Help with name change.

[afro77 0]

Hello if someone can help me how I can go about changing my name to my marriage name(husband's last name)My passport and green card has my maiden name.Do I start with the social security or do I start by changing the name on my green card? I will really appreciate if someone can help me with step by step procedure.

[Caryh 5,206]

Hello if someone can help me how I can go about changing my name to my marriage name(husband's last name)My passport and green card has my maiden name.Do I start with the social security or do I start by changing the name on my green card? I will really appreciate if someone can help me with step by step procedure.

How you change your name to your husbands highly depends on where you were married. Some states has the new name right on the marriage certificate. Other states you need to just go about changing all your ID's to the new married name.

Changing the green card name is really expensive, most people get the green card in their married name for this reason or wait to change the green card until its up for renewal. You have no timeline and have given no information about where you live or why your green card is not in your married name already, so its not really possible to give you a step by step procedure.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

You should have just applied for your GC in your married name. Now you have to pay $500 or so to get a new one made in your married name.

[afro77 0]

How you change your name to your husbands highly depends on where you were married. Some states has the new name right on the marriage certificate. Other states you need to just go about changing all your ID's to the new married name.

Changing the green card name is really expensive, most people get the green card in their married name for this reason or wait to change the green card until its up for renewal. You have no timeline and have given no information about where you live or why your green card is not in your married name already, so its not really possible to give you a step by step procedure.

Thank you for response.Im in the state of California and my green card is in my maiden name.My question is do I start with the social security or with the immigration to change my name to my husband's?

[Caryh 5,206]

Thank you for response.Im in the state of California and my green card is in my maiden name.My question is do I start with the social security or with the immigration to change my name to my husband's?

Below is step ny step in the basic name change after marriage in California. You should be able to change your SS card name without the green card name change first. But occasionally someone at SS will decide you need to get the green card changed first. You can actually be filling out the forms to change your green card at the same time. But the green card change is pretty expensive, and many opt to wait until a renewal period, if its a two year card.

http://www.rocketlawyer.com/article/how-to-get-a-legal-name-change-in-california-after-getting-married-.rl

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Below is step ny step in the basic name change after marriage in California. You should be able to change your SS card name without the green card name change first. But occasionally someone at SS will decide you need to get the green card changed first. You can actually be filling out the forms to change your green card at the same time. But the green card change is pretty expensive, and many opt to wait until a renewal period, if its a two year card.

http://www.rocketlawyer.com/article/how-to-get-a-legal-name-change-in-california-after-getting-married-.rl

She needs to change her GC first. Can you show me where you show that she doesn't? SSA can't change her name to any other name than on the SAVE system, is what I've always know. Love to be wrong of course!

[Caryh 5,206]

She needs to change her GC first. Can you show me where you show that she doesn't? SSA can't change her name to any other name than on the SAVE system, is what I've always know. Love to be wrong of course!

My wife got her SS card in her married name, and she came on a K-1 and all USCIS records were still in her maiden name. Which is why I say sometimes you can and sometimes you can't. We got her's while the I-94 was still valid. Even when we went to remove the "not valid for work without DHS approval" after she had her green card, the SAVE system still had her maiden name. The SS agent managed to get USCIS to correct the name at that time. It could be this was possible because where we live the marriage certificate gives the name before marriage and after for both the husband and wife. But if we could get her SS card in her married name without a green card or USCIS record in her married name, it must not be a requirement. Probably more bureaucrats assuming its a rule without it really being a rule. I've looked before and never been able to find a rules that says you can or cannot get it changed until you have a green card.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

My wife got her SS card in her married name, and she came on a K-1 and all USCIS records were still in her maiden name. Which is why I say sometimes you can and sometimes you can't. We got her's while the I-94 was still valid. Even when we went to remove the "not valid for work without DHS approval" after she had her green card, the SAVE system still had her maiden name. The SS agent managed to get USCIS to correct the name at that time. It could be this was possible because where we live the marriage certificate gives the name before marriage and after for both the husband and wife. But if we could get her SS card in her married name without a green card or USCIS record in her married name, it must not be a requirement. Probably more bureaucrats assuming its a rule without it really being a rule. I've looked before and never been able to find a rules that says you can or cannot get it changed until you have a green card.

My concern would be that her GC in her maiden name (her work auth) seems like it *should* be in the same name as her SSN, otherwise which name do you verify under? Because the GC would say one name and SSA another.

Personally I'd change the GC and then do the rest so you're sure you have no issues.

[Caryh 5,206]

My concern would be that her GC in her maiden name (her work auth) seems like it *should* be in the same name as her SSN, otherwise which name do you verify under? Because the GC would say one name and SSA another.

Personally I'd change the GC and then do the rest so you're sure you have no issues.

Having the green card removes the DHS approval comment on the SS card. As long as SS is allowing it, there's really no reason not to do them at the same time. I know those that have waited to update the green card at renewal time. The cost isn't cheap. I'm still curious why the op didn't get the green card in her married name. I can just guess it's because she obtained it through other means than marriage.

[afro77 0]

Having the green card removes the DHS approval comment on the SS card. As long as SS is allowing it, there's really no reason not to do them at the same time. I know those that have waited to update the green card at renewal time. The cost isn't cheap. I'm still curious why the op didn't get the green card in her married name. I can just guess it's because she obtained it through other means than marriage.

I came here on a K1 visa so other than marriage how would I obtain my GC?All I asked was help and not for you to guess which way I obtained my GC.Thank you for your help though.

[Caryh 5,206]

I came here on a K1 visa so other than marriage how would I obtain my GC?All I asked was help and not for you to guess which way I obtained my GC.Thank you for your help though.

Without background information, it can be hard or impossible to give good advice. There are many ways to come to the USA and get a green card. You could have already been here with a green card and then marrued a USC. If you came on a K-1, you should have filed the AOS in your married name. That is the best way to start the name change process when coming on the K-1 as far as immigration is concerned. But many worry they'll get rejected because the name is different than the K-1 was in. Because you have a two year green card, you may want to wait until its time to remove conditions to make the name change and save the $500 expense. If I were you, I'd try to get the SS card changed and get a state ID or drivers license in your married name. As long as the beaurocrats follow the rules and not make up there own, you should be able to wait and save the cash. How long have you had your green card?

[Penguin_ie 5,997]

*** Moving from Effects of Major Changes to Moving here and your New Life ***

[afro77 0]

Without background information, it can be hard or impossible to give good advice. There are many ways to come to the USA and get a green card. You could have already been here with a green card and then marrued a USC. If you came on a K-1, you should have filed the AOS in your married name. That is the best way to start the name change process when coming on the K-1 as far as immigration is concerned. But many worry they'll get rejected because the name is different than the K-1 was in. Because you have a two year green card, you may want to wait until its time to remove conditions to make the name change and save the $500 expense. If I were you, I'd try to get the SS card changed and get a state ID or drivers license in your married name. As long as the beaurocrats follow the rules and not make up there own, you should be able to wait and save the cash. How long have you had your green card?

I already removed condition like 5 months ago .In a few months I will be eligable for citizenship was thinking to change first with SS and DMV then when I file for naturalization I can request name change what do you think? Sorry for not giving full background on what visa I came on.

[Caryh 5,206]

I already removed condition like 5 months ago .In a few months I will be eligable for citizenship was thinking to change first with SS and DMV then when I file for naturalization I can request name change what do you think? Sorry for not giving full background on what visa I came on.

If its been that long since your marriage, you probably have missed the window of legally changing your name based on marriage.

Here's the relevant info you're going to need. You may still be able to do it with the marriage certificate, but you're going to have to try and see if they allow it. You might find yourself going to court to do this now. And if thats the case, it might be easier to just get your citizenship, then change your name. The green card no longer matters after that, you're a citizen.

http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/changing-your-name-in-california-30079.html