Passport and GC in Old Name; ID's, SSN Cards, Credit Cards are in New Name: Safe to Travel?

[MrsChinita 1]

Hi there! I am new here and I'm kinda at a loss of what I'm going to do. I've been reading some of teh posts here and I just decided to ask you and maybe you can help me clarify some things for me. Here's my situation:

1. I am a Filipino Citizen and been here in the US since 2008. I've been married before but had an annulment in 2007. When I came here in the US to work, I was still using my ex-husband's name.

2. I met a US citizen and we got married in December of 2009. I applied for a green card for me and my 3 kids (of my 1st marriage)in November 2010. Got approved GC in June of 2011.

3. So today, January 2012, I'm planning to visit my mom and brothers back in the Philippines. But I'm worried about my documents have different last names.

Passport and Green Card are both under my ex-husband's last name.

State ID, SSN Card, Company ID, State Public and Safety ID, Credit and Debit Cards are all under my 2nd husband's last name. (It's the name I am using right now.)

4. The situation is when I tried booking in an airline ticket last night, I used my old name that was written on my passport but when I used my credit card with my new name, it won't let me in. Here's what it says:

The credit card holder's name must match exactly one of the passenger's name traveling on the reservation for flights to/from Samoa, Tahiti, Philippines or Japan. Also, you will be required to present your credit card at time of check-in to receive your boarding passes. Please re-enter a valid credit card that belongs to one of the passengers to finalize your reservation.

Now, I don't know what to do. Any suggestions or comments will help. Thank you for all your replies!

[bigdog 376]

It is a pain, we are just beginning to change over after getting her GC. Passport from China still in Maiden name, everything else will be in married name. Use the credit card name on your documents and take all your backup ID. You are not the first to do this, just a pain.

[MrsChinita 1]

It is a pain, we are just beginning to change over after getting her GC. Passport from China still in Maiden name, everything else will be in married name. Use the credit card name on your documents and take all your backup ID. You are not the first to do this, just a pain.

I know, it is really a pain. So you mean I just have to use my Credit Card with new name and use that in obtaining an airline ticket even if my passport and green card are in my old name? Will I have hard time going through TSA for this? All my back up IDs were issued from the Philippines(with my old name). I think some of them have already expired though. All my IDs here in the US are ALL under my new name.

Thanks for the reply, Bigdog.

[Dave&Roza 748]

The ticket must be in the name on the official government issued ID--the passport in this case. To re-enter the USA you will use your GC. The name on it is not as important as the name on the passport. For the purchase of the ticket, I never had a problem in purchasing the wife's ticket using my CC and neither names are the same. This must be a county/region specific issue to prevent fraud. I would call the airline or travel site to see if you can use the CC with a different lastname. They must have had people with married/maiden name issues and should be able to handle this situation too.

Good luck,

Dave

[MrsChinita 1]

The ticket must be in the name on the official government issued ID--the passport in this case. To re-enter the USA you will use your GC. The name on it is not as important as the name on the passport. For the purchase of the ticket, I never had a problem in purchasing the wife's ticket using my CC and neither names are the same. This must be a county/region specific issue to prevent fraud. I would call the airline or travel site to see if you can use the CC with a different lastname. They must have had people with married/maiden name issues and should be able to handle this situation too.

Good luck,

Dave

Thanks for the input, Dave. I'm just so confused right now on what I'm going to do. I really wanted to visit home but I don't want to leave the country unless everything is fine and settled. I don't want any hassle in leaving and coming back here in the US.

[bigdog 376]

I found this additionally, hope it helps, also talk with TSA directly. http://blogs.wsj.com/middleseat/2009/05/26/new-tsa-rules-could-force-you-to-change-your-name/

[bigdog 376]

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/1209/~/us-citizens%2Flawful-permanent-residents-name-does-not-match-documents more information.

[MrsChinita 1]

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/1209/~/us-citizens%2Flawful-permanent-residents-name-does-not-match-documents more information.

Thanks again.

[jojolicious 38]

This is a measure used by the airlines to prevent fraud for certain countries. They just want to make sure that it's not an unauthorised use of that particular credit card so they insist that the credit card name match a passenger's name.

When I was booking my ticket to visit my home country the website said I would need to show the actual credit card upon checking in but on the day of my flight, no one asked me about the cc at all.

[MrsChinita 1]

This is a measure used by the airlines to prevent fraud for certain countries. They just want to make sure that it's not an unauthorised use of that particular credit card so they insist that the credit card name match a passenger's name.

When I was booking my ticket to visit my home country the website said I would need to show the actual credit card upon checking in but on the day of my flight, no one asked me about the cc at all.

My husband and I figured that out too. But you see, the name on my credit card is not the same as the one in my passport. So, we just stopped the booking and came into a brick wall. I'm stuck. Now I'm still trying to figure out what to do.

[jojolicious 38]

My husband and I figured that out too. But you see, the name on my credit card is not the same as the one in my passport. So, we just stopped the booking and came into a brick wall. I'm stuck. Now I'm still trying to figure out what to do.

Did you call the airline? Maybe you could explain the situation and they can override it manually?

[MrsChinita 1]

Did you call the airline? Maybe you could explain the situation and they can override it manually?

I didn't call them yet. You think it's ok to travel with my passport and green card in the same name? So is my ticket if they're going to allow it that way?

[jojolicious 38]

I didn't call them yet. You think it's ok to travel with my passport and green card in the same name? So is my ticket if they're going to allow it that way?

Your ticket is usually issued in the name used in your passport. It's good that your passport and green card are in the same name for travelling purposes. I think you should carry a copy of your marriage certificate just in case so that if they allow you to use the credit card you can explain the difference in name.

If you book over the phone or through a travel agent they should be able to get around the difference in name though by confirming your identity and overriding the system. It depends on the CSR you get though.

Another option is to check out other airlines. They may have more flexible policies regarding the credit card.

[MrsChinita 1]

Thanks to all your reply. I am thinking of not leaving the country anymore. I feel sad about it but I guess I'm just worried that I may run into some kind of trouble or hassle at the airport or TSA of both countries. I may just have to wait till next year to renew my green card and change my old name to the new one on my green card and passport. The airfares are getting more expensive each day and don't want to pay more than I could. I guess I won't be seeing my hometown pretty soon yet. Haven't been home since 2008 and I guess it's written that I don't get to go home yet. :)It is sad but I'll live.

[jojolicious 38]

Well better safe than sorry! Once all documents are in the same name you'll be more at ease. Hang in there