Travelling on passport with maiden name

[kandikandi 31]

Hi everyone - due to a family emergency I had to book a ticket to the UK for the next day.  Although I naturalized in April, I never got around to getting my US passport, so Im having to travel on my native passport which features my maiden name.  I brought my naturalization certificate and my drivers license (both have my married name, which matches my reservation).  When I checked in, the lady mentioned that TSA may not let me through because my passport does not match my reservation - but they just looked at my license and let me through, and I am currently waiting at my gate to board.  The problem is I am nervous about coming back home in a week.  My passport features my maiden name, I have my naturalization certificate with me, and I forgot my marriage cert (but I found a scan of it on my email on my phone).  Do you think I should anticipate a problem getting back home next week?  Thanks for any and all advice - I entered the US on a K1 visa in 2016 and never left the country because I never wanted to encounter a situation where I got locked out….so I am literally sitting her nervous as hell because I forgot my marriage cert at home.  Thank you!

[Fe.Ta 874]

4 minutes ago, kandikandi said:

Hi everyone - due to a family emergency I had to book a ticket to the UK for the next day.  Although I naturalized in April, I never got around to getting my US passport, so Im having to travel on my native passport which features my maiden name.  I brought my naturalization certificate and my drivers license (both have my married name, which matches my reservation).  When I checked in, the lady mentioned that TSA may not let me through because my passport does not match my reservation - but they just looked at my license and let me through, and I am currently waiting at my gate to board.  The problem is I am nervous about coming back home in a week.  My passport features my maiden name, I have my naturalization certificate with me, and I forgot my marriage cert (but I found a scan of it on my email on my phone).  Do you think I should anticipate a problem getting back home next week?  Thanks for any and all advice - I entered the US on a K1 visa in 2016 and never left the country because I never wanted to encounter a situation where I got locked out….so I am literally sitting her nervous as hell because I forgot my marriage cert at home.  Thank you!

This is true.  @EllisAndRenz had a similar situation with his wife.  It will depend on the officer.

[kandikandi 31]

1 minute ago, Fe.Ta said:

This is true.  @EllisAndRenz had a similar situation with his wife.  It will depend on the officer.

Do you think having a copy of my marriage cert will help? 

[Fe.Ta 874]

Just now, kandikandi said:

Do you think having a copy of my marriage cert will help? 

It will be 50/50.  @EllisAndRenz His wife had the marriage certificate and they still gave her hell.

[Olly_ 29]

The marriage certificate isn't the issue, it's the lack of US passport that's going to cause you a problem for your return.

 

The airline won't allow you to board a flight to the USA without an approved ESTA (you can't get one as a US citizen) unless you have a visa, green card or US/Canadian passport. They won't accept a naturalization certificate - check the carrier information guide here https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/assets/documents/2019-Mar/2019 Carrier Information Guide - ENGLISH.pdf

 

If you make it to the border they'll have to allow you in - it's getting to that point that'll be the issue.

 

 

Edited December 4, 2022 by Olly_

[OldUser 6,668]

@kandikandi any plans for holiday in Mexico? You should be able to cross to the US by land without US passport 🙂

 

Another option to get a US passport in the UK through US embassy, which you should be able to do:

https://uk.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/citizenship/applying-for-your-first-u-s-passport/

 

[Adventine 3,196]

Getting a US passport while in the UK will probably be the most convenient option.

[Olly_ 29]

6 minutes ago, Adventine said:

Getting a US passport while in the UK will probably be the most convenient option.

It's pretty much the only option unless the OP flies to Canada or Mexico and enters the USA by land.

 

You're definitely not going to get a standard passport in time for a return flight in a week though! An emergency passport from the US Embassy might be an option I guess...

 

 

Edited December 4, 2022 by Olly_

[EllisAndRenz 196]

7 hours ago, Olly_ said:

The marriage certificate isn't the issue, it's the lack of US passport that's going to cause you a problem for your return.

 

The airline won't allow you to board a flight to the USA without an approved ESTA (you can't get one as a US citizen) unless you have a visa, green card or US/Canadian passport. They won't accept a naturalization certificate - check the carrier information guide here https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/assets/documents/2019-Mar/2019 Carrier Information Guide - ENGLISH.pdf

 

If you make it to the border they'll have to allow you in - it's getting to that point that'll be the issue.

 

 

it's also that the passport name doesn't match her airline ticket name that could potentially cause the issue.  This is where my wife ran into problems.

 

[Thunderbolt 172]

I also think that the problem will be with the name not matching the passport. The airline may refuse to board you in UK. 

[Kanja 201]

Lots of issues here. But could you cancel the return ticket and rebook it with your maiden name?