Changing name + Driver lisence

[Dave&Carolina 0]

Hi everybody!

We getting married in 2 weeks and I have some questions about what comes next.

1) How do I change my name? Is it ok to keep my name and add my fiance name on my name, or I must `erase` my last name? Where do I go to change my name?

I know I have to go to Social Security Association to change it, but I assume Ill need a paper proving my changed name ... so where will I do this?

2) I just got my driver lisence and I was told that it will expire on the day my visa expires. I explained them that Im getting married soon and will apply for adjustment of status process, so that can prob be some proof I can show them that Im actually married and so ... but they told me I wont be able to apply for a new lisence until I have my green card. My marriage certificate doesnt count. Whaaaat?

So it means I wont be able to drive for a year or so, until I get my greencard? This cant be possible.

However, If this is really true, what should I do to be able to drive then? Should I apply for international driver lisence in my country or smth? Please let me know what u guys did.

Thanks so much in advance. I appreciate all answers.

[T&R 3]

Hi Carol! Hope you are fine, girl!

I dont know if this is your situation, but I was only able to apply for my SSN after I was already married, because I got here only one week before my wedding, and I didnt have time to apply for a SSN. Anyway, I changed my name at SSA when I requested my SSN. We applied for the maariage license some days after I got here, and a SSN was not necessary, only my passport.

The changing name process is at the SSA when you apply for your SSN.

Here is what I did about my name: T + mom's last name + dad's last name, I erased my mom's last name, and my name is: T+ dad's last name + my husband last name.

About the drive license, anyone correct me if I am wrong. As far as I know, yes, you can use your international driver's license here, but it has an expiration date, 3 months if I am not wrong, and yes, you can only apply for the american driver license on your state when you have your EDA also known as work permit, and that you can request togethet with your green card.

I dont know if these rules applies for the state you are living, but here in Texas, I will only be able to apply for a driver license, after I have my work permit. So yeah....I am working on my AOS papers now, and hopefully I will be able to drive soon, errrrr!

Hope I did not confuse you!

Good luck!

Edited September 13, 2011 by T&R

[arkattica 0]

Hello, congratulations on your upcoming wedding. Wish the best in this journey you are about to start.

Regarding changing names, the way it is here in NYC, when you filled for marriage there is a form you have to fill and they ask you if you would like to change name. If that's the case, you have to write your new last name. Now, when you get married, they issue the marriage certificate with your complete name and the NEW SURNAME. So that is enough evidence that you change name. You don't have to go anywhere else to change names.

Concerning your other question, you have to wait till you get your Employment Authorization Card, which usually takes like 30 days since the date you filled your AOS and EOA, then get a Social Security number, which I think it's going to be provisional until you get your green card, and then go again to DMV to get your learners permit license.

I'm new here in the USA, and that's what I've read in the DMV, in order to get my learners permit. So hopefully, when I gwt my EOA card, I'll go to the DMV for my learners permit.

[menina 50]

The DL rules differ depending on the state you are in. Here in Cali, my husband just waited to get his green card before starting to drive. He had the green card in hand 2 1/2 months after applying for AOS, so not too long. He had to take a written test and then pass a driving test. No permit needed since he has a DL from Brasil. Here, if you have an international DL you do not need to go through the permit and driver's ed courses since you already know how to drive. You just have to prove you can read the signs and drive according to the rules here. If you apply for AOS right away, you probably won't have to wait long for your DL. As for changing your name with SSA, a marriage certificate should be fine. I had only that to prove the name change, and it was no trouble at all. Good luck!

[kikip 12]

Hi everybody!

We getting married in 2 weeks and I have some questions about what comes next.

1) How do I change my name? Is it ok to keep my name and add my fiance name on my name, or I must `erase` my last name? Where do I go to change my name?

I know I have to go to Social Security Association to change it, but I assume Ill need a paper proving my changed name ... so where will I do this?

2) I just got my driver lisence and I was told that it will expire on the day my visa expires. I explained them that Im getting married soon and will apply for adjustment of status process, so that can prob be some proof I can show them that Im actually married and so ... but they told me I wont be able to apply for a new lisence until I have my green card. My marriage certificate doesnt count. Whaaaat?

So it means I wont be able to drive for a year or so, until I get my greencard? This cant be possible.

However, If this is really true, what should I do to be able to drive then? Should I apply for international driver lisence in my country or smth? Please let me know what u guys did.

Thanks so much in advance. I appreciate all answers.

Congrats on making it this far! Good Luck with the wedding! In answer to your questions...

1. You may do whatever you wish with your last name. You can keep yours, you can hyphenate (Yours-His), you can completely take his, it;s up to you. To do this, you first go to SSA, bring your marriage certificate and birth certificate or passport. You also need to think about changing it with: passport, any bank info/credit cards, bills, etc. It takes a while.

2. This site: http://www.bmv.ohio.gov/acceptable_id_documents.stm tells you what you need to get your DL in Ohio (Your location says Ohio, hope thats right). It says your EAD is proof, so i would say that you'll probably be able to get another one when your EAD comes in. Driving on an international license here is valid for a time... I can't remember if its a state by state thing or not.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

So far everyone is missing the main point about the name change.

As you're the immigrant your name is "controlled" (so to speak) by your legal documents. When you get married, depending on your state, you either write your married name on your certificate or you don't. My state (Iowa) listed my name BEFORE and my name AFTER marriage. You are permitted to make any (or no) change to your name depending on your husbands name. You can hyphenate (e.g. Smith-Jones) have two last names (Smith Jones), or completely take his (Jones). When you apply for AOS you write your new married name on your documents to get your EAD/AP/AOS etc in your married name.

You can also use your marriage cert to change your SSN in order to get your licences etc in your married name. Some SSA's won't let you change to your married name until you've got your EAD or GC. They're SUPPOSED to let you change it but they need to verify with USCIS and if you didn't write the married name on your AOS docs there'd be a mismatch there.

I personally change my bank card so I could start getting used to my new name, wrote my married name on AOS docs but didn't change anything else until I got my GC. Made life MUCH easier!

[Dave&Carolina 0]

Thank you guys for the answers. I'll send out my adjustment of status papers asap after the wedding.