AOS and name change

[Cam54 84]

on my adjustment of status I used my birth name and now im confused because I will shortly be taking on my married name and realized that my green card therefore will still be in my birth name? do I just use both? so birth name for legal docs such as passport, green card and then married name for everything else?

Really don't understand the whole process

[Lainie B 465]

If you wanted to have your married name on your GC you should have put your married name on the forms. You can legally use your married name from the day you get married. The marriage certificate is the only thing you need to prove the name change (except perhaps passport, not all countries accept a US marriage certificate as name change proof, there may be an additional process).

If you end up having an interview then you may request to have it changed there. If you don't then you will have to need to wait to ROC.

If your GC ends up with your maiden name then you will be in a situation where some things have your maiden name and some things have your married name. Both names are still you, but sometimes you will have to show your marriage certificate to prove that Ms. X is the same person as Mrs Y. It would be better in that case to leave your passport in your maiden name, so that the green card and passport match, then book tickets in your maiden name.

Ditto to your social security card - the green card and SS name will need to match.

It is always the best thing to put the married name on the AOS forms, if the new wife is taking her husband's name.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

You probably need to eventually get all in the same name. Because SSN needs to match USCIS records. Driver license needs to match USCIS and SSN. It gets a little crazy using two names.

There is no official change my name date. If you want to be Mrs [husband's last name] then that is you name the day you marry. Start using it. Use it at the bank. Use it for AOS. It doesn't mean you will get every single person and place notified that day that you have a new name. It evolves. Sorry you missed the thousands posts asking what name for the AOS application. It costs around $400 to change it once your greencard is issued.

[Cam54 84]

You probably need to eventually get all in the same name. Because SSN needs to match USCIS records. Driver license needs to match USCIS and SSN. It gets a little crazy using two names.

There is no official change my name date. If you want to be Mrs [husband's last name] then that is you name the day you marry. Start using it. Use it at the bank. Use it for AOS. It doesn't mean you will get every single person and place notified that day that you have a new name. It evolves. Sorry you missed the thousands posts asking what name for the AOS application. It costs around $400 to change it once your greencard is issued.

reason I chose to do adjustment of status in maiden name is because although we married at courthouse we are doing a big wedding in august and I wanted it to feel like 'the real wedding' and save name change until then, I now realize that's a bad move.

I haven't actually sent my AOS off yet luckily as I got to post office too late today, so would your advice be to fill out the AOS forms again in married name and then contact UK passport office about getting new passport with married name on? and also then contact Social security office n get it changed there too? (I already have SS card as I previously worked in US)

[Lainie B 465]

You should fill out the forms in your married name. You probably won't be able to change the name on the SS card until you get the EAD or GC, but it's not a big deal.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

reason I chose to do adjustment of status in maiden name is because although we married at courthouse we are doing a big wedding in august and I wanted it to feel like 'the real wedding' and save name change until then, I now realize that's a bad move.

I haven't actually sent my AOS off yet luckily as I got to post office too late today, so would your advice be to fill out the AOS forms again in married name and then contact UK passport office about getting new passport with married name on? and also then contact Social security office n get it changed there too? (I already have SS card as I previously worked in US)

Lucky you being late!

A K1 is in kind of a limbo until you get EAD or a greencard. But getting the greencard in the name you want to use forever is the best plan. You don't have to introduce yourself as Mrs. X until you are ready.

Suggestions:

Social Security- get in maiden name. Change name and status with them when you get EAD card and they will issue new card without the "not valid for..." on it and in your married name. Two birds with one stone.

Driver license- most states require at least EAD, so get in married name after EAD.

Passport- you can continue to use maiden name passport for travel until it expires by taking a copy of marriage certificate to show name change, or easier...book ticket in passport name. I would at least wait until you have a greencard and state driver license or ID. You will need your passport for biometrics and interview. A new passport means mailing your current one off to England and waiting.

Leases, credit cards, bank accounts, etc anything new you do, use married name so you don't have to go change it later. If you already signed up as Miss Z, then change after the big wedding if that suits you better.

It is really your choice of when to get married names on most things, but getting your immigration documents in the name you want to eventually use is the best plan since it isn't an easy or cheap fix to change it later, unlike going to the bank and asking for a change or calling the credit card company. For a driver license, sometimes a 3 hour wait like we had just to change our address will make you consider if you want to go back and wait again to change a name. You may want to start with the married name so you don't have to go back. My state requires aliens to do everything in person and show the greencard each time. No online privileges until a US citizen. Your state may be different.