Should I change my last name?

[bravewmn]

I got married over year ago, and I did not change my last name after my husband. We are about to send petition I-130, along with I-485, G-325a, I-864, I-693, I-765, and fingerprint form (70$). Should I change my last name before we send all this forms or leave it as it is. Thank You for response.

[austriacus]

Are you planning to change it anyway? My wife changed hers a couple of months before we filed. Of course, most of our support documents show her maiden name, but this is acceptable since the USCIS deals with many newlywed cases.

Although I have no first hand experience, my guess would be that you'd be better off not changing it while the case is pending, i.e. either before you file or after he receives his GC. But I'd be curious what others did, too.

In particular, does anyone think if one waits to change it until after the conditional GC is received, it will later create a problem when filing for removing the condition on the GC? Does it look bad at the interview if wife and husband have different last names, maybe?

[PraetorianXI]

My wife changed her name to mine. All you need is the notarized copy of your marriage certificate. Then go to the DMV get a new licence, then go to the SSA and get a new SS Card. That is it. You could also submit an expedited request for an US passport (takes about 2 weeks).

If you do not have a problem having your husbands name, then I recommend you change it. It would prevent the IO from asking "so why didn't you change your name?".

[austriacus]

bravewmn, what my wife did (based on her cultural background) is to change her maiden last name to be her new middle name, and she took my last name. I think this might have general advantages for the transition, because your former last name would still show up in your name, plus if you feel connected to your last name, it's a way of keeping it. Per my wife's culture, our children will also have her maiden name as their middle names and then my last name. I'll be the only one in the family that doesn't get to have her last name.

[UmpLoop]

Originally Posted by PraetorianXI

My wife changed her name to mine. All you need is the notarized copy of your marriage certificate. Then go to the DMV get a new licence, then go to the SSA and get a new SS Card. That is it. You could also submit an expedited request for an US passport (takes about 2 weeks).

If you do not have a problem having your husbands name, then I recommend you change it. It would prevent the IO from asking "so why didn't you change your name?".

I didn't take my husband's name and the subject never came up at all during our interview, except for when she asked me if I wanted my husband's last name on the card or my own.

[PraetorianXI]

and what did you answer to that?

[UmpLoop]

Originally Posted by PraetorianXI

and what did you answer to that?

Yes, and only because I had planned to change it later anyway. And it must be noted that she only asked me this after our case was already approved and my file got a giant APPROVED stamp across it. I didn't change my name right away simply because my country had this genius idea to revert ALL passport holders' last names to their maiden names and the only way to change it is to fly back to my country. I had to travel and didn't want any confusion with the pending application. If you search this topic on this forum, you'll see that lots of people decide to keep their maiden names and it is a non-issue at their interview.