maiden name in passport

[PinayAmerican 0]

Hi everyone. I just have questions about my passport. I don't know why I wasn't able to have my maiden name changed to my married name after our marriage. Maybe, I become so occupied and I also worried that it would be asked of me by the USCIS or the NVC anytime and that it should be available anytime. One mistake that I did is that I had my medical 2 months earlier before my interview because my husband wanted me to take it as early as possible and to avoid more delays if there'll be any problems. So, my passport is now currently under the medical/hospital or the embassy. So, it only means that my visa will also be in my maiden name, right? Please advise me on what to do. Should I ammend my passport after my interview here in the Philippines? Or I should just ammend it when i get to US? However, the visa and the green card would be in my maiden name as well? is that right? Anyone here who had been in the same situation? (traveled with CR1 visa with passport in maiden name). I'm worried that it gets worst. And if I will ammend it here in the Philippines, how long will it take before I get it back? Thanks!

[chinese_mutt 11]

no idea to the legalities. but i heard it is more expensive to change passport in Phil Embassy in US.

In my humble opinion only, I don't think you'll have problem with the visa, it is quite common for some women not to change their name when they get married. Just make sure you bring a NSO Marriage Certificate during your interview and when you fly to US so you can show it at the POE.

[kaffy 2]

Even if your passport is in your maiden name you can still ask them to process your visa application & issue your visa in your married name. That way once you arrive in the US you can begin to use your married name as your legal name.

They'll simply put your maiden surname into the "Annotation" field which is below your passport number on the visa.. that way it acts as a link back to your details on your passport biographic page.

edit to add- better to do it this way otherwise if you arrive in the US with your maiden name on your visa.. that means ur green card and social security card will also be in ur maiden name.. and so will any bank accounts you open, utilities, etc etc. Better to get it done right to begin with and save yourself trouble ahead

Edited June 11, 2009 by kaffy

[AbbynSheryl 0]

hey i had a same problem about the name but remember one thing u have to have the passport name and the visa name same otherwise u can not come to usa, my wife changed the name and it is easy just go to cfo after ur visa interview and do it in one day. goodluck. abby n sheryl

[kaffy 2]

hey i had a same problem about the name but remember one thing u have to have the passport name and the visa name same otherwise u can not come to usa

my passport name and visa name were different and I still made it through

like I said, they can issue your visa in your married name with an annotation to your maiden name which links it to your passport

[lgg 2]

What does the bolded phrase mean, exactly? Who does the annotation, what country is it applicable for? Is it a interview/visa based step? How does it link to the passport?

Thanks a lot, Kaffy... I know, a lot of questions.

Best,

LGG

like I said, they can issue your visa in your married name with an annotation to your maiden name which links it to your passport

Edited to add: I've read a million times that the name for the visa/thus greencard HAS to match the name on the passport so, I'm led to believe that if my passport had my maiden name, all my other documents will as well. not sure if this is Canada specific or what.

Thanks again.

Edited June 12, 2009 by lgg

[kaffy 2]

What happened in our situation was that we made the decision to move back very suddenly and I did not have enough time to change my name. At our appointment to file our I-130 petition (in Australia you do this in person), I attached a letter explaining why I was still using my maiden name and that after I immigrated to the US I had full intention to take my husband's name. The consular officer read through the letter quickly and was very understanding of my situation and suggested that they can process my application in my married name (using my maiden name in the 'Also Known As' box) and that way once I arrive in the US I will legally be known by my married name. I agreed and we went ahead with our DCF process using my married name. Once the visa arrived it looked like this:

I had no issues with checking in to the flight or at POE

hope this helps

[PinayAmerican 0]

I know I'm in trouble. So, can I tell the consul that I want my visa in my married name? Is that it, Kaffy? Or should I write a formal letter addressed to the consul? I know it's my mistake that I didn't change my name in passport as soon as we got married. I didn't know how it would affect future documents. I hope that also applies here in the Philippines, Kaffy. So, how is your passport now? Is it still in your maiden? And your visa and the rest of your documents are in your married name? Thanks for the replies. I really appreciate it.

[kaffy 2]

My passport is still in my maiden name and since my passport is valid through 2015 I'm not in any rush to update it. And yes I use my married name for everything in the US (visa, green card, social, bank accounts, drivers license, etc)

I honestly don't know what the procedure is for changing it when you are on the traditional CR1/IR1 route but since it is the Consulate that issues the visa then I would inquire with them first. If it can be done at the Sydney Consulate I don't see why it can't be done elsewhere

[PinayAmerican 0]

My passport is still in my maiden name and since my passport is valid through 2015 I'm not in any rush to update it. And yes I use my married name for everything in the US (visa, green card, social, bank accounts, drivers license, etc)

I honestly don't know what the procedure is for changing it when you are on the traditional CR1/IR1 route but since it is the Consulate that issues the visa then I would inquire with them first. If it can be done at the Sydney Consulate I don't see why it can't be done elsewhere

Ok! Thanks. Hoping that it will work for me as well. Have a great day!

[kaffy 2]

Good luck and let us know how it goes

[misscharlotte 0]

I am in the same situation now. I wish Id have known I could have asked for my maiden name in the annotations. When I went to social security, they did issue my card in my married name because I took my marriage certificate along with me. I just hope they do the same for my state ID. I am mailing off my passport to get my name changed at the UK embassy here in the USA- it's expensive but worth it. What will happen to my visa though and greencard seeing as they are in my maiden name?