Smith she is now Mary Ramos Smith.

In the Philippines according to the Philippine consulate her name should now be Mary Vargas Smith.

I am just curious if that can cause a problem upon return to the US after a visit to the Philippines?

A problem you might ask? The way I see it is now the name on her greencard will not match the name in her passport

[ray77755 0]

In Filipino custom, it would be Mary Vargas Smith.

Yeah and the Philippine consulate insist it be put in her passport that way but now her greencard and passport will not match names

Can that be a problem upon returning to the US after a short visit to the Philippines?

Edited February 1, 2011 by ray77755

[BigJohn 4]

In the US your name can be whatever you choose. US and filipino custom would be Mary Vargas Smith, as the maiden name usually replaces the old middle name, but in the US a woman can do it however she wants -- both names, either name. She could be Mary Ramos Vargas Smith, too. In the philippines, her old middle name is her mother's family name, so it's not a special middle name that's unique.

[Inky 1,111]

The green card will come in the name that you apply for it in. You fill out the forms in the name she wants the card in when she is here.

[ray77755 0]

The green card will come in the name that you apply for it in. You fill out the forms in the name she wants the card in when she is here.

Well since her name her name was Mary Ramos Vargas and she married John Smith that greencard was applied for in the name of Mary Ramos Smith. That is the US way correct?

But now she went to amend her name in her passport and the Philippine consulate insists her name is Mary Vargas Smith.

I am just wondering if the name in the passport and the name on the greencard not matching 100% can cause some problem?

[Messybrownhair 251]

In Filipino custom, it would be Mary Vargas Smith.

[crystal01 29]

Yep, Filipino custom would have it as Mary Vargas Smith. The name difference may cause you some problem though. You can apply for a name change for her green card. Just need to fill out the I-90 form and pay $370-. Or you can just wait for her conditional card to expire and change the name on her GC when you pay the $535 fee. Not sure if the fees are current. I did a search and several posts came up.

This is helpful :

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/199873-green-card-last-name-change/

and this too:

I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card

Good luck!

[Lexlee08 18]

In Filipino tradition/customs, once a girl marries she drops her old middle name(which is her mom's maiden name) and uses her surname/last name as her middle name and her new last name will be her husband's. In the Philippines it is very common to have multiple first names ex. Maria Theresa Ramos Ayala, Maria Theresa is the first name/s, Ramos is the middle name (mom's maiden name) and Ayala is dad's last name. I had the same issue when I filed for my GC, but I followed the Philippine way and it didn't affect my application at all. Like big John said our middle names are our mother's maiden name, so it can change when you get married. I hope this clarifies your question.

[ray77755 0]

Yep, Filipino custom would have it as Mary Vargas Smith. The name difference may cause you some problem though. You can apply for a name change for her green card. Just need to fill out the I-90 form and pay $370-. Or you can just wait for her conditional card to expire and change the name on her GC when you pay the $535 fee. Not sure if the fees are current. I did a search and several posts came up.

This is helpful :

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/199873-green-card-last-name-change/

and this too:

I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card

Good luck!

Thanks! You say the name difference may cause you some problem. So do you think it is a bad idea for her to travel now?

My wife wants to go to the Philippines for a visit and I am worried she might have some problem at LAX when she returns because the names will not match. Am I worrying needlessly?

[ray77755 0]

In Filipino tradition/customs, once a girl marries she drops her old middle name(which is her mom's maiden name) and uses her surname/last name as her middle name and her new last name will be her husband's. In the Philippines it is very common to have multiple first names ex. Maria Theresa Ramos Ayala, Maria Theresa is the first name/s, Ramos is the middle name (mom's maiden name) and Ayala is dad's last name. I had the same issue when I filed for my GC, but I followed the Philippine way and it didn't affect my application at all. Like big John said our middle names are our mother's maiden name, so it can change when you get married. I hope this clarifies your question.

Yes it clarifies but the problem is she applied for the greencard the American way and then later went to the Philippine consulate to amend her name in the passport and they put the name in her passport in the Philippine way. So now the greencard and passport do not match and she is dying to make a quick visit to the Philippines

[crystal01 29]

Thanks! You say the name difference may cause you some problem. So do you think it is a bad idea for her to travel now?

My wife wants to go to the Philippines for a visit and I am worried she might have some problem at LAX when she returns because the names will not match. Am I worrying needlessly?

I haven't encountered it personally as I am not there yet lol but from what I have read, it is possible you get questioned by Customs. However, they say it is ok as long as you have a copy of your Marriage Certificate. Also, they say that her ticket should have the same name as her passport.

Lots of previous posts abt the topic. Check the results here