Petitioner name

[Asmae 8]

I'm going to Morocco to be married. After deciding to change from K1 process to spousal visa, I need to know as the petitioner, do I use my married name when I start the process? Please help with information. We will be legally married with proof of my married last name. However my drivers license, passport, shows different last name.

[Sackeys_2016 12]

Yes you must prepare where document or process with ur marriage name.... What I mean is that u have to  carry your husband's last name. And also get the name on everything  change to ur marriage name .

[Jeanne Adil 1,651]

In Morocco the woman does not change her last name

all my documents for immigration were in my former name

i have never changed it as i am not required to in the US either

your marriage certicate from Morocco will be in maiden name (or last name of former spouse)

[EandH0904 1,184]

Did you already file a k1? 

 

[Asmae 8]

2 minutes ago, EandH0904 said:

Did you already file a k1? 

 

No. We decided not to do K1 because of having an elaborate engagement ceremony in Morocco with exchanging of rings.  Through advice, we decided to get married there and go the spousal visa instead.

Edited August 14, 2017 by Asmae

[EandH0904 1,184]

4 minutes ago, Asmae said:

No. We decided not to do K1 because of having an elaborate engagement ceremony in Morocco with exchanging of rings.  Through advice, we decided to get married there and go the spousal visa instead.

I'm getting ready to go later this year too. If you have any questions about document collection etc feel free to msg me 

[Asmae 8]

4 minutes ago, EandH0904 said:

I'm getting ready to go later this year too. If you have any questions about document collection etc feel free to msg me 

Thank you I will do that.  We planned to do the K1 and we were 2 days away from filing.  We spent 9 months collecting all required documents.  So we pretty much have everything. The only thing I needed was a criminal background check (which I got), and now I'm traveling back in 6 weeks.  The only thing I needed really was to know what name I use when filing the I-130.  My new married name or my previous name on the application.

[EandH0904 1,184]

43 minutes ago, Asmae said:

Thank you I will do that.  We planned to do the K1 and we were 2 days away from filing.  We spent 9 months collecting all required documents.  So we pretty much have everything. The only thing I needed was a criminal background check (which I got), and now I'm traveling back in 6 weeks.  The only thing I needed really was to know what name I use when filing the I-130.  My new married name or my previous name on the application.

Wouldn't it depend on whether or not you ultimately decide to change your name? I plan to change my name so I will use my married name when filing. (?)

[Asmae 8]

Just now, EandH0904 said:

Wouldn't it depend on whether or not you ultimately decide to change your name? I plan to change my name so I will use my married name when filing. (?)

Definitely. I am taking his name too.  So I agree that I would use that name to file. Thank you for your advice.

[Latonia 29]

Its important to change your last name as your husband  when filing the spousal visa because they are very strict even more now then years before..getting your name change to your husbands last name will be a plus and will show your seriousness about your marriage to the consular at the embassy...I have known people that did not get there name changed (wives)before sending in the spousal visa application and they get denied the first time or be in  AP for a long time...it will help you if you change your name to your husband last name and change it on SSI card and drivers license and change your name on at least 2 household bills like light bill, water bill, cable etc.

[Asmae 8]

5 minutes ago, Latonia said:

Its important to change your last name as your husband  when filing the spousal visa because they are very strict even more now then years before..getting your name change to your husbands last name will be a plus and will show your seriousness about your marriage to the consular at the embassy...I have known people that did not get there name changed (wives)before sending in the spousal visa application and they get denied the first time or be in  AP for a long time...it will help you if you change your name to your husband last name and change it on SSI card and drivers license and change your name on at least 2 household bills like light bill, water bill, cable etc.

Thank you for your advice. I will be changing all my documents before submitting my application. I appreciate your assistance. 😊

[Happytobe 164]

On 8/14/2017 at 6:22 AM, adil-rafa said:

In Morocco the woman does not change her last name

all my documents for immigration were in my former name

i have never changed it as i am not required to in the US either

your marriage certicate from Morocco will be in maiden name (or last name of former spouse)

 

Although, traditionally, a woman does not take on her husband's family name in Morocco, it does come down to a personal choice. The OP stated she is going to change her family name, and was given good advice to have it changed on her legal documents/ID/bills here in the US before she files to help avoid delays. 

 

I chose to hyphenate my name (should have just taken his because signing things stinks) because if we had moved there, it would not have completely bucked tradition in both countries. Some view that choice differently all around the world. Plus, traveling and staying in hotels there is a bit easier with his last name attached to mine vs having the marriage contract with us always (because it was asked for a couple of times prior to my name change). 

[Asmae 8]

14 hours ago, Happytobe said:

 

Although, traditionally, a woman does not take on her husband's family name in Morocco, it does come down to a personal choice. The OP stated she is going to change her family name, and was given good advice to have it changed on her legal documents/ID/bills here in the US before she files to help avoid delays. 

 

I chose to hyphenate my name (should have just taken his because signing things stinks) because if we had moved there, it would not have completely bucked tradition in both countries. Some view that choice differently all around the world. Plus, traveling and staying in hotels there is a bit easier with his last name attached to mine vs having the marriage contract with us always (because it was asked for a couple of times prior to my name change). 

We decided together that I would take his last name. I have kept my ex husbands last name for the past 15 years because of documents I had already in his name. My father passed away and so my new father in law offered me the family name.  We decided I will change all my documents in the family name before filing the spousal visa so that everything is in the same name. Thank you for your response.

[Happytobe 164]

1 minute ago, Asmae said:

We decided together that I would take his last name. I have kept my ex husbands last name for the past 15 years because of documents I had already in his name. My father passed away and so my new father in law offered me the family name.  We decided I will change all my documents in the family name before filing the spousal visa so that everything is in the same name. Thank you for your response.

I think that's great! And it's truly awesome that the decision was discussed with his family, too. In your cover letter for your packet, you could even write a blurb about how that decision was made with the family. 🤔😁

 

I was merely trying to explain to the other poster, that it's in no way a "must" that a woman not take her husband's name in Morocco.  She and her husband had a very long and difficult journey through immigration and sometimes the way she presents the "musts" of her situation, they come across as there being no other way. Again, it really is a personal choice, and most Moroccans (that we know, anyway) are perfectly fine with breaking the name tradition. I, personally, wish I had just taken my husband's family name vs having hyphenated it.