Name change after wedding

[domwardbound 73]

Ok.. trying to figure all this out. Fiancee is Russian, and wants to change her name to mine. She lives in Russia, we'll get married in America (state undecided right now), and then she'll go back to Russia to apply for a green card through CR-1.

Questions:

-In the space on the American marriage license where it asks what her surname will be after marriage, should she indicate that she wants to change it to mine, or leave it as her maiden name?

-Once back in Russia, which name to put on the green card application (she'd prefer mine)? Does she need to change her name in her Russian passports before applying for a green card, or can she apply for the green card with my last name without changing her Russian documents?

-If she needs (or wants) to change her Russian docs (either before or after starting green card process), how should she do it/what is needed? Does she need to do anything in America before going back to Russia?

-Is she free to change her passports at any point in the green card app process? For example, if her docs are changed after the green card process start, is this ok?

Thanks much!

[Neonred 3,564]

Ok.. trying to figure all this out. Fiancee is Russian, and wants to change her name to mine. She lives in Russia, we'll get married in America (state undecided right now), and then she'll go back to Russia to apply for a green card through CR-1.

Questions:

-In the space on the American marriage license where it asks what her surname will be after marriage, should she indicate that she wants to change it to mine, or leave it as her maiden name?

-Once back in Russia, which name to put on the green card application (she'd prefer mine)? Does she need to change her name in her Russian passports before applying for a green card, or can she apply for the green card with my last name without changing her Russian documents?

-If she needs (or wants) to change her Russian docs (either before or after starting green card process), how should she do it/what is needed? Does she need to do anything in America before going back to Russia?

-Is she free to change her passports at any point in the green card app process? For example, if her docs are changed after the green card process start, is this ok?

Thanks much!

If she wants to change her name be sure that she shows her new name on the marriage certificate as this will be VERY IMPORTANT. Then get that document translated and apostilled. She will have to have that to change her name in her internal passport first, then she can change her name in her international passport. Use that same name for the CR-1 which will be the name on her green card.

She can change her name in her passport at any time, but she needs to start it in Russia, OR, she does not have to change her name in her Russian docs at all.

[domwardbound 73]

If she wants to change her name be sure that she shows her new name on the marriage certificate as this will be VERY IMPORTANT. Then get that document translated and apostilled. She will have to have that to change her name in her internal passport first, then she can change her name in her international passport. Use that same name for the CR-1 which will be the name on her green card.

She can change her name in her passport at any time, but she needs to start it in Russia, OR, she does not have to change her name in her Russian docs at all.

Thanks for the reply - as I understand it, if her I-130 has her using my surname, she doesn't need a passport that uses that name, only the marriage certificate, correct? Once she goes for her interview, it's alright that her passport still has her maiden name?

[baron555 934]

Ok.. trying to figure all this out. Fiancee is Russian, and wants to change her name to mine. She lives in Russia, we'll get married in America (state undecided right now), and then she'll go back to Russia to apply for a green card through CR-1.

Questions:

-In the space on the American marriage license where it asks what her surname will be after marriage, should she indicate that she wants to change it to mine, or leave it as her maiden name?

-Once back in Russia, which name to put on the green card application (she'd prefer mine)? Does she need to change her name in her Russian passports before applying for a green card, or can she apply for the green card with my last name without changing her Russian documents?

-If she needs (or wants) to change her Russian docs (either before or after starting green card process), how should she do it/what is needed? Does she need to do anything in America before going back to Russia?

-Is she free to change her passports at any point in the green card app process? For example, if her docs are changed after the green card process start, is this ok?

Thanks much!

By what visa means will she travel to the US in order to merely marry you and then travel back?

[domwardbound 73]

By what visa means will she travel to the US in order to merely marry you and then travel back?

B1/B2

[Neonred 3,564]

B1/B2

Some people arrive on a tourist visa and get married and stay. It is possible to adjust status (get the green card) this way.

[domwardbound 73]

Some people arrive on a tourist visa and get married and stay. It is possible to adjust status (get the green card) this way.

Eh, not our option. Fraud is the main issue that I'd like to stay clear of (even if 'people' have done it before), and her having a good job v Moskve that she doesn't want to quit until she's got the CR-1 is another.

Otherwise, we'd just go the fiance route, but she doesn't want to be sitting in America and not working. Thinks she'll degrade if she's not working, earning money, contributing.. who am I to argue?

[james&olya 1,121]

Eh, not our option. Fraud is the main issue that I'd like to stay clear of (even if 'people' have done it before), and her having a good job v Moskve that she doesn't want to quit until she's got the CR-1 is another.

Otherwise, we'd just go the fiance route, but she doesn't want to be sitting in America and not working. Thinks she'll degrade if she's not working, earning money, contributing.. who am I to argue?

I am not so sure that it is any more fraud to marry and stay on a B1/B2 visa as opposed to coming here intending to marry and then returning to Russia. If you are honest with the consulate in Moscow about wanting to come here for marriage you are quite unlikely to get the B1/B2!

[domwardbound 73]

I am not so sure that it is any more fraud to marry and stay on a B1/B2 visa as opposed to coming here intending to marry and then returning to Russia. If you are honest with the consulate in Moscow about wanting to come here for marriage you are quite unlikely to get the B1/B2!

Ah, I understand the question now.. she already has the B1/B2, it's a 2-year multi-entry, and she has already been here before using it.

[james&olya 1,121]

Ah, I understand the question now.. she already has the B1/B2, it's a 2-year multi-entry, and she has already been here before using it.

[domwardbound 73]

Thanks for the replies.. another question I had above that didn't get clearly answered.

She doesn't want the hassle of having a Russian passport with her maiden name, and a green card/visa with her married name. However, we don't want to wait for her Russian passports to be changed in order to send the I130.

• So - is she free to change her passports after sending the I-130? For example, if we send the I130 with her married name, will she be able to change her Russian passports to the married name afterwards? Passport information isn't necessary on the I130, and her passport won't be seen until the interview, so a change before that time won't matter, correct?
  

Thanks!