Changing Maiden Name to Married Name on DS-230

[Looking4Wife 0]

My wife and I filed her paperwork using her Maiden name up to this point (I-130), and the next document we send in will be the IV Fee Bill and the DS-230 Part 1.

I did a search on VJ to see how to handle the dilemma of Maiden Name vs. Married Name, mainly because she must submit a copy of her passort with the DS-230. So that raised the question which name should she get her passport in?

As a result of the search, I read over many of the previous posts/responses to this dilemma (including my own post I had asked previously).

Most of us are not as sharp at this process like aussiewench and simple_male to have had the confidence and foresight to use the wife's married name in all documents in the first place.

This is the way we have decided to approach this at this point:

1. My wife will get her passport in her New Married name (she will need to take her marriage documents).

2. I will fill out the DS-230 with her New Married name.

NOTE: Initially, I was going to use her Old Maiden name for the DS-230. I was afraid that the NVC might get confused and, God forbid, delay the process further.

But then I noticed that the DS-230 SPECIFICALLY takes the name change into account.

Line #1 asks for the "Family Name" (i.e. we'll put the NEW Married name here).

Line # 2 states "If married woman, give maiden name", so we can put the Old Maiden name here which eliminates any confusion.

The answer was right there all along, but I (and apparently many others) overlooked it.

This question gets asked repeatedly, so I hope this clears up confusion for others!

Additional search phrases to make VJ post search easier: Name Change, Change Name, which name for passport, which name for ds-230

[florida-photo 0]

I think what you are doing will work fine. I remember looking into this some time ago and we finally decided just to use her maiden name all the way because it was kind of a hassle to change it in Colombia. I wanted to get it changed at the time of the marriage but they don't really do that there. I seem to remember someone saying that it can be listed as her married name on the visa at the embassy. And I am pretty sure the visa is placed inside of her passport. But if not, we will change it after she gets here. I think the biggest negative is that it brings up the issue of when she wants to travel back to Colombia and her name in her passport is different than her married name. But I don't think that is a very big deal.

I don't think there is just one way to handle this. I believe it can be done either way and each way has it advantages. I am too far down the line to change at this point because I will be sending in her DS-230 shortly (with her maiden name). I already have her signed copy here ready to go. Your decision sounds good and in reality may be the better way to go. I would like to hear what others have done and plan to do.

Edited December 15, 2006 by florida-photo

[over 0]

My wife and I filed her paperwork using her Maiden name up to this point (I-130), and the next document we send in will be the IV Fee Bill and the DS-230 Part 1.

I did a search on VJ to see how to handle the dilemma of Maiden Name vs. Married Name, mainly because she must submit a copy of her passort with the DS-230. So that raised the question which name should she get her passport in?

As a result of the search, I read over many of the previous posts/responses to this dilemma (including my own post I had asked previously).

Most of us are not as sharp at this process like aussiewench and simple_male to have had the confidence and foresight to use the wife's married name in all documents in the first place.

This is the way we have decided to approach this at this point:

1. My wife will get her passport in her New Married name (she will need to take her marriage documents).

2. I will fill out the DS-230 with her New Married name.

NOTE: Initially, I was going to use her Old Maiden name for the DS-230. I was afraid that the NVC might get confused and, God forbid, delay the process further.

But then I noticed that the DS-230 SPECIFICALLY takes the name change into account.

Line #1 asks for the "Family Name" (i.e. we'll put the NEW Married name here).

Line # 2 states "If married woman, give maiden name", so we can put the Old Maiden name here which eliminates any confusion.

The answer was right there all along, but I (and apparently many others) overlooked it.

This question gets asked repeatedly, so I hope this clears up confusion for others!

Additional search phrases to make VJ post search easier: Name Change, Change Name, which name for passport, which name for ds-230

As you will learn, when you read this, it is very imprtant that the names on the DS-230 match what ever is on your passport if you have changed that to your married name. As of November 1,2006. The addition of the Electronic Visa Form has been implemented for the interview. On it, they ask the same questions ,and they ask specifically for the names as they are entered on the passport you will use. This form is to be used to compare with information already submitted. I called there, and was told that they must match the papers submitted at NVC, which are the documents you are asking about(DS-230)

Good Luck..Randy

[Looking4Wife 0]

RandynRose:

Thanks for the response.

However, I don't see a mismatch in this case, because the way we are filling out the DS-230 it will have BOTH names: Married AND Maiden, since the DS-230 provides for that.

Therefore it will match the passport.

Of course dealing with immigration, there's always potential for problems no matter what some does. Time will tell.