Fiance says she should add My Family name first.

[HypoLoveTriangle 2]

Hello all. I just joined this site because I'm trying to figure out what my fiance is talking about.

I am an American Citizen, male, trying to marry my Japanese fiance, female. We are currently in the process of her receiving K-1 VISA. We are very close to getting the VISA. Very soon. She just needs to turn in her paperwork/interview. I won't go into all the ####### I have had to endure previously.

She wants to know if she should add my Family name to her Japanese Passport before she gets her VISA so her K-1 VISA and then Green Card will have my family name on it. She says A LOT of people are telling her to do so online. Is this a good idea? Does it even make any sense? Even my lawyer doesn't even know what she is referring to or why. Everything I've read has made the impression on me that she can do all her name changes during the AOS part. So that her Green Card will have my family name. Then she could change her passport to have my family name.

This is her direct quote.

"I am not talking about just changing my name. I am talking about if I should add your family name on my passport or not. I am not trying to change my name right now. I was looking at many websites. If I want to use both my family name and your family name in America (if I want get Green Card with your family name) I should add your family name before I get VISA. American government creates a Green Card depending on my VISA name. If I add your family name before I get VISA, I can get Green Card with your family name. If I don't add, I will get Green Card with only my name. I don't know what is wrong if I can't get Green Card with your family name. I don't think I can put your family name on my Green Card if I don't attach it on my Passport before I get VISA. Because American Goveranment make Green Card depends on VISA. if your family name won't on my Passport, I can't attach your family name on Green Card. Many people said so."

Honestly, I don't even know how that makes sense when you can change the name during the AOS process.

Could anyone with experience illuminate me? Thanks

Phil

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Hello all. I just joined this site because I'm trying to figure out what my fiance is talking about.

I am an American Citizen, male, trying to marry my Japanese fiance, female. We are currently in the process of her receiving K-1 VISA. We are very close to getting the VISA. Very soon. She just needs to turn in her paperwork/interview. I won't go into all the ####### I have had to endure previously.

She wants to know if she should add my Family name to her Japanese Passport before she gets her VISA so her K-1 VISA and then Green Card will have my family name on it. She says A LOT of people are telling her to do so online. Is this a good idea? Does it even make any sense? Even my lawyer doesn't even know what she is referring to or why. Everything I've read has made the impression on me that she can do all her name changes during the AOS part. So that her Green Card will have my family name. Then she could change her passport to have my family name.

This is her direct quote.

"I am not talking about just changing my name. I am talking about if I should add your family name on my passport or not. I am not trying to change my name right now. I was looking at many websites. If I want to use both my family name and your family name in America (if I want get Green Card with your family name) I should add your family name before I get VISA. American government creates a Green Card depending on my VISA name. If I add your family name before I get VISA, I can get Green Card with your family name. If I don't add, I will get Green Card with only my name. I don't know what is wrong if I can't get Green Card with your family name. I don't think I can put your family name on my Green Card if I don't attach it on my Passport before I get VISA. Because American Goveranment make Green Card depends on VISA. if your family name won't on my Passport, I can't attach your family name on Green Card. Many people said so."

Honestly, I don't even know how that makes sense when you can change the name during the AOS process.

Could anyone with experience illuminate me? Thanks

Phil

NO! Do not change anything until after you are married. Doing it before hand in addition to being just a bad idea, could lead the consulate to believe you were already married and if they think that you WILL be denied the K-1

ACT like fiance/fiancee until AFTER you are married.

[Helen Louise Pile 80]

You are right, she should wait for AOS to change her name, it is easy to do that and she will have her married name on her greencard. And, at that time it will actually be her name.

Remind her that she only needs the visa in her passport when she enters the country, after that it is irrelevant so she can go ahead and get a new passport in her married name. Perhaps she thinks you need to keep the visa in your current passport or something??

Perhaps she is stressed about her upcoming interview and making sure she does everything right?

Good luck with everything

Helen

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Greencard is NOT made in the Visa name. It's made in the name you apply for the Greencard with. After you marry, when you file AOS, put the new name she wants there. What she is suggesting is really putting the cart before the horse.

[aaron2020 11,651]

Will the Japanese government let her have a passport that is not her legal name? Doubtful.

Could the US Embassy erroneously think that she is married based on adding your name and deny the K-1 visa? Yes. It is not customary for a person to legally change his/her name before marriage.

Once she enters the US and marry you, you can use her married name to apply to adjust her status. You list her maiden name, the one that is on her K-1 visa, under "other names used." USCIS is well aware that many women adopt their husbands' last names after marriage.

There is NO GOOD REASON to add your name before marriage. This will only cause you problems.

If your fiancee thinks she is still right after you show this thread, ask her to provide you with the information from a reliable source - something from a US government website, an immigration online forum, or an immigration attorney's website. Better yet, ask her to ask these wonderful people giving her this really bad advice to point to a source that shows their idea is a good one. My guess is that all of the people who think it is a wonderful idea have no personal experience changing their names to their fiancees' last names before a K-1 interview.

Edited January 24, 2012 by aaron2020

[HypoLoveTriangle 2]

Wow! Thanks everyone for the very quick replies. I really appreciate it. This will help. I honestly don't know where she's getting this. She searching a lot of different websites for information. Most likely sites like this but only in Japanese.

Maybe its possible something is getting lost in translation? No government or immigration site I have read has said you should add my Family name to her passport before getting VISA.

Yes, I am sure she is extremely nervous about the VISA and the move and everything. It is a huge, life changing event.

I hope everything works out as well.

Thank you!

phil

[aaron2020 11,651]

Wow! Thanks everyone for the very quick replies. I really appreciate it. This will help. I honestly don't know where she's getting this. She searching a lot of different websites for information. Most likely sites like this but only in Japanese.

Maybe its possible something is getting lost in translation? No government or immigration site I have read has said you should add my Family name to her passport before getting VISA.

Yes, I am sure she is extremely nervous about the VISA and the move and everything. It is a huge, life changing event.

I hope everything works out as well.

Thank you!

phil

If she insists on changing her name before marriage; have her try to get a Japanese passport with her "new name" first. I doubt that the Japanese let people have a passport with a name other than their legal name. The Japanese Embassy in the US require a legal document that allows a name change or proof that the name is incorrect. She will not be able to provide neither before marriage.

Tell her that the US Embassy will only issue a visa based on the name in her passport.

-------------------

This is from the Japanese Embassy in the US; http://japan.usembassy.gov/e/acs/tacs-passports-amending.html

Amending or Correcting Passports

If you have changed your name or need to correct data on your passport, you will need to have this change reflected in your passport. Please note that passports can no longer be amended; therefore you will need to apply for a new passport.

If the change/correction is within one year after issuance, you may apply by mail (for both adults and minors age 16 and under).

Please send:

• Valid passport
  
• Completed form DS-5504
  
• Documentation showing name change
  
• * (e.g. Original marriage certificate, divorce decree or court order)
  
• OR
  
• Documentation showing that the information in the passport is incorrect
  
• * (e.g. Original birth certificate, marriage certificate, previous passport)
  
• One passport photo
  
• One self-addressed LetterPack 500 envelope (for persons using APO address, one self-addressed envelope)
  
• Please send you application to the Consular office in your district.
  

All foreign documents must be accompanied by an English translation (formal or informal). Click here for translation templates for Japanese documents.

Edited January 24, 2012 by aaron2020