Change of Name and Green Card procedure

[ChuckandBoram 2]

Didn't know where to post this question so I hope it's fine to post here

I got married on Jan 24, 2015 and now it's a year later. We got married in America but are living in Korea, we did all the visa documents and in December had her interview and passed and she got her CR1 Visa. Next week we are moving to the states which brings me to this question.

Once we get to the states at the airport, do we simply hand over the packet we got to immigration officials and then just wait for the Green card or is there something else we need to do?

Also, regarding her name. Now her last name is in Korean but she'd like to change it to my last name. Is it possible to do it before she gets her green card so that her new name is reflected on her green card or since we've already done the interview will we have to do it after we receive her green card?

thanks for the help!

-Chuck

[NikLR 13,232]

Its too late to change her green card without paying a fee after arrival. Visa in passport name, green card in visa name. If you want you can pay $450 after arrival.

Hand carry the do not open visa packet and hand it over with the passport upon first POE and tell them she is immigrating. She likely will need to go to secondary to give a fingerprint and signature. They will stamp her visa which turns it into a temporary green card valid for 1 year.

Either before you leave or after you arrive you will pay a $165 immigrant fee on ELIS to pay for the production of the green card. When you do this you will at one point get an IOE number which you should write down. This fee can be paid up to 1 year after arrival.

During the first 2 years keep everything that shows thst youve co-mingled your finances and lives. You will need this to remove the conditions on her green card 2 years minus 90 days after arrival so she can get her 10 year card.

Hope this helps.

Edited March 5, 2016 by NLR