Confusion regarding my K-1 wife's name change.

[handsofholes 6]

My wife and I got married, changed her last name through Social Security, and then submitted the Adjustment of Status application (along with work permit application and advanced parole application) under her new, married last name. But at the biometrics appointment, they always turned us away when we showed them her social security card for her new last name and said that it wasn't accepted.

Also, I called USCIS and asked if we were supposed to submit the AOS application under her name on her old passport or her new, married name... and I was told to submit it under the name on her passport. So now I am worried.

What was I supposed to do? My wife and I are kind of feeling like we don't even know what her name is right now!

Any advice would help. I've asked a few questions on this website already about name change, but now I'm asking with new info on my case.

[hardrockangel 21]

If you send the aos application using her married name then you need to show some goverment issue id like state id in her married name..if her I-94 still valid and atleast 30 days away to expire she can use it to obtain state id..Thats what they need..id that match the aos application name.

Edited April 30, 2015 by hardrockangel

[YouAndMeForever 1,022]

My wife and I got married, changed her last name through Social Security, and then submitted the Adjustment of Status application (along with work permit application and advanced parole application) under her new, married last name. But at the biometrics appointment, they always turned us away when we showed them her social security card for her new last name and said that it wasn't accepted.

Also, I called USCIS and asked if we were supposed to submit the AOS application under her name on her old passport or her new, married name... and I was told to submit it under the name on her passport. So now I am worried.

What was I supposed to do? My wife and I are kind of feeling like we don't even know what her name is right now!

Any advice would help. I've asked a few questions on this website already about name change, but now I'm asking with new info on my case.

A certified copy of the the marriage certificate is the official proof that her new married name belongs to her. I brought my passport (as an ID) along with a certificate copy of my marriage certificate to my biometrics appointment, and I was let in with no problems. Also I submitted AOS and EAD in my new, married name, but I sent a certificed copy of my marriage license also, as a proof that both name belongs to me.

[YouAndMeForever 1,022]

If you send the aos application using her married name then you need to show some goverment issue id like state id in her married name..if her I-94 still valid and atleast 30 days away to expire she can use it to obtain state id..Thats what they need..id that match the aos application name.

Not true. She doesn't need a State ID. She only needs a copy of marriage certificate as a proof that both name belongs to her. Foreign Passport + marriage certificate = valid ID. That is what 99% of the people use at their biometrics appointment and AOS application and it works.

If she files for AOS in her married name, she only needs to submit a copy of marriage certificate as proof of name change, and that's it.

[hardrockangel 21]

Not true. She doesn't need a State ID. She only needs a copy of marriage certificate as a proof that both name belongs to her. Foreign Passport + marriage certificate = valid ID. That is what 99% of the people use at their biometrics appointment and AOS application and it works.

If she files for AOS in her married name, she only needs to submit a copy of marriage certificate as proof of name change, and that's it.

Thats what happened to me thats why i just shared my experience..but of course theres a lot of option or depends which state..and what they really need

[YouAndMeForever 1,022]

Thats what happened to me thats why i just shared my experience..but of course theres a lot of option or depends which state..and what they really need

In some states (mine too) immigrants are only allowed to obtain a state ID after they got EAD. So obviously it doesn't work for everybody.

However, getting a certified copy of the marriage certificate is an easy and fast process. And it is the best proof for name change.

[hardrockangel 21]

In some states (mine too) immigrants are only allowed to obtain a state ID after they got EAD. So obviously it doesn't work for everybody. ... Yup,and also maybe will work for them..i have several friends here in vj and they did the same..so theres no harm in trying..i did have my marriage cert when i went there..

Edited April 30, 2015 by hardrockangel

[YouAndMeForever 1,022]

Yup,and also maybe will work for them..i have several friends here in vj and they did the same..so theres no harm in trying..just incase ]

It might work for them, yeah. BUT the official proof of name change IS a certified copy of the marriage certificate. Like I said that is what most people use and it makes sense. I obtained 4 copies on the day my husband and I got married (they were $10 each). I used 2 for the AOS and EAD applications, and I brought one with me to my biometrics appointment and I have another just in case.

At the biometrics appointment when I had to show my ID, I showed my foreign passport and the copy of the marriage certificate. The guy who checked my ID was pleased that I brought both. He said that alot of women (who also file for AOS with their married name and have a passport with their maiden name) don't bring the copy of the marriage certificate with them and then they are surprised why they are not being let in.

Edited April 30, 2015 by YouAndMeForever

[handsofholes 6]

I did submit a copy of the marriage certificate (certified and official) with our AOS application. But I am pretty sure that the marriage certificate said her maiden name on it. Is this still okay? Or will it not work as a result? Doesn't everyone's marriage certificate say their maiden name since at that given time, they haven't yet changed their name?

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

The AOS forms should be filled out in the married name, if that is the name you will use from now on.

SSN is not an ID.

Use your passport and copy of your marriage certificate for biometrics. Your marriage certificate acts as legal name change documentation when changing name through marriage, even if the state you were married in does not list the name you choose to go by after marriage.

Edited May 1, 2015 by KayDeeCee

[YouAndMeForever 1,022]

I did submit a copy of the marriage certificate (certified and official) with our AOS application. But I am pretty sure that the marriage certificate said her maiden name on it. Is this still okay? Or will it not work as a result? Doesn't everyone's marriage certificate say their maiden name since at that given time, they haven't yet changed their name?

Of course it is still okay. My marriage certificate states my maiden name too, and I'm everybody else's does..

Like I said there is no process of "name change", she just begins to use her new name and use the marriage certificate as a proof. If she filed for AOS with her married name, she will have the her greencard and all the other documentation with her married name on it too.

So you did everything right, good luck!

[CowBoE 429]

Filing with married name for AOS/EAD/AP is just fine.

As for biometrics appointment, we had similar hassle.

Basically, they want to see a picture ID that matches the name

on the biometrics appointment letter, but the problem is EAD is

likely the first official US picture ID, unless she was able to get the state ID.

So the option is,

1) present state ID (and may be marriage certificate)

2) or passport and marriage certificate (even if it has her maiden name)

We showed passport & marriage certificate and they (finally) let her

do the biometrics.