Just Filed for Divorce

[LynA20 0]

Hello to all VJ's! 

 

It has been a long time since I last posted here. I hope you guys are all safe and healthy amidst this crazy pandemic that's still going on. I just need some valuable piece of advice especially from the pros and experienced people in here but everyoneis welcome! 🙂

 

Here's a little background about my story. I married a USC in 2012 in the Philippines. We went over the IR1 process and in Oct 2015, I arrived here in the US soil with the husband on a 10 yr GC. We were happily married and no kids until 2016, I caught him cheating.. not just once or twice or thrice but 4x! I fought and stayed married until the marriage became overly unhealthy and toxic. I asked the ex for divorce but he continously refused to give it to me. I didn't want to file first because the Philippines doesn't recognize divorce and me being still a Filipino citizen. As to my understanding, if I file here first, I would still be legally married in PH and didn't want that to be the case. 

Fast forward Dec 2019, I moved out and went on vacation to be with my family back home in the Philippines while trying to process what happened to my marriage and what the future holds for me when I get back to the states. Moving forward, we are separated since last December. And just last week he finally agreed and we filed for divorce, him being the petitioner.  

 

My question is first - While the divorce is in process, should I change my last name back to my maiden name NOW or just retain the ex's last name? (If I do now, I know it's a lot of work and will have to change all my documents and identifications.) But in the future if ever I remarry, would that be easier to change it later? Which is better or beneficial perhaps?

 

Second - I will be applying for a US citizenship 🇺🇲 by end of this year as me being a permanent resident of 5 yrs. (Also btw, ex didn't want to file for my citizenship during our 3 yrs of marriage so I'll be filing for mine.)
If I decide to change my last name back to my maiden name now, would that have any effect in my citizenship application later? Or if I retain the ex's last name then apply for citizenship, do I have to file for a petition to change it which might be bloodier? I'm not really sure! Is there any consequence or draw back to that? Or is there anything else I'm missing or need to know that might be helpful in my current situation?

 

I'm just a bit confused about this whole new thing going on in my life right now. Please enlighten me. I'd rather do the right or best thing now and not look back and say "I could have done better." I'd highly appreciate any advice or input regarding this matter.

 

Thank you all in advance! ✌

 

 

 

 

 

 

[onek 306]

3 minutes ago, LynA20 said:

Hello to all VJ's! 

 

It has been a long time since I last posted here. I hope you guys are all safe and healthy amidst this crazy pandemic that's still going on. I just need some valuable piece of advice especially from the pros and experienced people in here but everyoneis welcome! 🙂

 

Here's a little background about my story. I married a USC in 2012 in the Philippines. We went over the IR1 process and in Oct 2015, I arrived here in the US soil with the husband on a 10 yr GC. We were happily married and no kids until 2016, I caught him cheating.. not just once or twice or thrice but 4x! I fought and stayed married until the marriage became overly unhealthy and toxic. I asked the ex for divorce but he continously refused to give it to me. I didn't want to file first because the Philippines doesn't recognize divorce and me being still a Filipino citizen. As to my understanding, if I file here first, I would still be legally married in PH and didn't want that to be the case. 

Fast forward Dec 2019, I moved out and went on vacation to be with my family back home in the Philippines while trying to process what happened to my marriage and what the future holds for me when I get back to the states. Moving forward, we are separated since last December. And just last week he finally agreed and we filed for divorce, him being the petitioner.  

 

My question is first - While the divorce is in process, should I change my last name back to my maiden name NOW or just retain the ex's last name? (If I do now, I know it's a lot of work and will have to change all my documents and identifications.) But in the future if ever I remarry, would that be easier to change it later? Which is better or beneficial perhaps?

 

Second - I will be applying for a US citizenship 🇺🇲 by end of this year as me being a permanent resident of 5 yrs. (Also btw, ex didn't want to file for my citizenship during our 3 yrs of marriage so I'll be filing for mine.)
If I decide to change my last name back to my maiden name now, would that have any effect in my citizenship application later? Or if I retain the ex's last name then apply for citizenship, do I have to file for a petition to change it which might be bloodier? I'm not really sure! Is there any consequence or draw back to that? Or is there anything else I'm missing or need to know that might be helpful in my current situation?

 

I'm just a bit confused about this whole new thing going on in my life right now. Please enlighten me. I'd rather do the right or best thing now and not look back and say "I could have done better." I'd highly appreciate any advice or input regarding this matter.

 

Thank you all in advance! ✌

 

 

 

 

 

 

Changing last name now doesn’t have any impact on citizenship or divorce.  Good luck 

[LynA20 0]

Hi onek! Thank you for your response. Someone told me it might be an issue if I file for citizenship without changing my last name and will have to file for another petition if I change it later. So, you're saying, it's better to change it now and have it in the divorce decree rather than do it later?