Changing last name after marriage

[Mark&Fatima 14]

We've been married for about 2 1/2 years and until now, my wife is using her maiden last name. We decided not to change it before since her passport and other ID already had her maiden name on them. We were getting close to her CR-1 visa being completed and didn't want to cause any delays or problems. Now, she's been here in the U.S. since September of 2012 and her 2 year green card is getting close to expiring. She would like to change her last name to mine but we're not sure exactly where to start. Should she begin with the Philippine embassy with her ID from her country? Should she go to the local courthouse here to change it?

Any help would be greatly appreciated as we're just not sure what the smartest first step is...

Thank you,

Mark & Fatima

[Hank_ 9,174]

I don't know that you can do the name change with ROC and getting the 10 year green card, I know you can do a name change with naturalization.

As for the Philippines you know what they "automatically" have as your wife's married name

[yangsther 1]

for US you can do a change for any significant events... such as get married, had a baby, naturalization, divorce.... and they need court orders too..

for philippines as long as you show you marriage certificate they can chage her name

[apple21 953]

I'm not sure for the right order but you can change her name on her:

- Philippine passport

- Social Security

- State ID/Driver's License

- GC

Always present her original NSO birth certificate and NSO marriage certificate to prove legal name change.

Edited January 29, 2014 by apple21

[balotski 0]

" Should she begin with the Philippine embassy with her ID from her country?"

Any help would be greatly appreciated as we're just not sure what the smartest first step is...

Thank you,

Mark & Fatima

Hi Mark and Fatima,

I'm not sure if I have the right answer but I would like to help ☺️.

Where did you get married? If you got married here in the States, have you already submitted your Report of Marriage Contracted Abroad to the Philippine Consulate that has jurisdiction over the state where you got married? You can start with that then renew/ammend her passport so as then, she has an official document to show her change in name when you go and change her name in all of her IDs.

If you got married in the Phils, you can still renew/ammend her passport at your nearest Phil. Consulate (I'm sure you have your Marriage Contract already ?) Just make sure to have the correct and complete requirements (http://www.philippineembassy-usa.org)

And per what Hank_ said, he's correct that it is automatic in the Philippines for wives to aquire their husband's surname.

Hope to have helped!

Edited January 29, 2014 by balotski

[Tahoma 2,292]

Mark...Fatima can change to her married name simply by filling out her I-751 in her married name. When she receives the letter from the USCIS which acknowledges receipt of her application, it will be in her married name. Her permanent green card will also be in her married name.

Along with the other documents in her I-751 packet, she should include a letter explaining that she wants to change to her married name, and she should include a copy of your marriage certificate.

[sld 5]

Is this all done when you do the Removal of conditions?

We will use http://rapidvisa.com/RemoveConditions.aspx again.

Just wondering if we should change her passport first? Anyone have the steps? Our marriage certificate has her married name, but her passport has her maiden, because she got it before being married. The green card has her maiden name to match the passport.

I am planning ahead, she will be in the USA 1 year, this April 2014.

[Tahoma 2,292]

As for the Philippines you know what they "automatically" have as your wife's married name

And per what Hank_ said, he's correct that it is automatic in the Philippines for wives to aquire their husband's surname.

It's not "automatic." Wives can use their maiden name if they choose to.

[Hank_ 9,174]

True, but the topic is about CHANGING the name after marriage, not keeping the maiden name.

[Tahoma 2,292]

Mark...Fatima also may wish to change her middle name to her maiden last name (Filipino style). That's fine too. That's what Chinook did.

If Fatima does not change her middle name, then, if she renews or amends her Filipino passport, or if she reacquires Filipino citizenship, her middle name on her Filipino documents will be her maiden last name. In order to reconcile the difference in names, Fatima can get a document from the Filipino authorities known as an affidavit of "One and the Same Person."