Name consistency for Travel Docs

[Buzz15 3]

Hi,

 

My wife's foreign passport has her maiden name. All other documents would have her new married name including US social security card, marriage cert, pending AP doc. FYI, she does not have a green card as of now since we filed for AOS from a K-1. We plan on traveling for our honeymoon upon receipt of the AP before the green card is issued.

 

1.I was advised that we should purchase the plane and travel tickets using her maiden name so that it agrees with her foreign passport. Is this correct?

 

2. When returning to the US, will there be any issues with immigration if the foreign passport maiden name does not agree with her married name on the AP, marriage cert or SS card? Should we get her name changed on her foreign passport or can we get by without modifying? Obviously, the latter will take more time.

 

Thanks!

[zilchfox 296]

1. Yes

 

2. You won't have any issues — her AP will supplement the passport, and all the other documentation you'll be carrying is further evidence of the name change. They will have on record her maiden name for verification as well.

 

An idea: If you happen to be heading to her home country, can she get her passport swapped out while abroad? 

Edited June 15, 2017 by zilchfox

[Coco8 1,042]

Could she get a state ID before traveling? It would be an official document with her picture on it and her married name (to supplement the papers you have).

It might depend on which state you live in, as in some state it is easier to get IDs than others.

[Buzz15 3]

Thanks for the replies.

 

Unfortunately we won't be going to her home country for the honeymoon so we wouldn't be able to swap it out in person.

 

The state of CA seems to only issue driver licenses to those who have green cards. Can you suggest another form of picture ID you can think of?

 

 

[Dashinka 24,494]

My wife has had no issues using her foreign passport with her maiden name on it.  We get the tickets in that name and always carry a copy of the marriage certificate, and so far no one at CBP has ever questioned the fact that her GC name does not match the tickets or her foreign passport.  I would suggest you eventually change the name on the passport if possible in the future.  For my wife that is almost impossible without legal documents showing the name change and having to change the name on her domestic passport and unfortunately the marriage certificate we have does not meet their requirements.

 

Safe Travels!