Changing Last Name-Requirement?

[Ms. Arely C. 3]

Hi Guys! ^.^ 

I am not sure if this will still count as being in the k1 Visa forum  but this is my case:

 

So my fiance got here last week (Yay) and we are planning on getting married by next week. We will just be having the quick wedding ceremony since it's a weekday & it will be in the morning. I am a bit confused on if I HAVE TO change my last name to his. I heard it is better to do that so it seems more valid when we send in the stuff for AOS. If it is a requirement, I don't mind changing it since he will be my husband soon but I am just a bit confused because one of the options I have is His Last Name & then My Last Name or My Last Name & then His Last Name & I am not sure which one to pick

 

Example (not our real names, hahaha)

My name is Mary Smith

His name is John Myers 

 

And my options are Mary Smith Myers or Mary Myers Smith...I don't know which one would be the correct one. If I pick Mary Smith Myers, I would still have my maiden name first then his so i don't see a point in changing it, might as well pick Mary Myers Smith, right? ?

 

 

 

Please and Thank You for your help

[rasaco 39]

You definitely do not need to change your last name!  Many Americans don't change it (my mom for example) and I certainly did not change mine when I got married and filed for AOS.

[KierenHby 899]

You are not required to.. but I'd have thunk it'd be Mary Smith Myers (hubby's lastname as yours); cultural preferences may wary. 

[J+H 10]

You definitely do not NEED to change your name.  At least half of the married couples I know (of all immigrant statuses) didn't change anyone's name.  I don't know anyone personally who has been questioned about their surname choices in either the AOS or ROC processes.

 

Personally, I went with [First] [Maiden Last]-[Spouse's Last] because it sounded more natural to me - my name with a bonus.  I think that sticking his name in the middle of mine would be mentally awkward for me.  

 

Your state may have weird requirements that limit your options.  My state, for example, requires an actual hyphen between multiple surnames.

 

Congrats!!

 

[JohnE 57]

As you know most Mexican women do not change their name when they get married in Mexico.  When we got married in the US my wife kept her name.  We just got approved for removal of conditions (ROC) for her ten year green card with zero issues.  In the ROC package I sent I explained the fact that Mexican women normally do not take their husbands last name (which is true) and we were approved with zero problems.  We live in Atlanta so had to file in Vermont so the wait was right at one year for approval.  

 

God bless

John

 

[afortunada 182]

Not required. Just personal preference. 

 

Also, how you do the name is personal preference, too. There is no "right" or "wrong" way to do it. In Mexico, though, you would be "Mary Smith Myers" because technically you are "Mary Smith de Myers" or "Mary Smith of the family Myers" 

 

Anyway, it's totally up to you, keep your name or change it however you dang well please.

 

For me, my husband's name is "Erick Joel R******* V*******" and my name is now "Jacklyn Jayne R*******"