HELP! Name change AFTER getting conditonal Green Card?

[Texein 0]

Hi,

Sorry in advance if I'm not posting in the right category.

I'm French. I got married in 2013 to a US citizen. In July 2013, I started the process to obtain a green card under my Maiden Name. The marriage certificate has my married name on it BUT I never legally changed my name. My SSN still has my maiden name for instance so my green card was issued in February 2014 under my maiden name. Last year, I tried to change my name by going to the social security office but they couldn't change it because my green card is under my maiden name.

I feel like I'm stuck. I'm filling out I-751 right now and I put my married name instead of my legal name. If I provide a copy (or original) of my marriage certificate, will it be enough evidence for my NEW green card to have my married name on it?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I called the customer service number but they just told me to "read the instructions" which was not helpful. It doesn't say anything about my situation on the instructions of I-751.

Thank you in advance!

[Sabrina&Chuck 32]

You should have changed your name after you got married ..that's what I did. I never really filled anything out to change my name ..I just took the name for my husband. Is on your marriage certificate the 'new' name? If not it won't help a lot ..you should go to a immigration service.

[Anh map 2,098]

If you elected to change your name when you married then your legal name is your married name. The marriage certificate ought to be proof of that.

Check with your county/city clerk to verify that your name change through marriage is legit.

Edited December 24, 2015 by Anh map

[NikLR 13,232]

~~moved to ROC from IR1/CR1 process and procedures.~~

[NickD 203]

Here's a rather long legal document on this subject.

http://scholarship.law.marquette.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2239&context=mulr

In effect your maiden name is always your legal name that dates way back to the name on your birth certificate and adopting your married name is an option that many women in the USA prefer not to do this. Only proof you need to use your married name is to show your marriage certificate.

Wasn't this subject brought up during your AOS? Sure was during ours, wife preferred to use the custom of her home country, used both as her last name. No problems with SS on this issue, but the problem with dealing with some, you run into what I like to refer as to hard headed idiots. Ran into this with our own SS office, just ask to speak to the supervisor and she corrected the clerk in my presence.

But where it got complicated with other legal documents is computers with a limited field for putting in both names, such as the DMV, so which one do you want to use?

You can change the name on your conditional green card, but will cost you. During my wife's US citizenship, decided to drop her maiden name, no problem what so ever, and of course she had her marriage certificate, the original one with her.

[KayDeeCee 4,896]

Yes, you should have changed it when you married and filed for AOS with the married name, but you didn't, so that ship has sailed. Yes, you can fill out the I-751 in your married name. You add a statement in the cover letter or as an attachment sheet to explain wanting to use your married name and have that name on your new green card. Provide a copy of your marriage certificate, which acts as your legal name change document.

[Texein 0]

Thank you for your answers! The marriage certificate does have my married name on it. It says "Name after marriage: Married Name".
I was overwhelwed by how extensive the green card process is and didn't want to take the risk to do anything wrong since all my cards (SSN, Drivers licence etc) are under my maiden name.
It wasn't brought up to during the process either.

Thank you! I'll just attach a copy of the marriage certifcate and explain, when sending I-751!