US citizen wants to change surname before getting married to a K1 fiancé

[scubagirl 1]

Hi Friends! First of all, I want to thank all you VJ's out there who helped us get our K1 Visa. We were approved in April and I will be moving to the States very shortly.

Now.... I have some questions about our name change... It's a little confusion.

So...

When we get married in the States, I would like to change my surname to my Fiance’s surname.

But here is the problem. My Fiance is an actor and uses his stage name and everyone knows him as his stage name. ( ex. Rino Starr)

So if I change my surname to his surname written on his birth certificate (ex. Rino Harrison) it makes no sense (other than document reasons)since he does not use his birth surname.Therefor, he wants to change his surname to his stage name, Rino Starr so we both can be Starr.

Since I am coming to the States on a K-1 visa, his birth name is on my passport as a sponsor.

1. If he changes his name now, would this be a problem when I enter the States on a K-1 Visa?

2. Do you think he should change his name now rather than changing both our surname to Starr after getting married and finish AOS?

3. If we get married with each others current surname and change it later on, would we have to re-married and would that affect my immigration process, green card and AOS and so on?

4. What would the best solution be?

We will be living/marring in NYC.

I know this is pretty complicated but any kind of help would be very much appreciated.

Thank you so much for reading!!!!

[Gabi and Uri 0]

3. If we get married with each others current surname and change it later on, would we have to re-married and would that affect my immigration process, green card and AOS and so on?

We will be living/marring in NYC.

I know this is pretty complicated but any kind of help would be very much appreciated.

Thank you so much for reading!!!!

I can not speak to most of it but my fiance is wanting to change his name once we arrive in the states. I too want to take my fiance's name (I am the USC). I am from South Dakota and per a lawyer there: they said that once we are married and he has his temp green card (around 6 months) we will be able to change our names. Our lawyer is able to do both our names at once (he is changing his first and last and I am just changing my last). It does have to be done by a court hearing. She said it is rather easy to do but it is a bit expensive.

Hope this helps!

[scubagirl 1]

I can not speak to most of it but my fiance is wanting to change his name once we arrive in the states. I too want to take my fiance's name (I am the USC). I am from South Dakota and per a lawyer there: they said that once we are married and he has his temp green card (around 6 months) we will be able to change our names. Our lawyer is able to do both our names at once (he is changing his first and last and I am just changing my last). It does have to be done by a court hearing. She said it is rather easy to do but it is a bit expensive.

Hope this helps!

Hi Gabi and Uri!

Thank you so much for your response and sharing your experience!

Can I ask you...

When you get married, will you and your fiancé use your own current name and surname on the marriage certificate?

[Gabi and Uri 0]

Hi Gabi and Uri!

Thank you so much for your response and sharing your experience!

Can I ask you...

When you get married, will you and your fiancé use your own current name and surname on the marriage certificate?

Sure not a problem. We are getting married under our current names. We will have our former names our marriage certificate and I asked the lawyer and she said we can not change the names on the certificate. In all honesty though you dont use the marriage certificate much.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

OP: Your fiance can legally change his name, but it will take some time, as far as I know. Will you have enough time before the 90 days runs out? You could do it after marriage, change both, but it will be an added expense and you'll have to pay for a GC replacement.

Gabi: Are you talking about just normal name change due to marriage, or taking a third name? Because it sounds like your lawyer is trying to make more money off of you.

[Gabi and Uri 0]

Gabi: Are you talking about just normal name change due to marriage, or taking a third name? Because it sounds like your lawyer is trying to make more money off of you.

I am talking about a complete name change. I know how to change my name for marriage and it is quite simple and very cheap. My fiance is taking a different first and last name. Also the lawyer is from my small town and we trust her fully.

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

~ Moved from K-1 Process to Moving Here and Your New Life in America - topic about marriage and name change once in the US ~

[scubagirl 1]

Sure not a problem. We are getting married under our current names. We will have our former names our marriage certificate and I asked the lawyer and she said we can not change the names on the certificate. In all honesty though you dont use the marriage certificate much.

Thank you for your reply Gabi and Uri

Yes, I agree with you. I don't think marriage certificate are used that much.

Although since we probably might not make it in time for my US fiancé to change his name before marriage, we will probably have to use our current name when getting married and also for the green card.

It's a real pain though to pay $450 to change the name for my green card...

http://www.uscis.gov/i-90

The price is very shocking!

[scubagirl 1]

OP: Your fiance can legally change his name, but it will take some time, as far as I know. Will you have enough time before the 90 days runs out? You could do it after marriage, change both, but it will be an added expense and you'll have to pay for a GC replacement.

Gabi: Are you talking about just normal name change due to marriage, or taking a third name? Because it sounds like your lawyer is trying to make more money off of you.

Thank you Harpa Timsah for your information!

As you said, we might not have enough time for my fiancé to change his name before our marriage. Plus, he has a short term work coming up in a different country soon and I think that adds more complication changing it now.

So, I think reading everyone's post and thinking things through, our best option will be to change after marriage and pay $450..... Booo

[raven52 233]

This is a silly thing to even think of, before you go through the AOS, and get a GC.,.,then I question, why not wait until, all the "legal stuff" is done.,.,.then change your names to whatever.,,.,

There is just so many more important things to take care of.,.,especially after a long immirration process, than thinking of a "stage" legal name change.,..,to me., get your priorities in order.,,most important, legal immigration.

[scubagirl 1]

This is a silly thing to even think of, before you go through the AOS, and get a GC.,.,then I question, why not wait until, all the "legal stuff" is done.,.,.then change your names to whatever.,,.,

There is just so many more important things to take care of.,.,especially after a long immirration process, than thinking of a "stage" legal name change.,..,to me., get your priorities in order.,,most important, legal immigration.

Thanks for the comment raven52

To answer your question... the reason I asked this question here is because I wanted to ask some friends out there who has experienced this situation and if so, some advice. Now I know we will need to pay $450 if we wait til we get all the AOS, GC done. did you know that?

Can I as you... How do you know this is not an important issue? We all have different, unique cases who are on VJ and we are helping/ asking each other for receiving / giving advice.

Please do not judge whether this is not an important thing or not. There are many people who has their own questions / problems.

If this is not your priority and thats TOTALLY fine. Leave it to that.

I don't know your background and what you are going through, but you have no right to say this is silly to someone who is seriously asking a question here.

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

If he changes his name after you have already applied for the green card in another name, then if you are planning to file for naturalization later, you could wait until then and have your name changed for free at that time. Besides the $450 for getting a new green card, if your name change is not due to marriage, then you would also have to pay to get your name changed through the court. If he legally changes his name after you marry, that won't automatically change yours too.

[scubagirl 1]

If he changes his name after you have already applied for the green card in another name, then if you are planning to file for naturalization later, you could wait until then and have your name changed for free at that time. Besides the $450 for getting a new green card, if your name change is not due to marriage, then you would also have to pay to get your name changed through the court. If he legally changes his name after you marry, that won't automatically change yours too.

KayDeeCee,

I see. This makes sense to me now.

Thank you so much for your kind information. You were a great help