DIVORCE - what to do?

[ine 1]

Thanks! I decided to keep my old name, and change later. But also , I was wondering, once I am divorced and have all the documents from the court, do I need to "tell" immigration sort of speak? How and when? Thank you once again!

[Caryh 5,206]

Thanks! I decided to keep my old name, and change later. But also , I was wondering, once I am divorced and have all the documents from the court, do I need to "tell" immigration sort of speak? How and when? Thank you once again!

You only need to tell USCIS of where you live, within 10 days of changing your address. I'll assume you meant you'll change your name on your green card later, when its time to renew and but get your name changed with the divorce. You can't keep just keep your married name when you divorce, then decide years later to change it and have a free name change because of the divorce. You get your name changed at the time of the divorce or not. Its up to you. But you can't change your mind after, you'd have to go back to court to file for a name change, and incur court expenses again.

[ine 1]

Thanks Caryh!

So if I got this right, If I don't change my name now, I will still have to change in court later and pay a fee, and I will use the paper from court as proof of name change so I can change name on green card later, right? But I don't need to tell USCIS that I am divorced? And the name change can happen any time during the years I have legal residence on my visa?

And it will still cost $450 even if I renew my visa?

Thanks!!

[Caryh 5,206]

Now you've got it. 10 year green card has no conditions, so your marriage is not a USCIS concern any longer. So get your name changed with the divorce and just update your card when you renew the green card, or get citizenship. BTW, you SS card will also need to stay in your old name until you update the green card.

Thanks Caryh!

So if I got this right, If I don't change my name now, I will still have to change in court later and pay a fee, and I will use the paper from court as proof of name change so I can change name on green card later, right? But I don't need to tell USCIS that I am divorced? And the name change can happen any time during the years I have legal residence on my visa?

And it will still cost $450 even if I renew my visa?

Thanks!!

Edited April 30, 2013 by Caryh

[ine 1]

OKay Thanks!

But I am still a tiny confused!

So if I update my name in the divorce, I don't have to update my name on my green card until the renewing of the green card? And what about my passport and my bank cards and SSC? If all of them has my old name, won't it be a problem , when I travel, move, apply for loans etc, when everything has my old name? What about if I change my name back, do I need to change my drivers licence to new name? What in theory do I need to change my name on? I thought that if I changed my name back, I would HAVE to change my VISA name and my SSC and drivers licence as well. I don't want it to become a problem in the future.

Are you sure that if I change my name in my divorce, I don't have to change it any where else? Not on USCIS website, not at the DMW, not at my bank and not at the social security office? My passport still has the name i got when I married as well. What should I do with that?

I appreciate your help. How do you know all this?lol

Thanks!

[Caryh 5,206]

You change your name on things you can, then wait on things you can't. Your SS card probably has to stay in your green card name. But you use the divorce papers showing your new name to verify everything else and show the change. Its a pain in the butt and one reason some people choose not to change their name, or pop for the new green card in the new name. Its much like many people coming on K-1 visas, then applying to adjust status in the maiden name because they thought it was the right thing to do as the K-1 visa was in the maiden name. They'll change what they can to the married name, then update USCIS to the married name when removal of conditions, or citizenship comes up. Until then they show the marriage license to prove why the different name is present on some documents and IDs. Some states may not let you change your drivers license until the green card update happens to. As to looking you up for credit and such, that is all based on the SS number, and not your name. Essentially you'll be living with an AKA (also known as) which is legal as long as its not being used it to avoid debts or legal action. You home country probably won't have any problem changing your name on the passport. But for international travel, you may just want to keep that the same as your green card until you update the green card, otherwise you'll need to carry your divorce papers when you travel.

OKay Thanks!

But I am still a tiny confused!

So if I update my name in the divorce, I don't have to update my name on my green card until the renewing of the green card? And what about my passport and my bank cards and SSC? If all of them has my old name, won't it be a problem , when I travel, move, apply for loans etc, when everything has my old name? What about if I change my name back, do I need to change my drivers licence to new name? What in theory do I need to change my name on? I thought that if I changed my name back, I would HAVE to change my VISA name and my SSC and drivers licence as well. I don't want it to become a problem in the future.

Are you sure that if I change my name in my divorce, I don't have to change it any where else? Not on USCIS website, not at the DMW, not at my bank and not at the social security office? My passport still has the name i got when I married as well. What should I do with that?

I appreciate your help. How do you know all this?lol

Thanks!

[VanessaTony 3,567]

So if I update my name in the divorce, I don't have to update my name on my green card until the renewing of the green card? And what about my passport and my bank cards and SSC? If all of them has my old name, won't it be a problem , when I travel, move, apply for loans etc, when everything has my old name? What about if I change my name back, do I need to change my drivers licence to new name? What in theory do I need to change my name on? I thought that if I changed my name back, I would HAVE to change my VISA name and my SSC and drivers licence as well. I don't want it to become a problem in the future.

Are you sure that if I change my name in my divorce, I don't have to change it any where else? Not on USCIS website, not at the DMW, not at my bank and not at the social security office? My passport still has the name i got when I married as well. What should I do with that?

What visa are you talking about?

You don't HAVE to change your name on your documents but if you choose to start changing, it's in your best interest to change it all around and all at once (except your passport).

Myself as a K1, I didn't get my GC until July 2010. That was when i was able to do drivers license and SSN. Before then I had my bank card in my married name (so I could practice my signature). it's not really a problem but it could get confusing.

So save some money and change your GC and then do it all at once.