Name change

[lilek.k 41]

Hi, I am little confused. We just received our marriage certificate and there is my husband sign and my sign as well but with my maiden name. There is nowhere information that I’ve changed my name. Does it mean that I can’t use my husband name? Or all certificates look like that and is it normal? Can I fill out AOS form with my new name? Please help, thank you in advance.

[aaron2020 11,651]

Google "Name change marriage certificate + your state."

 

Your marriage certificate is normal.  It's not common to have a place for a new name on a US marriage certificate.

 

Under most state laws, a person can take a spouse last name with just a marriage certificate.   You can start using your married name.

[lilek.k 41]

So when I show this certificate in the SS office they will change my card to my new name? Thank you it made me feel completely confused 

[kris&me 572]

yes,  you can change your name at SS office 

i even took my maiden name back after my husband's accident and changed it with SS and his death notice

[NikLR 13,227]

42 minutes ago, lilek.k said:

So when I show this certificate in the SS office they will change my card to my new name? Thank you it made me feel completely confused 

Depends.  If you haven't yet gotten your EAD they may not change it.  

[lilek.k 41]

On 11/19/2019 at 9:20 PM, NikLR said:

Depends.  If you haven't yet gotten your EAD they may not change it.  

Why? 

[NikLR 13,227]

9 hours ago, lilek.k said:

Why? 

Because they have no evidence of your legal presence in the USA.  They SHOULD change it, but the SSA office isn't known to be staffed with intelligent human beings. 

Check out the SSN forum. 

[NikLR 13,227]

In all honesty wait until you have the green card to change the SSN so that way you can remove the restrictions on it and your change the name in one visit.  Unless you enjoy visiting in the SSA. 

[lilek.k 41]

Thank you for your help. My friend changed her name and she had no problem. One thing they couldn’t find her in a system, and they couldn’t find me either 

[Sarge2155 4,587]

On 11/20/2019 at 10:04 PM, lilek.k said:

Why? 

They won't change it because NONE of your immigration documents will match with your married name. As what was pointed out they are supposed to change it with just the marriage license, but when you throw immigration into it it's a whole another ball game. I'm thinking you'll have to wait until you get your EAD or GC before you can change to your married name. We did try to change my wife's to her married name, but no deal, we also have to wait for her EAD and or GC. The important thing though is getting the SS number!

[Sarge2155 4,587]

On 11/21/2019 at 11:22 AM, lilek.k said:

Thank you for your help. My friend changed her name and she had no problem. One thing they couldn’t find her in a system, and they couldn’t find me either 

That's the frustrating thing about it some SSA offices will change it others won't, so it depends on your office instead of the SSA rules it seems! BTW congrats on your submission of your packet!

Edited December 1, 2019 by Sarge2155

[lilek.k 41]

Thank you, I got my SSN with my maiden name. So it means they won’t change it when I show them the marriage certificate?

[DaveAndAnastasia 2,092]

On 12/1/2019 at 11:32 AM, lilek.k said:

Thank you, I got my SSN with my maiden name. So it means they won’t change it when I show them the marriage certificate?

They should, but it's likely they won't (until you have EAD or GC in your married name).

 

We didn't try to update Anastasia's until GC because we only wanted to make one more trip to the SSA office, but the CA DMV seemed to not like her SS card being in her maiden name when were trying to get her learner's permit, so in retrospect maybe we should have updated things at EAD even if that meant another trip to remove the 'valid for work only with DHS authorization' text.