Requesting name change during interview

[KathCali 47]

I have a question about name change!

 

I initially didn’t plan on taking my husbands name so our marriage certificate and all of our AOS paperwork is in my maiden name. I stupidly didn’t fill out the option to change my name on the marriage license. After filing, I kept thinking about it and after sleeping on it, changed my mind (when I realized I’d feel much happier to take my husbands name than keep the name of my abusive and long estranged father) and decided to take my husbands name. 

 

Has anyone had the experience of a similar situation and then asking in the interview for their greencard to be issued in their married name, despite all the paperwork being filed in their maiden name?

 

If it’s not possible, I’ll just change it legally when I file for citizenship down the road as I know you can request a name change then. I am using my husbands name socially and in public but all my legal paperwork (DL, SSN, bank accounts, everything) is still in my maiden name. 

 

TIA

 

PD Sep 15, 2017 (San Fernando Valley, CA / Los Angeles)

[BigDaddy28 228]

40 minutes ago, KathCali said:

I have a question about name change!

 

I initially didn’t plan on taking my husbands name so our marriage certificate and all of our AOS paperwork is in my maiden name. I stupidly didn’t fill out the option to change my name on the marriage license. After filing, I kept thinking about it and after sleeping on it, changed my mind (when I realized I’d feel much happier to take my husbands name than keep the name of my abusive and long estranged father) and decided to take my husbands name. 

 

Has anyone had the experience of a similar situation and then asking in the interview for their greencard to be issued in their married name, despite all the paperwork being filed in their maiden name?

 

If it’s not possible, I’ll just change it legally when I file for citizenship down the road as I know you can request a name change then. I am using my husbands name socially and in public but all my legal paperwork (DL, SSN, bank accounts, everything) is still in my maiden name. 

 

TIA

 

PD Sep 15, 2017 (San Fernando Valley, CA / Los Angeles)

Hello:

 

Even if you got you Naturalization certificate in your birth last name because you have a marriage certificate you can request all of your legal documents, bills, and other stuff to be put in your husband's last name. 

If you want your husband's last name to be put after your name in the naturalization certificate you can request a name change. 

 

 

Good luck. 

[KathCali 47]

2 minutes ago, BigDaddy28 said:

Hello:

 

Even if you got you Naturalization certificate in your birth last name because you have a marriage certificate you can request all of your legal documents, bills, and other stuff to be put in your husband's last name. 

If you want your husband's last name to be put after your name in the naturalization certificate you can request a name change. 

 

 

Good luck. 

Thank you so much! 

[BigDaddy28 228]

Just now, KathCali said:

Thank you so much! 

No problem. I wish you luck in the process.

[Amadia 711]

You can get more details on this here: https://family.findlaw.com/marriage/how-to-legally-change-your-name.html

 

Also, you can check more details here: http://www.alllaw.com/articles/nolo/us-immigration/change-name-when-apply-citizenship.html

[Nouchigang 200]

Hello,

 

I am in a similar situation, I knew from the get-go I wanted to take my husband's name but I didn't know I could apply directly with it on my AOS package so all the immigration documents applications and my EAD have my maiden name.

But by the time I got to my interview, I had my social security card and driver's license changed to my married name so I showed them both to the IO on the day of the interview and specifically asked him if I could have my married name on my GC. He assured me it will be the case, but I haven't heard anything back from USCIS since my interview, so I can't confirm if it is possible or not at this time.

From reading other people's experience, my understanding is that to better your chance, you need to start the process of changing your Driver's licence and social security card so that you can show it to the IO on the day of the interview, and specifically ask them to have your GC with your married name.

Good luck

[KathCali 47]

Just now, Nouchigang said:

Hello,

 

I am in a similar situation, I knew from the get-go I wanted to take my husband's name but I didn't know I could apply directly with it on my AOS package so all the immigration documents applications and my EAD have my maiden name.

But by the time I got to my interview, I had my social security card and driver's license changed to my married name so I showed them both to the IO on the day of the interview and specifically asked him if I could have my married name on my GC. He assured me it will be the case, but I haven't heard anything back from USCIS since my interview, so I can't confirm if it is possible or not at this time.

From reading other people's experience, my understanding is that to better your chance, you need to start the process of changing your Driver's licence and social security card so that you can show it to the IO on the day of the interview, and specifically ask them to have your GC with your married name.

Good luck

This is so helpful! Thank you! The CA marriage certificate has a section to write your new married name in if you wish so not filling that out worries me that it wouldn't be valid for name change. Does the Maryland marriage certificate have that section or no?

 

I will do my best to change my SSN and DL then! Hopefully our marriage certificate will be enough.

[Nouchigang 200]

9 minutes ago, KathCali said:

This is so helpful! Thank you! The CA marriage certificate has a section to write your new married name in if you wish so not filling that out worries me that it wouldn't be valid for name change. Does the Maryland marriage certificate have that section or no?

 

I will do my best to change my SSN and DL then! Hopefully our marriage certificate will be enough.

My pleasure

No, the Maryland certificate does not have that section to write your new married name, so it has only my maiden name, but your marriage certificate is your golden weapon lol, it is all you need to make your name change.

When you go to the SS office to change your Social security card, all you need is your marriage license, your passport, EAD card, old social security card and the 1-page application to fill out. I was worried that they would not let me change my name since my EAD has my maiden name but they did it with no problem, the marriage license is enough because it shows your husband's last name.

Once the social security card is done, you can do your DL and change everything else gradually.

 

This site will help you: https://www.ssa.gov/ssnumber/ss5doc.htm

Edited July 16, 2018 by Nouchigang

[KathCali 47]

Just now, Nouchigang said:

My pleasure

No, the Maryland DL does not have that section to write your new married name, so it has only my maiden name, but your marriage certificate is your golden weapon lol, it is all you need to make your name change.

When you go to the SS office to change your Social security card, all you need is your marriage license, your passport, EAD card, old social security card and the 1-page application to fill out. I was worried that they would not let me change my name since my EAD has my maiden name but they did it with no problem, the marriage license is enough because it shows your husband's last name.

Once the social security card is done, you can do your DL and change everything else gradually.

 

This site will help you: https://www.ssa.gov/ssnumber/ss5doc.htm

You're amazing! Thank you SO MUCH! This has given me something to focus on other than waiting for our interview