Marriage registration in California.

[kayjee 41]

Hi,

 

I immigrated to usa in may 2019 on i-130 visa. I have a question regarding registration of marriage here in usa. My wife wanted to take my last name and we wanted to register our marriage here in California. Just wanted to confirm if indian marriage is valid in USA ? And if not when we file an application for registration of marriage in usa do we file it as single or married as its a confusing situation. Anyone had same scenarios?

 

Thanks in advance.

[Chancy 6,241]

6 minutes ago, kayjee said:

I immigrated to usa in may 2019 on i-130 visa. I have a question regarding registration of marriage here in usa. My wife wanted to take my last name and we wanted to register our marriage here in California. Just wanted to confirm if indian marriage is valid in USA ? And if not when we file an application for registration of marriage in usa do we file it as single or married as its a confusing situation. Anyone had same scenarios?

 

Your marriage in India is considered valid in the US, otherwise the US government would not have given you a spouse visa.  There is no need to register your marriage again in California or anywhere else in the US.

 

[kayjee 41]

Just now, Chancy said:

 

Your marriage in India is considered valid in the US, otherwise the US government would not have given you a spouse visa.  There is no need to register your marriage again in California or anywhere else in the US.

 

So how can she get her last name changed ?

[Chancy 6,241]

2 minutes ago, kayjee said:

So how can she get her last name changed ?

 

Last name on which document?  The requirements vary depending on which agency issued the document.

 

[kayjee 41]

2 minutes ago, Chancy said:

 

Last name on which document?  The requirements vary depending on which agency issued the document.

 

On all her official/legal documents such as ssn license banks etc

[Chancy 6,241]

11 minutes ago, kayjee said:

On all her official/legal documents such as ssn license banks etc

 

SSN card name change -- https://blog.ssa.gov/need-to-change-your-name-on-your-social-security-card/

 

Once she has her updated SSN card, she can go to the DMV office and apply for a DL with her new name.

 

Ask her banks what documents they need to have her name changed on her accounts.

 

[GetOutside 164]

On 9/17/2020 at 12:34 AM, Chancy said:

 

SSN card name change -- https://blog.ssa.gov/need-to-change-your-name-on-your-social-security-card/

 

Once she has her updated SSN card, she can go to the DMV office and apply for a DL with her new name.

 

Ask her banks what documents they need to have her name changed on her accounts.

 

Yep start off with getting a new SSN card under the new name. @kayjee Although in California, I haven’t been able to have luck with this. I am the USC who changed my last name when my husband and I got married. All SSA offices that I have called from different areas in Northern California are still COVID closed. They have all told me in order to get my new SS card, I need to mail in my passport or drivers license. And I do not feel comfortable one bit mailing in either of those for an unpredictable amount of time. So I have yet to get my card under my new name.
 

For my bank - I only needed to show marriage certificate to get my new name changed. That’s the only thing I have been able to change without my new SS card. Although it has been a problem a couple of times that my new last name on my credit cards now don’t match my maiden name on my drivers license. 

[kayjee 41]

33 minutes ago, GetOutside said:

Yep start off with getting a new SSN card under the new name. @kayjee Although in California, I haven’t been able to have luck with this. I am the USC who changed my last name when my husband and I got married. All SSA offices that I have called from different areas in Northern California are still COVID closed. They have all told me in order to get my new SS card, I need to mail in my passport or drivers license. And I do not feel comfortable one bit mailing in either of those for an unpredictable amount of time. So I have yet to get my card under my new name.
 

For my bank - I only needed to show marriage certificate to get my new name changed. That’s the only thing I have been able to change without my new SS card. Although it has been a problem a couple of times that my new last name on my credit cards now don’t match my maiden name on my drivers license. 

Do you think you can walk in with the originals once the offices open back ? Or still you have to send in originals ?

[GetOutside 164]

8 hours ago, kayjee said:

Do you think you can walk in with the originals once the offices open back ? Or still you have to send in originals ?

Before Covid, you were able to make an appt or walk in with original documents. I’m not sure what their plan is once they open back up. Honestly they aren’t very helpful over the phone. I’ve called about 7 different offices and they are all rude.