Mistake on Green card / married name

[sjgusmc21 0]

Hope all of you are doing well. A lot has happened since June when we sent in our I-485. Most importantly, we are expecting a little one now in April! I am really kind of irritated right now with myself as we received my wife's green card today, and it has her maiden name on it. Called USCIS about it, and at first spoke with a very rude gentleman, called back and got a very nice and knowledgeable woman. She said that we could submit a I-90 along with the green card. If it wasn't my fault (which it appears it is) I would not have to pay anything. What is weird is that we filed the EAD in July, and have been receiving LOA from USCIS with her last name as mine on it. When I did the I-485, I followed the example (thought I did at least) and believed that her family name was suppose to be on the I-485. That is why you submit all of the evidence that you are married, etc., etc. Also very curious is the card: it is a Permanent resident card, and expires in 2017. Not complaining, but I thought it was only good for 2 years, and then you have to renew it??? Anyway, these are my concerns...

1. Does it matter if her maiden name is on the green card and not my last name? Our Marriage certificate list my last name, as does her temporary SSN, Military ID, Medical, Dental, etc., etc.

2. Will it matter when we apply for her new SSN number?

3. Will it matter when she applies for US Citizenship?

4. If she has to travel to the Philippines, will this cause a problem (of course her passport has her family name in it).

I just have this sinking feeling that I did something very, very wrong here and it is going to be an expensive nightmare to correct. Thanks for listening to me and any help / advice you give me is ALWAYS greatly appreciated. Take care, Stacy.

[Jasman0717 9]

Maiden name is ok. There is not law saying the woman has to change her name. Of course you might have a bit of explaining when you lift conditions. What about her passport, we had to get Claudeth's renewed and that was an interesting situation dealing with the Filipino embassy

[philhi 0]

Hope all of you are doing well. A lot has happened since June when we sent in our I-485. Most importantly, we are expecting a little one now in April! I am really kind of irritated right now with myself as we received my wife's green card today, and it has her maiden name on it. Called USCIS about it, and at first spoke with a very rude gentleman, called back and got a very nice and knowledgeable woman. She said that we could submit a I-90 along with the green card. If it wasn't my fault (which it appears it is) I would not have to pay anything. What is weird is that we filed the EAD in July, and have been receiving LOA from USCIS with her last name as mine on it. When I did the I-485, I followed the example (thought I did at least) and believed that her family name was suppose to be on the I-485. That is why you submit all of the evidence that you are married, etc., etc. Also very curious is the card: it is a Permanent resident card, and expires in 2017. Not complaining, but I thought it was only good for 2 years, and then you have to renew it??? Anyway, these are my concerns...

1. Does it matter if her maiden name is on the green card and not my last name? Our Marriage certificate list my last name, as does her temporary SSN, Military ID, Medical, Dental, etc., etc.

she can leave it as maiden name but she will have to change ss card name to maiden. if it is not your fault then resubmit the i90 with the noa.

2. Will it matter when we apply for her new SSN number? no need for a new ssn.

3. Will it matter when she applies for US Citizenship?

4. If she has to travel to the Philippines, will this cause a problem (of course her passport has her family name in it).

if she has to travel, then you will have to buy the ticket in her maiden name but if you change green card to married then she can ammend her passport.

I just have this sinking feeling that I did something very, very wrong here and it is going to be an expensive nightmare to correct. Thanks for listening to me and any help / advice you give me is ALWAYS greatly appreciated. Take care, Stacy.

[sjgusmc21 0]

jasman, thank you for your reply. Can anyone answer my questions? Thanks again. Stacy

[athena_ny 1]

Hope all of you are doing well. A lot has happened since June when we sent in our I-485. Most importantly, we are expecting a little one now in April! I am really kind of irritated right now with myself as we received my wife's green card today, and it has her maiden name on it. Called USCIS about it, and at first spoke with a very rude gentleman, called back and got a very nice and knowledgeable woman. She said that we could submit a I-90 along with the green card. If it wasn't my fault (which it appears it is) I would not have to pay anything. What is weird is that we filed the EAD in July, and have been receiving LOA from USCIS with her last name as mine on it. When I did the I-485, I followed the example (thought I did at least) and believed that her family name was suppose to be on the I-485. That is why you submit all of the evidence that you are married, etc., etc. Also very curious is the card: it is a Permanent resident card, and expires in 2017. Not complaining, but I thought it was only good for 2 years, and then you have to renew it??? Anyway, these are my concerns...

1. Does it matter if her maiden name is on the green card and not my last name? Our Marriage certificate list my last name, as does her temporary SSN, Military ID, Medical, Dental, etc., etc.

2. Will it matter when we apply for her new SSN number?

3. Will it matter when she applies for US Citizenship?

4. If she has to travel to the Philippines, will this cause a problem (of course her passport has her family name in it).

I just have this sinking feeling that I did something very, very wrong here and it is going to be an expensive nightmare to correct. Thanks for listening to me and any help / advice you give me is ALWAYS greatly appreciated. Take care, Stacy.

When she goes to get her new SS card (which I'm assuming she would - to remove the "work authorized with DHS approval" or whatever it says - they don't issue new SSNs, they are for life so not sure if that's what you're talking about with the "new SSN number"), they'll want to see her green card and the name won't match which could potentially cause a lot of problems.

If she has to travel to the Philippines, she may be okay if you just book the ticket in her maiden name, but I know as a USC, I have to show my driver's license when I check in, but she may be okay with just a passport - not sure.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

jasman, thank you for your reply. Can anyone answer my questions? Thanks again. Stacy

1. Does it matter if her maiden name is on the green card and not my last name? Our Marriage certificate list my last name, as does her temporary SSN, Military ID, Medical, Dental, etc., etc.

How does your Marriage Certificate list her last name the same as yours? That doesn't make sense. All the certificate demonstrates is the two of you are married. From that point it is a choice whether to take on your last name or not. I'd recommend getting the last name changed on the Green Card even if it costs more money, but in the meantime, it should not interfere with her ability to work, travel or seek medical attention if she is covered on your insurance.

2. Will it matter when we apply for her new SSN number?

Why do you need to apply for a new SS#? My wife has her SS# with her maiden name on it and prior to getting her Green Card. The only reason to get a new card is to change her last name on it. In the meantime, the number and card are valid.

3. Will it matter when she applies for US Citizenship?

I don't see why it should, but as jasman explained, it might be an issue with regard to evidence of bonafide marriage. You've got some time before then to go ahead and get her last name corrected on her Green Card. But imagine if she had been an LPR prior to marrying you, already living here in the U.S.? Had you two met here and then married, her Green Card would have her maiden name. So you need to find out the procedure to get her last name updated to her married name.

4. If she has to travel to the Philippines, will this cause a problem (of course her passport has her family name in it).

I don't see why it would - her passport has her maiden name ...Green Card has identical name.

I just have this sinking feeling that I did something very, very wrong here and it is going to be an expensive nightmare to correct. Thanks for listening to me and any help / advice you give me is ALWAYS greatly appreciated. Take care, Stacy.

Relax. Don't stress over it too much. I'd do a search with USCIS on changing the last name on a Green Card, rather than trying to explain that you made a mistake with it. I think if you explain that you wish your married name to be on the Green Card someone will show the procedure on how to change it.

[Kez/JWolf 6]

To change the name on her greencard she will need to complete form I-90 pay the $370.00 ($290 for the card $80 for new biometrics) It is better for all the cards to be in the same name so you need to decided what name she is going to use...

Kez

[John & Annie 0]

if the mistake was on the part of the USCIS, you can submit an I-90 under category (d) which is an administrative error and requires no money. It can take up to six months to resolve. If you have to travel during that time you can go to a local office an obtain the I-551 stamp. If they issued the EAD and other documents in the married name, that would be clear and convincing evidence that the mistake was on the part of the USCIS.

I hope this helps.

John

[CB82 0]

Also very curious is the card: it is a Permanent resident card, and expires in 2017. Not complaining, but I thought it was only good for 2 years, and then you have to renew it???

I just have one question. Is it not USCIS's fault that the card is issued for 10 years instead of 2? I think I read in the "Errors on Greencard" thread that it has to be for 2 years if you are married less than 2 years at time of issuance and it is wrong to not have it corrected. Therefore wouldn't he be able to send it back due to this error for free and perhaps at the same time, ask for the name to be changed?

I could be wrong so I'm sure someone else can correct me if i am.

Edited October 12, 2007 by CB82

[John & Annie 0]

Also very curious is the card: it is a Permanent resident card, and expires in 2017. Not complaining, but I thought it was only good for 2 years, and then you have to renew it???

I just have one question. Is it not USCIS's fault that the card is issued for 10 years instead of 2? I think I read in the "Errors on Greencard" thread that it has to be for 2 years if you are married less than 2 years at time of issuance and it is wrong to not have it corrected. Therefore wouldn't he be able to send it back due to this error for free and perhaps at the same time, ask for the name to be changed?

I could be wrong so I'm sure someone else can correct me if i am.

We sent Annie's back because it should have been the ten year, will see what happens.

[sjgusmc21 0]

Thank you all for your input. What I meant was that on her SSN it has the 'work authorized only by Homeland Security' (or there abouts). I just wanted to get that taken off. As for the 10 year, I really don't know. I will probably call them tonight. The lady I spoke with was surprised that we hadn't received her EAD by now....which we should have. Probably will think it over and come up with a plan for after the weekend. Bottom line is that she has a Green card, it is valid, and we can move forward now.....and I have the baby on the way....so that is really foremost on my mind right now. Really, thank you all for your help and hope you all have a great weekend. If I learn anything from USCIS I will post it.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Thank you all for your input. What I meant was that on her SSN it has the 'work authorized only by Homeland Security' (or there abouts). I just wanted to get that taken off. As for the 10 year, I really don't know. I will probably call them tonight. The lady I spoke with was surprised that we hadn't received her EAD by now....which we should have. Probably will think it over and come up with a plan for after the weekend. Bottom line is that she has a Green card, it is valid, and we can move forward now.....and I have the baby on the way....so that is really foremost on my mind right now. Really, thank you all for your help and hope you all have a great weekend. If I learn anything from USCIS I will post it.

The statement on her SS card means that she couldn't use it for work without her Green Card. You're missing an important part of the whole statement there.

She can now legally work here using that SS Card.

[Karly-n-Bruce 0]

Thank you all for your input. What I meant was that on her SSN it has the 'work authorized only by Homeland Security' (or there abouts). I just wanted to get that taken off. As for the 10 year, I really don't know. I will probably call them tonight. The lady I spoke with was surprised that we hadn't received her EAD by now....which we should have. Probably will think it over and come up with a plan for after the weekend. Bottom line is that she has a Green card, it is valid, and we can move forward now.....and I have the baby on the way....so that is really foremost on my mind right now. Really, thank you all for your help and hope you all have a great weekend. If I learn anything from USCIS I will post it.

The statement on her SS card means that she couldn't use it for work without her Green Card. You're missing an important part of the whole statement there.

She can now legally work here using that SS Card.

Exactly. And to the OP, you said in your quote above that "The lady I spoke with was surprised that we hadn't received her EAD by now..." but you won't get getting one nor do you need one now that you have your green card.

Oh and could you please update your timeline.

Edited October 12, 2007 by Karly-n-Bruce