How to note a name change to a submitted I-130?

[JustinKjersti 0]

My wife and I married 1/28/2011 and have submitted our I-130 and are now waiting inbetween our NOA1 and NOA2. No problem there (we hope ;*).

When we were married, they (the Norwegian government) were not able to simultaneously process her name change request and our marriage certificate. Because that seemed like it could take some time (it did) that would ultimately delay our overall process, we decided to submit the I-130 paperwork as quickly as we could manage after our wedding with her then-current (maiden) name.

We're wondering if people have advice on when and how to change her name prior to the visa being issued? Should we wait until it moves into the hands of the state department / NVC / embassy and out of USCIS? It seems like one philosophy is: "The fewer complications in your I-130 / IR-1 / CR-1 application, the better..."

Thoughts and advice? (and THANKS!),

Justin and Kjersti

[pushbrk 13,268]

My wife and I married 1/28/2011 and have submitted our I-130 and are now waiting inbetween our NOA1 and NOA2. No problem there (we hope ;*).

When we were married, they (the Norwegian government) were not able to simultaneously process her name change request and our marriage certificate. Because that seemed like it could take some time (it did) that would ultimately delay our overall process, we decided to submit the I-130 paperwork as quickly as we could manage after our wedding with her then-current (maiden) name.

We're wondering if people have advice on when and how to change her name prior to the visa being issued? Should we wait until it moves into the hands of the state department / NVC / embassy and out of USCIS? It seems like one philosophy is: "The fewer complications in your I-130 / IR-1 / CR-1 application, the better..."

Thoughts and advice? (and THANKS!),

Justin and Kjersti

Had you asked the question before filing, I would have said to file in the married name anyway. Since you didn't, you can just deal with this when the case gets to NVC by emailing them a request to update their records and then using the married name on all additional paperwork. Married name is in the current passport, right?

[JustinKjersti 0]

Had you asked the question before filing, I would have said to file in the married name anyway. Since you didn't, you can just deal with this when the case gets to NVC by emailing them a request to update their records and then using the married name on all additional paperwork. Married name is in the current passport, right?

Thanks again for a(-nother) helpful response! Extra credit?!?

Her current passport is in her maiden name, but she's in the process now (while there's time to do this, get it processed and get it back prior to summer travel...) of being issued a new passport with the new (married) name. I guess it would've probably been wise to submit the I-130 with the anticipated (married) name, but we didn't have any paperwork / documentation of that at the time, so we were worried that USCIS would see the paperwork, could wonder what was going on and send out an RFE, which we *really* want to try to avoid.

But ANYWAY, thanks for your advice on waiting until it gets to the NVC.

Take care,

Justin (and Kjersti)

[pushbrk 13,268]

Thanks again for a(-nother) helpful response! Extra credit?!?

Her current passport is in her maiden name, but she's in the process now (while there's time to do this, get it processed and get it back prior to summer travel...) of being issued a new passport with the new (married) name. I guess it would've probably been wise to submit the I-130 with the anticipated (married) name, but we didn't have any paperwork / documentation of that at the time, so we were worried that USCIS would see the paperwork, could wonder what was going on and send out an RFE, which we *really* want to try to avoid.

But ANYWAY, thanks for your advice on waiting until it gets to the NVC.

Take care,

Justin (and Kjersti)

Too late for you but for other readers, the same marriage certificate you used to show you were married was all USCIS would have needed to accept that she has a new married name. You would have just given her maiden name where asked and shown it again where asked about other names used. You have all the month up to submitting the DS230 and civil documents to get any foreign documentation of the name change and to change the passport name.

[Gosha.Bee 1]

Thanks again for a(-nother) helpful response! Extra credit?!?

Her current passport is in her maiden name, but she's in the process now (while there's time to do this, get it processed and get it back prior to summer travel...) of being issued a new passport with the new (married) name. I guess it would've probably been wise to submit the I-130 with the anticipated (married) name, but we didn't have any paperwork / documentation of that at the time, so we were worried that USCIS would see the paperwork, could wonder what was going on and send out an RFE, which we *really* want to try to avoid.

But ANYWAY, thanks for your advice on waiting until it gets to the NVC.

Take care,

Justin (and Kjersti)

I'm in the exact same situation as you. And I also regret I hadn't asked VJers about that issue prior to submitting our I-130. My husband and I have also decided to wait until we get to NVC and request for the name change there. I already have a new passport with my married name and I really would like to avoid any confusion / delay in the process.

Good luck!

[JustinKjersti 0]

I'm in the exact same situation as you. And I also regret I hadn't asked VJers about that issue prior to submitting our I-130. My husband and I have also decided to wait until we get to NVC and request for the name change there. I already have a new passport with my married name and I really would like to avoid any confusion / delay in the process.

Good luck!

Gosha.Bee,

Yeah, I wish I/we would've known--there are just SO many things that are rather strict in the USCIS instructions, I guess we just assumed the name change would need to be documented. Oh well, hopefully it's pretty straightforward to do at the NVC stage...

It looks like you're a few months ahead of us and...getting close to your NOA2 letter?!? Congrats! Can I ask you a favor? Could you let me / us know when that comes and any advice you have on the NVC name change thing when you get to that stage? We'd certainly appreciate it in our hopes to avoid any mistakes...

Good luck to you too!

Justin