Married Name (versus Maiden name)

[DeletedByMod 0]

May (should) I use my wife's married name on Form I-130 and Form I-485 (and list her maiden name under previous names used)? (Our marriage certificate is included in documents of course)

My wife's foreign passport and all foreign documents use her maiden name.

Form I-693 (Medical) shows her maiden name (as it requests name as it appears on passport).

The only documents displaying her married name are her domestic (WA state) driver's license and our domestic bank accounts.

[Ryan H 3,812]

Moved from IR-/CR-1 Process & Procedures to Adjustment of Status from Work, Student, & Tourist Visas forum.

[mirzafurqan 0]

It would be better if you use the name that is on her passport, because that's what will be checked when she is approved and enters USA. Besides on everything else she has her madien name, it would make sense to use that. Hope this helps

[ManCharsey 254]

If her married name is on her marriage certificate, you can use her married name and list her maiden name under all other names used, that is perfectly acceptable and okay. If it is not, then it's best you use what name is in her passport and official documents and have it changed later officially.

[kriishu 1]

I used my married name on all applications (I also had my maiden name in my passport and everything) because I want my green card to have my married name.

[codie 7]

we used the name in the passport and the name used on all previous forms,we just thought that it would be less complicated and avoid further delays,we havent had any problems at all

[sharky-rex 76]

Whichever name you use will be on her green card. So what do you want?

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Whichever name you use will be on her green card. So what do you want?

This is correct.

The marriage cert serves as a federal name change document. So, for AOS, USCIS will accept that as proof of valid name change. The new married name does not need to appear on the document, and neither does it need to match the passport. USCIS will issue a GC in the name you indicate on the I-485.

So, if a person wants to change their name after marriage, they just start using the new married name. As such, they should fill out the GC application in the new married name. It starts the process of collecting IDs in the new name and getting the new name on official papers.

[Pupsichek 0]

I used my married name because I want a green card for my new name, my maiden name is on my passport

[CCB 3]

I use my married name in all forms including I-693. All my documents were still in my maiden name and once I received my EAD card with my married name I used it to change my name in my CA driver license. My maiden name is still on my passport.

[Kev-N-Ann 45]

What if someone wants to keep both names (maiden and married)?

[Udella&Wiz 325]

People are welcome to use whatever combination of names they'd like. Keep maiden, go with married or hyphenate. Its up to the wife I' say in this situation. How does she plan to be known once she is here in the US?

My choice was to go with my husband's name so after our marriage I starting using it on all forms my GC came in my married name and of course I still had other documentation with my maiden name. I simply included copies of my marriage cert if appropriate which explains the change.

[Jeremy12095 8]

When my wife and I got married I wanted her to use my name. In her country (Ecuador) spouses do not take their married name. However in all of my applications I used her Married name and listed other names as her maiden. The consulate still printed the visa in her maiden name but when we got to the airport I told the officer the error and he told me basically the consulate needs to stick with the name in the passport. He looked in the envelope and seen the application and all of the other paperwork was in my wife's married name so he processed the green card in her married name and its been pretty ok since then. The only issue is when ever we go to leave her country ( Ecuador) to come back to the USA they give us flack about the names not matching and to fix that issue we went to her Consulate in NYC showed then the marriage certificate and her green card they printed a sticker basically saying this person is married to me on this date this place and stamped it with the consulate stamp and put it on her observations page. So when they ask we point them to that sticker and its all good from there. So long story short if you want your spouse to have your last name then do all of the paperwork in her new name but be sure to list her maiden name as the other names used. After that you shouldn't have an issue.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

When my wife and I got married I wanted her to use my name. In her country (Ecuador) spouses do not take their married name. However in all of my applications I used her Married name and listed other names as her maiden. The consulate still printed the visa in her maiden name but when we got to the airport I told the officer the error and he told me basically the consulate needs to stick with the name in the passport. He looked in the envelope and seen the application and all of the other paperwork was in my wife's married name so he processed the green card in her married name and its been pretty ok since then. The only issue is when ever we go to leave her country ( Ecuador) to come back to the USA they give us flack about the names not matching and to fix that issue we went to her Consulate in NYC showed then the marriage certificate and her green card they printed a sticker basically saying this person is married to me on this date this place and stamped it with the consulate stamp and put it on her observations page. So when they ask we point them to that sticker and its all good from there. So long story short if you want your spouse to have your last name then do all of the paperwork in her new name but be sure to list her maiden name as the other names used. After that you shouldn't have an issue.

Generally the visa name must be in passport name, but this forum isn't asking about visas, but asking about AOS.

[DeletedByMod 0]

Thank you so much for all the feedback. My wife wishes to use her married name, so that is what we will use.

I did find this at the USCIS website.

http://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/USCIS/Laws/Memoranda/Static_Files_Memoranda/Archives%201998-2008/2005/namingcnv091305.pdf

A married woman may choose a legal married name (husband’s surname), a

legal pre-marriage name (retention of maiden name), or any form of either (e.g.,

hyphenated name, maiden name and husband’s surname) on Form I-551 and

corresponding Form I-90 (Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card.)

Legal documentation, such as that listed below, must be provided to support the

choice.

Civil Marriage Certificate

Divorce Decree

Family Registry

Country Identity Document

Foreign Birth Certificate

Certificate of Naming

Court Order

See Foreign Affairs Manual for Country Specific Guidelines