Finding conflicting info regarding married/maiden name

[Vegamanx7 12]

Sorry if this is the wrong spot, but I’m not sure where to ask my question. My wife and I just reached the nvc stage and I need answers that I can’t seem to get or they conflict. We filed the I-130 with her maiden name, yet I’ve been told that I can update her married name at the nvc stage so that I wouldn’t have to do name changes once she arrived in the US. We want to have her married name used on her IV application and going forward but not sure if it’s possible. Her passport is currently in her maiden name, but if we need to change it to married we can relatively easy. 
 

Can we use her married name on the ds-260 and if so would it then cause her gc and everything to be issued in the married name? Or is it not possible to use the married name until she’s already state side and have to go the long and expensive name change route? Wife is a Philippines citizen if it helps. 

[IRFUN 59]

3 hours ago, Vegamanx7 said:

Sorry if this is the wrong spot, but I’m not sure where to ask my question. My wife and I just reached the nvc stage and I need answers that I can’t seem to get or they conflict. We filed the I-130 with her maiden name, yet I’ve been told that I can update her married name at the nvc stage so that I wouldn’t have to do name changes once she arrived in the US. We want to have her married name used on her IV application and going forward but not sure if it’s possible. Her passport is currently in her maiden name, but if we need to change it to married we can relatively easy. 
 

Can we use her married name on the ds-260 and if so would it then cause her gc and everything to be issued in the married name? Or is it not possible to use the married name until she’s already state side and have to go the long and expensive name change route? Wife is a Philippines citizen if it helps. 

My understanding is change the name now to the married name so it reflects it on her passport and then go on with the nvc stage using her married name. 

[Gsmith2 1]

1 hour ago, IRFUN said:

My understanding is change the name now to the married name so it reflects it on her passport and then go on with the nvc stage using her married name. 

That’s what we did.  She changed her name right after we got married. Initial i130 was filled with her married name. 

[Vegamanx7 12]

3 hours ago, Gsmith2 said:

That’s what we did.  She changed her name right after we got married. Initial i130 was filled with her married name. 

Unfortunately we filed with her maiden name because we were worried about delaying an already long wait time. So now we’re seeing if it’s too late to change her name on her passport or if it will even have any effect. 

[Vegamanx7 12]

4 hours ago, IRFUN said:

My understanding is change the name now to the married name so it reflects it on her passport and then go on with the nvc stage using her married name. 

That’s what I’ve heard, but have also seen posts on here saying it doesn’t matter and that they will only use the name we filed the I-130 with. So I’m trying hard to see if I can get some clarity on this matter. 

[top_secret 2,458]

The only name that matters is the name that is in her Philippine Passport on the day of her interview.  The visa, green card, and social security card will all bear that name so it will be very convenient if it is the desired name.  Changing her passport is the greatest importance.   NVC and the Embassy are really flexible on what name you use on the paperwork as long as you always give ALL names ever used where it asks.  She will need your name on her NBI Clearance too.

Edited May 3, 2023 by top_secret

[Chancy 6,243]

On 5/3/2023 at 12:09 AM, Vegamanx7 said:

Can we use her married name on the ds-260 and if so would it then cause her gc and everything to be issued in the married name? Or is it not possible to use the married name until she’s already state side and have to go the long and expensive name change route? Wife is a Philippines citizen if it helps. 

 

As mentioned above, what matters is the name listed on her Philippine passport at the time of the visa interview.  If your wife wants to use her married name in the US immediately, have her get a new PH passport ASAP.  Do NOT wait until after she arrives in the US.  That's the situation I'm in now -- I couldn't get a new passport in my married name before my interview.  So my IR1 visa, green card, and SSN card all came listing my maiden name.  Now all my US state ID and bank accounts list my maiden name.  It's too much hassle for me to go through the state court process for name change so I'll just wait until applying for naturalization to change my name.