got GC-got Divorce-wanna change SNN only not GC

[SLN 0]

Hello All !!

I just received my 10 years GC a month ago, and filed for divorce, and now my divorce is granted.

I’m not sure if I post this question at the right board or not.

Now I want to change my last name to my maiden name on all documents. But I don’t want to pay i-90 fee and I don’t wanna have a new green card---I just received it a month ago…..so..you know what I mean.

The thing is …I’m working full time now. And my work email and my name at work is my firat name and my ex-husband last name. I had so much pain from my past relationship that I don’t want to see my name with this last name anymore. I feel free after my divorce is granted and I don’t wanna be known or be called in that last name anymore.

So, my question is….

Can I just change my name on my SSN? So my company can change my name on my paycheck, so When I do my tax return-everything is matched and cause no problem?

My passport and my greencard will remain the same. My first name and my ex-husband last name.

[bigdog 376]

You can go to court - obtain a name change, then change everything else or walt till you can apply for citizenship and change it then. You can't change your name on the social etc. without court or uscis action. We used the GC at AOS for a name change, then SS and DL etc. Might be cheaper to do a info pass appt and get some advice from them, first.

Maybe someone here has your exact circumstances?

[feli114 65]

When I got divorced, I didnt ask the judge to change my last name legally. So later on down the road when I went to court for child custody, I had the judge change it then. I dont know if it varies from state to state, but I was told it has to be done legally.

[reese1 68]

When I got divorced, I didnt ask the judge to change my last name legally. So later on down the road when I went to court for child custody, I had the judge change it then. I dont know if it varies from state to state, but I was told it has to be done legally.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

First, it depends on whether you asked to revert to your maiden name in the divorce, if you didn't you will need a court order.

If you DID, then ... well it depends. Technically your SSN needs to match your GC because that is your work authorisation (so when they look you up in e-verify they would need to look you up by your married name, which wouldn't then match your SSN). I have read of some people on here that just change the SSN then they can get their drivers license in their other name... but honestly I don't know how much sense that would make because your I-9 for your job would need to be in your married name, to match the GC... (unless you show the unrestricted SSN and your DL as ID for that) I would think it would be better for you to have it ALL match.

Honestly, I think you should change your GC. If the name brings you that much distress then the $500 would be money well spent and you would officially be all the way back to your maiden name.

[SLN 0]

Oh I forgot to mentioned that on my divorce decree, I put my maiden name.

It has the section where it says that i will resume my maiden name. And shall be known as Ms. (first name ) (maiden name).

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Oh I forgot to mentioned that on my divorce decree, I put my maiden name.

It has the section where it says that i will resume my maiden name. And shall be known as Ms. (first name ) (maiden name).

okay good, no need for a court order.

I believe you can go change your SSN with the decree, but it will still not match your employment authorisation (aka greencard) and I would think you'd then have a mismatch issue, or at the very least there may come a time you will have to use your married name (which I would find upsetting and irritating).

Like I said, personally I'd save up and change the GC. Maybe you could ask your work if you can change the email etc until you can afford to change the GC? I know some places that would be okay with that.

Edited April 6, 2013 by Vanessa&Tony

[SLN 0]

ok, would this cause problem,

if when i travel, i use my GC and passport --which has my first name and ex-husband lastname

but at work, i use my new name maiden name change SSN and Driving License. And pay tax ...IRS and etc. based on this documents.

I will eventually update my passport and greencard to be my current name. But planning to do it in a year or two. i want to take a break from dealing with USCIS , since I just done with them a month ago.

[SLN 0]

okay good, no need for a court order.

I believe you can go change your SSN with the decree, but it will still not match your employment authorisation (aka greencard) and I would think you'd then have a mismatch issue, or at the very least there may come a time you will have to use your married name (which I would find upsetting and irritating).

Like I said, personally I'd save up and change the GC. Maybe you could ask your work if you can change the email etc until you can afford to change the GC? I know some places that would be okay with that.

yeah...I will try that too. Because when customers come see me or when i have business meeting. They still called me Mrs.(my ex-husband last name)

even when my divorce was processing...I found it kinda weird when i go see my doctor...and they still asking health question related to my marriage status, when they annouce my name ....etc...

at least...when i get my new SSN ..and I can have a new Driving license ID, so i can use this ID and SSN to change my name at work.

and my HR will change my name on my paycheack, my name on my healthcare benefit, my name on paycheck-Tax-IRS, 401K

[belinda63 3,038]

The problem is everything needs to match. You can't have two different legal names. When you are run through E-verify with your maiden name and your married name is still on your green card there will be a mismatch. When you do your I-9 you will have one name on one piece of identification and a different name on the other. Your name is now legally (first name) (maiden name). You can't be two different people.

[bigdog 376]

Being in the business all your documents need to match or line up. My wife has her Chinese Passport in her maiden name and will leave it so. Her GC, DL, SSC have all her names first/ middle her maiden and my last. She carries her a copy of her marriage certificate but has never used it. V & T are right on, if it bothers you change it.

[Darnell 8,478]

Oh I forgot to mentioned that on my divorce decree, I put my maiden name.

It has the section where it says that i will resume my maiden name. And shall be known as Ms. (first name ) (maiden name).

IMO, if you show that to a supervisor at SSA office, that should be enough to facilitate them changing it, as it IS a court order showing the change.

[thairath 4]

IMO, if you show that to a supervisor at SSA office, that should be enough to facilitate them changing it, as it IS a court order showing the change.

Exactly, the document ITSELF is enough for a legal name change regardless of how your name appears on it (maiden or married name) and it doesn't matter if your divorce was last week or 10 years ago. Too much incorrect info on this topic here I'm afraid...

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Exactly, the document ITSELF is enough for a legal name change regardless of how your name appears on it (maiden or married name) and it doesn't matter if your divorce was last week or 10 years ago. Too much incorrect info on this topic here I'm afraid...

Actually you're wrong. This varies from state to state, just like it does for marriage certificates. If there is an option to elect going back to her maiden and she didn't, then she will need a court order. If there is no option then it can be either. Usually there is an option.

[thairath 4]

Actually you're wrong. This varies from state to state, just like it does for marriage certificates. If there is an option to elect going back to her maiden and she didn't, then she will need a court order. If there is no option then it can be either. Usually there is an option.

No, I'm sorry this is not correct. Name changes are done at Social Security which is a federal agency - no variation state to state. Anytime a divorcee wishes to return to their maiden name, the divorce decree itself is the sole legal document necessary to do this, regardless of how that person's name appears on it (married or maiden name) and regardless of when the decree was issued. There is no time-limited option that you speak of. The procedure's the same as with a name change based on marriage.