Name Change

[ThisisPainful 1]

Due to covid and difficulty with SSN, we opted to keep my wife's maiden name on her employment authorization, advanced parole, and adjustment of status application. Green card approved, all is well, but now we have the momumental task of changing her name. Marriage certificate is the only document with name changed thus far. We are struggling to decide when to put the blitz on the rest. I know we would start with SSN, but then would we have to file something with USCIS to get a new green card? That seems like a pain and likely expensive. Should we wait to do all of this until we apply to remove conditions? get new SSN right before and then apply in new name? 

There is also the issue of our unborn child. I'm sure it won't be too difficult, but will we run into problems with our baby's birth certificate if all we have to prove is our marriage certificate?

 

Thanks! 

 

 

[Ayrton 965]

39 minutes ago, ThisisPainful said:

Due to covid and difficulty with SSN, we opted to keep my wife's maiden name on her employment authorization, advanced parole, and adjustment of status application. Green card approved, all is well, but now we have the momumental task of changing her name. Marriage certificate is the only document with name changed thus far. We are struggling to decide when to put the blitz on the rest. I know we would start with SSN, but then would we have to file something with USCIS to get a new green card? That seems like a pain and likely expensive. Should we wait to do all of this until we apply to remove conditions? get new SSN right before and then apply in new name? 

There is also the issue of our unborn child. I'm sure it won't be too difficult, but will we run into problems with our baby's birth certificate if all we have to prove is our marriage certificate?

 

Thanks! 

 

 

You guys definitely made a mistake by not applying for AOS with the new name or requesting the name change at the interview. Now, to change the name on the Greencard, you have to file for I-90, pay almost $600, the issue is: it might take as long as the time it will take to apply for ROC. I have been waiting since November to change my name on my green card due to USCIS error.

 

She will most likely not be able to change the name on the SSN until the GC is fixed. The reason is that they ask for proof status, which she would have to show her green card. She also needs to show proof of the name change, which would be the marriage certificate. SSA says:

 

"The only time you may process an SSN application in a name that does not agree with the name shown on the immigration document is if the person legally changed his or her name after the immigration document is issued. In these situations, the legal name is the name shown on the evidence of the name change."

 

Her immigration document was issued after the marriage certificate, not before, so they will have to follow the name on the green card.

 

For the birth certificate, I'm not sure, but I think they will use whatever name it shows on her ID.

Edited May 10, 2021 by Ayrton

[JeanneAdil 6,504]

i don't know what state you are in but my birth certificate and those of both my sons show the mother's name as the maiden name (NY state)

[Pinkrlion 2,719]

Everything is tied to the name on her green card.  So she cannot change her SSN until GC is changed.  

[Alienbiteme 54]

Didn't you ask USCIS officer about name change during green card interview? You should have showed the marriage certificate to officer , in this way the officer could change your wife's name in their system right way as USCIS considers marriage certificate as sort of legal document otherwise you will have to do it through the court, fill out I-90 which who knows how long that will take.

[Mollie09 1,543]

I changed my name with the SSA without changing my green card. As a matter of fact I never changed the name on my GC, but I filed the N-400 with my new name so my passport is correct.

 

You can change the name on everything and leave the GC if you don't want to change it now.

[ThisisPainful 1]

Thank you for all the replies! Quite the difference in opinion. I called the SS office and they said all they need is marriage certificate, application, and passport....and that they don't want the GC because she needs to have it on her. I think we will be able to change her SS card changed and then we will file ROC with new name. Thanks for the help!