Name change before submitting

[Johannab143 14]

Hi Everyone,

Not sure if this is the right place but I figured you’ve all done this at some point.

i married in Newark and on the marriage license there was no option to change my name to my husbands.

do I do this when applying for the marriage certificate? Or do I do it through the court afterwards? 

Thank you all for your help

[TNJ17 1,329]

No need. You just start using your married name. It’s as simple as that. If you want your married name on your AOS fill out the paperwork in your married name. After USCIS enters your new married name into their system, social security and dmv and whatnot will allow you to change your name. 

Edited September 7, 2018 by TNJ17

[Chocobo 196]

I apologize, I'm not sure if you're the USC or if your husband is.  If you are, you'll need certified copies of the marriage certificate from the county you were married, then you'd submit that with some paperwork to the social security office and to the DMV when you get your license updated.  

 

Be sure to remember to update your credit cards, your landlord, your insurance, etc.  (It's a pain.)  

[debbiedoo 2,339]

There is no spot on a marriage license to change your name. You take a certified copy of the marriage certificate to social security, change that there, then DMV, do that, then banks and credit cards, then start changing it EVERYWHERE else.  Get MULTIPLE certified copies, youll need them and some places keep them and others do not. 

[Naes 12,205]

7 minutes ago, debbiedoo said:

There is no spot on a marriage license to change your name. You take a certified copy of the marriage certificate to social security, change that there, then DMV, do that, then banks and credit cards, then start changing it EVERYWHERE else.  Get MULTIPLE certified copies, youll need them and some places keep them and others do not. 

There actually is. I don't know other places, but we applied for name change during the marriage license, and when you register the marriage it officially and legally changes your name from that moment, the rest is just updating your information. which I believe what the OP meant by the option to change your name.

 

This applies to US citizens. the moment they change on marriage certificate - not license but after registration of the marriage - (you can ask about this at your county clerk about how you change the name) it is legal.

For the foreign spouse, by using this certified copy (or without it if their country's embassy accepts) they can register the marriage and change their name at their embassy (this maybe different in some countries). 

 

 

Edited September 7, 2018 by Naes

[Wuozopo 4,293]

1 hour ago, TNJ17 said:

 

No need. You just start using your married name. It’s as simple as that. If you want your married name on your AOS fill out the paperwork in your married name. After USCIS enters your new married name into their system, social security and dmv and whatnot will allow you to change your name. 

Edited 1 hour ago by TNJ17

 

Spot on answer! 

[TNJ17 1,329]

I would also like to point out that if you want your married name on your green card, you must apply for aos with your married name. If you don’t, you’ll have to apply for a name change on your green card and that costs $500!!! USCIS is all about getting those fees. I know this for a fact because I asked an immigration officer to confirm my suspicions at my biometrics.

Edited September 8, 2018 by TNJ17