Passport Predicament

[Selkie 3]

Hey all, long time lurker, first time poster!

 

I have kind of a complicated question I want to get your opinions on. I'm planning to call US Customs tomorrow to see what they say about this as well, but I also wanted to ask you all.

 

So, my home country of Canada is going to ease border restrictions for fully vaccinated returning Canadians meaning no hotel stay and no two week quarantine. Yay! I'd like to take this opportunity to see my family, but I'm having some issues surrounding my passport. You see, I still have a valid Canadian passport, but as I got married on a K-1 visa, my last name has changed. I haven't gotten an updated passport yet, so the name on my current passport does not match the name on my AP document. I'd like to see my parents before school starts in mid-August, so the 20-30 day processing times for a new passport aren't ideal.

 

So here's the idea: Leave the US and enter Canada with my old, maiden named passport. While in Canada, apply for a new expedited passport with my new spousal name, pick it up in a couple days, and when the time comes, re-enter with a new passport that matches my AP document.

 

On paper, it sounds like this would work, but I'm also very wary about doing anything that could get me in trouble or affect my status. What do you guys think? Is there a risk to doing this at all, or is it totally by the book?

[randy32 165]

I don't see an issue with this approach. Have a copy of your marriage cert in hand though. That will bridge your ids.

 

[xyz12345 260]

If I'm not mistaken, you have to buy your plane tix using your passport name. You might need to buy 2 one way tickets if you have a new passport on the way back.

[Mike E 11,739]

Another alternative is to bring your marriage certificate with you and show it to airline and CBP.  Note that all flights these days leave from preclearance airports.  

[Sarah_k92 112]

1 hour ago, Selkie said:

Hey all, long time lurker, first time poster!

 

I have kind of a complicated question I want to get your opinions on. I'm planning to call US Customs tomorrow to see what they say about this as well, but I also wanted to ask you all.

 

So, my home country of Canada is going to ease border restrictions for fully vaccinated returning Canadians meaning no hotel stay and no two week quarantine. Yay! I'd like to take this opportunity to see my family, but I'm having some issues surrounding my passport. You see, I still have a valid Canadian passport, but as I got married on a K-1 visa, my last name has changed. I haven't gotten an updated passport yet, so the name on my current passport does not match the name on my AP document. I'd like to see my parents before school starts in mid-August, so the 20-30 day processing times for a new passport aren't ideal.

 

So here's the idea: Leave the US and enter Canada with my old, maiden named passport. While in Canada, apply for a new expedited passport with my new spousal name, pick it up in a couple days, and when the time comes, re-enter with a new passport that matches my AP document.

 

On paper, it sounds like this would work, but I'm also very wary about doing anything that could get me in trouble or affect my status. What do you guys think? Is there a risk to doing this at all, or is it totally by the book?

I had my maidan name on my British passport and married name on green card. Never had any issues at any point. I did much research into this and everyone I spoke too said it wouldn’t cause any issues. It really didn’t. I did carry my marriage certificate for back up but was never asked or questioned. I left 3 times to go back to the UK using this method and everything was fine. The only problem I ever had was trying to scan my GC on the self service machines! Honestly, You will be fine! That’s amazing you get to go home! So jealous! Have the best time and don’t worry! You will be fine. 

Edited June 24, 2021 by Sarah_k92

[Selkie 3]

5 hours ago, Sarah_k92 said:

I had my maidan name on my British passport and married name on green card. Never had any issues at any point. I did much research into this and everyone I spoke too said it wouldn’t cause any issues. It really didn’t. I did carry my marriage certificate for back up but was never asked or questioned. I left 3 times to go back to the UK using this method and everything was fine. The only problem I ever had was trying to scan my GC on the self service machines! Honestly, You will be fine! That’s amazing you get to go home! So jealous! Have the best time and don’t worry! You will be fine. 

 

Aaah, thank you so much! You're so sweet

 

And thank you everyone who responded, I feel much less anxious about this whole thing, hopefully this means I can get home to see my family in the next few weeks!

[Demise 1,291]

20 hours ago, Selkie said:

Hey all, long time lurker, first time poster!

 

I have kind of a complicated question I want to get your opinions on. I'm planning to call US Customs tomorrow to see what they say about this as well, but I also wanted to ask you all.

 

So, my home country of Canada is going to ease border restrictions for fully vaccinated returning Canadians meaning no hotel stay and no two week quarantine. Yay! I'd like to take this opportunity to see my family, but I'm having some issues surrounding my passport. You see, I still have a valid Canadian passport, but as I got married on a K-1 visa, my last name has changed. I haven't gotten an updated passport yet, so the name on my current passport does not match the name on my AP document. I'd like to see my parents before school starts in mid-August, so the 20-30 day processing times for a new passport aren't ideal.

 

So here's the idea: Leave the US and enter Canada with my old, maiden named passport. While in Canada, apply for a new expedited passport with my new spousal name, pick it up in a couple days, and when the time comes, re-enter with a new passport that matches my AP document.

 

On paper, it sounds like this would work, but I'm also very wary about doing anything that could get me in trouble or affect my status. What do you guys think? Is there a risk to doing this at all, or is it totally by the book?

No reason why this wouldn't work. Grab your marriage certificate or other name change document just in case to bridge the two names in case you can't get an updated passport. CBP is used to the fact that married people (generally wives) take their spouse's last name.

[Chocobo 196]

Have a great trip!    (So jealous that you'll be able to get some Timmy's coffee and Tim Bits.)

[IndigoFlowers 130]

As far as I have researched, you should be fine with this. I travelled to Canada last March using my maiden name in my Canadian passport and returned to the USA using my green card that has my married name - I brought my marriage certificate just in case the border guards had any questions, but they didn't even ask for it!

 

I'm going back to Canada on Thursday after over a year of not seeing family (yay no quarantine for those fully vaccinated!) and plan on applying in person for a new passport in my married name and have it expedited while I am there. In order to account for the name changes, I had to buy a one way ticket there with my maiden name, and will be booking a one way ticket back to the USA with my married name once I get my new passport.