Name change error in green card

[jjose1234 1]

Hi guys. I got my green card in the mail this morning and I have a concern with the name on it. I am totally confused on what to do now because I changed my name when I get here in the US and I've been using the new name ever since. I got the new name on every identification card that I have. To make it more understandable, here is how and when I changed my name. FOR DEMONSTRATION PURPOSES, I WILL NOT USE MY OWN NAME AND JUST MAKE UP A NEW ONE. Any name similarities is not intended.

 

> Before I got to the US and got married, the legal name from the foreign country is: "Michael Douglas, Alexander, Smith" (First name, Middle, Surname)

> When I got married, I decided to drop the other name (Douglas) from the first name, use my surname as my new middle name, and get my spouse's last name as my last name as well. New name is: "Michael Smith Stiller"

> I used "Michael Smith Stiller" as the new legal name for every identification card I applied for in the US including the application for AOS I-485 as the new legal name.

> When we got to my AOS interview, the person who interviewed us said that the name on the green card can only be the name on the birth certificate (Michael Douglas Alexander Smith). But because of marriage they can change only the surname. Hence, they can go with Michael Douglas Alexander Stiller. This is the name written on my green card right now.

 

I need some advice from you guys for this. I am happy that I got my spouse's last name in my green card but I am worried that all my other identification cards will not be in the same name as the green card. I understand that the green card is the main identification for getting a job and all that. Even my EAD card before I got my green card is in "Michael Smith Stiller." I want my green card to be the same name as my other cards and I find out that only birth certificate, marriage certificate, passport, and court name change document are the only documentations allowed with the form I-90. I don't have a court name change document but all the other documents are all in my original full name. Any advice for me out there? Will the court allow me to change my name even though it's been almost 9 months since I have been using my new name after marriage? I just don't like sitting this one out and leave it like that because I may be committing something unlawful for having two different names in different federal IDs. Thank you for the advice.

Edited February 14, 2020 by jjose1234

[arken 4,197]

They are correct that you can change only the surname based on the marriage. Any other names, you have to go thru court. Court will allow your name change unless your current name is linked to criminal activities that you are trying to run away from. So just go for the name change in the court, once you are approved, apply for the green card replacement with the new name.

[African Zealot 1,454]

28 minutes ago, jjose1234 said:

When we got to my AOS interview, the person who interviewed us said that the name on the green card can only be the name on the birth certificate (Michael Douglas Alexander Smith).

Not true based on my own experience during adjusting status. Those guys sometimes make up the rules as they go.

[arken 4,197]

1 hour ago, Ray.Bonaquist said:

Not true based on my own experience during adjusting status. Those guys sometimes make up the rules as they go.

You cutout a sentence after that where they also said surname can be changed based on marriage. So they are saying true.

[African Zealot 1,454]

5 minutes ago, arken said:

You cutout a sentence after that where they also said surname can be changed based on marriage. So they are saying true.

My name issue had nothing to do with marriage and they actually accepted a name which wasn’t exactly what was on my birth certificate contrary to what the officer told the OP.

 

Ultimately the name USCIS accepted and put on my immigration documents was  a slight variant of what was in my passport and completely different from what was on my birth certificate. Basically I am saying the name on the birth certificate is not binding on USCIS contrary to what he claimed.