first name.

[Merrytooth 5,748]

I wonder if Poland will accept OP's name change in US, since her passport will be in her 'old name', not the 'new name'.

[Lemonslice 4,852]

I wonder if Poland will accept OP's name change in US, since her passport will be in her 'old name', not the 'new name'.

No idea. I know I can't change my last name to my married name in the province I am from; same thing with my second citizenship, they will write "spouse of... " but no change of last name [which is ok with me, I didn't plan to change my last (or first) name anyway].

ETA: If both names are really considered the "same" in Poland she might not be able to update her passport and/or not have a problem.

Edited October 6, 2014 by Boston~Montreal

[discoverusa 268]

The easiest way to do it would probably be when you get citizenship. As far as Polish government goes you are inviting a big legal headache. It is hard enough to change your last name to married name in Polish passport. In order to do just that you need to register your marriage certificate with vital records in Poland aka get Polish marriage certificate. That includes providing translation and filling out forms. It is quite expensive too. I don't know for sure, but suspect that if you changed your first name too that would include going through court name change as well. They don't care if you naturalized in USA. In the eyes of Polish government your name is still Katarzyna unless you officially change it in Poland.

On a side note, do you really want to be called Kasia when you are 60, 80 years old. It is a name for a little girl. Sounds a bit infantile, but that is just my two cents.

[Beautifulday 16]

The easiest way to do it would probably be when you get citizenship. As far as Polish government goes you are inviting a big legal headache. It is hard enough to change your last name to married name in Polish passport. In order to do just that you need to register your marriage certificate with vital records in Poland aka get Polish marriage certificate. That includes providing translation and filling out forms. It is quite expensive too. I don't know for sure, but suspect that if you changed your first name too that would include going through court name change as well. They don't care if you naturalized in USA. In the eyes of Polish government your name is still Katarzyna unless you officially change it in Poland.

On a side note, do you really want to be called Kasia when you are 60, 80 years old. It is a name for a little girl. Sounds a bit infantile, but that is just my two cents.

lol i dont imagine it to sound like a name for a little girl not to americans at least....but thanks for the info!

[agnesb 47]

Kasia, short names work in exactly same way as they do in Poland. You'll find a lot of Dave's (david), Bobs (robert), Katherine (Kate, Katie) etc... And there's me Agnieszka, but everyone calls me Aga, just like back in Poland. They'd probably call me Agusia or Agula if that would be my preference. Kasia, Kasienka, Kaska can be a name you go by, at work(my work email&id have Aga on it), around family and friends, at your dentist office and school (a lot of places have a field for "nickname or known as") but leave Katarzyna on your forms as your first name. It's not like you have to fill a lot of forms or spell your name a lot after you're all settled.. Good luck with your journey!

[jerod_gavel 16]

You can legally change your name upon getting married. Just tell the judge you want the change your name from X to Y and he can do it.

The only problem is you will then be required to change everything like they said before. That is part of the reason my wife changed her name and passport before we submitted for her IR visa. Everything moved along quickly after that.

[raven52 233]

Cody and Daisy are exactly right.,.,.,US immigration is looking at official documents, birth cert., police report, passport.,.,...,etc.,.,..,

Changing your name is not close to an option.,..,.,do not cause yourself grief for no reason..,.,

Ask your new friends to call you by your name you mention.,,.,..but what you suggest,.,...is nothing but grief..,.for you!

[Mollie09 1,543]

http://www.cookcountycourt.org/ABOUTTHECOURT/CountyDepartment/CountyDivision/ChangeofNameProceedings.aspx

"Who May Petition the Court for a Change of Name

1. Any person who has been a resident of the State of Illinois for six months and is a resident of Cook County may petition the court for a change of name."

Nothing here about being a US citizen. Just like in Massachusetts, she can change her name whenever she wishes, being a citizen or not. All she needs is a birth certificate.

I would know, I almost changed my last name in Massachusetts (not to my married name) and that's all I needed.

[Cathi 5,755]

You can legally change your name upon getting married. Just tell the judge you want the change your name from X to Y and he can do it.

The only problem is you will then be required to change everything like they said before. That is part of the reason my wife changed her name and passport before we submitted for her IR visa. Everything moved along quickly after that.

not true, the only name you can change after marriage is your last name. She has to wait until citizenship

[Cody and Daisy 373]

You can legally change your name upon getting married. Just tell the judge you want the change your name from X to Y and he can do it.

You can ONLY legally change your LAST name after getting married, as the marriage certificate is a legal name change document because you can choose to take your husbands last name.

Changing your first name is a whole different story.

http://www.cookcountycourt.org/ABOUTTHECOURT/CountyDepartment/CountyDivision/ChangeofNameProceedings.aspx

"Who May Petition the Court for a Change of Name

1. Any person who has been a resident of the State of Illinois for six months and is a resident of Cook County may petition the court for a change of name."

Nothing here about being a US citizen. Just like in Massachusetts, she can change her name whenever she wishes, being a citizen or not. All she needs is a birth certificate.

I would know, I almost changed my last name in Massachusetts (not to my married name) and that's all I needed.

Yes you can change your last name.

This says nothing about first names.

Until someone can find something that says you don't have to be a citizen to change your FIRST NAME.

I stand by saying that you cannot do it.

You can't just roll up to a country that you are not a citizen of and show your birth certificate and get a name change.

You still belong to your home country where you are a citizen of.

You have to get your name changed there before you can get it changed elsewhere.

[jerod_gavel 16]

Guys again, my wife changed her middle name and last name upon marriage. It was legal, and there were no other charges associated with it.

It would delay your process if you have already submitted paperwork.

Just because you guys think it is only last name does not make it so. My case is actual proof of that. Also, USCIS and NVC had no problem processing it for us with her new name. We only needed the letter from Phils embassy stating that her new name and old name were the same person and should be recognized from this date forward as the new name.

[jxn 86]

OP is describing a nickname and so many people (read: the majority) have a certain legal first name and go by an unofficial nickname that is culturally associated with the official name and widely understood. In my opinion, it's not worth a legal name change. Especially since I doubt OP would be able to change her legal name in Poland, and it can be a headache to maintain two separate legal names in two separate countries. Imagine you travel abroad when you are a permanent resident—you will travel on your Polish passport and U.S. green card. When applying for foreign visas, they want proof of legal status in the U.S. and you'll submit a photocopy of your green card. Now you need to provide a copy of your name change document (marriage certificate or court order, for example) with every visa application showing that those two names are the same person.

It's no different than saying "Hey, my name's Jonathan but you can call me John." I say continue to have the same legal name and just refer to yourself by your nickname in non-government scenarios/documents.

[Cody and Daisy 373]

Guys again, my wife changed her middle name and last name upon marriage. It was legal, and there were no other charges associated with it.

It would delay your process if you have already submitted paperwork.

Just because you guys think it is only last name does not make it so. My case is actual proof of that. Also, USCIS and NVC had no problem processing it for us with her new name. We only needed the letter from Phils embassy stating that her new name and old name were the same person and should be recognized from this date forward as the new name.

It does make it so.

Changing your middle and last with marriage is perfectly normal.

Many people decide to forgoe their middle name so they can have it as their maiden name and then still have new last name.

Changing your middle and last name is NOT like changing your first name. You case has nothing to do with changing a persons first name.

Changing your frist name can be hard and difficult and require changing EVERYTHING. Not just some paper work.

Your wife could change her middle and last name when you married because you married.

Unless you have changed your first name or she has changed her first name through what I only can say is you're saying marriage (which is impossible by the way to change through marriage) then you cannot tell the OP that she can do that.

YOU HAVE TO BE A CITIZEN TO CHANGE YOUR FIRST NAME IN THE USA.

just like YOU have to be a CITIZEN to change your first name in my country.

I would have to change my first name in england before i can change it on goverment ID's in America.

Stop trying to use your wife as a case, it isn't the same. it's not the same process, it's not the same procedure. It is VERY different.

[Lemonslice 4,852]

You don't have to be a citizen to change your first name, at least in my state (Massachusetts). There is also no follow up mechanism to force you to show proof you notified your country of citizenship about it.

Not sure why you have to keep saying it without source (I linked to MA rules) and in CAPS, simply not true in all situations.

You might have to be a citizen in some states or counties, or even in your country, but not here.

Edited October 7, 2014 by Boston~Montreal

[Beautifulday 16]

you guys are right, im gonna just stay with my legal name and change it when i become a citizen. now you guys made me want to change my middle name lol, you guys are saying one can change their middle name while getting married? how's that...and won't that make me have to get all the new documents too since middle name is usually written in documents...