So confused, change name before AOS or after?

[pinksquare 0]

Basic Facts:

I’m a F-1 student and I’m now on my OPT. I have my OPT EAD card and SSN card as well.

My husband is a USC. I did NOT change my last name to his family name right after we got marriage certificate, i.e. My EAD and SSN card all have my maiden name on them.

Concern:

I’m preparing docs for AOS now. And I want my “new” name on the GC. Should I:

(1) change my name now, so I can use my new name on all the application? Or

(2) change it after I get GC? But that seems to be more troublesome.

If I can go with (1), should I change name on SSN first? Or EAD first?

Just wondering, is it possible that I can change my first name to my English at the same time as well?

It’s such a confusing start for me, if you have experience or suggestions, please leave a word.

May force be with you!

[akihon 129]

First things first, does your marriage certificate declare your new name?

If it doesn't, then you probably shouldn't use the new name.

If it does, then use your new name on your application and include your maiden name where it asks for other names you've used. You do not have to change it with SSN before sending it in. Your EAD is trumped by the I-765 form, so don't worry about changing the name on that.

The Department of Homeland Security and IRS/SSN are separate. As long as you declare your maiden name on your application, you'll be fine. You can take your time with changing your name with SSN.

Edited August 26, 2014 by akihon

[pinksquare 0]

First things first, does your marriage certificate declare your new name?

If it doesn't, then you probably shouldn't use the new name.

If it does, then use your new name on your application and include your maiden name where it asks for other names you've used. You do not have to change it with SSN before sending it in. Your EAD will be useless once you have your GC anyway, since that trumps your EAD, so don't worry about changing the name on that.

The Department of Homeland Security and IRS/SSN are separate. As long as you declare your maiden name on your application, you'll be fine. You can take your time with changing your name with SSN.

Thank you very much akihon!

My marriage certificate does not declare my new name. So you recommend that I wait until I get the GC?

And either way, the DHS is the very first place to go, SSN comes second right?

[akihon 129]

I am not sure about your ability to and ease of changing your name if your marriage certificate does not declare it. I suggest you call Social Security and ask if you will be able to, before you fill out the AoS application. If Social Security says yes you will be able to, then you can just fill out your AoS paperwork with your new name and declare your maiden name.

**or can someone else with more knowledge on this please respond? My certificate declared my new name.

[pinksquare 0]

Yea I know, it's confusing. And I'm also worried about if my current EAD and SSN won't match if I change SSN name. Then I'll have trouble working. I don't know~~

Thank you very much for your help akihon!

Kind others please help if you know anything about this! Thannnnks!

[sweet cakes 326]

Thank you very much akihon!

My marriage certificate does not declare my new name. So you recommend that I wait until I get the GC?

And either way, the DHS is the very first place to go, SSN comes second right?

As soon as you get married, you can start using your married name. This is regardless of whether or not your marriage certificate actually shows your married name, because some states don't show the new married name [only the maiden name] in the marriage cert. This means you can definitely use the marriage certificate as proof for a legal name change.

Also, you can fill out your AOS forms (including EAD and AP) using your married name, even if you haven't changed it yet with SSA.

For the name change on your SS card, that is a separate process. You can check with your SSA office, because some folks mentioned here that one only needs the MC for the name change. However for non-USCs, SSA will typically look for a valid immigration document showing that your new name like EAD or GC on top of the marriage cert, because they will have to check your name on the SAVE database.

[akihon 129]

thanks sweet cakes

[lesthatsri 9]

Hi PinkSquare, actually the name change has nothing to do with whereas the new name is on the marriage certificate. Im from Indiana and on my marriage certificate there is no place for it, so iy isn't recorded. Now, if u want your GC with it, you need to fill all your forms with your married name and include your maiden name in others name used. Your marriage certificate serves as proof of why you changed your name to your husband's but it doesn't neccesarily have to show it on the paper. If you don't change it now, then later you will have to pay for a replacement card with your new name. Also keep in mind that your OPT status will be cancelled while you are processing for AOS so you should file for a new EAD with your married name as well. About SS you will need to wait for green card to arrive to change your name at the office. This will remove the annotation: only for work with DHS.authorization.

[NikLR 13,227]

Changing the name on the green card after the fact will cost $450.

[NikLR 13,227]

First things first, does your marriage certificate declare your new name?

If it doesn't, then you probably shouldn't use the new name.

If it does, then use your new name on your application and include your maiden name where it asks for other names you've used. You do not have to change it with SSN before sending it in. Your EAD is trumped by the I-765 form, so don't worry about changing the name on that.

The Department of Homeland Security and IRS/SSN are separate. As long as you declare your maiden name on your application, you'll be fine. You can take your time with changing your name with SSN.

Many marriage certificates do not state a "married" name. This is because in the USA a woman has thr choice to take a married name, a combination, or not at all.

[pinksquare 0]

As soon as you get married, you can start using your married name. This is regardless of whether or not your marriage certificate actually shows your married name, because some states don't show the new married name [only the maiden name] in the marriage cert. This means you can definitely use the marriage certificate as proof for a legal name change.

Also, you can fill out your AOS forms (including EAD and AP) using your married name, even if you haven't changed it yet with SSA.

For the name change on your SS card, that is a separate process. You can check with your SSA office, because some folks mentioned here that one only needs the MC for the name change. However for non-USCs, SSA will typically look for a valid immigration document showing that your new name like EAD or GC on top of the marriage cert, because they will have to check your name on the SAVE database.

What you said make much sense. Thank you very much for your help Sweet Cakes !

Have a good day/night

[pinksquare 0]

Hi PinkSquare, actually the name change has nothing to do with whereas the new name is on the marriage certificate. Im from Indiana and on my marriage certificate there is no place for it, so iy isn't recorded. Now, if u want your GC with it, you need to fill all your forms with your married name and include your maiden name in others name used. Your marriage certificate serves as proof of why you changed your name to your husband's but it doesn't neccesarily have to show it on the paper. If you don't change it now, then later you will have to pay for a replacement card with your new name. Also keep in mind that your OPT status will be cancelled while you are processing for AOS so you should file for a new EAD with your married name as well. About SS you will need to wait for green card to arrive to change your name at the office. This will remove the annotation: only for work with DHS.authorization.

Hi Lesthatsri, your view is mostly same as sweet cakes', which make me feel much better and more clear. Thank you! What you've said makes sense and is very logical. And thanks for the reminder of the EAD. My opt will be cancelled once they receive my package, right? Or once I send the package out? And do you by any chance know if I can put my maiden name as a middle name on the application, just wondering~~

Thank you sooo much!

[sweet cakes 326]

What you said make much sense. Thank you very much for your help Sweet Cakes !

Have a good day/night

You're welcome, Pink square! By the way, to your question in using your maiden [last] name as your new middle name, that's exactly what I did too. Just be consistent with all your AOS forms, and you'll be fine! Also, there is an area in the G-325a and I-485 where it asks for your "other names used", put your maiden last name in these fields.

If you haven't yet, check out the example forms too: http://www.visajourney.com/content/examples

All the best!

[pinksquare 0]

Many marriage certificates do not state a "married" name. This is because in the USA a woman has thr choice to take a married name, a combination, or not at all.

Thank you for the explanation NLR! That explains the fact that I don't have my new last name on my marriage certificate hah. And yea, I expected I would have to pay more $$$ for a replacement card if I change name after the fact. $450? No, not doing that hah.

Thank you again, NLR!

[pinksquare 0]

You're welcome, Pink square! By the way, to your question in using your maiden [last] name as your new middle name, that's exactly what I did too. Just be consistent with all your AOS forms, and you'll be fine! Also, there is an area in the G-325a and I-485 where it asks for your "other names used", put your maiden last name in these fields.

If you haven't yet, check out the example forms too: http://www.visajourney.com/content/examples

All the best!

Thank you again, Sweet Cakes! Now I'm ready to use my whole new name setup (first name, middle[maiden] name, last name) to fill in all the AOS forms . And the example forms are awesome!

Bests to you, too!