deferred name change?

[cate 0]

Hi everyone,

Firstly thanks to all who contribute to the site - it is unquestionably the most detailed, helpful info available. We're just beginning the journey and it's comforting to see everyone else who have been successful... and continue to support those going through it.

A question; I hope I'm not putting this in the wrong section or missed something in the guides...

Our families are thrilled that we're engaged and looking forward to a big wedding. However, my understanding is that no plans should be made until Visa is in-hand... and we must get married within 90 days of my arrival. I also want to start working as soon as possible so must file for AOS/EAD straight away.

If we do a civil ceremony just the two of us and have my name changed (taking his) on the marriage certificate, can I still go by my maiden name until after the proper wedding? I plan to apply for my AOS/EAD/AP, SSN, drivers license etc in my maiden name (which will match my passport)... then change everything using our marriage certificate later?

Is that dodgy? I suppose we'll just have to explain to the minister at our proper wedding that we have a license from ages earlier? Can anyone think of any holes in this plan?

Thanks all!

[YuAndDan 153]

Keep in mind, to change name on a green-card you file I-90 and pay a $370 fee.

File for AOS using the name that you want on the green-card.

[Dan J 277]

Hi everyone,

Firstly thanks to all who contribute to the site - it is unquestionably the most detailed, helpful info available. We're just beginning the journey and it's comforting to see everyone else who have been successful... and continue to support those going through it.

A question; I hope I'm not putting this in the wrong section or missed something in the guides...

Our families are thrilled that we're engaged and looking forward to a big wedding. However, my understanding is that no plans should be made until Visa is in-hand... and we must get married within 90 days of my arrival. I also want to start working as soon as possible so must file for AOS/EAD straight away.

If we do a civil ceremony just the two of us and have my name changed (taking his) on the marriage certificate, can I still go by my maiden name until after the proper wedding? I plan to apply for my AOS/EAD/AP, SSN, drivers license etc in my maiden name (which will match my passport)... then change everything using our marriage certificate later?

Is that dodgy? I suppose we'll just have to explain to the minister at our proper wedding that we have a license from ages earlier? Can anyone think of any holes in this plan?

Thanks all!

If you change your name with the civil ceremony, your legal name is what is on the marriage certificate. You will need to use that name with AOS, you may have to use it for your drivers licence and SSN as well.

Just explain to the minister that you are already married and that the ceremony is for friends and family. You cant get married twice anyway.

[Jasman0717 9]

It sure makes life easier to change it when you file AOS

[pushbrk 13,207]

Hi everyone,

Firstly thanks to all who contribute to the site - it is unquestionably the most detailed, helpful info available. We're just beginning the journey and it's comforting to see everyone else who have been successful... and continue to support those going through it.

A question; I hope I'm not putting this in the wrong section or missed something in the guides...

Our families are thrilled that we're engaged and looking forward to a big wedding. However, my understanding is that no plans should be made until Visa is in-hand... and we must get married within 90 days of my arrival. I also want to start working as soon as possible so must file for AOS/EAD straight away.

If we do a civil ceremony just the two of us and have my name changed (taking his) on the marriage certificate, can I still go by my maiden name until after the proper wedding? I plan to apply for my AOS/EAD/AP, SSN, drivers license etc in my maiden name (which will match my passport)... then change everything using our marriage certificate later?

Is that dodgy? I suppose we'll just have to explain to the minister at our proper wedding that we have a license from ages earlier? Can anyone think of any holes in this plan?

Thanks all!

Your legal name is your legal name. When it changes, it changes. If you want to keep continue to use a different name for other than fraudulent reasons, that's fine but your "papers" need to bear your legal name at all times. Changing your name at marriage is not required.

"Your marriage certificate" will be the one you get at the civil ceremony. Once you're married, you're married. Any later ceremony is just a ceremony, not a marriage.

[Caladan 19]

The short answer to your question is 'yes.' If you don't want to change your name right away (or at all), you don't have to. But as YuandDan says, it's cheaper, if you eventually intend to use your husband's name, to use that name when you file for AOS.

When you get married civilly, that's what generates the marriage certificate. You may have to explain to the minister why you don't have a license for him (because you're already legally married), but there's nothing else he'd need to do except the religious half of the ceremony.

Another thing you might consider is that once you receive the visa, you have six months to use it, so you could delay entry into the U.S. and use that time to plan the wedding and get it all done at once.