Changing my name

[AmyWrites 593]

So I get married soon, and after that want to apply for DCF. I want to, in the traditional Russian fashion, take his last name, adding the "a" at the end. I read elsewhere online that the US authorities would change my name to his, for example, "Ivanov", but NOT "Ivanova". Is this true? Wouldn't that be a problem given my passport and so on?

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

So I get married soon, and after that want to apply for DCF. I want to, in the traditional Russian fashion, take his last name, adding the "a" at the end. I read elsewhere online that the US authorities would change my name to his, for example, "Ivanov", but NOT "Ivanova". Is this true? Wouldn't that be a problem given my passport and so on?

I have never heard of such a thing Name changes are a state issue actually. Marriage is a valid reason to change a name without a court order. Since you are in Russia it would seem that the best way would be for you to change your name in your passport. The Russian marriage certificate states the names taken by the man and woman after marriage. Your marriage certificate is your proof of name change. Take it (with a translation)to the US consulate there and change you name in your passport. As far as other things that will be done when you return to the states, just show your passport and translated marriage certificate. Regarding the translation, though there is no requirement for any particular person to do the translation, and you can do your own for the consulate, this is why Alla never does translations for herself or her family. It just seems it could be considered a "conflict of interest" I would suggest getting someone else to do the translation of the marriage certificate.

Many states allow you to change your name to any version or combination of your and his name. It would be silly to suggest you COULD change your name to Robinson-Jonesbut not to "Ivanova"

[slim 1,525]

I doubt it will be a problem. Just fill out the proper forms and you should be good.

[eekee 182]

I don't think they make you, but many people go that root because people in the US are unfamiliar with Russian naming practices.

[ONA 133]

It should not be a problem. Nobody will make you change your last name, so it will be "Ivanov". Some people might wonder though, why you and your husband have different last names.

I have a friend here, she and her husband are both Russian and got married in Russia. They recently went through her AOS interview and they were actually asked, why they have different last names (because Ivanov and Ivanova are considered to be different in the US), they just explained that in Russia Ivanova is a female version of Ivanov. No other issues, her green card was approved.