When should I do change my name?

[L_n_O 3]

Ok, here's where I am

I'm assuming that our K1 will be approved around Dec 2007 (Mtl). So, I'll be entering the US in January 2008 sometime. THen we'll have a quickie civil ceremony to get the paperwork rolling.. BUT won't be having the church wedding til August 2008! And because we really don't want to mention the civil ceremony to either of our parents b/c they're both pretty "catholic", we thought we'd wait til the Church ceremony to change my last name..

Comments? Suggestions?

Is this going to end up costing us more cuz we'll have to get replacement cards for my green card etc?

I guess if we just did it after the civil ceremony, no one would actually know.. (it's not like our parents look at our id or anything as we walk into the house)

hmmm.....

[raymaga 25]

I would simply explain to both your parents that you have to marry as soon as possible after entering the U.S. because that's just how the immigration process goes, and explain to them that you will have the bigger religious ceremony when you can afford to do it.

[L_n_O 3]

I know.. makes me feel like a kid still =( wanting parents' approval and all

[Dan J 277]

It is your wedding and life after all. You can try to accommodate your parents, but sometimes you wont be able to. Your probably going to have the least trouble changing your name with the civil ceremony.

[L_n_O 3]

Ya, talked it over with him while he drove home from work today and think we're gonna just change it at the civil ceremony..

so from now on, all new paperwork after the civil is gonna be applied for with my new name change...

but for airline tickets, I can still use my old name, right? (as long as I carry my marriage certificate with me to prove it) Don't really want to change my passport too just yet cuz it's good for another 2 yrs....

[bora bora 1]

There is no problem waiting to change your last name. Many women do that if they have religious ceremonies months later (I know 2 girls who have done this).

I know someone else who waited a year to change her surname.

[Converse34 1]

Do not assume you can simply travel in your new name by producing a marriage certificate at check-in. Most airlines say the passport and ticket must match exactly. When they don't they require the ticket to be changed and some will say this actually constitutes a "name change" which on most tickets, is not allowed. Always travel on the name in your passport. This is why I am considering having both names in the passport and then I can travel on either name. See the other thread in this section on Two Last Names for Hispanics

Ya, talked it over with him while he drove home from work today and think we're gonna just change it at the civil ceremony..

so from now on, all new paperwork after the civil is gonna be applied for with my new name change...

but for airline tickets, I can still use my old name, right? (as long as I carry my marriage certificate with me to prove it) Don't really want to change my passport too just yet cuz it's good for another 2 yrs....

[L_n_O 3]

hey everyone... so we just did the civil

the name on the certificate has my maiden surname....... we didn't have to sign it or anything..

is there something I'm supposed to do to change it ??

should I do it now or in August at the civil ceremony?

what do you think?

[Mononoke28 135]

I've been married almost a year and just recently started the process to change my name. So you can wait if you want to.

Diana