Name Change or Not

[Jackolantern]

If I could get my name changed on docs, that ok, the legal part can wait.

Well, it is harder to get the name changed on the docs without the legal name change occurring first.

 

[Jackolantern]

"I've done the same thing, but the SSN office just looked at my marriage certificate and didn't even bother looking at my passport.. I gave my old SSN card, my marriage certificate and driver's license and I asked to have my name changed."

If the marriage certificate has both the old and new names, that usually is sufficient everywhere as a name change document. Otherwise, it depends on if each agency or individual is willing to accept the marriage certificate as evidence of a name change without an actual name change order.

I also see they showed the driver's license ... presumably the license had the new name, so the person at the SS office was shown an official document with the new name.

 

[jupiter07]

I also see they showed the driver's license ... presumably the license had the new name, so the person at the SS office was shown an official document with the new name.

She used the new SS card to name change the DL. When she applied for name change on her SS she hadn't changed her DL. In my state they will not change the DL before the SS card.

 

[jupiter07]

If the marriage certificate has both the old and new names, that usually is sufficient everywhere as a name change document. Otherwise, it depends on if each agency or individual is willing to accept the marriage certificate as evidence of a name change without an actual name change order.

Yeap, that's why I said in my initial post that it actually depends...

 

[Rosie74]

There is a lady from Chicago who wrote that she walked into SS office and after about 4 received her new SS card in the mail.

That would be me and I confirm, all I had to do was go to the SS office, show my marriage certificate with my new name on it (I got married in Hawaii, and they specifically told me I could change my name in the process), my old SS card and my passport. I didn't have to show anything else and my new card arrived a couple of weeks later. It does depend on the state, I guess.

 

[Rosie74]

If the marriage certificate has both the old and new names, that usually is sufficient everywhere as a name change document.

Maybe that's exactly what happened in my case. My marriage certificate has both my old name and my new name, thus showing the legal change has occurred. That was probably the only proof the SS office needed to have my card changed. I then used the new SSN card to have my license changed and everything else from there.

 

[bhartiya_12]

I kind of get a sense that I should get the marriage certificate with old and new name and just process an official name change only when the GC process is fully over.

The reason being that if we go thru the name change process with USCIS and everywhere else based on marriage certificate it will take a long time before we can apply for the GC and it does not gain us anything.

I don't know if we can apply for the GC with the old name even if the marriage certificate shows the new name along with the old name. Or should we just drop the whole name change thing for now and even get the marriage certificate in just the old name and once the GC is approved and done then go for the name change process everywhere.

 

[mrs_s]

The simplest thing, in my opinion, is to get married and apply for a GC with the new name. This is what most people who change their names do. The only piece of paper you need to "wait" for is the official marriage certificate. You do not need to wait for the other documents to be changed before you apply for a GC. You can do those while you wait for the AOS paperwork to be processed.

The AOS paperwork has space for the old name and the new name. That with the marriage certificate showing the name change is enough for the USCIS.

I kind of get a sense that I should get the marriage certificate with old and new name and just process an official name change only when the GC process is fully over.

The reason being that if we go thru the name change process with USCIS and everywhere else based on marriage certificate it will take a long time before we can apply for the GC and it does not gain us anything.

I don't know if we can apply for the GC with the old name even if the marriage certificate shows the new name along with the old name. Or should we just drop the whole name change thing for now and even get the marriage certificate in just the old name and once the GC is approved and done then go for the name change process everywhere.

 

[bhartiya_12]

So when we get married we should ask for a name change and make sure the marriage certificate contains the old and the new name.

With that we can file the GC with the new name with the marriage certificate being the only acceptable evidence of the new name at that point?

Is that correct?

 

[mrs_s]

Yes.

So when we get married we should ask for a name change and make sure the marriage certificate contains the old and the new name.

With that we can file the GC with the new name with the marriage certificate being the only acceptable evidence of the new name at that point?

Is that correct?

 

[bhartiya_12]

One more question.

If we apply for GC in new name with marriage certificate being the only document showing new name when we file, will USCIS ask for any other doc like SS Card, Drivers license, passport etc in new name during the course of the GC process?

If the answer is yes, then we would have to also get all these new docs asap in new name after we file for GC because the USCIS might ask for it.

Thanks

 

[Jackolantern]

If the answer is yes, then we would have to also get all these new docs asap in new name after we file for GC because the USCIS might ask for it.

USCIS or not, after a name change one should get all official documents updated ASAP with the new name anyway.

 

[bhartiya_12]

I understand that. I'm just trying to figure out if the GC process could be delayed because of it.

 

[Rosie74]

I understand that. I'm just trying to figure out if the GC process could be delayed because of it.

No don't worry, the process is not delayed becuase of that.

 

[mici_angora]

Here is the scenario:

getting citizenship soon. Plan on getting married to a f1 holder after oath and then file for her GC. I am wondering if getting her name change done before filing for the GC is a better idea or should we wait for the whole GC process to be done and then get her name changed.

Does anyone have an idea on how long does name change take in the Indian consulate? Also she has an EAD (F1-EAD). Will we have to get a new EAD if and when we go for the name change or can she use the name changed in the passport and marriage certificate to use the F1-EAD for getting job?

Thanks

she can change her name in the US with EAD - she does not need to do it back home. that's what I did it. I took my EAD to Social Security office and then to DMV to get new ID. that's all she will need to do here. then once she has GC, she can go home and change everything (including passport) there. not sure about the India part

 

[danev6972]

Don't know about GC but the agent during my citizenship interview told me there would be a 6 month delay before I could get my certificate if I changed my name.