Which surname for USC on AOS forms

[Soul Mates 44]

I'm confused about which last name I should put on the relevant AOS forms. I am the USC and I want to take my husband's last name, however I have yet to go to the SSA to get it officially changed and haven't used the new name at all. I am concerned about using the new last name on the forms, especially the affidavit of support, when all my supporting documents will show my maiden name. Thanks for the help!

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Use the new last name. It's not a problem. The SSA doesn't "own" your name. USCIS will accept your marriage cert as proof of name change. Good luck.

Edited April 6, 2014 by Harpa Timsah

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1k3aos

3. Form I-485: Petition for Alien Relative (note: use the non US Citizen spouse's married name on this form and list previous name/names)

[menina 50]

When I filed AOS, I used my married name without a problem.

[Soul Mates 44]

I am the USC and my husband is filing for AOS. I see so many posts about the immigrant changing their name but rarely anyone asks about the USC doing so. I'm going to go ahead and put my married name on the affidavit of support, ect. I did see another post from Jay-Kay that concerns me, Florida won't let me take only my husband's first surname (paternal), I must take both?! Jay-Kay, if you have any idea where I can see this is Florida law it would be very helpful, I've tried looking a few different places but have not found anything talking about this.

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

Sorry, I totally missed that you were the USC wanting to change your name.

At the FL DMV, the name must match the name on the marriage certificate, so if your husband listed both his last names, then they will insist you have to use both the names as shown on the marriage license. If FL would allow you to put the name you will use after marriage it would be different, but FL does not do it that way. I have seen others post this same thing happening to them. I went through everyone there, up to the person in charge at the DMV. They even tried to be helpful and see if they could make it happen for me, but they could not input it in the system that way. It had to match or nope.

It has to match the SSN too, so you would need to get that in both names before changing your license. I had to change my SSN twice because the first time I changed it to only the first last name I was planning on taking. The DMV made me change it to both to match the marriage certificate. I use both legally, as my husband does. We just use the first name only on anything does not require legal documentation.

You could go to the DMV and ask them there. See what they say before changing your SSN. We filled out the AOS forms without using my new married name. It is not as important when it is the USC changing their name. I used the married name later when he had to file for ROC, and there was no problem. I even pointed out in the cover letter that some evidence had only the first name, some had both and some people still mistakenly put a hyphen in our names. No issues.

[Soul Mates 44]

Great, thanks for all the help!

[menina 50]

Hi SoulMates-

I am the USC and took my husband's last name. I used my new name on AOS even though I hadn't changed it with SSA, DMV, or passport agency. I don't know about the rules in Florida, but this is what I did for AOS. I also put my maiden name in the space for other names used. Hope that helps!