NEW PASSPORT (change of wife's maiden name due to marriage)

[Elmira 1]

Dear all,

My Fiancé (US citizen) and I are waiting for our I-129F to be approved, but while we are waiting, we are reading all information concerning my status after I will arrive in US. As I am going to take his surname after we will get married, I have few questions nobody can answer.

- Can I apply for new passport (with my new surname) immediately after our wedding?

- Should I obtain new passport in Embassy of my country (I am citizen of Kazakhstan)?

- If I can obtain new passport from Embassy can I submit new passport for Filing for Adjustment of Status?

- If yes should I put copy of my old passport with K-1 visa in it?

- I am scared that issue of new passport will take about 3 months since can we file for Adjustment of Status in 3 months after our wedding?

I am sorry for many questions, but we are so confused and really don’t know the answers.

Thank you to everyone

[athena_ny 1]

Dear all,

My Fiancé (US citizen) and I are waiting for our I-129F to be approved, but while we are waiting, we are reading all information concerning my status after I will arrive in US. As I am going to take his surname after we will get married, I have few questions nobody can answer.

- Can I apply for new passport (with my new surname) immediately after our wedding?

- Should I obtain new passport in Embassy of my country (I am citizen of Kazakhstan)?

- If I can obtain new passport from Embassy can I submit new passport for Filing for Adjustment of Status?

- If yes should I put copy of my old passport with K-1 visa in it?

- I am scared that issue of new passport will take about 3 months since can we file for Adjustment of Status in 3 months after our wedding?

I am sorry for many questions, but we are so confused and really don’t know the answers.

Thank you to everyone

Well, most of the time you have to relinquish your passport to get a name changed (I know I'll have to but I'm a USC) and you will need it for adjustment of status if you have an interview - you could explain to them why you don't have it, and they may understand but it is a risk. If you aren't planning on traveling right away, I'd wait until after AOS is completed. Or you could wait until after you get the passport back to file AOS, and that's ok.

You do, however, do it through the embassy. They should just need the marriage certificate (all they need in the US)

[Elmira 1]

Dear all,

My Fiancé (US citizen) and I are waiting for our I-129F to be approved, but while we are waiting, we are reading all information concerning my status after I will arrive in US. As I am going to take his surname after we will get married, I have few questions nobody can answer.

- Can I apply for new passport (with my new surname) immediately after our wedding?

- Should I obtain new passport in Embassy of my country (I am citizen of Kazakhstan)?

- If I can obtain new passport from Embassy can I submit new passport for Filing for Adjustment of Status?

- If yes should I put copy of my old passport with K-1 visa in it?

- I am scared that issue of new passport will take about 3 months since can we file for Adjustment of Status in 3 months after our wedding?

I am sorry for many questions, but we are so confused and really don’t know the answers.

Thank you to everyone

Well, most of the time you have to relinquish your passport to get a name changed (I know I'll have to but I'm a USC) and you will need it for adjustment of status if you have an interview - you could explain to them why you don't have it, and they may understand but it is a risk. If you aren't planning on traveling right away, I'd wait until after AOS is completed. Or you could wait until after you get the passport back to file AOS, and that's ok.

You do, however, do it through the embassy. They should just need the marriage certificate (all they need in the US)

Thank you very much for your advice.

So please let me to confirm:

After wedding I apply for my new passport as well as for AOS. But in application of AOS I will put my new surname according to my marriage certificate (surname of my husband who is USC) + copy of my old passport (with maiden name) where I have K-1 visa. So it means EAD, AP, SSN and green card are not visa type documents that should be glue in my passport. They are just separate plastic type cards and nothing to do with my passport as for example K-1 visa will be glued in to my passport. Also I will have my new surname in EAD, AP, SSN and green card. Am I right?

Thank you again

Elmira

[Elmira 1]

Oh well... I think I understood it only now....

So please let me know if I am not right.

So it is not necessary to obtain new passport till my AOS will be proved, but applying for AOS, EAD and AP I need to put my new surname according our marriage certificate. So when I will travel abroad while my AOS is still in the process I can show my old passport, marriage certificate and AP at Passport control point in different countries where I will travel. But as soon as I will get approved AOS and this card will be send to me by snail mail I can go to Embassy I am citizen of (Kazakhstan) and apply for new passport which will have my new surname.

I hope I am correct.

My apologies for so stupid questions, but sometimes it is so difficult to understand.

Thank you again

[Killer_Clown_2009 0]

That sounds right. A lot of people don't change their passport right away.

You might want to check with the embassy of your country though. I was able to amend my Canadian Passport at the Canadian consulate here in the United States. I didn't have to give up the passport, they amended it then and there. It was better than applying for a whole new passport. I don't know if your country gives you that option or if there is a consulate near you, where you can go.