Name Change & AOS application etc.

[Melyssa 0]

We got married last week after I finally got my K1 visa. I've asked this already on the Canada forum but don't seem to be coming up with anything - I want to change my name officially and everyone says our marriage certificate will do BUT we didn't have to sign anything on the marriage certificate - there was nothing about changing names; no one said anything about that when we got married! Maybe this varies from state to state? Someone said something about the DMV? We got married in New Jersey...

Ok, and other then that, we are about to start AOS...so any helpful advice would be appreciated. I'll read the guides; I did look into this before but now that we're finally together it's hard to want to do anymore paperwork...but we know it's important so we want to do it as soon as possible. !

[Carlawarla 1]

We got married last week after I finally got my K1 visa. I've asked this already on the Canada forum but don't seem to be coming up with anything - I want to change my name officially and everyone says our marriage certificate will do BUT we didn't have to sign anything on the marriage certificate - there was nothing about changing names; no one said anything about that when we got married! Maybe this varies from state to state? Someone said something about the DMV? We got married in New Jersey...

Ok, and other then that, we are about to start AOS...so any helpful advice would be appreciated. I'll read the guides; I did look into this before but now that we're finally together it's hard to want to do anymore paperwork...but we know it's important so we want to do it as soon as possible. !

Hi Melyssa!

First off congratulations on your marriage! Wooooooooohooooooo!!

Your married name does appear on your marriage license but that doesn't matter. After your married, you can take whatever name you want...either retain your maiden name or take your husband's name. Just by virtue of being married now, and with your husband's last name on the marriage certificate, that makes you now (if you want) his last name. Make sure you fill out your AOS with all your married name on the paperwork. You include a copy of your marriage license of course. You may or may not have enough time on your K-1 visa to change your SSN to your married name, but that's okay. I didn't have enough time remaining to have it changed, and it wasn't a problem. When I got my AOS completed, I took my GC down to get my name changed on the SSN.

"Officially" just means that if you want to be known now in your married name, you have to start gathering documentation in that new name. You have to start with your appications now, and you'll be given your new ID's in your married name.

I wasn't able to get a Driver's license in MO until I had my GC, and it had my married name on it, so no problem.

Carla

[~Nini~ 2]

What Carla said.

I think the confusion lies in that the marriage certificate often has the maiden name and not the married name on it. I had to ask the county clerk when we picked up our certified copies, and she assured me that I could use the document as proof towards any necessary name changes. Luckily I went to an SSA branch that didn't give me any grief about getting my SSN in my married name (though, there were other silly complications!).

[Melyssa 0]

What Carla said.

I think the confusion lies in that the marriage certificate often has the maiden name and not the married name on it. I had to ask the county clerk when we picked up our certified copies, and she assured me that I could use the document as proof towards any necessary name changes. Luckily I went to an SSA branch that didn't give me any grief about getting my SSN in my married name (though, there were other silly complications!).

OH! That's so good to know! Thanks! So, basically it's changed already if I want it to be then, and I just have to start applying for whatever documents I want/need in my husband's name, and can use the marriage certificate as proof even though the license is in my maiden name and we didn't have to sign anything on the certificate. Right?

Edited October 29, 2007 by Melyssa

[~Nini~ 2]

OH! That's so good to know! Thanks! So, basically it's changed already if I want it to be then, and I just have to start applying for whatever documents I want/need in my husband's name, and can use the marriage certificate as proof even though the license is in my maiden name and we didn't have to sign anything on the certificate. Right?

Correct!