name change confusion

[InsomniacDoze 0]

I hold a conditional 2 year green card. I came over on a k1 visa, and I will be applying for my 10year gc in a couple of months.

When I applied for my two year green card, i was told that i could not have "myfirstname mymaidenname husbandssurname", it had to be "myfirstname mymiddlename husbandssurname" if i wanted to take his name. The lady conducting the interview crossed out the name i entered and change it to "myfirstname mymiddlename husbandssurname",

When my 2 year GC arrived it showed "myfirstname mymaidenname husbandssurname". I was like, oh cool I can have that name after all. The only problem is, I still haven't been down to social security to change the name on my ssn card. I know, I'm terrible and I don't know why I waited so long. Is this going to be a big problem? I'm not sure what my name should be or what the rules are regarding this.

Basically the only 2 forms of id I have where my name is the same are my gc and drivers license. I like this name, I'm happy with it, i just want to know if it's okay to keep it.

note to mods: I wasn't entirely sure where to post this so please move it if you think it would fit better elsewhere! thanks

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

You are going to get many answers but here's my experience with a LONG lifetime as an American.

I have perfectly legal documents in many names. Example for

First name Mary

Middle name Ann

Maiden name Smith

Married name (first marriage) Jones

New marriage license- Mary Ann Jones. (didn't take new husband's name)

Driver license- Mary Smith Jones

Bank acct- Mary S. Jones

Bank acct- Mary Ann Jones

Bank acct- Mary A. Jones

Social Security- Mary Ann Jones

House deed- Mary Ann Jones

Stock certificates- Mary Smith Jones

And I plan for my tombstone to say Mary Smith Jones

Basically I don't think it matters unless you came up and added a random name like Daisy Sue Adams. As long as you use a version on your birth certificate or marriage certificate...you know, a name acquired by birth or marriage, then it works.

Social security will only change your name to what your USCIS status says, which seems to use your maiden name based on your greencard. The driving people the same. I say this because my immigrant husband had his changed several times because of what USCIS records said.

First SSN - Jim Jackson (based on I-94)

Greencard - Jim B. Jackson (driver license Jim B. Jackson and SSN updated to same)

Naturalization certificate - Jim Bob Jackson (SSN and DL both issued new in same name when he went to update to say he was a US citizen.

My daughter married and started using maiden name as middle name. Her SSN has her middle name, but her house mortgage has the maiden name in the middle.

When you naturalize you have the opportunity to pick a brand new name if you wish. Then you would have to go change your DL and SSN and everything else I suppose.

[InsomniacDoze 0]

My birth certificate has a different name to my maiden name, as it was changed by deed poll when I was 16. Although that shouldn't be an issue since I have the paperwork to prove it I guess.

Thank you so much for the detailed response, I feel a lot less anxious about the whole thing now.