Long shot - USC w/ India Visa & Name Change

[KozmicBlues 592]

Hi everyone,

posting this here as a long shot in hopes someone may have gone through a similar situation. Background: I am the USC, my husband came to the US in Feb. of this year on K1 visa. His AOS/EAD/AP is pending since April.

Question Part 1) I have a 10 year tourist visa for India under my former/maiden name. After we married, I changed my last name to my married name. My US passport is still in my maiden name, which I understand shouldn't be a problem as long as I book airline tickets in that name. However, my concern is with the Indian tourist visa. It is inside my passport and also with my former/maiden last name. I'm assuming it should also not be an issue as long as the airline ticket matches, but India immigration can sometimes be picky - I'm worried if they would even have a way of knowing my name change? Has anyone else gone through this? Would having the marriage license suffice or do I run the risk of being turned away by immigration?

 

Question Part 2) I may have to go through the process of changing my passport anyway (if I end up traveling through work I may not be able to book in my former name) which means I will have to reapply for an Indian visa in my new last name. Will it be a problem if I apply for another 10 year tourist visa even though I am now married to a PIO? I saw the other option for a visa is an 'entry visa' but the length is much less than the 10 year visa option which I would prefer so I can avoid having to apply/pay for another visa next time we visit India.

 

I realize this may not be the right place to ask, but thought the India specific sub-forum might be able to help. We're planning to visit India in Feb. 2019 so I'm trying to get it sorted before then. 

[TonyK 19]

your US passport name is in the maiden name and the visa is under the maiden name correct? 

so they are both under the same name. 

 

I don't see any issues here. you have no problem going to India. 

[WeGuyGal 1,052]

5 hours ago, KozmicBlues said:

Question Part 1) I have a 10 year tourist visa for India under my former/maiden name. After we married, I changed my last name to my married name. My US passport is still in my maiden name, which I understand shouldn't be a problem as long as I book airline tickets in that name. However, my concern is with the Indian tourist visa. It is inside my passport and also with my former/maiden last name. I'm assuming it should also not be an issue as long as the airline ticket matches, but India immigration can sometimes be picky - I'm worried if they would even have a way of knowing my name change? Has anyone else gone through this? Would having the marriage license suffice or do I run the risk of being turned away by immigration?

 

The bolded part above is concerning. You have a new name, Jane Married, but the passport and visa are under Jane Single. Are you considering passing yourself as your previous identity that is no longer valid? You have to sign Immigration/Customs forms with your current legal name. 

 

You have to apply for a new passport.

 

Then check with the appropriate embassy if carrying the marriage certificate would suffice, or if you'd need a new visa. 

[Lynn n Sam 57]

I've traveled to India with my passport and visa in my former last name after marriage. My plane tickets were booked in my old name as well. No one blinked an eye. I carried my marriage certificate with me just in case.  

 

As for the 2nd part of your question, I was under the impression that once I change my name and get a new passport, I could carry that old passport with the new one so I didn't have to purchase a new 10 year Indian visa.  My visa  doesn't expire for another 3-4 years so I hope what I read is correct.  I plan to carry my marriage certificate with me when I travel until everything matches my new married name.   Good luck! 

[KozmicBlues 592]

16 hours ago, Lynn n Sam said:

As for the 2nd part of your question, I was under the impression that once I change my name and get a new passport, I could carry that old passport with the new one so I didn't have to purchase a new 10 year Indian visa.  My visa  doesn't expire for another 3-4 years so I hope what I read is correct.  I plan to carry my marriage certificate with me when I travel until everything matches my new married name.   Good luck! 

I think that only works if you get a new passport due to it expiring. I sent an email to the India visa/immigration through Cox&Kings to ask this specific question. They told me that since my name has changed, I am required to apply for a new visa with my updated legal name and that I could not use the valid visa in my old passport. (Assuming I apply for a new passport). My Indian visa is still valid for like 8 years so I hate the thought of having to re-apply, but I just don't think it's worth the risk of being turned away at immigration.

 

 

Thank you all for the other replies!

Long story short - I'm gonna have to suck it up and apply for a new passport and new visa. If I travel for work in the future it would be an issue so there's no sense it putting it off just to save a few hundred bucks.