AoS and Name Change

[missingmycanadian 0]

So, we finally got our marriage certificate(s) so we can now begin the AoS process and name change process, as my wife is changing her name. But I'm not sure if I should officially change her name before, during, or after submitting the AoS application? Ideally we would like to have it done ASAP, but is changing during the AoS process going to be trouble. According to information from the consulate, the name change is going to be a drawn-out process...

Thanks for your help!

[SF2007 48]

So, we finally got our marriage certificate(s) so we can now begin the AoS process and name change process, as my wife is changing her name. But I'm not sure if I should officially change her name before, during, or after submitting the AoS application? Ideally we would like to have it done ASAP, but is changing during the AoS process going to be trouble. According to information from the consulate, the name change is going to be a drawn-out process...

Thanks for your help!

Don't forget to apply for AOS with her new name. Marriage certificate should be enough to changer her driver's license and most stuff (utility bills, Canadian passport, etc) but I am pretty sure you will have to wait for her green card to changer her name on SSN.

[SapphireDreams 71]

Changing her name during AOS is no problem. It's actually the best time to do it. Just use her new name when filling out all of the forms and include a copy of your marriage certificate, noting that it is to verify the name change.

I waited to get a driver's license and social security card until after I had my marriage certificate, so when I got it, I just went to apply for all my new IDs with my marriage certificate and had no problems at all!

The only document I JUST changed into my married name was my passport, since it didn't expire until a couple years after I AOSed.

[Inky 1,111]

I think your talking about the wrong kind of name change. Changing to a married name is not long and drawn out at all, its quite easy and quick. Use your marriage cert and apply for AOS in married name, green card arrives in married name and you just get your other documents with marriage cert.

[Udella&Wiz 325]

She can change her last name just by applying for the AOS in her married last name - all her future communications with immigration will come in her new married last name (including her GC). The marriage cert is the document which you use as proof.

She cannot change her first or middle names through AOS......a person has a 1 time opportunity to change those for free through immigration when they apply for US citizenship - so if she wants to become Princess Consuella Banana-hamock...so be it ;P

Remember that she is only changing the names with the US government - doing these name changes doesn;t affect anything back home in Canada - if she wishes to change her last name back home(like on her passport) she can change it using her marriage cert.

[missingmycanadian 0]

She can change her last name just by applying for the AOS in her married last name - all her future communications with immigration will come in her new married last name (including her GC). The marriage cert is the document which you use as proof.

She cannot change her first or middle names through AOS......a person has a 1 time opportunity to change those for free through immigration when they apply for US citizenship - so if she wants to become Princess Consuella Banana-hamock...so be it ;P

Remember that she is only changing the names with the US government - doing these name changes doesn;t affect anything back home in Canada - if she wishes to change her last name back home(like on her passport) she can change it using her marriage cert.

Thanks for the very helpful answers guys!

My wife went down to the social security office yesterday, and they are issuing her a SSN today!! I had no idea this process would be so fast! They also told her she is authorized to work until November 11, which is about the time we should be receiving her work authorization based on I-765 - I had never heard of such a thing, but I'm thinking if the SS office tells you that you can work, you can work!

According to the Canadian Consulate, the only part of the name change that will take a little time is changing her passport - but her last name has officially changed here in the US, so we're good to go Now I can pay for all sorts of fun things like health insurance and AoS filing fees! hehe

On to submitting AoS!

Edited August 30, 2011 by missingmycanadian

[SapphireDreams 71]

^^ Sorry, the SS office is wrong, she can't work. The card will come with a clause on it that says "Valid for Work Authorization with DHS approval" or something like that, and she would need to show either an EAD card or some kind of work visa in order to verify the I-9 form that everyone fills out when you start a new job. Technically you can file for an EAD to use for the first 90 days that is only valid for as long as your I-94, but by the time that EAD application is approved, it's likely already at the 90 expiry mark.

The SSN number can now be used to get health insurance and a bank account and all that other good stuff but not to work, sorry.

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Thanks for the very helpful answers guys!

My wife went down to the social security office yesterday, and they are issuing her a SSN today!! I had no idea this process would be so fast! They also told her she is authorized to work until November 11, which is about the time we should be receiving her work authorization based on I-765 - I had never heard of such a thing, but I'm thinking if the SS office tells you that you can work, you can work!

According to the Canadian Consulate, the only part of the name change that will take a little time is changing her passport - but her last name has officially changed here in the US, so we're good to go Now I can pay for all sorts of fun things like health insurance and AoS filing fees! hehe

On to submitting AoS!

WHOA! They told you wrong - she is not authorized to work - she should not try to work until she receives her EAD through the AOS process (or her GC).

Immigration authorizes her to work not the SSN office. I'm sure someone else will chime in with the particulars, but she would either have to show an EAD or a GC (neither of which she has yet) in order to work somewhere legally. She should not start working.

There is a misconception that after K1 entry, one is authorized to work for the first 3 months...it's technical double-talk.,..but the short of it is - she is not authorized to work yet

[Inky 1,111]

According to the Canadian Consulate, the only part of the name change that will take a little time is changing her passport - but her last name has officially changed here in the US, so we're good to go Now I can pay for all sorts of fun things like health insurance and AoS filing fees! hehe

On to submitting AoS!

I just got my brand new passport with changed name and it took less than 20days to get my passport back. Nothing special just fill out the forms put in the marriage cert and photocopys of other IDs, mail it with UPS and wait. Then you get it back.

[missingmycanadian 0]

WHOA! They told you wrong - she is not authorized to work - she should not try to work until she receives her EAD through the AOS process (or her GC).

Immigration authorizes her to work not the SSN office. I'm sure someone else will chime in with the particulars, but she would either have to show an EAD or a GC (neither of which she has yet) in order to work somewhere legally. She should not start working.

There is a misconception that after K1 entry, one is authorized to work for the first 3 months...it's technical double-talk.,..but the short of it is - she is not authorized to work yet

That was my fear, that they told her wrong. My wife told me that the lady at the SSN office checked the status of her visa, and then told her she was authorized to work. Shes going to be upset when I break her this news

[Udella&Wiz 325]

That was my fear, that they told her wrong. My wife told me that the lady at the SSN office checked the status of her visa, and then told her she was authorized to work. Shes going to be upset when I break her this news

It's a catch 22 - it used to be that they stamped K1's when they came in as 'work authorized' for those 3 months, but once you're married you are no longer K1...you are in limbo and applying for AOS so the work authorization is gone (if it ever really existed).....it's dicey because you could technically get an SSN quickly and still not be married - but who is going to hire you when you run out of work status as soon as you've married, right?

Hopefully she has applied for Unemployment from Canada (assuming she was working there before she left) and she can at least look forward to some Cdn EI $$$ once her UA EAD arrives. She should apply now even though they will not pay her until she is authorized to work in the US.

Edited August 30, 2011 by Udella&Wiz