I-751Change Of Conditions Name Change?

[Wild Wind 0]

My wife would like to take my last name. She arrived on a CR-1 visa, received her social security card and DMV I.D. card, along with her current passport in her maiden name, she has a first and last name no middle name. My question is we will file the I-751 Change of Conditions next year is this a good time to start the process? Or should we start the process sooner and what would be our first step? I appreciate any information from those who have changed their name or have knowledge of the process. Thanks!

[Wild Wind 0]

This name change wil be her last name hyphen my last name so it is not a complete name change.

[Yodrak 7]

Wild Wind,

Start whenever she'd like, by notifying anyone who you do business with of the new name to be used.

Check the SSA web site, or search for posts by mdyoung on the subject of name change, to see if there is anything special the SSA requires.

Yodrak

My wife would like to take my last name. She arrived on a CR-1 visa, received her social security card and DMV I.D. card, along with her current passport in her maiden name, she has a first and last name no middle name. My question is we will file the I-751 Change of Conditions next year is this a good time to start the process? Or should we start the process sooner and what would be our first step? I appreciate any information from those who have changed their name or have knowledge of the process. Thanks!

[OCgirl 0]

I did my maiden name and then my husband's last name so it wouldnt be a crazy name change...

[akdiver 3]

I did my maiden name and then my husband's last name so it wouldnt be a crazy name change...

I will never understand why people change their name just because they get married. That said, it has nothing to do with this form, they are different activities.

Cheers!

AKDiver

[Wild Wind 0]

I did my maiden name and then my husband's last name so it wouldnt be a crazy name change...

I will never understand why people change their name just because they get married. That said, it has nothing to do with this form, they are different activities.

Cheers!

AKDiver

My wife and I have been married now for over two years. I have no problem with her keeping her name as is. She is the one who wants to change her last name to a hyphen. Her first name is not a common name but I would not even think of her changing it even though Americans have a difficult time pronouncing it. I believe the first step is Social Security then notify her employer, bank, DMV, her passport should not be a problem, etc. I am not sure if we can change it through a name change form since our marriage certificate is in her maiden name. We may need to go through the court system? Then I need to have it added to her 10 year green card next year.

Edited November 23, 2006 by Wild Wind

[I'm Gone 60]

The marriage document (foreign or domestic) can be used if it meets the following criteria:

-- The new name can be derived from the marriage document, i.e. bride takes the groom's last name, groom takes bride's last name, compound name (with or without hyphen) of each spouse's original name for either or both parties.

Note: State law must also allow the type of name change wishing to be made

-- The marriage occurred within the past two years

-- The marriage document shows sufficient identifying information, e.g., biographical data such as age, date of birth or parent's names, and

-- The identifying information matches the information on his/her current Social Security number record.

The applicant will need to submit an identity document in the old name along with the marriage document if:

-- The marriage occurred within the last two years and has biographical information, e.g., age, date of birth or parent's names which does not match our records, e.g., the SSN record.

-- The marriage occurred within the last two years, but does not show biographical information, or

-- The marriage occurred over two years ago (with or without biographical information.)

The identity document used to establish the old name must match the name on the current SSN record. The identity document is acceptable even if over two years old or expired.

4. Name Change to a Name Different From Name on Immigration Document

Monica Mumma Stottlemyer applies for a replacement SSN card in her married name. She:

-- Completes an SS-5 showing her first name as Monica, her middle name as Mumma, and her last name as Smith;

-- Completes the other names used field, showing that name as “Monica (first name), Mumma Stottlemyer (last name);”

-- Signs the SS-5 as “Monica M. Smith;”

-- Submits a U.S. marriage document showing Monica Mumma Stottlemyer and John Smith married last week (the marriage document shows the dates of birth for Monica and John);

-- Submits a driver's license with her photograph that shows the name Monica M. Smith; and

-- Submits a DHS employment authorization card with her photograph and showing her name as “Mumma Stottlemyer, Monica.”

The U.S. marriage document supports the legal name change and is acceptable evidence of identity in both the old name and the new name because it shows biographical data (date of birth) that can be compared to the Numident record. Further, the name to be shown on the SSN card agrees with the name on the additional identity document in the new legal name (the driver's license).

SSA can process the name change request. Process the SS-5 to have the name “Monica (first name) Mumma (middle name) Smith (last name) to be shown in the card and enter “Monica (first name) Mumma Stottlemyer (compound surname) as an “other name used.” The compound surname must be entered the same way it is shown on the immigration document. Advise the number holder to also contact DHS to change her surname to “Smith” with that agency.

Note From Me: It says they should advise you to report the name change to DHS, not that the application can't be processed until you do report it.

You can find detailed information regarding changing SSN record (Numident) data on the SSA Website at:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203210

http://tinyurl.com/f7s8l

This is in addition to proof of current lawful employment authorized status, i.e. I-551 card.

Edited November 23, 2006 by mdyoung

[sparkofcreation 0]

I did my maiden name and then my husband's last name so it wouldnt be a crazy name change...

I will never understand why people change their name just because they get married. That said, it has nothing to do with this form, they are different activities.

Cheers!

AKDiver

1. Because I hated my maiden name. (We discussed both taking a hyphenated combination of the two, but I talked him out of it.)

2. Because getting married makes your spouse into your most immediate relative, and I think members of an immediate family should have the same last name. It's the same as changing a child's last name to the parents' new last name when adopting him/her.

Edited November 23, 2006 by sparkofcreation

[akdiver 3]

It's the same as changing a child's last name to the parents' new last name when adopting him/her.

I dunno why anyone would do that either.

Cheers!

AKDiver