Traveling with maiden name on marriage license but married name on AP document

[hatrick 1]

Hi,

I'm trying to understand what the implications will be filing our AOS+AP with my wife's married name but with her maiden name on our marriage license. We were in a hurry to get our marriage license and did not think to write her last name as mine although when I called the county clerk office to see if I could change it the woman said it does not matter her maiden name is on the marriage license. She said as long as she presents a valid copy of the marriage license she can sign her name anyway she wants when getting a Drivers License or other legal documents. I Googled this and I think she is right, most people do have their maiden name on marriage licenses. We intend to drop her maiden name and use my last name and I have completed all the AOS forms + AP with her married name. My question is this: I know that any airline ticket must match the name on your ID when traveling but if we get our AP approved and the document has her married name (my last name) on it but the marriage license has her maiden name is this going to be an issue? The officer will clearly see her last name on the AP document is the same last name as her husband on the marriage license (and I would be traveling with her) but I wanted to post a question to see if anyone thinks this will be an issue. Worst case I could submit the AOS+AP forms using her maiden name but then we would have to end up changing the documents to her married name which does not make sense. Please Help!

[Dave&Roza 748]

Hi,

I'm trying to understand what the implications will be filing our AOS+AP with my wife's married name but with her maiden name on our marriage license. We were in a hurry to get our marriage license and did not think to write her last name as mine although when I called the county clerk office to see if I could change it the woman said it does not matter her maiden name is on the marriage license. She said as long as she presents a valid copy of the marriage license she can sign her name anyway she wants when getting a Drivers License or other legal documents. I Googled this and I think she is right, most people do have their maiden name on marriage licenses. We intend to drop her maiden name and use my last name and I have completed all the AOS forms + AP with her married name. My question is this: I know that any airline ticket must match the name on your ID when traveling but if we get our AP approved and the document has her married name (my last name) on it but the marriage license has her maiden name is this going to be an issue? The officer will clearly see her last name on the AP document is the same last name as her husband on the marriage license (and I would be traveling with her) but I wanted to post a question to see if anyone thinks this will be an issue. Worst case I could submit the AOS+AP forms using her maiden name but then we would have to end up changing the documents to her married name which does not make sense. Please Help!

The issue you have is that when she travels internationally she must use her passport which I will assume is still in her maiden name. The GC will be in the married name so you bring along a copy of the Marriage Certificate to show that she is the same person to help the airline employees make the connection that the person named on the GC and the person named on the passport are one and the same. To resolve this you can have her apply for a new passport in her married name or just wait until she applies for USC and then get her US passport in her married name.

For all other travel she can use a DL or the GC with her married name. Just remember that the ticket MUST match the government issued ID used for travel and the AP/EAD or GC are not used for travel--they are used to gain re-entry to the US (under most situations).

Our Marriage License/Certificate has my wife's maiden name, but she decided to keep her maiden name so her GC matches her passport so we do not have this issue when travelling.

Good luck,

Dave