Name Change Problem?

[ralyse 31]

I had my biometrics today and I'm left incredibly confused.

I arrived with my Canadian Passport (in my maiden name) and my marriage licence, as well as my NOAs and my Biometrics Appointment Letter, which all display my married name. I was the only person in the office other than people who work there, so I handed the security guy my stuff, filled out the forms and was told to sit down. A few minutes alter a guy comes out of the office, introduces himself as the supervisor and tells me there's a problem with my paperwork. He claims that since my marriage license is signed in my maiden name (which the officiant told us to do) he needs to have all my AOS paperwork changed into that name. He crossed out my married name on my NOAs, my Biometrics letter and the forms I'd filled out there and wrote in my maiden name, told me I couldn't "commit fraud" by trying to change my name this way and that I'd have to do it "legally" after I filed for citizenship (and that I was not allowed to do it before that point).

Everything I've done since getting married here has been in my married name. I hadn't gone and changed it on my SSN yet (I was waiting for the EAD to do that) but the bank had no problem accepting the marriage certificate as proof of my name change... and I'm not even sure how the supervisor could tell it was signed in my maiden name anyway. The first initial didn't change and I have a famously illegible signature, it's just a C and a scribble for both my married and maiden names...

I finished the appointment, but now I'm incredibly confused and worried. Are they going to send me back all my AOS stuff and want the signatures redone to my maiden name since apparently I'm not allowed to get a green card in my married name? Was he completely wrong? Will I need to do biometrics again in my married name? I know at the end of the day it doesn't actually matter that much if my ID has my maiden name since obviously my husband and Ia re married but it was really important to me for personal reasons to change my name... I assume now I can't get it changed on my Canadian passport when that's up for renewal? I'll need to get a Michigan Driver's Licence in my maiden name? Is this all the fault of our officiant who told me to sign my maiden name to the licence? Will this delay AOS/EAD/AP? Is there any point in calling USCIS to try and ensure my green card comes in my married name?

I hope someone has some input, thank-you.

[Inky 1,111]

Wow... That is SO weird.

My marriage license is signed in my maiden name and had no issues like this what-so-ever during the process. My passport too was in maiden name when I went down to get my biometrics done for AOS and they didn't say anything about it not even asked for a marriage license or anything.

I would make an infopass appointment or call USCIS and ask what the heck is up with that... it doesn't sound right.

- You can apply for a new Canadian passport with marriage certificate and other ID proof at any time, you just include a letter stating you need a new passport because of marriage and name change. They ask for marriage certificate and another form of ID proving name change. I sent our marriage certificate and a copy of my drivers license when i sent in my passport application. There was 2-3 years left on the previous passport too.

[Caroline + Angelo 20]

Well that definitely isn't right.

I don't remember though if I signed in my maiden or married name on the marriage license, cause we turned that one in at city hall and they gave us a certificate of marriage registration (or marriage certificate) which states my "premarriage surname" and then my "new surname." And on that marriage certificate there is just the city clerk's signature, not ours. That was on the marriage license...maybe that's different from state to state? Do you have a marriage registration certificate that states your new surname?

Cause I thought the marriage license gives you permission to get married, then you fill it out, as well as the officiant, and then all sign it and then either the officiant or you register it with the city clerk/city hall etc. and you get a marriage certificate instead...

I had it with my at the biometrics appointment but as far as I can remember no-one asked to see it.

[ralyse 31]

Okay, I called USCIS.

-First representative was very helpful, said he could already see the documentation from my biometrics appointment about the name. He verified that I was following the correct procedure to have the green card issued in my married name but he was going to transfer me to the next tier to make sure the guy today didn't cause any issues. I was quite impressed with this representative.

-The next representative (Tier 2 I guess?) Confirmed again that i hadn't done anything wrong. He said that the fact they submitted my biometric data under my maiden name wouldn't impact anything as my paperwork was filed under my married name and as long as I submitted evidence of the marriage with the AOS package (specifically a certified copy of the marriage certificate) the card will be issued under my married name. He did specify that "All AOS applications get an interview" and that I could further verify this name information there if there's any problems. He also recommended that I file a complaint against the supervisor at the ASC when I have this interview...

...so I'm hoping all the worry today was over nothing and that the supervisor at the ASC was... I don't know, completely wrong? I can't be the first woman to go in there with a marriage certificate and passport, so it baffles me...

Edit: our marriage certificate is a certified copy of the licence we signed issued by the county. It doesn't state my married name anywhere, only biographic data for both myself and my husband then "signature of groom" "signature of bride" and the information for our witnesses/officiant. Then its printed at the bottom that it's registered as having been filed and is a true and exact copy etc, confirming the marriage actually took place and was registered.

Edited December 9, 2011 by ralyse

[Caroline + Angelo 20]

Well problem solved I guess. And then I assume marriage certificates are different by state, as ours like I said don't even have our signatures on it, nor the officiants, just the signature of the city clerk.

But we all know not every AOS application has an interview so it's good you sorted it out now.

Edited December 9, 2011 by Caroline + Angelo

[ralyse 31]

Well problem solved I guess. And then I assume marriage certificates are different by state, as ours like I said don't even have our signatures on it, nor the officiants, just the signature of the city clerk.

But we all know not every AOS application has an interview so it's good you sorted it out now.

My only concern is that he couldn't tell me 100% for sure it would be my married name and told me to use the Interview as confirmation... what if I don't get an interview, how do I confirm it then?

Ugh, this is such a stupid nightmare over probably nothing. I can't be the first married woman to ever go through that office and try and change her name, so I'm baffled that it even happened.

[S/B 0]

Okay, I called USCIS.

-First representative was very helpful, said he could already see the documentation from my biometrics appointment about the name. He verified that I was following the correct procedure to have the green card issued in my married name but he was going to transfer me to the next tier to make sure the guy today didn't cause any issues. I was quite impressed with this representative.

-The next representative (Tier 2 I guess?) Confirmed again that i hadn't done anything wrong. He said that the fact they submitted my biometric data under my maiden name wouldn't impact anything as my paperwork was filed under my married name and as long as I submitted evidence of the marriage with the AOS package (specifically a certified copy of the marriage certificate) the card will be issued under my married name. He did specify that "All AOS applications get an interview" and that I could further verify this name information there if there's any problems. He also recommended that I file a complaint against the supervisor at the ASC when I have this interview...

...so I'm hoping all the worry today was over nothing and that the supervisor at the ASC was... I don't know, completely wrong? I can't be the first woman to go in there with a marriage certificate and passport, so it baffles me...

Edit: our marriage certificate is a certified copy of the licence we signed issued by the county. It doesn't state my married name anywhere, only biographic data for both myself and my husband then "signature of groom" "signature of bride" and the information for our witnesses/officiant. Then its printed at the bottom that it's registered as having been filed and is a true and exact copy etc, confirming the marriage actually took place and was registered.

When we applied for our marriage license in Michigan, we were specifically told it had to be signed in my married name(Michigan requires this). So sorry your officiant told you the wrong information. When I applied for my MI Driver's License, they accepted my married name because by SSN is in my married name and I also brought in the AOS NOA's showing my married name. Hope you don't have any further problems.

[ralyse 31]

When we applied for our marriage license in Michigan, we were specifically told it had to be signed in my married name(Michigan requires this). So sorry your officiant told you the wrong information. When I applied for my MI Driver's License, they accepted my married name because by SSN is in my married name and I also brought in the AOS NOA's showing my married name. Hope you don't have any further problems.

...Ugh. I know our officiant does tons of weddings, I can't believe he got this wrong.

I guess I'm going to go and change my name on my SSN first thing on Monday so I have that issued in my married name, too.

And hopefully when they're processing my AOS they won't have any trouble with it since the signatures are so interchangeable anyway? Ugh.

[S/B 0]

...Ugh. I know our officiant does tons of weddings, I can't believe he got this wrong.

I guess I'm going to go and change my name on my SSN first thing on Monday so I have that issued in my married name, too.

And hopefully when they're processing my AOS they won't have any trouble with it since the signatures are so interchangeable anyway? Ugh.

When I did my POE, the officer entered my first and middle name as one so when I applied for my SSN, they couldn't find my name at first and than he had to do a name change for me so that showed correctly in the system. All these little problems...

[missicy 87]

My only concern is that he couldn't tell me 100% for sure it would be my married name and told me to use the Interview as confirmation... what if I don't get an interview, how do I confirm it then?

You can make an infopass appointment at your local office.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

I signed my wedding certificate in my married name... I'm in Iowa.

It does TOTALLY depend on your state laws. If you did the wrong thing for your state then it stands to reason they're telling you it's wrong.

Not ALL K1's get interviews.. keep an eye on any other paperwork you receive to make sure the name hasn't changed. If it does you'll need to file an I-90, send the card back with a copy of the AOS paperwork, and your marriage cert showing it was USCIS error to issue the card in the "wrong" name.

[frostiana 12]

...Ugh. I know our officiant does tons of weddings, I can't believe he got this wrong.

I guess I'm going to go and change my name on my SSN first thing on Monday so I have that issued in my married name, too.

And hopefully when they're processing my AOS they won't have any trouble with it since the signatures are so interchangeable anyway? Ugh.

I am in Michigan, what State are you in? I think getting your SSN changed to your married name ASAP will help. Make sure you get a print out from them showing the name change so you have proof while waiting for the new card to come.

[carocaro 22]

>> our marriage certificate is a certified copy of the licence we signed issued by the county. It doesn't state my married name anywhere, only biographic data for both myself and my husband then "signature of groom" "signature of bride" and the information for our witnesses/officiant. Then its printed at the bottom that it's registered as having been filed and is a true and exact copy etc, confirming the marriage actually took place and was registered.

In Arizona our official marriage licence was in my maiden name, not married name. It said "bride's name" and "groom's name" and the Minister was clear that was for my name before marriage. There was no where to write the name after marriage.

Everything with USCIS was done in my new married name using that documentation. I managed to get my AZ driver's licence in my married name using that official marriage licence, but otherwise didn't have anything with new last name at that point.

Caro

[Penny Lane 8,159]

My marriage license was also signed in my maiden name under "bride's name" .. couldn't sign it under my married name since we had not been married yet. I had no problems getting my SSN in my married name, providing my passport and marriage certificate. I think you just ran into someone who didn't know what they were talking about

[S/B 0]

My marriage license was also signed in my maiden name under "bride's name" .. couldn't sign it under my married name since we had not been married yet. I had no problems getting my SSN in my married name, providing my passport and marriage certificate. I think you just ran into someone who didn't know what they were talking about

Michigan requires a marriage license to be signed in your married name, every state is different.