Name change after marriage - do I have to take both last names?

[Rosalea 22]

Hi everyone!

 

I got married a few days ago and have a question about changing my surname. My husband technically has two last names but only uses both on legal/official things. If I take his last name, do I also need to take both, or can I just take the first (main) one?

[Timona 4,207]

Both, one...whatever you want

[K1visaHopeful 2,814]

You can take on any name or names, in any order or combination as long as it appears as a part of his name or your name on the Marriage Certificate.

[Rosalea 22]

1 hour ago, Rosalea said:

Hi everyone!

 

I got married a few days ago and have a question about changing my surname. My husband technically has two last names but only uses both on legal/official things. If I take his last name, do I also need to take both, or can I just take the first (main) one?

And I mean this in terms of using it on legal stuff as well as other things. On official things, does it have to match his two surnames? I just want one haha!

[Bob in Boston 701]

just use one then. List that under Surname on your marriage certificate.

Edited October 29, 2023 by Bob in Boston

[Marieke H 2,496]

Just choose what you want to use, and be consistent in it. You don't want to end up having different official documents with variations of the last name combination. 

[Marieke H 2,496]

4 hours ago, Bob in Boston said:

just use one then. List that under Surname on your marriage certificate.

Just to be clear, this isn't a thing in all states. Some states (like mine) do not make you list your new surname on the marriage certificate. In those states, the marriage certificate is still a valid name change document to take on a spouse's last name. 

[Rosalea 22]

1 hour ago, Marieke H said:

Just to be clear, this isn't a thing in all states. Some states (like mine) do not make you list your new surname on the marriage certificate. In those states, the marriage certificate is still a valid name change document to take on a spouse's last name. 

Yeah this is the case for mine too! 

[powerpuff 6,697]

Hijack post removed. Please do not insert your own questions in other members threads; start your own instead. 
 

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[Fe.Ta 874]

6 minutes ago, Rosalie Kindinis said:

I hot married in Nigeria and we are waiting on the I-130  I didn’t change my name does it matter?

I never changed my name - no issues at all.  My husband and I are in the ROC stage and that has never been a red flag.  USCIS understands that people have personal preferences to keeping their last names.