Name change

[uco 0]

I do not know which forum to post.

I entered USA with my K-1 visa & got married.

I heard, I can use my maiden name as middle name or

add my husband's last name together with my maiden name with '-'.

What is the process to change the name?

Currently I do not have middle name.

I also heard, I can just change the name when I apply for Social Security card.

But when I went to the office, they told me that they can only put the same name

as shows in passport & I-94.

Did anyone change your middle name or add your husband/wife's name

without completely changing the name?

Please advice.

[I'm Gone 60]

I also heard, I can just change the name when I apply for Social Security card.

But when I went to the office, they told me that they can only put the same name

as shows in passport & I-94.

If using the I-94 it depends on if your marriage certificate has your age or date of birth and your having been in the U.S. less than 76 days. If hyphenating the name it's also going to depend if the state where you married allows this after marriage. I would go back to the SSA office with your marriage certificate, I-94 and passport if all those conditions are met and see the office manager if the service rep gives you a hard time.

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SSA will not assign an SSN or issue a card if your status has expired or is within 14 days of expiring.

K-1 status is good for 90 days, so that only gives you 76 days to be assigned an SSN and/or issued a card. After that time you will need an EAD or I-551 card to establish authorization to work. Before that time the

I-94 showing K-1 status is the document that establishes authorization to work for SSN purposes.

The status/documents of all aliens must be verified before SSA will assign an SSN and/or issue a card and the 14 day limit applies even if you pass the 76th day while waiting for your status to be verified.

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http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203210

RM 00203.210 Changing Numident Data

The applicant may submit either:

One legal name change document showing both the old and new names (e.g., a court order for a

name change or a marriage document. The document must also show either (1) a description or

photograph of the person or (2) biographical information that can be compared with the Numident data; or

When the name change document does not show either a photograph of the person or biographical

information that can be compared with the Numident data, then, in addition to the name change

document, the applicant must also submit two identity documents listed in RM 00203.200E. One of

the submitted identity documents must show the old name (the name on the latest Numident record)

AND the other submitted identity document must show the new name (the name to be shown on the corrected SSN card). The identity documents submitted must show either a photograph of the applicant or

provide biographical information that can be compared with the Numident data.

a. Bride Takes Groom’s Last Name

In all 50 U.S. States (this means the 50 States, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin

Islands, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa) the bride may take her husband's last name

(surname or family name) as her new last name. (EXAMPLE: Jane Doe married John Jones and she

may change her name to Jane Jones.)

Interim Guidance: If the bride wants to take her husband's last name, accept the marriage

document as a legal name change for the bride if the new name can be derived from the marriage document; even if the marriage document only shows each partner's first names, the bride's prior surname and husband's surname. The marriage document alone can be accepted as evidence of identity for both

the old and new names when it meets the criteria described in RM 00203.200G.2.

c. Hyphenated Name - Combination of Bride and Groom’s Original Names

In some U.S. States one of the partners or both partners may take a new last name that hyphenates both partners' surnames. (EXAMPLE: Barbara Mullendore married Daniel Michael. If she married in a State that permits this, she may change her name to Barbara Mullendore-Michael or Barbara Michael-Mullendore.)

Interim Guidance: If the bride or groom or both want to take a new last name that hyphenates both partners’ surnames, accept the marriage document as a legal name change for the bride or groom if the new name can be derived from the marriage document; and it only shows each partner’s first names and the bride and groom’s surnames. The marriage document alone can be accepted as evidence of identity for both the old and new names when it meets the criteria described in RM00203.200G.2.

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http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203200#G2

2. Determine if the ID Document Has Required Information

Ask the applicant to submit one or more documents that show the person's name AND provide:

Biographical information in addition to the person's name that the reviewer can compare with

the data on the SS-5 (e.g., date of birth, age, or parents' names) and/or

Physical information that the reviewer can compare with the applicant (e.g., physical

description, photograph).

NOTE: A non-picture identity document must have the person's name as well as information that

can be compared to the Numident, the applicant or other documents submitted (e.g., age, date of birth,

or parents' names).

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C. Procedure - Immigration Document as Evidence of Legal Name

When issuing immigration documents, the Department of State and DHS issue them in the person's

legal name. The legal name is also generally the name in which the foreign passport was issued.

When an alien applies for an SSN card, presume the name on the immigration document is the

legal name unless the applicant presents evidence of a legal name change (e.g., marriage) that

occurred after the immigration document was issued.

Note: Also need proof of work authorized alien status.

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The SSA office will try to verify your status through the SAVE system

while you are in the office. If they can't, they will send a form G-845

to immigration for manual verification. This could delay the assigning

of an SSN and/or issuing a card for weeks and some times months.

If the SSA office does send the G-845, suggest that you go back to the

SSA office no more than once a week with your documents to (1) ask them

to check SAVE again (2) ask if they sent a G-845 (3) if yes, did it come

back (4) after 30 days ask if they have followed up on the G-845 by

calling or sending another mark "second request."

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http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203720

RM 00203.720 Verifying Immigration Documents

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http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203735

RM 00203.735 Requesting Online (Primary) Verification By SAVE

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After having waited at least 30 days and your local SSA office doesn't

seem concerned about following up on the G-845 she can try contacting

the SSA Regional Office (RO) responsible for your state:

http://www.ssa.gov/pressoffice/natlpocontacts.html

Refer them to this:

RM 00203.740 Requesting Additional (Manual) Verification By DHS

B. PROCEDURE – HOW TO REQUEST MANUAL VERIFICATION

STEP 6

DHS should respond to SSA within 15 federal work days after receiving

the Form G-845. If DHS does not respond within 15 federal work days from

the receipt of the G-845 from SSA, follow-up with the DHS, USCIS

Immigration Status office. (Allow 15 days plus five additional federal

work days of mail time for the G-845 to be received at and returned from

DHS.

Follow local practice to follow-up with DHS. Some SSA offices have an

arrangement with the DHS, USCIS office to telephone for the follow-up

contact; other SSA offices send a copy of the original G-845 annotated

“second request.”) If the DHS response is still not received within 15

federal work days after the follow-up contact (if the follow-up is by

mail allow five additional federal work days of mail time for the G-845

to be received at and returned from DHS), make a second follow-up

contact. If the DHS response is not received within 15 federal workdays

(again, if the follow-up is by mail, allow five additional federal work

days of mail time for the G-845 to be received at and returned from

DHS), after two follow-ups, contact the RO. Also report to the RO any trend that shows a

serious deviation by DHS from the above time frames. The RO will consult with central office.

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If they can verify your status with your married name through SAVE this should stop them from sending the G-845 if the I-94 is not within the 14 day period:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203735

RM 00203.735 Requesting Online (Primary) Verification By SAVE

E. PROCEDURE—ONLINE SAVE QUERY RESPONSE INFORMATION DOES NOT AGREE WITH IMMIGRATION DOCUMENT

1. Name

e. Applicant Has Changed His/Her Name But SAVE Query Response Shows Old Name

In some cases, the applicant may have changed his/her name after DHS issued the immigration document (e.g., he/she has married and is now using the spouse’s last name) but does not present an immigration

document showing the new name. In these cases, the DHS system reflects the new name only when the person provided the name change information to DHS and requested to have his/her immigration record changed to show the new name.

When the SAVE query response shows the old name that is shown on the immigration document presented and not the new name on the identity document presented, do not consider this a name discrepancy for

enumeration purposes. See RM 00203.200 when the applicant presents an identity document in the new name that is more recent than the immigration document to determine if the identity document is

acceptable. Tell the applicant he/she must report the name change to DHS so that DHS can update its records.

NOTE FROM ME: Procedure tells the SSA office to tell you to report the name change to DHS, not that it can't be processed and that is just what you will be doing when you submit the AOS.

[uco 0]

Thank you for your help!

[Mand 1]

Marriage allows you legally to take your husband's name if you so wish.

1) You can drop your maiden name and take his or

2) You can add his surname to yours and have a hyphenated surname i.e Ann Jones-King(just an example!)

If you do not have a middle name, you don't have a middle name...no big deal! But if you choose to keep your own surname and add your husband's surname, it means a longer surname for you (as above)

Whichever you decide to do, fill this in as your surname on your AOS/EAD/AP forms...as this is how it will be saved for immigration purposes. You will then receive youe EAD/AP/GC with this new name, and you can use these as ID for driver's license etc.

[chagalafamilia 0]

You can change your name when it is time to file the N-400 for citizenship. According to the instructions in Part 1D:

Name change (optional) - A court can allow a change in your name when you are being naturalized. A name change does not become final until a court naturalizes you. For more information regarding a name change, see the Guide.

If you want a court to change your name at a naturalization oath ceremony, check ''Yes'' and complete this section. If you do not want to change your name, check ''No'' and go to Part 2.

Instructions for I-400