Name change on Passport

[Mmelon 8]

I hope I am posting in the correct forum. I am the U.S. citizen and I would like to change my name to my husband's last name. I know the first step is to go change it through social security, but my question is, once I change my name on social security and my driver's license and other forms of ID, do I have to change it on my passport right away? I have a few years left on my passport before it expires, but will they still accept it in my maiden name? We are hoping to travel in April, so I don't know if it would be better to just wait, or to go ahead and change it now. We are in the process of adjusting my husband's status to conditional permanent resident and I kind of wanted to change my name before the AOS interview. I am worried the interviewer will think it strange that I did not take my husband's name. =/

[Jeremy12095 8]

Well firstly you are doing the removal of barriers to get your husband the CR-1 visa, not adjustment of status those are two completely different things.

As per the passport and name changes, I only can tell you that my sister traveled on her passport after her divorce. Her other documents were switched to her maiden name but she just got the passport 1 year prior to the divorce and you can't simply do a name change you need to pay for a new passport and they will change the name.. As per throwing up red flags, It is entirely up to that officer. Some people choose not to take their spouses name, and a growing number of husbands are taking their wife's name. Some countries such as Ecuador it is not customary to take your spouses last name nor can you change your name in Ecuador with out a court process.

If you want to keep your husbands name just go to the SSA change your name there, then go to the dmv and who ever and go from there. I would worry about your passport if it still has time on it. But that may not be "official passport rules" my sister didn't have an issue.

[Mmelon 8]

Well firstly you are doing the removal of barriers to get your husband the CR-1 visa, not adjustment of status those are two completely different things.

As per the passport and name changes, I only can tell you that my sister traveled on her passport after her divorce. Her other documents were switched to her maiden name but she just got the passport 1 year prior to the divorce and you can't simply do a name change you need to pay for a new passport and they will change the name.. As per throwing up red flags, It is entirely up to that officer. Some people choose not to take their spouses name, and a growing number of husbands are taking their wife's name. Some countries such as Ecuador it is not customary to take your spouses last name nor can you change your name in Ecuador with out a court process.

If you want to keep your husbands name just go to the SSA change your name there, then go to the dmv and who ever and go from there. I would worry about your passport if it still has time on it. But that may not be "official passport rules" my sister didn't have an issue.

Thanks! We got married on a K-1 visa and are now adjusting status for my husband to become a resident. =)