Name change question for I-130

[Imua 0]

Okay this is a bit complicated.

I had a complete legal name change(first and last, changed to my religious name) in 2002 however I never changed my name on my passport, which still shows my birth name. My job records, tax forms, etc. are in my new name. The problem is when we married in Nepal in June I used my passport as ID so my marriage certificate as well as the Affidavit of No Contest which I needed to sign at the Kathmandu Embassy are in my birth name. I am wondering which name should I put down on the I-130 and will this create problems - I will be sending a copy of the court order of name change so they will see that I am known by both names but I am wondering if they will not see my marriage as valid since the certificate is not in my current legal name?

[rjp44 1]

Okay this is a bit complicated.

I had a complete legal name change(first and last, changed to my religious name) in 2002 however I never changed my name on my passport, which still shows my birth name. My job records, tax forms, etc. are in my new name. The problem is when we married in Nepal in June I used my passport as ID so my marriage certificate as well as the Affidavit of No Contest which I needed to sign at the Kathmandu Embassy are in my birth name. I am wondering which name should I put down on the I-130 and will this create problems - I will be sending a copy of the court order of name change so they will see that I am known by both names but I am wondering if they will not see my marriage as valid since the certificate is not in my current legal name?

On the I-130 it asks for your name so use your present married name in that space, a little further down, it will ask for any other names by which you've been know, including maiden name. Here, put both your maiden name and birth name. If you have a legal form noting your name change, it wouldn't hurt to send in a photocopy when you submit to I-130. It might be a good time now to get your passport renewed or changed using your current married name. Don't forget there is a new change where you have to send I-130 to a Chicago lockbox address.

[pushbrk 13,069]

Okay this is a bit complicated.

I had a complete legal name change(first and last, changed to my religious name) in 2002 however I never changed my name on my passport, which still shows my birth name. My job records, tax forms, etc. are in my new name. The problem is when we married in Nepal in June I used my passport as ID so my marriage certificate as well as the Affidavit of No Contest which I needed to sign at the Kathmandu Embassy are in my birth name. I am wondering which name should I put down on the I-130 and will this create problems - I will be sending a copy of the court order of name change so they will see that I am known by both names but I am wondering if they will not see my marriage as valid since the certificate is not in my current legal name?

On the I-130 it asks for your name so use your present married name in that space, a little further down, it will ask for any other names by which you've been know, including maiden name. Here, put both your maiden name and birth name. If you have a legal form noting your name change, it wouldn't hurt to send in a photocopy when you submit to I-130. It might be a good time now to get your passport renewed or changed using your current married name. Don't forget there is a new change where you have to send I-130 to a Chicago lockbox address.

The time for the new passport was before your trip to Nepal but I think full documentation of your trail of names will get you through the process. Use your current legal name on all immigration related forms and get your new passport in that name.

The USCIS service center must see a clear paper trail for how Mary Smith became Resa Mohammed and then Resa Husbandsname or you will not get approved.

Edited December 1, 2007 by pushbrk

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Ditto what pushbrk said -- attach the paper trail of name changes, fill in the "other names used" in the I-130 [use a separate sheet of paper if needed] and you should be fine. But do document it all.