Changing name to married name

[perdesi 1]

My should be coming to the US soon on CR-1 visa on her maiden name. Once she comes here, we want to change her name to her new married name. Does anyone know how it would work out when her passport, visa and green card would still have her maiden name?

[Kajikit 65]

I was going to say to go ahead because most people change their name when they apply for their AOS, but then I realised that you applied for her AOS in her maiden name already... I'm not sure how you change her name under those circumstances.

Edited March 23, 2006 by Kajikit

[eau_xplain 2]

The most practical thing for your wife to do is to get her SSN and DL in her maiden name. Once she has those, she can then file for I-90 and have her name changed on her GC. Here's what the USCIS website says about filing the I-90:

If you are filing for the following reasons, the base application fee of $190 and the biometrics fee of $70 are required. Total filing fee = $260.

a. My card was lost, stolen or destroyed.

c. My card is mutilated.

e. My name or other biographic information has changed since the card was issued.

f. My present card has an expiration date and it is expiring.

h.1. I have taken up Commuter status.

h.2. I was a Commuter and am now taking up residence in the U.S.

i. My status has been automatically converted to permanent resident.

j. I have an old edition of the card.

Fee Payment: If you are submitting this paper version of the Form I-90, include a check or money order with your application made payable to Department of Homeland Security or U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Fees must be submitted in the exact amount. Fees cannot be refunded. Do not mail cash.

If you are submitting this form electronically, acceptable forms of payment include credit/debit card or checking/savings account. See Paying Fees for E-Filed Applications.

Notice to applicants making payment by check. If you send us a check, it will be converted into an electronic funds transfer (EFT). This means we will copy your check and use the account information on it to electronically debit your account for the amount of the check. The debit from your account will usually occur within 24 hours, and will be shown on your regular account statement.

You will not receive your original check back. We will destroy your original check, but we will keep a copy of it. If the EFT cannot be processed for technical reasons, you authorize us to process the copy in place of your original check. If the EFT cannot be completed because of insufficient funds, we may try to make the transfer up to two times.

You may get the form here

I have not seen a clear timeline as to how quickly they can produce the new GC (with married name).

I was just looking through another similar post and you may find good input there about getting an SSN for your wife in her married name. The post is here

Edited March 23, 2006 by eau_xplain

[wally 0]

My PR card and passport are still in my previous name. When I got the PR card I had to take my marriage certificate and ordered up my SSN# in my married name. They suggested I do that for tax reasons, whatever that means. I did the same for my DL. Because I travel often with my kids and have to deal with travel documents, I'm leaving my passport and PR card in their surname. In order to connect them with me here, I hyphenate the names. Hasn't been a problem yet.

[perdesi 1]

Thanks guys for the information. $260 to replace the GC seems pretty high. Wally do you travel domestic or international? The way you have your documents, it makes sense that for international documents, you have maiden name and for domestic use, you have your married name. In case of conflict you can show the marriage certificate with the married name, but wouldn't that be in issue when you file further immigration paperwork? What name would you use for citizenship and other immigration paperwork? I assume you can use the married name for full name and under "Other Names" put your maiden name and it should work.

[wally 0]

Perdesi,

you pose an interesting question that I have wondered myself. What happens when I have to remove conditions on the CR1. Technically, I have two legal surnames, (actually 3 with my birth name), my previous married (same as kids) and my new married one. When I travel outside of USA, I take along passports, PR cards, travel letter (for kids) and my marriage certificate.

I changed my name here because I wanted to prepare for the removal of conditions and plus the fact that my husband was getting all twisted about me being addressed under my first husband's name.

I have not read anywhere where I MUST change my passport or PR card. My plan was to just remove conditions under my previous name.

Does anyone know any different?

[perdesi 1]

Thanks Wally for sharing the information. I think I am going to follow the same steps as you and change the name with immigration when renewing the Green Card or getting citizenship instead of paying for GC again to change the name.