GC with Married Name, Passport w/ Maiden Name. No ROM.

[krychy 34]

Hi all!

 

I've been trying to find answers for this for months, and I'd like to post here before consulting with an attorney..

I was married to a US citizen in 2018, divorced in 2020. I filed I-360 then and I finally have my 10 year green card/permanent residency! I've been wanting to go home since I haven't seen my family for so long..

I have one issue, though: my green card is under my married name, and my expired Philippine passport is under my maiden name. I never reported to the Philippine embassy that I got married. I have a couple of questions and concerns:

 

• If I go to the Philippine consulate (nearest one to me is LA), will I have any issues if I renew my passport? One of the requirements would be the green card, which uses my married name. I'd like to renew my passport still using my maiden name.
• Given that I'm able to renew my passport using my maiden name, when I go on a 2 week vacation in the Philippines and went back to the US with my passport using my maiden name and green card showing my married name (my married last name is hyphenated), will I be grant re-entry if I have a certified copy of the dissolution/divorce?

 

I'm hoping to have some insights from people who have dealt with the same situation. Thank you all so much!

[Mike E 11,739]

3 minutes ago, krychy said:

Given that I'm able to renew my passport using my maiden name, when I go on a 2 week vacation in the Philippines and went back to the US with my passport using my maiden name and green card showing my married name (my married last name is hyphenated), will I be grant re-entry if I have a certified copy of the dissolution/divorce?

Yes

[Ontarkie 14,215]

~~Moved to Working and Traveling, from Effects of Major Family Changes~~

[Bob in Boston 698]

My wife renewed her Philippine passport befor she had a greencard, wasnt a problem. Just needed her expired passport. She was undocumented at the time.

[Chancy 6,241]

On 3/26/2023 at 8:42 PM, krychy said:

One of the requirements would be the green card, which uses my married name. I'd like to renew my passport still using my maiden name.

 

No issue renewing your Philippine passport using your maiden name.  PH law and DFA policy guarantee your right to use your maiden name in your passport, as long as you have not used your married name in a previous passport, regardless of the name on your green card.  If you encounter an overzealous DFA staff, they might tell you to file ROM, but remember that it is NOT a requirement for passport renewal under your maiden name.

 

[Jeng29 0]

You will be fine.My philippine passport is my maiden name and my green card is married name.Been here in US 8 years and go home philippines every year except during the height of pandemic.No problem at all.