I want to change my name. I need help and advice.

[meblue 5]

Hi,

I came here in K1 visa then after I got married and adjusted my status I used my husband's last name.

Just an Example:

Single name - Belenda Tan Chan

Married name - Belenda Tan Smith

In my green card and social security card my name right now is Belenda Tan Smith. I am LPR, my husband died last 2008. I just remarried a month ago. So, my new name now is Belenda Tan Wesson. Wesson is my new husband's last name I already change my name in my driver's license into Belenda Tan Wesson but when I go to the Social Security they can't change my name because in my immigration record it's still my old name Belenda Tan Smith. They told me to report my marriage to the USCIS first. How can I do that? How long it would take to update my immigration status? Do I need to apply for a new green card? How much is the fee to update my name? I want to change my name because we want to file jointly in our income tax, and my husband want to petition my minor daughter. I'll appreciate any advice. Thanks in advance.

[Dave&Roza 748]

I see two options here. 1) File the I-90 form to change the name on your GC. Cost is $450 and will take a while; or 2) not sure of the timing but you can file for Naturalization 90 days before you have been a LPR for 5 years and then you can change your name with SSA and do not have to worry about the GC any more. Not sure if you will get this done by April 15th or not. I would just file taxes in the new name. The only time SSA cares about the name is when it comes time to claim benefits. For example my Mother's legal name and name on her SSC was First Middle Married, but she went her entire life by Middle Maiden Married until she turned 65 and had to claim SSA benefits. Then she changed her DL and passport back to First Middle Married so it matched her SSC.

Good luck,

Dave

[VanessaTony 3,567]

You don't have to change your name to file taxes jointly. And you don't need to change your name to petition your child.

To change your name on your GC you need to file an I-90 http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=b3f7ab0a43b5d010VgnVCM10000048f3d6a1RCRD&vgnextchannel=db029c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD and pay the associated fee ($450).

[meblue 5]

I see two options here. 1) File the I-90 form to change the name on your GC. Cost is $450 and will take a while; or 2) not sure of the timing but you can file for Naturalization 90 days before you have been a LPR for 5 years and then you can change your name with SSA and do not have to worry about the GC any more. Not sure if you will get this done by April 15th or not. I would just file taxes in the new name. The only time SSA cares about the name is when it comes time to claim benefits. For example my Mother's legal name and name on her SSC was First Middle Married, but she went her entire life by Middle Maiden Married until she turned 65 and had to claim SSA benefits. Then she changed her DL and passport back to First Middle Married so it matched her SSC.

Good luck,

Dave

Thanks for the quick reply Dave. My LPR for 5 years will be July 2012. So, April 2012 I can file my Naturalization. I think I'll just do the #2 option. If we can file jointly in our taxes with my new name, no need to worry about my green card. My new husband will petition my minor daughter, my name will cause any problem with the petition?

[Nina~ 431]

Thanks for the quick reply Dave. My LPR for 5 years will be July 2012. So, April 2012 I can file my Naturalization. I think I'll just do the #2 option. If we can file jointly in our taxes with my new name, no need to worry about my green card. My new husband will petition my minor daughter, my name will cause any problem with the petition?

Just include your husband's death certificate and your current marriage certificate with the application. And fill out the application with your new name.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Thanks for the quick reply Dave. My LPR for 5 years will be July 2012. So, April 2012 I can file my Naturalization. I think I'll just do the #2 option. If we can file jointly in our taxes with my new name, no need to worry about my green card. My new husband will petition my minor daughter, my name will cause any problem with the petition?

Dave & Roza is wrong. You CANNOT file taxes in your new name if your SSN isn't in that name. Your taxes will be rejected because of the mismatch. I know this because my SSN was in my maiden name when we filed taxes for 2009 so I had to file in my maiden name. There are also multiple topics of people having to do the same on here.

Edited December 1, 2011 by Vanessa&Tony

[meblue 5]

Dave & Roza is wrong. You CANNOT file taxes in your new name if your SSN isn't in that name. Your taxes will be rejected because of the mismatch. I know this because my SSN was in my maiden name when we filed taxes for 2009 so I had to file in my maiden name. There are also multiple topics of people having to do the same on here.

Did you file married jointly even though you filed taxes in your maiden name? Do we need to include our marriage certificate when we file our taxes married jointly? What are the other document that we need to submit to the IRS?

Edited December 2, 2011 by meblue

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Did you file married jointly even though you filed taxes in your maiden name? Do we need to include our marriage certificate when we file our taxes married jointly? What are the other document that we need to submit to the IRS?

Yes we filed Married filing jointly. Not all married couples have the same last name, it's not a problem. You know I don't remember showing my marriage certificate but we didn't have any trouble. This year I changed my SSN after receiving my GC so we'll file in my married name

[meblue 5]

Hi,I came here in K1 visa then after I got married and adjusted my status I used my husband's last name in my green card. My husband died 3 years ago. I found a nice guy and we just got married. I used my previous name/single name in my marriage certificate.

Just an Example:

Single name - Belenda Tan Chan

1st Married name - Belenda Tan Smith

Name in green card - Belenda Tan Smith

2nd marraige, name in marriage certificate - Belenda Tan Chan

My question, is it right to put my single name in my marriage certificate now? Or I need to use my name in my green card? My new husband will petition my minor daughter, that's why I put my single name in my marriage certificate so my name will match on her birth certificate. Please help, I need advice.

[meblue 5]

Yes we filed Married filing jointly. Not all married couples have the same last name, it's not a problem. You know I don't remember showing my marriage certificate but we didn't have any trouble. This year I changed my SSN after receiving my GC so we'll file in my married name

Thanks a lot guys for the input and good advice.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

duplicate threads on the same topic have been merged.

Please do not start a new topic on the same question but continue the discussion in one thread only, thank you.

Edited December 3, 2011 by Kathryn41