Probably not the right forum...

[motu 5]

My wife is from Colombia and the process for changing her name on the passport, meaning getting a new passport in the married name is very cumbersome. Currently she has her old passport in her maiden name and the green card is in her married name. We buy airline tickets for out of country travel in her maiden name (to match with the passport).

We discussed if the next time she goes to Colombia - if she should try and get a new passport in her married name and came across a problem- if we buy the return tickets here (which we routinely do) - the tickets to and back are in the same name unless you buy them separately. Buying them separately will most probably be more expensive (whenever I tried I got this result). So if she travels to Colombia - she will need to buy a one way ticket in her maiden name and coming back another one way ticket in her married name! So, she will need to try and get her passport changed and then buy her ticket back - probably way more expensive. Also if she can't get it in her married name then she needs to buy a ticket in her maiden name to travel back. And the longer you delay buying tickets - they may increase in price as well as cause problems with your schedule.

We decided - to heck with all this #######. She will just get her new passport in her maiden name and we will stop worrying about this when she files and gets her citizenship. Perhaps Kez traveled to Scotland on one way ticket so she was able have her passport match her new ticket purchased there and she got her passport fast enough to not have problems with her schedule. Scotland must be efficient in doing those but many other countries are really bad about it. For us, it isn't worth the trouble. Good luck with whatever you choose to do.

[pak 0]

...

Once again, thank you, fwaguy.

[payxibka 10,045]

In our case, the official/legal name change occured during the application for her Social Security number.

Once we took the official wedding certificate to the SS office (in her maiden name), we completed changing of her last name (to my last name).

Peace,

Mark-N-Aam

I could be wrong but I somehow doubt the SSA has the official legal authority to change a name.... Somehow to me that seems to be the jurisdiction of the state or county or maybe the local district courts.....

[pak 0]

... and came across a problem- if we buy the return tickets here (which we routinely do) - the tickets to and back are in the same name unless you buy them separately. Buying them separately will most probably be more expensive (whenever I tried I got this result). So if she travels to Colombia - she will need to buy a one way ticket in her maiden name and coming back another one way ticket in her married name!

Good point, didn't think of that! Ugh!!!

[payxibka 10,045]

My wife is from Colombia and the process for changing her name on the passport, meaning getting a new passport in the married name is very cumbersome. Currently she has her old passport in her maiden name and the green card is in her married name. We buy airline tickets for out of country travel in her maiden name (to match with the passport).

We discussed if the next time she goes to Colombia - if she should try and get a new passport in her married name and came across a problem- if we buy the return tickets here (which we routinely do) - the tickets to and back are in the same name unless you buy them separately. Buying them separately will most probably be more expensive (whenever I tried I got this result). So if she travels to Colombia - she will need to buy a one way ticket in her maiden name and coming back another one way ticket in her married name! So, she will need to try and get her passport changed and then buy her ticket back - probably way more expensive. Also if she can't get it in her married name then she needs to buy a ticket in her maiden name to travel back. And the longer you delay buying tickets - they may increase in price as well as cause problems with your schedule.

We decided - to heck with all this #######. She will just get her new passport in her maiden name and we will stop worrying about this when she files and gets her citizenship. Perhaps Kez traveled to Scotland on one way ticket so she was able have her passport match her new ticket purchased there and she got her passport fast enough to not have problems with her schedule. Scotland must be efficient in doing those but many other countries are really bad about it. For us, it isn't worth the trouble. Good luck with whatever you choose to do.

What abpout changing the passport at the Cloumbian consulate here in the states. Typically that is one service they perform for there citizens.

[Kez/JWolf 6]

I had my passport changed at the UK embassy in the US... Washington DC...

You can ask for the old passport back.. so if she was to get a new passport on her next visit home she can take the old passport and the new one to checkin at the airport and they will allow her to board...

But check out the embassy for her country in the US most do have passport services available to residents of the US...

Kez

[BishopMnA 0]

In our case, the official/legal name change occured during the application for her Social Security number.

Once we took the official wedding certificate to the SS office (in her maiden name), we completed changing of her last name (to my last name).

Yes, that's the plan - get SSN in her maiden name (I think it is required for marriage license anyway), get married, apply for name change on SSN. But what I was not sure about is where her new name first appear... you are saying on wedding certificate... something that is given by the chapel/priest/whatever - right? THANKS!

We were married in Ohio. In Ohio, it is not required that you have the SS# prior to getting married (other states do require this though). So, we were married and the wedding license is in her maiden name. After the wedding ceremony, I asked the pastor if the wedding certificate (which would come in the mail in a couple weeks) would constitute the official 'name change' for my fiancee. He said 'No...the name change happens when applying for a social security card.'

Two weeks later, we took our wedding license (which is in her maiden name) to the social security office. We gave it to them, along with proof of address and her passport etc. At that time, the Social Security person asked if we would like to have the card issued in her maiden name or my last name. We stated that we'd like it in my last name...2 weeks later we had the SS card with her using my last name. Thus, the name change was completed.

Peace,

Mark

[rakkaus 0]

We were married in Ohio. In Ohio, it is not required that you have the SS# prior to getting married (other states do require this though).

Can you elaborate on this? How do you get the SSN before marrying, since she can't become a citizen and therefore become SSN eligible until she marries you? It seems like this would set up a Catch-22 situation.

[payxibka 10,045]

We were married in Ohio. In Ohio, it is not required that you have the SS# prior to getting married (other states do require this though). So, we were married and the wedding license is in her maiden name. After the wedding ceremony, I asked the pastor if the wedding certificate (which would come in the mail in a couple weeks) would constitute the official 'name change' for my fiancee. He said 'No...the name change happens when applying for a social security card.'

Two weeks later, we took our wedding license (which is in her maiden name) to the social security office. We gave it to them, along with proof of address and her passport etc. At that time, the Social Security person asked if we would like to have the card issued in her maiden name or my last name. We stated that we'd like it in my last name...2 weeks later we had the SS card with her using my last name. Thus, the name change was completed.

Peace,

Mark

This just did not make any logical sense to me. I checked Ohio law and it is an odd one for sure. The bottom line is that your name change is not done at the SSA office (what I initially interpreted you said from your statement), but under the law, the name change, as a result of marriage, is "consumated" merely by the simple act of notifying one or more government authorities (SSA, IRS. BMV, Voter Registration). This occurs for traditional name changes only and may not be effective for some other non-traditional changes some people may desire to make which may take a court order to do.

[TracyTN 237]

We were married in Ohio. In Ohio, it is not required that you have the SS# prior to getting married (other states do require this though).

Can you elaborate on this? How do you get the SSN before marrying, since she can't become a citizen and therefore become SSN eligible until she marries you? It seems like this would set up a Catch-22 situation.

You don't have to be a US citizen to be eligible for an SSN. Those who enter on K1 visas are permitted to apply for SSNs prior to having their EAD (DHS work authorization).

See my sig for more info.

[payxibka 10,045]

We were married in Ohio. In Ohio, it is not required that you have the SS# prior to getting married (other states do require this though).

Can you elaborate on this? How do you get the SSN before marrying, since she can't become a citizen and therefore become SSN eligible until she marries you? It seems like this would set up a Catch-22 situation.

For a SSN you simply must be employment authorized. Employment authorization can come as the result of you visa status (K-1,H-1, etc..), a stamp on your I-94, a work permit (EAD), a greencard or citizenship.

[pak 0]

For a SSN you simply must be employment authorized. Employment authorization can come as the result of you visa status (K-1,H-1, etc..), a stamp on your I-94, a work permit (EAD), a greencard or citizenship.

Is the statement in bold true? From what I understood, coming on K-1 fiancee visa (without getting work permit at the point of entry) still allows you to get SSN?

[TracyTN 237]

For a SSN you simply must be employment authorized. Employment authorization can come as the result of you visa status (K-1,H-1, etc..), a stamp on your I-94, a work permit (EAD), a greencard or citizenship.

Is the statement in bold true? From what I understood, coming on K-1 fiancee visa (without getting work permit at the point of entry) still allows you to get SSN?

Again, see the doc in my signature. Pay specific attention to section C.

[payxibka 10,045]

For a SSN you simply must be employment authorized. Employment authorization can come as the result of you visa status (K-1,H-1, etc..), a stamp on your I-94, a work permit (EAD), a greencard or citizenship.

Is the statement in bold true? From what I understood, coming on K-1 fiancee visa (without getting work permit at the point of entry) still allows you to get SSN?

Yes it is true. A K-1 is employment authorized (EA) incident to status for the first 90 days.... The stamp at the POE is your employment authorization document (EAD). Don't confuse the two....

Edited August 21, 2007 by fwaguy

[rakkaus 0]

We were married in Ohio. In Ohio, it is not required that you have the SS# prior to getting married (other states do require this though).

Can you elaborate on this? How do you get the SSN before marrying, since she can't become a citizen and therefore become SSN eligible until she marries you? It seems like this would set up a Catch-22 situation.

You don't have to be a US citizen to be eligible for an SSN. Those who enter on K1 visas are permitted to apply for SSNs prior to having their EAD (DHS work authorization).

See my sig for more info.

Oops, my bad! Thanks.