I-485 Application: What last name to use?

[G&O7 9]

Hi Everyone,

My husband and I are in the process of completing our AOS (i-485) application. I am a female and the U.S. citizen in this case. I have not changed my last name at the SSA dept yet but do plan to do so shortly. For the sake of completing the paperwork for AOS, which last name should I use....my maiden name or the name of my husband that I am going to eventually take?

[Pitaya 2,577]

~Moved from K1 Process to Fam.-based AOS Forum~

~inquiry related to AOS process, past K1~

[Confusedtinybird 41]

If you haven't changed with the Social Security office then use your maiden name.

[KayDeeCee 4,896]

If you haven't changed with the Social Security office then use your maiden name.

This is incorrect information.

OP> If you are going to use your husband's name after marriage, then you just start using it right away. Fill out all your AOS forms in your married name. Put your maiden name where it asks for maiden or other names used. The surname/family name you use is the name your EAD/AP and green card will come with. You do not want to have to pay the large fee to change the name on the green card later. Social Security does not control your name change. Your marriage certificate acts as the legal name change document. It does not matter if your SS card is still in your maiden name. Get it changed when you can.

[Christine22 2]

I filed the AOS for my husband ( I am the USC) When I filled out the cover letter and forms I used my new last name. However, on the cover letter i signed both last names so they would not be confused. It passed through fine, we have our interview tomorrow. Does not matter about the SS #; the number will stay the same anyway.

Edited August 24, 2014 by Christine22

[Zedayn 485]

Fill all your new immigration forms (AOS, EAD, AP) with your married name. Once you have either your EAD or green card, go back and change your name to your married name on your SS card.

[strawberrycupcake 0]

So on the form I-485, where it says "in care of"

I, the married us citizen, would put my new last name ? Or do I even put my name for the "in care of..."

[Dave&Roza 748]

This is incorrect information.

OP> If you are going to use your husband's name after marriage, then you just start using it right away. Fill out all your AOS forms in your married name. Put your maiden name where it asks for maiden or other names used. The surname/family name you use is the name your EAD/AP and green card will come with. You do not want to have to pay the large fee to change the name on the green card later. Social Security does not control your name change. Your marriage certificate acts as the legal name change document. It does not matter if your SS card is still in your maiden name. Get it changed when you can.

Only to correct one thing--SHE is the USC. So her ability to change her name is very simple. Just complete the forms in the name you want to use and you are the USC sponsor and all documents will be in the name your HUSBAND uses. Really does not matter as you include the Marriage Certificate as one of the documents for AOS so they will see that you got married and decided to take your husband's name. For AOS, ROC, and naturalization it is HIS application not yours.

The "in care of" is for your mailing address if you are living at someone else's residence. As long as the USPS knows that you receive mail at that address under your married name you will be fine. There are a few letter carriers that take it upon themselves to return mail they think is not address correctly. This happened to us when we lived in an apartment and my wife's SSC and NOA2 for the I-765 were returned. Other mail wasn't. So I am assuming it was the substitute letter carrier.

Dave

[Dave&Roza 748]

Fill all your new immigration forms (AOS, EAD, AP) with your married name. Once you have either your EAD or green card, go back and change your name to your married name on your SS card.

She is the USC. She wants to know about completing the form for her husband. She can use the Marriage Certificate and change her SSC, DL, passport, and any other ID. Being a USC makes it much easier.

Dave

Edited August 24, 2014 by Dave&Roza

[KayDeeCee 4,896]

So on the form I-485, where it says "in care of"

I, the married us citizen, would put my new last name ? Or do I even put my name for the "in care of..."

'In care of' is used when you are receiving mail at someone else's residence/address. If that is not your situation, then you leave that blank.

Only to correct one thing--SHE is the USC. So her ability to change her name is very simple. Just complete the forms in the name you want to use and you are the USC sponsor and all documents will be in the name your HUSBAND uses. Really does not matter as you include the Marriage Certificate as one of the documents for AOS so they will see that you got married and decided to take your husband's name. For AOS, ROC, and naturalization it is HIS application not yours.

Thank you. I overlooked the fact that she was the USC. So it does not matter at all really, but if she wants to change her name, then she can just go ahead and use it. Makes no difference if she changed her SSN yet.

[strawberrycupcake 0]

'In care of' is used when you are receiving mail at someone else's residence/address. If that is not your situation, then you leave that blank.

Thank you, I didn't know what that meant

[Hank_ 9,174]

Hi Everyone,

My husband and I are in the process of completing our AOS (i-485) application. I am a female and the U.S. citizen in this case. I have not changed my last name at the SSA dept yet but do plan to do so shortly. For the sake of completing the paperwork for AOS, which last name should I use....my maiden name or the name of my husband that I am going to eventually take?

MARRIED NAME!!! After all you ARE married.

[G&O7 9]

Thanks everyone for your input...it is much appreciated! You guys are amazing.

What I am gathering here is that it really doesn't matter since in this app I am just the sponsor for my husband therefore I can use either last name....

[KayDeeCee 4,896]

Thanks everyone for your input...it is much appreciated! You guys are amazing.

What I am gathering here is that it really doesn't matter since in this app I am just the sponsor for my husband therefore I can use either last name....

That is correct. If you want to continue to use your maiden name, then you can. It does not matter if you are married. No one is forced to use a different name when married. If you decide to use the married later, then you can do that too. When he needs to file for ROC, you can fill that out in your married name then, if you are using it.