K1 Marriage in Texas: Name Change [merged threads]

[Kawika & Michelle 108]

Hi Folks,

 

My wife & I were married yesterday and I am looking for the best way to take care of her name change. Supposedly here in Texas a name change is allowed after marriage but I haven't been able to find any kind of guide on what exactly needs to be done to make all of this happen. I filed for her SS card as suggested here in the forums once she arrived, so I plan to submit a form to update her name for her new SS card. She does not have a Texas ID or driver's license as of yet, so is there any where else that I would need to update her name change? Perhaps with the Philippines embassy so that her passport can be updated? Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks!

 

Kawika

Edited June 16, 2023 by TBoneTX

[K1visaHopeful 2,803]

Immigrants apply for their name change through Immigration first. It is NOT done the same way Americans do it. Our immigration name must be legally updated first. 

That means filing your AOS forms in the new married name. 

Then after that is approved and you receive your first immigration benefit, you take that card and apply for or update names on DL/ID, passport etc. 

If you filled out the I765 and I485 forms correctly, the updated SSN will automatically come in the mail after approval.

So for now, you do nothing but file for AOS with your MC in the new name you wish to use moving forward. 

Edited June 12, 2023 by K1visaHopeful

[K1visaHopeful 2,803]

It will be extremely helpful to you to read the VJ guides on the AOS process for K1s and also join the monthly thread for filing AOS.

There is a new one created for each month where you can ask the basics with your peers.

Edited June 12, 2023 by K1visaHopeful

[Kawika & Michelle 108]

Looking for clarification...it seems that you are only allowed to change your last name after marriage. So in cases like the Philippines where they like to move their former last name to their middle name, this apparently is not allowed until much later in the immigration process. From what I understand, my wife will only be allowed to use her current first & middle name along with my last name as her legal name during the AoS process. After naturalization there is apparently a three year point at which time they will be allowed to change their middle and/or first name.

 

Can anyone else confirm or verify this? I am in the process of completing the AoS forms & had been filling out the forms using my wife's first name former last name as her middle name & our shared last name.

 

Thanks!

[Lemonslice 4,808]

She can also save herself the headaches, and simply keep her name.  No question, no problem, no mismatched documents.

[IWander 589]

On 6/11/2023 at 8:10 PM, Kawika & Michelle said:

Hi Folks,

 

My wife & I were married yesterday and I am looking for the best way to take care of her name change. Supposedly here in Texas a name change is allowed after marriage but I haven't been able to find any kind of guide on what exactly needs to be done to make all of this happen. I filed for her SS card as suggested here in the forums once she arrived, so I plan to submit a form to update her name for her new SS card. She does not have a Texas ID or driver's license as of yet, so is there any where else that I would need to update her name change? Perhaps with the Philippines embassy so that her passport can be updated? Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks!

 

Kawika

You might find it helpful to ask this in the Philippines forum for people who are similarly situated.  I can't help you with Texas because we did not face the middle name challenge because in MN either party to the marriage can change any or all names so a middle name and last name change for my wife was simple 

[Kawika & Michelle 108]

Hi Folks,

 

My wife & I were married last weekend and I am looking for the best way to take care of her name change. Supposedly here in Texas a name change is allowed after marriage but I haven't been able to find any kind of guide on what exactly needs to be done to make all of this happen. I filed for her SS card as suggested here in the forums once she arrived, so I plan to submit a form to update her name for her new SS card. She does not have a Texas ID or driver's license as of yet, so is there any where else that I would need to update her name change? Perhaps with the Philippines embassy so that her passport can be updated? In addition, I have heard on a YouTube video that the name change only applies to her last name & not her middle name. Can anyone else confirm this? I guess in the Philippines it is tradition to move your maiden name to your middle name upon marriage. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks!

 

Kawika

[top_secret 2,387]

For her to change her name on her passport or any other Philippine documents she needs to file a Report of Marriage with the Philippine consulate.  The Philippine consulate in Houston has consular jurisdiction for reporting any Texas marriage.  https://houstonpcg.dfa.gov.ph/index.php/consular-services/civil-registry/report-of-marriage They would by default move her maiden last name to her middle name.   Social Security supposedly doesn't care about middle names.   https://secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0110205120  I have heard of varying experiences changing middle names with US entities.  It may vary on a state by state basis???  It seems permissible upon marriage here in California but not sure about Texas.

[RO_AH 1,659]

11 hours ago, Kawika & Michelle said:

Hi Folks,

 

My wife & I were married last weekend and I am looking for the best way to take care of her name change. Supposedly here in Texas a name change is allowed after marriage but I haven't been able to find any kind of guide on what exactly needs to be done to make all of this happen. I filed for her SS card as suggested here in the forums once she arrived, so I plan to submit a form to update her name for her new SS card. She does not have a Texas ID or driver's license as of yet, so is there any where else that I would need to update her name change? Perhaps with the Philippines embassy so that her passport can be updated? In addition, I have heard on a YouTube video that the name change only applies to her last name & not her middle name. Can anyone else confirm this? I guess in the Philippines it is tradition to move your maiden name to your middle name upon marriage. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Kawika

Not sure about Texas, but in Hawaii you change your name when you get married with your registration. Here you specify which last name you would like to use. That certificate is your proof of name change.

 

As for anything in the PH you need to do the ROM since the marriage was done in the US.

[TBoneTX 45,155]

Duplicate threads have been merged in the correct forum.  Please avoid posting twice on the same topic -- if a move of forum is desired, please "report" the issue for handling.