Maiden name on marriage certificate

[akeme26 10]

I am a U.S. citizen. I just married my wife in Nigeria on July 2017.  When we got our marriage certificate later, she put in her maiden name instead of her married name (my last name).  I am currently filling out a I-130 form for her to move to the U.S. after she finishes college this year.  Should I put in her married name in the form or her maiden name as it shows in the marriage certificate? And would the fact that she didn't put in her new married name affect the process in any way?

[NikLR 13,227]

Put down the name she wishes to use. Her marriage certificate should have her maiden name, thats who she was when she got married. 

I do understand some countries and states do it differently by also putting down the married name but as a woman does not have to take a married name...

Keep in mind visa is issued in passport name and green card in visa name.  Should your wife choose to use your last name she should change her passport before interview. 

Edited January 19, 2018 by NikLR
Tiny phone keyboards are the devil

[dwheels76 5,468]

22 minutes ago, akeme26 said:

I am a U.S. citizen. I just married my wife in Nigeria on July 2017.  When we got our marriage certificate later, she put in her maiden name instead of her married name (my last name).  I am currently filling out a I-130 form for her to move to the U.S. after she finishes college this year.  Should I put in her married name in the form or her maiden name as it shows in the marriage certificate? And would the fact that she didn't put in her new married name affect the process in any way?

All Nigerian Marriage Certificates are listed with our maiden name. They know that at USCIS and Embassy. You put down whatever name is on her passport to keep it consistent. She can always change her name in Nigeria anytime during the process. Like changing it after you file getting a new passport with married name then when petition gets to NVC you can give passport number with new name.

 

It's not a big deal either way.

[Abies 1,713]

22 minutes ago, dwheels76 said:

All Nigerian Marriage Certificates are listed with our maiden name. They know that at USCIS and Embassy. You put down whatever name is on her passport to keep it consistent. She can always change her name in Nigeria anytime during the process. Like changing it after you file getting a new passport with married name then when petition gets to NVC you can give passport number with new name.

 

It's not a big deal either way.

Exactly what we did.. My new passport is in my married name

[akeme26 10]

Thank you guys! Your responses were very helpful!!

[Abies 1,713]

47 minutes ago, akeme26 said:

I am a U.S. citizen. I just married my wife in Nigeria on July 2017.  When we got our marriage certificate later, she put in her maiden name instead of her married name (my last name).  I am currently filling out a I-130 form for her to move to the U.S. after she finishes college this year.  Should I put in her married name in the form or her maiden name as it shows in the marriage certificate? And would the fact that she didn't put in her new married name affect the process in any way?

My name on our marriage cert is my maiden name but my husband filed the i130 in my new(married)name&when we received RFE,it came in my married name. Just got a new passport in my new(married)name for nvc&consular process. Have you registered your marriage with the intergovernmental marriage committe(imc)?

[Bos 50]

58 minutes ago, akeme26 said:

I am a U.S. citizen. I just married my wife in Nigeria on July 2017.  When we got our marriage certificate later, she put in her maiden name instead of her married name (my last name).  I am currently filling out a I-130 form for her to move to the U.S. after she finishes college this year.  Should I put in her married name in the form or her maiden name as it shows in the marriage certificate? And would the fact that she didn't put in her new married name affect the process in any way?

That's not an issue. You either use her maiden name just like it is on your marriage certificate for the whole process and have her change her last name when she gets here or do a change of name in Nigeria before getting a passport. The latter is what I did for my spouse. We just got case complete at nvc today looking forward to an interview date in Lagos. SD was 12/21