Did I give the wrong name on form?

[EV11 18]

Hello All,

Thank you in advance for all responses!

I'm a 10 year green card holder and got divorced from my husband in December 2014 and in doing so legally returned to my maiden name. I just completed the AR-11 form as I moved to a new residence and where it said "family name" I put my married name as per my name on my permanent resident card as I haven't yet changed the name on my green card yet. I just looked at the instructions when I was filing it away and it says to put "legal name". Will I be in trouble for not providing my new legal name?

This brings me to another question, if I don't change my name on my permanent resident card do I use my new legal name with any address changes etc. How will the match my name up to my alien number if I for example used my maiden name but my permanent resident card is in my married name? Would they reject the form and tell me to change my name before continuing?

Thank you so much and sorry if this all sounds a bit jumbled!

[JohnR! 5,495]

Your name change will only become an issue when you have to renew your current GC. For the time being your divorce decree suffices are evidence of your having changed your name.

However, it's always advisable that your name on your passport and GC should match. When you change the name in one make sure you do the same to the other.

Hello All,

Thank you in advance for all responses!

I'm a 10 year green card holder and got divorced from my husband in December 2014 and in doing so legally returned to my maiden name. I just completed the AR-11 form as I moved to a new residence and where it said "family name" I put my married name as per my name on my permanent resident card as I haven't yet changed the name on my green card yet. I just looked at the instructions when I was filing it away and it says to put "legal name". Will I be in trouble for not providing my new legal name?

This brings me to another question, if I don't change my name on my permanent resident card do I use my new legal name with any address changes etc. How will the match my name up to my alien number if I for example used my maiden name but my permanent resident card is in my married name? Would they reject the form and tell me to change my name before continuing?

Thank you so much and sorry if this all sounds a bit jumbled!

[EV11 18]

Thank you so much JohnR.

When you say it will become and issue when I renew my greencard do you mean I will have to provide evidence of the name change? Or an issue in the sense that I used the wrong legal name on a form after my name change?

Just to clarify - if move residence again but keep my married name on the green card should I use that name or my legal name. As it isn't one of those forms that can help change a name during its processing.

Thanks!

[JohnR! 5,495]

I meant it'll become an issue, or relevant, when you renew your greencard at which time you can present your divorce decree and change it back to your maiden name. I didn't mean issue as in 'problem' or 'hinderance'.

If I were you - just my 2-cent - I would change my name back in all documents - DL, SS, passport, the lot. Keeping using your married name will not make any difference because for all purposes and intent you're no longer married. In order to change the name in your greencard you'd need to apply for a new one, return the existing one with proof that you changed your name to your maiden name. It's really up to you but I'd say get your documents corrected while time is not of the essence..

Thank you so much JohnR.

When you say it will become and issue when I renew my greencard do you mean I will have to provide evidence of the name change? Or an issue in the sense that I used the wrong legal name on a form after my name change?

Just to clarify - if move residence again but keep my married name on the green card should I use that name or my legal name. As it isn't one of those forms that can help change a name during its processing.

Thanks!

[EV11 18]

I meant it'll become an issue, or relevant, when you renew your greencard at which time you can present your divorce decree and change it back to your maiden name. I didn't mean issue as in 'problem' or 'hinderance'.

If I were you - just my 2-cent - I would change my name back in all documents - DL, SS, passport, the lot. Keeping using your married name will not make any difference because for all purposes and intent you're no longer married. In order to change the name in your greencard you'd need to apply for a new one, return the existing one with proof that you changed your name to your maiden name. It's really up to you but I'd say get your documents corrected while time is not of the essence..

Ahh it's amazing what you decipher from something when you're in anxious mode! Ok fantastic!

I'm in the same school of thought as you. I'm definitely going to change everything all in one go. That way I can just get everything the same and I don't have to hop between two last names.

Thanks so much for your help, you've really helped!

[JohnR! 5,495]

You're welcome!!!

Ahh it's amazing what you decipher from something when you're in anxious mode! Ok fantastic!

I'm in the same school of thought as you. I'm definitely going to change everything all in one go. That way I can just get everything the same and I don't have to hop between two last names.

Thanks so much for your help, you've really helped!