Another (and waay more confusing) name change question

[sk23 7]

Question:

Can -- and should -- my wife (the beneficiary) change her name during the process (we're currently at a NOA1 stage)?

Situation details:

I (the USC) had changed my name to a more American-sounding one in a US court a few months ago, before filing the petition. I of course attached the name change court decree to the application. My Canadian wife had also changed her name previously, to match my old last name. (Are you still with me?) Our children have our old name and are USCs via CRBA.

So my application (in my NewName) now includes the following name-related papers:

• Marriage certificate -- OldName for both of us
• Children's birth certificates and CRBA's -- OldName for both children
• Name change for wife from VeryOldName to OldName
• Name change for myself from OldName to NewName
• My passport in OldName (still valid)

This isn't as confusing as it may sound when I explain it. The name progression is straightforward and documented: wife's name change -> marriage -> my name change. We had our reasons for doing it this way, and apart from the confusion from multiple changes, everything is legal and legit.

We now would like to change each and every name in the family to match the NewName. We can only do it in September this year due to the Ontario name change regulations. This is the reason why it was not done prior to filing the petition, as we didn't want to wait that long. Now we face the choice: to wait with the name changes until we are all in the US, or to do it during the processing and bring a few more name change papers to the interview.

The disadvantage of doing it during the visa processing is the added confusion (although everything is 100% legit).

The advantage would be that everyone would have the right names on the papers upon entering the US, and we will just forget about the whole matter once and for all.

Please share your thoughts! Thank you

[Ryan H 3,812]

Change the names during processing if you can, it will be less expensive that way. If the name change process is complete before you submit documents to the NVC, then name change documents will be included with the package that is sent to the NVC. Otherwise, bring the name change documents to the interview.

[sk23 7]

Change the names during processing if you can, it will be less expensive that way. If the name change process is complete before you submit documents to the NVC, then name change documents will be included with the package that is sent to the NVC. Otherwise, bring the name change documents to the interview.

Thank you. So we can make the name change in September, but -- Would it be a problem if her passport is still in her old name at the interview? Will they be able to issue a visa?

Getting a new passport in Canada after a name change takes about 5-6 months, because since 2014 you have to apply and wait for a new citizenship certificate before renewing the passport. So there's a strong chance that we won't have her new passport in hand by the time of the interview. (However, we might have it by the time of entry.)

My assumption is that if all name changes are legit and documented, this by itself should not create any troubles however confusing it may seem. But maybe I'm missing something...

Edited March 25, 2016 by sk23

[Ryan H 3,812]

The name on the visa matches the name in the passport and the green card matches the name on the visa. Don't assume that just because you have everything documented will mean Consulate personnel will match it up, what is in the passport itself is what is king.