Changing of the name after visa approval, but before entry

[joshuah57 14]

Last week, our CR1 visa was approved. We are both excited that our immigration journey is almost over. We were hoping to change the name before the interview, but that didn't happen. My wife can't come to the US till January when she finishes her schooling. We should have her name changed by then. What options do we have? Can we change the name on any documents before entry into the USA? Or should we take care of this after she gets here? If she waits till she comes here, will she enter with both her old passport with the maiden name and the new passport with my name? If anyone is unsure, should I call the visa center to ask or immigration? Thanks in advance for all your help.

[Dave&Roza 748]

Last week, our CR1 visa was approved. We are both excited that our immigration journey is almost over. We were hoping to change the name before the interview, but that didn't happen. My wife can't come to the US till January when she finishes her schooling. We should have her name changed by then. What options do we have? Can we change the name on any documents before entry into the USA? Or should we take care of this after she gets here? If she waits till she comes here, will she enter with both her old passport with the maiden name and the new passport with my name? If anyone is unsure, should I call the visa center to ask or immigration? Thanks in advance for all your help.

If you wanted to change her last name, she should have gotten her new passport before the interview as the visa and eventually the GC will be issued in the name of the passport that the visa is placed into as the names must match. You will need to get the airline ticket in the name on her visa and use her old passport for this trip. Once in the US she will get her GC in the name of the passport she used. She can use the marriage certificate or her passport to change her SSC and then get a DL in her married name. I would wait until you remove conditions (ROC) to change the GC name because it is free and not $450. Plus she will be without her GC until the new one arrives. At least with ROC she has an extension letter that makes the current GC valid for another year.

If you did manage to use the new passport, there is nothing to worry about as the visa and GC will be issued in her married name.

Dave

[joshuah57 14]

So she can get the new passport now? She just can't use it to come to the USA now since the visa is in the old passport, right? If we would wait for ROC to change the name on the GC, will she have any problems coming to and from the US to visit family? Is it possible to have different names on a social security card and a green card?

[pushbrk 12,898]

Generally, getting a new passport invalidates the old one. I would get the new passport after US entry.