Seriously confused about names on DS260

[AAmelie 16]

Hi all,

I hope everyone has been keeping safe and doing well in these trying times. I do want to apologise for asking a question that has been asked so many times before but I have sifted through the threads and I am not confident my question has been answered.

When I got married to my husband (USC) I took his last name, we filed our I130 under his last name and got our approval last month. I am now filing the DS260 and it is asking for names as they show on my passport. So now I have 2 questions:

(1) My passport has my maiden name and does not expire until 2024 so do I have to put this name down? 
(2) If I put my maiden name down, shall I put my married surname down in 'other given name'? 

So far the only document I have showing my married name is my marriage certificate, everything else is still in my maiden name.

 

I would greatly appreciate if anyone could respond to this as soon as possible as I am ready to submit my DS260

[payxibka 10,047]

3 minutes ago, AlcantarA said:

Hi all,

I hope everyone has been keeping safe and doing well in these trying times. I do want to apologise for asking a question that has been asked so many times before but I have sifted through the threads and I am not confident my question has been answered.

When I got married to my husband (USC) I took his last name, we filed our I130 under his last name and got our approval last month. I am now filing the DS260 and it is asking for names as they show on my passport. So now I have 2 questions:

(1) My passport has my maiden name and does not expire until 2024 so do I have to put this name down? 
(2) If I put my maiden name down, shall I put my married surname down in 'other given name'? 

So far the only document I have showing my married name is my marriage certificate, everything else is still in my maiden name.

 

I would greatly appreciate if anyone could respond to this as soon as possible as I am ready to submit my DS260

Your visa and ultimately greencard will match the name in the passport.   If you want to use your husband's name, change the passport 

[JKLSemicolon 425]

1 minute ago, payxibka said:

Your visa and ultimately greencard will match the name in the passport.   If you want to use your husband's name, change the passport 

 

To add to this, if you don't change the passport now, it will be costly to change the Permanent Resident Card once in the U.S. (which is done through form I-90).

 

Look into how to change your name on the passport in the UK. It is preferable to do that now before completing the DS-260, but my understanding is that you can change it up to the date of the interview as long as you make the IO aware of the new passport and name for the visa at that time.

 

[AAmelie 16]

8 minutes ago, JKLSemicolon said:

 

To add to this, if you don't change the passport now, it will be costly to change the Permanent Resident Card once in the U.S. (which is done through form I-90).

 

Look into how to change your name on the passport in the UK. It is preferable to do that now before completing the DS-260, but my understanding is that you can change it up to the date of the interview as long as you make the IO aware of the new passport and name for the visa at that time.

 

If I decide to keep my passport the way it is and put my maiden name on the DS260, do I need to put down my married name under the question that asks if you have been known by any other names? Also will this cause any issues at the interview? 

Thank you!

15 minutes ago, payxibka said:

Your visa and ultimately greencard will match the name in the passport.   If you want to use your husband's name, change the passport 

Thank you!

[JKLSemicolon 425]

11 minutes ago, AlcantarA said:

If I decide to keep my passport the way it is and put my maiden name on the DS260, do I need to put down my married name under the question that asks if you have been known by any other names? Also will this cause any issues at the interview?

That is what my wife had to do on the DS-260 (fill it out using her maiden name down and put her married name in the question about other names used). The difference is that she will not be changing her passport because in Ecuador there is no mechanism to change one's name after marriage on the passport. So in our case we will have to file form I-90 and pay $540 once she is in the U.S., which I am trying to help you avoid.

 

As long as you correctly fill out the section of other names used, there should be no issues. From there, search the forums and you will find examples of others who have changed their passport between the DS-260 and interview. Here's a search to get you started.

Edited April 8, 2021 by JKLSemicolon

[Ryan H 3,834]

Moved from Progress Reports to Process & Procedures.

[AAmelie 16]

3 minutes ago, JKLSemicolon said:

That is what my wife had to do on the DS-260 (fill it out using her maiden name down and put her married name in the question about other names used). The difference is that she will not be changing her passport because in Ecuador there is no mechanism to change one's name after marriage on the passport. So in our case we will have to file form I-90 and pay $540 once she is in the U.S., which I am trying to help you avoid.

 

As long as you correctly fill out the section of other names used, there should be no issues. From there, search the forums and you will find examples of others who have changed their passport between the DS-260 and interview. Here's a search to get you started.

This is perfect! Thank you so much for your helpful, informative and prompt response, it is much appreciated!