Last name on k1 to green card

[IandI 5]

The marriage license only allowed us to use my wife immigrants maiden last name. Can we use my last name as her last name on the aos paperwork or do I have to use her maiden last name still.

[NikLR 13,227]

All marriage licenses should do this as this was the name of the person when they married. But the marriage certificate shows she's married and in the USA that means she can use her married last name on all documentation.

~~moved to AOS from family based from IR1/CR1 process and procedures~~

[IcezMan_IcezLady 582]

You must change her name legally first.

[Illiria 980]

You must change her name legally first.

Er no, the marriage certificate in Nevada for instance (where I got married) only allows the listing of the maiden name but acts as the document of name change so that the participants may then use the spouses should they so wish.

[arken 4,197]

Yes you should use her married name (your last name) in AOS if you want her GC to be issued in her married name. The marriage license/certificate (even with the maiden name) is the proof of name change.

[IcezMan_IcezLady 582]

Er no, the marriage certificate in Nevada for instance (where I got married) only allows the listing of the maiden name but acts as the document of name change so that the participants may then use the spouses should they so wish.

She can use her maiden name for now since everything would match with her record.

But what I meant to change the name legally is that, if they have SSN or DL in the maiden name,then they will have to change all of that.

So marriage certificate alone is not the only document to show proof of new name.

It may not apply to OP..

But the name on SSN usually holds over other documents if OP's wife has one.

[IcezMan_IcezLady 582]

So You can use the maiden name for all the paperwork now and change the name later.

Follow your county laws on change of name.

There's no universe law on that.

In Texas for instance, you take the marriage certificate (i was married abroad) with proof of citizenship to SSA and they change it and send you a new SSN card. I took the receipt to DPS and got my new license.

[p-ana 933]

Apply for the aos with the married name, if she wishes to do so, as others stated. If she waits to change after, she'll need to pay for a green card correction and it's not worth it when she can do it right when she applies. Later she can change wherever else needed like ssa and dmv.

[arken 4,197]

She can use her maiden name for now since everything would match with her record.

But what I meant to change the name legally is that, if they have SSN or DL in the maiden name,then they will have to change all of that.

So marriage certificate alone is not the only document to show proof of new name.

It may not apply to OP..

But the name on SSN usually holds over other documents if OP's wife has one.

OP's wife should not use maiden name in her AOS application if she plans to use her husbands last name. This is the best time to change the name for free so that she gets her GC in her married name and then she can change the SSN to her married name if she has one currently with her maiden name. Thereafter she can change any other cards like DL or like that to her married name.

If she uses her maiden now for AOS, then she gets GC in her maiden name and the only time to change the name for free is during naturalization which is 3 years away. Otherwise gotta pay over 350 dollars to change the name on GC.

[IcezMan_IcezLady 582]

OP's wife should not use maiden name in her AOS application if she plans to use her husbands last name. This is the best time to change the name for free so that she gets her GC in her married name and then she can change the SSN to her married name if she has one currently with her maiden name. Thereafter she can change any other cards like DL or like that to her married name.

If she uses her maiden now for AOS, then she gets GC in her maiden name and the only time to change the name for free is during naturalization which is 3 years away. Otherwise gotta pay over 350 dollars to change the name on GC.

I think I now get you.

You're right. I changed mine for free so wasn't thinking about a fee.

Thanks.

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

Ignore the incorrect information in this thread. Your legal name change document is your marriage certificate, whether or not it states your choice of name after marriage. You can begin using your new married name as soon as you are married. There is nothing you need to do in order to make it legal.

You should not use the maiden name on your AOS forms, if you are changing your name through marriage. Use your new married name. You want your EAD/AP and green card to come in the name you wish to use after marriage. You send a copy of the marriage certificate with the I-485. That is the legal name change document that is needed to get your new government IDs(EAD and green card) in the name you will legally use from now on.

Of course if someone is changing their name, they would also change their name on all their accounts and IDs, but that is not what makes it official or legal. The marriage, and them choosing to use their spouse's name is what did. Many people that enter on a K-1 visa get their SSN right away in their maiden name. They can then change it to their married name once they get the EAD or green card in married name.

Changing the name with the SSA does not make a name change legal. An SSN cannot be used as a form of ID. The name needs to match on the SSN that you have on your IDs and use for work and taxes. That was the purpose of the SSN, for recording your earnings.

"The card was never intended to serve as a personal identification document—that is, it does not establish that the person presenting the card is actually the person whose name and SSN appear on the card. Although SSA has made the card counterfeit-resistant, the card does not contain information that would allow it to be used as proof of identity. However, the simplicity and efficiency of using a unique number that most people already possess has encouraged widespread use of the SSN by both government agencies and private enterprises, especially as they have adapted their recordkeeping and business systems to automated data processing. Use of the SSN as a convenient means of identifying people in large systems of records has increased over the years and its expanded use appears to be an enduring trend."

You can read all about "How did the SSN come to be, and why has it become an unofficial national identifier?" here > http://www.ssa.gov/p...2/v69n2p55.html

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

Once you two get married she can use the married name on her documents if she wishes too. Just make sure she has a SS card in the married name if she decides to use it.

We got my wife a SS card before we got married so it was in her maiden name. Once we got married and got the marriage certificate we changed it to the married name and she has used it ever since on everything including AOS and ROC documentation.

[soulstriker 274]

ppl usually do ssn after they enter with k1 or after marriage , i think after marriage makes things more convenient

[NikLR 13,227]

People on the board have often reported issues with getting an SSN after marriage but before EAD. This is because the information in the system and their visa and passport do not match the name they're trying to get. SSA employees aren't the shiniest tinfoil. But some people have no issues at all.

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

ppl usually do ssn after they enter with k1 or after marriage , i think after marriage makes things more convenient

Not convenient when the SSA workers think once you marry the K-1 is invalid, or changes to a K-3. Not convenient when the name you apply in does not match the name on the K-1 visa and SAVE database, so they send off for approval from the DHS and make you wait far too long to get an SSN.

Many people have issues getting the SSN in married name before having EAD or green card in married name first. For some, they get the right SSA worker and it gets done as it should, but because not everyone is that lucky, it is often suggested to get the SSN right after entry in the maiden name, and even in maiden name if already married and do not have US govt. ID in married name yet. Have even seen those with EAD in married name having to wait because the name was still not updated yet in the system.