When to change last name

[Norteamericano_CM 2]

My wife has her IR-1/CR-1 visa (we filed DCF) and I'm wondering when can my wife change her last name to mine? I know this has been asked before on VJ but I wasn't sure since we filed outside the US if it was different? any fellow DCFers know from experience when/where to do this? Many thanks

[Dave&Roza 748]

My wife has her IR-1/CR-1 visa (we filed DCF) and I'm wondering when can my wife change her last name to mine? I know this has been asked before on VJ but I wasn't sure since we filed outside the US if it was different? any fellow DCFers know from experience when/where to do this? Many thanks

Anytime after marriage she can change her lastname to yours. It sounds like you filed the paper work in her maiden name. If so, I would wait until you have to file ROC (if currently married less than two years) or file for naturalization to change her name. This is because her GC is in her maidne name (yes?) and it will cost $450 to file the I-90 form and take time. So I would suggest she live with the current name until the next round of forms are filed with teh USCIS and then the name can be changed during that step. On the bright side her passport and GC names should be the same so she does not have tocarry her marriage certificate when traveling internationally.

Dave

[Norteamericano_CM 2]

I wanted to clarify some things. She doesn't have her GC because we haven't entered the US yet this happens after POE? Can she request to use my last name on the GC? We file the ROC after two years right? so does that mean she can't start using my last name until then? She has a social security card but that is with her maiden name since it is from before we met can she change that while we are waiting to file the ROC? thanks

[Dave&Roza 748]

I wanted to clarify some things. She doesn't have her GC because we haven't entered the US yet this happens after POE? Can she request to use my last name on the GC? We file the ROC after two years right? so does that mean she can't start using my last name until then? She has a social security card but that is with her maiden name since it is from before we met can she change that while we are waiting to file the ROC? thanks

If the name you used to file for the IR-1/CR-1 visa is her maiden name then the GC will be in her maiden name. You can change it at the ROC stage without paying for filing an I-90. So what name did you use on the I-130 form as that will be the name on the GC. To change the SSC you can use the marriage certificate and an ID. The SSA may give you grief that the name must match the GC and other immigration documents, but that is not correct. Note the day, time and person you talked to and then e-mail the main office to have them train their employees.

Good luck,

Dave