Name change after marriage: automatic or no?

[HSsweethearts4E 117]

Hello beautiful travelers! I'm sorry, I know this question has been asked a gazillion times, but I have found conflicting information in every website for the most part.

 

Some sites say a marriage certificate is sufficient proof of a name change. We just mailed my AOS package yesterday. I want my married name to appear in my GC as it's the name I will be using from now on, so that's the name I put in every form. On the "other names used" part, I put my maiden name.

 

However now I am reading that I shouldn't have simply assumed my name has changed, that I need to go to the Social Security office first and formally change it. I did Curricular Practical Training last year for my Fall semester, and therefore have a SS card, that says "Valid for work only with DHS authorization" and it has my maiden name. When I received my marriage certificate, I went to the SS office and tried to obtain a new card, with my new name, but the lady said I needed to bring more papers. One of them I do not have (they didn't even ask for it when I initially applied for my SS card), which is my original University acceptance letter, with a raised seal. This letter was included in my initial acceptance package, that my school mailed to my home country back in 2014 when I got accepted, but it got lost in the mail and I never received it. They never even asked for this letter when I initially applied for my F1 visa, but that's whatever. I'm not even sure how I would obtain this paper. I told her it was just a name change but she said we couldn't do it without it. So I figured I would just come back and change my name and get a new SS card once I have my GC.

 

But, others say that I might get an RFE for using my married name without actually changing it, since I assumed the marriage certificate was enough proof of a name change. Which is ok, an RFE is not the end of the world. I don't know if I should go back to the SS office and try again (since my package won't arrive until Friday/Monday), maybe the person I saw initially was too picky; or if it would just be a waste of time since I do not have that paper and, again, they won't be able to do anything. I'm sorry this is so long and all over the place!

 

I guess you can just answer the initial question without reading this whole mess lol. Thanks everyone!

[Cheschirecat 176]

4 hours ago, HSsweethearts4E said:

Hello beautiful travelers! I'm sorry, I know this question has been asked a gazillion times, but I have found conflicting information in every website for the most part.

 

Some sites say a marriage certificate is sufficient proof of a name change. We just mailed my AOS package yesterday. I want my married name to appear in my GC as it's the name I will be using from now on, so that's the name I put in every form. On the "other names used" part, I put my maiden name.

 

However now I am reading that I shouldn't have simply assumed my name has changed, that I need to go to the Social Security office first and formally change it. I did Curricular Practical Training last year for my Fall semester, and therefore have a SS card, that says "Valid for work only with DHS authorization" and it has my maiden name. When I received my marriage certificate, I went to the SS office and tried to obtain a new card, with my new name, but the lady said I needed to bring more papers. One of them I do not have (they didn't even ask for it when I initially applied for my SS card), which is my original University acceptance letter, with a raised seal. This letter was included in my initial acceptance package, that my school mailed to my home country back in 2014 when I got accepted, but it got lost in the mail and I never received it. They never even asked for this letter when I initially applied for my F1 visa, but that's whatever. I'm not even sure how I would obtain this paper. I told her it was just a name change but she said we couldn't do it without it. So I figured I would just come back and change my name and get a new SS card once I have my GC.

 

But, others say that I might get an RFE for using my married name without actually changing it, since I assumed the marriage certificate was enough proof of a name change. Which is ok, an RFE is not the end of the world. I don't know if I should go back to the SS office and try again (since my package won't arrive until Friday/Monday), maybe the person I saw initially was too picky; or if it would just be a waste of time since I do not have that paper and, again, they won't be able to do anything. I'm sorry this is so long and all over the place!

 

I guess you can just answer the initial question without reading this whole mess lol. Thanks everyone!

Hey! I don’t think your name Changes automatically. I did go to the SS office, DL and even changed my passport Name-free within a certain time frame.

[Alejandro_B 26]

It changes automatically in the United States, you did it the right way. However your maiden name is the same in your country of citizenship until you legally change it there.

[HSsweethearts4E 117]

On 3/19/2019 at 3:50 PM, Cheschirecat said:

Hey! I don’t think your name Changes automatically. I did go to the SS office, DL and even changed my passport Name-free within a certain time frame.

I kinda figured 😕 thank you!! ❤️ 

[HSsweethearts4E 117]

1 hour ago, Alejandro_B said:

It changes automatically in the United States, you did it the right way. However your maiden name is the same in your country of citizenship until you legally change it there.

Thank you!! I'll probably change it once I get my GC ☺️ although I think the norm in my country is to just add the married last name at the end of the maiden name, lol