Changing first name

[stevo222 18]

Hi. I haven't posted in quite awhile. Here is my question. My wife, who came here on a K1, and my stepson (her son) are both interested in adding more "American" or "English" types of first names. My wife is now a full year into her conditional 2 year permnent resident (green) card, and my stepson is only about 3 months into his. Anyone that has done this, can you give advice on how to do it, and what it means as far as paperwork with the USCIS? Thanks for any advice!

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

They need to file for a name change with the court. Once they receive the legal name change documentation, then they can change their names on all their IDs and accounts. You would need to change their names on their green cards, or if you time it right, send in the change of name documentation when applying for ROC to get the 10 year green cards in their new names.

~ Moved from K-1 Process to General Immigration-Related Discussion - topic not K-1 or any other immigration process really; about name change ~

[CowBoE 429]

Hi. I haven't posted in quite awhile. Here is my question. My wife, who came here on a K1, and my stepson (her son) are both interested in adding more "American" or "English" types of first names. My wife is now a full year into her conditional 2 year permnent resident (green) card, and my stepson is only about 3 months into his. Anyone that has done this, can you give advice on how to do it, and what it means as far as paperwork with the USCIS? Thanks for any advice!

If I recall correctly, I believe they give you a chance to change your name when you get US citizenship.

So one possibility is to use the English first name as nickname for now, and then officially change it when they

get their US citizenship, so that name change is done after pretty much all important green card/US citizenship

paper processing is done so that you avoid any possible complication with mismatching first names.

[Darnell 8,478]

for any name change, given your exact circumstances, you'll have to :

1. file a name change with the county court. fees vary by state. this gives 'state wide' change.

2. take copy of court decree, file I-90 with fee to USCIS for new greencard.

3. get amendment (optional) in chinese passport at China Embassy or Consulate in USA..

once 2 is in hand, get to SSA office, change the name there. maybe possible on #1, unsure.

Edited July 22, 2014 by Darnell

[stevo222 18]

Thanks for the replys, eveyone. Darnell, you always give great, very specific, stepwise advice, which is so great! What happend to your pic of those two super cute kids, though (can you tell it's been awhile)?

[Darnell 8,478]

ah - my wife was over my shoulder one day, telling me to put in one of her photos or she'll cut me.

I dislike being cut, she has stellar skills with it.