Spouse has changed name, but not Passport

[Hans Martin 2]

Hi again,

 

So my wife (The Petitioner and American Citizen by birth) changed her name before leaving America. We are currently both residing in Norway, Europe. 

 

Will this affect our application in any way? All of her documents such as, passport, birth certificate and marriage certificate states her old name, but 

the social security office changed her middle and last name. Should I send some extra documents to explain this?

[Ryan H 3,812]

2 minutes ago, Hans Martin said:

Will this affect our application in any way?

 

Should I send some extra documents to explain this?

 

No and no.

[Hans Martin 2]

1 minute ago, Ryan H said:

 

No and no.

Ok, great! Had the same issue? I just know they were super strict with little details like that when I filed for my wife to move to Norway from the US, so don't want to screw up anything there...

[mallafri76 1,012]

I'm Scandinavian too and the US don't have our rules about name must match ID or our easy way of changing our name with the tax office and it'll change pretty much everywhere else automatically. 

 

In the US, when a name doesn't match a document, showing a marriage cert is usually enough to "prove" the new name. 

 

So with that said, no it won't affect the application and no you don't need to send additional documentation. 

[Hans Martin 2]

1 minute ago, mallafri76 said:

I'm Scandinavian too and the US don't have our rules about name must match ID or our easy way of changing our name with the tax office and it'll change pretty much everywhere else automatically. 

 

In the US, when a name doesn't match a document, showing a marriage cert is usually enough to "prove" the new name. 

 

So with that said, no it won't affect the application and no you don't need to send additional documentation. 

Nice to see other Scandinavians that moved across the Atlantic!

 

So from what you are saying It seems like it doesn't matter. But just to be clear, her passport is valid but states her "Maiden Name". Hopefully thats okay...

 

And one more thing: How many different documents do I need to include to prove that she's an American citizen? Is it enough with a copy of her passport? If so, should I take a copy of ALL the pages in her

passport?

 

Thanks for your help guys!

[Ryan H 3,812]

5 minutes ago, Hans Martin said:

So from what you are saying It seems like it doesn't matter. But just to be clear, her passport is valid but states her "Maiden Name". Hopefully thats okay...

 

And one more thing: How many different documents do I need to include to prove that she's an American citizen? Is it enough with a copy of her passport? If so, should I take a copy of ALL the pages in her

passport?

 

Thanks for your help guys!

 

• It's fine, don't overthink this.
• For submitting a petition, only a photocopy of one document is needed, in the case of your wife that can be:
  • birth certificate issued by a US based authority
  • copy of all pages of a US Passport

[LionessDeon 2,060]

No.  I am the USC petitioner and my name wasn't changed on all my documentation when I filed for my husband. I still have not completed changing my name on everything.

 

You can send a copy of her birth certificate or passport.  I sent all my passport pages just in case.  

Edited January 27, 2017 by LionessDeon

[Hans Martin 2]

Great! Thanks guys!! I Can't help but being a little TOO detailed... It's better than missing something important I guess  

14 minutes ago, LionessDeon said:

No.  I am the USC petitioner and my name wasn't changed on all my documentation when I filed for my husband. I still have not completed changing my name on everything.

 

You can send a copy of her birth certificate or passport.  I sent all my passport pages just in case.  

 

15 minutes ago, Ryan H said:

 

• It's fine, don't overthink this.
• For submitting a petition, only a photocopy of one document is needed, in the case of your wife that can be:
  • birth certificate issued by a US based authority
  • copy of all pages of a US Passport

 

[Hans Martin 2]

I could not help noticing this in the i-130 filing instructions document:

 

What If Your Name Has Changed?

If either you or the person you are filing for is using a name other than that shown on the relevant documents, you must file your petition with copies of the legal documents that effected the change, such as a marriage certificate, adoption decree or court order.

 

Isn't that the opposite of what you guys are saying?

[Lemonslice 4,851]

28 minutes ago, Hans Martin said:

I could not help noticing this in the i-130 filing instructions document:

 

What If Your Name Has Changed?

If either you or the person you are filing for is using a name other than that shown on the relevant documents, you must file your petition with copies of the legal documents that effected the change, such as a marriage certificate, adoption decree or court order.

 

Isn't that the opposite of what you guys are saying?

You have a marriage certificate, no?

[Hans Martin 2]

11 minutes ago, Lemonslice said:

You have a marriage certificate, no?

Yes, we do have an American original marriage certificate. But her name wasn't changed at that point. But it states her maiden name and my name there

[Lemonslice 4,851]

When you say "her old name", you mean her maiden name? and now she is using her married name?  If so, the marriage certificate is normally sufficient to justify the use of her married name (I think only a few states/counties actually have a line to show the name to be used after marriage).  

[Hans Martin 2]

48 minutes ago, Lemonslice said:

When you say "her old name", you mean her maiden name? and now she is using her married name?  If so, the marriage certificate is normally sufficient to justify the use of her married name (I think only a few states/counties actually have a line to show the name to be used after marriage).  

Yes, excactly... But her maiden name is the name on the marriage certificate

[mallafri76 1,012]

On 1/27/2017 at 8:48 AM, Hans Martin said:

Nice to see other Scandinavians that moved across the Atlantic!

 

So from what you are saying It seems like it doesn't matter. But just to be clear, her passport is valid but states her "Maiden Name". Hopefully thats okay...

 

And one more thing: How many different documents do I need to include to prove that she's an American citizen? Is it enough with a copy of her passport? If so, should I take a copy of ALL the pages in her

passport?

 

Thanks for your help guys!

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