Name Change After Application Submission

[OneWingedAngel915 0]

Good Afternoon Everyone,

 

My wife is a Filipino citizen and still uses her maiden name. She used her maiden name when I submitted her I-130. In the Philippines, people usually cannot change their name or even their last name unless they are married. The Philippine government recognized our marriage, so she can now change her last name. 

 

She is asking if it would help her visa application if she changed her last name to mine now that she can. My concern is that changing her name might present an issue since her name would no longer match the documents and applications we already submitted. So, we are not sure how to proceed. 

 

Do you all have any thoughts or recommendations? 

 

Thank you all!

 

-Ray

[IWander 589]

16 minutes ago, OneWingedAngel915 said:

Good Afternoon Everyone,

 

My wife is a Filipino citizen and still uses her maiden name. She used her maiden name when I submitted her I-130. In the Philippines, people usually cannot change their name or even their last name unless they are married. The Philippine government recognized our marriage, so she can now change her last name. 

 

She is asking if it would help her visa application if she changed her last name to mine now that she can. My concern is that changing her name might present an issue since her name would no longer match the documents and applications we already submitted. So, we are not sure how to proceed. 

 

Do you all have any thoughts or recommendations? 

 

Thank you all!

 

-Ray

It will have no effect either way other than the need for more documents later

[pushbrk 12,882]

Won't help or hurt the process, but she can just use the married name at the NVC stage onward.  She will need to get a new passport in the married name, so the visa and green card can be issued in the married name.  NOT doing that will complicate using the married name in the USA.

[Kyle6811 24]

On 1/5/2024 at 3:32 PM, pushbrk said:

Won't help or hurt the process, but she can just use the married name at the NVC stage onward.  She will need to get a new passport in the married name, so the visa and green card can be issued in the married name.  NOT doing that will complicate using the married name in the USA.

Hey @pushbrk, Would they need to  have the name legally changed before it gets sent to nvc? Is it possible to have her change her name once she is in the USA or how does that work?

[pushbrk 12,882]

54 minutes ago, Kyle6811 said:

Hey @pushbrk, Would they need to  have the name legally changed before it gets sent to nvc? Is it possible to have her change her name once she is in the USA or how does that work?

If she intends to use a married name, then she should do what is necessary in the Philippines with PSA and Foreign Affairs to get a new passport in the married name.  That way, the visa and green card are issued in the married name.  Doing it LATER after she's in the USA is far more complicated and costly.  Do it now.

 

She must have the new passport before the visa interview, not necessarily before NVC.  Still, the sooner the better.

 

[top_secret 2,421]

She does not have to change her name at all if she never wants to, but if she does want to it is WAY WAY WAY cheaper and easier if she just changes her passport now in the Philippines.  It costs P1200 ($22) including the expedite fee and takes 2 or 3 weeks to change a Philippine passport.  It costs $540 and could take at least a couple of YEARS to change the name on a green card once it's been issued plus all the assorted hassles associated with having differing names on different documents during those years.  She can change it anytime up until the day of her interview. All that matters is the name in her passport. It's a name she can already legally use in the Philippines so if she wants to, she should start using it immediately. The Embassy will use whatever name is in the passport she brings for her interview for her visa, green card and social security card.