change my last name on my marriage certificate

[Keith&Helen 3]

I am new to this forum.

I am a Canadian citizen and going to marry an American citizen. I am thinking taking his last name when we get our marriage certificate (probably in a week or two), and then apply for the green card for me. I am not going to change my name on my passport yet, would it be ok to have different last names on my marriage certificate and on my passport?

When we apply for CR1, what name should I use?

Thank you!

Helen

[Dave and Kinnari 31]

I am new to this forum.

I am a Canadian citizen and going to marry an American citizen. I am thinking taking his last name when we get our marriage certificate (probably in a week or two), and then apply for the green card for me. I am not going to change my name on my passport yet, would it be ok to have different last names on my marriage certificate and on my passport?

When we apply for CR1, what name should I use?

Thank you!

Helen

First Off Welcome.

If it were me I would get my passport changed to the name after marriage. It helps with a great deal of headache.

There is a part on the form that asks "Other names used other than the name above, please fill in this sections if you changed your maiden name" You can fill in your maiden name there and submit your documentation. Be prepared for an RFE if they want more info.

In my situation, India has a lot of surname "Mr. Mrs, Sir, Maam" add-ons. I have to have a notarized affadavit saying the follwing name combinations relate to the same person. If I were you, I would get his done as well as a backup...doesn't hurt to have more than what the ask for. You have to be prepared for anything that they could ask.

Edited April 20, 2011 by Dave and Kinnari

[Helen Louise Pile 80]

I am new to this forum.

I am a Canadian citizen and going to marry an American citizen. I am thinking taking his last name when we get our marriage certificate (probably in a week or two), and then apply for the green card for me. I am not going to change my name on my passport yet, would it be ok to have different last names on my marriage certificate and on my passport?

When we apply for CR1, what name should I use?

Thank you!

Helen

Nowhere on my US marriage certificate does it ask for my married name. When you get married you use your maiden name and you can use the certificate to change it after you are married. I don't know if this is different in Canada.

When I asked USCIS about this issue (I didn't want to change it on my passport until I got my greencard so that I was not without ID at any point.) They said that despite my passport still saying my maiden name, file all USCIS documents since we got married in my married name. I just filled out the G-325A with my married name and put my maiden name in the space for 'Other names used'.

Good luck and congratulations!

(the difficulty comes when you have different names on your passport and your visa, when that is issued to you, so get it changed as soon as you can on your passport.)

Edited April 20, 2011 by Helen Louise Pile

[jkelly07 120]

if you get married file 1-130 -cr1 you can use your married name on the forms,that way when you arrive here in the us you will receive your permanent resident and social secerity card in your married name no charge.if you file useing your maiden name if you want to chang it later you have to pay 350.00 dollars for name change on the 1-90.. your passport is o.k to have in maiden name, when you get your green card you can travel international, but you BUY the tickets in your maiden name to match your passport, when returning to the us submit your green card a copy of your marriage certificate at the poe.good luck .

[Nuke and Tsy 1]

Hi Helen,

I'm Canadian and just changed my name and posted a thread on this:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/305481-name-change/page__p__4612656#entry4612656

From everything I've read on here, since I want to get my green card and all other US documents in my married name, I had to change my name or these would be issued in my maiden name, since these documents are supposed to match the name that's in your passport.

Your situation may be different if you are in the US and already have a SSN.

Good luck in your journey,

Tsylana

[OBX 51]

Your green card will be issued in the name you have on your passport. If you want to use your married name you can submit the I-130 petition in your married name and then proceed to change your identification while waiting for your NOA2. By the time you need to submit a copy of your passport at the NVC stage you will be ready.

Edited April 20, 2011 by OBX

[Keith&Helen 3]

Thanks so much everyone!! wow, I didn't expect to get replies so quickly! you guys are a bunch of awesome people.

I just realized that I have another issue - I was working in the US for 4 years before moving back to Canada last November on TN status, so I have a SSN under my maid name, do I have to change that when I change my name on the marriage certificate? I am no longer working/living in the US, I don't even know if they'd let me change that.

Thanks a lot!

[Nuke and Tsy 1]

I think if you fill out your petition in your married name and fill in the spot with your SSN, that will be changed when they issue you the visa. Just make sure that your passport is in your married name

[Raimondo 0]

Any idea as to which surname the green card will come with??

The U.S. marriage license signed with married surname.

Filed all documents with USCIS and NVC with the married name (included maiden name when asked for previous names used)

BUT my wife's Italian passport has her maiden name (Italian law will not allow for the surname to be changed).

The NVC uses her maiden name because her passport has the maiden name and the visa must match the passport.

Will the green card come with her married or maiden name?